SNSD - [Fany]
"Tiffany, your phone's ringing." I immediately grabbed it at tiningnan kung sino. My team are busy working on my hair and make up. I read the text sent by Suwo.
You got free time? I immediately replied, Yeah. When?
Maybe later? I need to talk about some stuffs.
Okay. Give me the exact time you want to meet up with me.
Thanks a lot. I smiled to the last message he sent. Oo nga pala, they're here. The boys are here. Kung pwede nga lang na makipag-meet up sa kanila, e. Pero hindi pwede so maybe, for sure, si Suwo lang talaga ang makakameet up 'ko ngayon.
Ako ang nagsuggest kung saan kami magkikita. And I suggested The Original Pantry Cafe. This is one of my favorite places to eat here in my country. Nauna na ako sa kaniya para hindi siya malito kung sakali mang isipin niya na nasa maling lugar siya kasi wala ako do'n.
Just in time, siguro mga one minute lang ay dumating na agad siya. He's covered with mask and a cap. I recognized him that fast the moment our eyes met. OMG. No wonder why I have a huge crush on him. I stood up and waved at him from a far. Nang magkalapit na ay nagngitian pa muna kami bago 'ko siya pinaupo.
"I already ordered for us," i said. Nagaalinlangan siya kung tatanggalin ba niya mask niya o hindi. "You can take that off but keep your cap."
We exchanged gazes nang dumating ang order namin so he immediately put on his mask again. I said thank you to the server when I noticed that she's staring at him. I coughed at sinenyasan na siyang umalis bago pa may gumawa ng issue dito. Pero hindi rin talaga maiiwasan na pagbulungan ako - kami ng mga empleyado dito. They're talking about me and the person i am with.
Seriously, hindi ba talaga nila kayang itikom ang bibig nila? Naiinis na ako. Nagulat na lang ako nang hawakan ni Suwo ang kamay 'ko kaya nabaling ang atensyon 'ko sa kaniya.
"I don't thimk they'll recognize me." He showed me his outfit by just leaning at his chair.
He's wearing jeans - faded jeans and a floral polo covering his plain white sleevless shirt. Nah, i think mare-recognize parin siya.
Iniling 'ko na lang ang mga iniisip 'ko, "Anyway, what is it that you wanted to talk about with me?"
"I bet you know this already. Well, since last year pa nga 'to, e. The rumors..?" I nodded. I've read of that already. "Our Manager is angry. Matatanggal siya sa trabaho kapag wala siyang nagawa para sa issue na 'yon, and I don't think the members will help. Love wins, ika nga nila. I can't advice them to break up with the girls because they'll just argue that with me. I don't know kung kanino pa ako makakapag open up not until I realized that you live here."
Napangiti ako. Atleast naiisip niya ako na nandito lang ako palagi sa tabi niya. That's so sweet.. But then..
Last year, before the rumors started, We keep reading comments that they are pairing us with the boys. Lagi kaming shini-ship ng mga fans namin sa kanila. Asan na sila ngayon? Nagbago ba isip nila? Where are those fans who ship us with them? Seriously, we need them!
"Hey," ako naman ang humawak sa pulso niya. "Are you saying that being in a relationship can ruin a person's future?"
"No, it's not like that -- "
"It's okay. But do you know that loving someone is part of our daily lives? Loving someone will always be part of our future. Look, i know that career is so important to you. But.. just a piece of advice, when a person fell inlove, people will think of it as a huge mistake or a lucky one. Pero sa atin, they think of it as a huge mistake. Baddest decision. But if you are that person who's inlove with someone, will you think the same?"
"I don't know what can be the best advice I could ever give to you because - well, i'm not taking sides but, - I prefer fighting for that love than fight for my career. I can still look for better jobs. Jobs and careers are different, you know that, right? So, If I were to choose love then that just means I'm giving up my career but that doesn't mean that's the end of me. I can still look for a better job that revolves around the company and no longer outside the public. Get it?"
Tumango tango siya. Medyo napatalon ako sa gulat nang tumunog ang relos niya. Bigla siyang tumingin sa akin, "Sorry. Nag-timer kasi ako, e. Para hindi ako malate.. I'm really really sorry."
Seriously, i'm weirdly offended! Tinimer niya 'yon? Like, seriously, kung wala siyang spare time para sa akin then don't show up! Find some time na talagang libre siya at hindi ako kailangang orasan! Tsk.
He tapped my shoulder habang ang katawan niya'y patayo na sa tapat 'ko,
"Anyway, i assure you that this will not be the last time we will meet. I'll call you when's that next time, okay?"
Matamlay akong tumango hanggang sa siya'y dire-diretso ng umalis. Tinawagan 'ko na driver 'ko, "Jibae gaja." (Let's go home)
Nagtuloy tuloy iyon hanggang sa ilang meet ups pa namin ng pasikreto o pasimple. Lagi niya akong ino-oras-an. I understand that he's busy and he's having a hard time meeting up with me pero kung ganon rin lang naman, huwag na lang siyang makipagkita sa akin!
"I'm afraid I don't know what to say kapag humarap na kami sa media. I feel like I'm a failure leader. I can't lead my members to their success. Para kaming naghihigitan pababa imbis na heto ako at dapat tinutulungan silang umangat.."
I can't focus to what he's saying dahil kada kwento niya ay maya't maya niyang tinitingnan ang relos niya. Pero sinubukan 'ko paring kumalma.
"If only you were there maybe you can give the girls an advice to stay positive. 'Cause I think no one is doing it. Wala ni isa sa kanila ang kasing positive tulad mo."
"Well, actually, kahit pa sabihing positive thinker ako, kung nasa posisyon nila ako, I don't think I can help them. Hindi tayo naghihigitan pababa, Suwo. Mga tao ang humihigit sa atin pababa not us or -- "
That's it. Hindi 'ko na makayanan. He's not listening to what I'm saying. He's attention is in his watch! Muli, ay tiningnan niya ako nang mapansin niya ang biglang pagtigil 'ko.
"What is it? Uhm, continue."
Hindi ako sumunod instead ay nag angat ako ng dalawang kamay. If you really don't have time then don't try! Instead na matuwa ako sa'yo kasi nage-effort kang magkita tayo, ay parang mas gugustuhin 'ko pang huwag na lang kami magtagpo kaysa 'yung ganito.
Hindi nakakatuwa. Nakakainis pa nga. Parang pakiramdam 'ko ako pa itong gustong makipagkita at ino-oras-an niya ako. Tsk!
"Alam mo?" Patuloy siya sa pago-open up sa akin nang putulin 'ko iyon. "Sa tingin 'ko, malapit nang tumunog 'yung timer mo. Uhm.. I think you should go?"
Tiningnan niya sandali orasan niya, "Yes. You're right. Kailangan 'ko ng umalis. Thank you again, Fany!"
Tumayo na kami at nagbow sa isa't isa. Palayo na siya nang may maalala at nilingon ako.
"I owe you a lot."
Owe your face!
***
Mga nakatambay kami sa dressing room namin. No, we're not going to perform. I mean they. Dito lang kami pinaghihintay ng Manager namin. Habang ang boys ay nasa dressing room rin naman, malayo sa amin.
Samantalang si Taeya ay nakatayo sa corner ng kwarto at may katawagan. Who? Edi si Bae. I'm glad that Taeya can finally cope up with Bae. She needs it. She really needs Bae right now. I think..
"What now?" Yna broke the silence.
"Now that the CEO is i think, pinagiisipan niya ang mga sinabi ni Taeya sa kaniya? Seriously? A concert? I understand Taeya. Pero natatakot rin naman akong mapahiya tayo more specifically, natatakot uli akong makaranas ng black ocean. Baka nga literal na black na kasi walang katao tao.."
"That's not possible, Shine. We're still an Idol. I'm sure kahit labag sa loob nila, but since sikat tayo, bibili parin sila ng ticket para panuorin tayo.. But of course, get ready for their tomatoes."
"Yuki's right. Tsaka, mostly naman sa mga fans natin, gusto nila na magcollab tayo with Jess, right? Na ibalik ang Legendary 9 na sinasabi nila. Siguro naman ikatutuwa pa nila 'yon.. Let's look on the bright side, okay?"
Pagkatapos 'kong magsalita ay bumalik na ng upo sa tabi ni Shy si Taeya. "Kamusta?" Ani Shy.
"Same same. Nagha-heart to heart talk rin ang boys tulad natin ngayon.." isa isa niya kaming tiningnan. She leaned forward, she rested her elbow to her lap habang nakaupo at tinitingnan kami.
"Look, i'm so sorry. I didn't mean to say that infront of CEO. Wala lang talaga akong ibang maisip na paraan para magpaliwanag sa mga netizens. Reporters? Babaliktarin lang nila tayo. We can't trust the media not unless we make a concert na mismong netizens na ang makakasaksi."
"We understand that, Taeya. Masyado lang kaming nadala sa black ocean.. Anyways, what are their thoughts? The boys? Anong masasabi nila no'ng i-suggest mo 'yon?" - Jess
She shrugged meaning hindi niya iyon naitanong na kay Bae.
"Just to support Taeya's side, I think may nakabit akong wire sa utak niya at nasabi niya 'yung nasa isip 'ko. I was thinking of a tour naman. 'yun nga para netizens na mismo maka-witness ng mga sasabihin natin. Galing nga ni Taeya, e! May telekinesis ka, no? Nakakabasa ka ng isip?"
Napitik ni Yen-Yen noo ni Chi. "Telepathy hindi Telekinesis!"
"Ano? Telekinesis 'yon, search mo pa!"
"Ako pa talaga hinahamon mo sa pagse-search, ha?"
"Mas may alam pa kaya ako kaysa sa'yo!"
"Edi wow! Basta telepathy 'yon!"
Napailing na lang kami sa alitan ng dalawa habang kami naman ni Jess ay nagkatinginan. Bigla 'kong naalala 'yung sinabi sa kaniya ni CEO.. "You okay?"
Tumango siya ng may pagaalinlangan, "Bakit naman hindi? Kasama 'ko kayo."
"Were you offended a while ago?"
Umiling siya, "Not really. Alam 'ko kasing nandiyan kayo para resbakan ako.."
I hope. Na hanggang sa huli andito parin kami - magkakatabi - at hindi lang bastang magkakatabi. Kundi nandiyan para sa isa't isa.