Suri;
Lumalalim na ang gabi pero heto kaming dalawa, gising na gising habang nakatitig sa kisame. Yung lampshade ko sa mini table ang tanging nagbibigay ng liwanag sa buong kwarto.
Tumagilid ako at saktong tumagilid din siya. Nagkaharap kami. Natigilan ako dahil sa gulat. He looked at me intently. May sinasabi yung mga mata niya na hindi ko alam kung ano. His eyes is full of sorrow.
"Now speak."
Utos ko sa kanya. Naguluhan naman siya sa sinabi ko.
"What do you mean?" tanong niya.
"Sabihin mo sakin yung rason kung bakit ka nandito."
Paglilinaw ko. He became silent. At base pa lang sa pagblink ng mata niya alam kong nagdadalawang isip siya. Sa tinatagal tagal kong kasama si Soobin, alam ko na yung ibig sabihin ng bawat pagkilos niya. If he blinked a couple of times, it means na he is hesitating.
"Sabihin mo na. Hindi naman kita huhusgahan eh. Tsaka kailan pa ba kita nilaglag?"
I assured. Nagpakawala siya ng isang buntong hininga. Tumingin ulit siya sa mga mata ko.
"I thought it wouldn't hurt me but seeing Lia and my brother kissed, it pains me a lot... They were so happy... and it fucking hurts... Ang daming tanong na nagpop out sa isipan ko. Bakit di namin yun magawa? Bakit sa tuwing hinahalikan ko siya o di kaya niyayakap bakit kailangang patago? Bakit kailangan ko pang makihati? It fucking hurts knowing that I am not the only man for her. I hate myself. I hate myself for being a second best... Mababaliw na ako kakaisip."
Sabi niya. I can see the tears around his eyes. Pinipigilan niya ang sarili niyang umiyak. Naaawa ako sa kanya. Ewan ko pero kumikirot ang puso ko. I pity him. I pity his situation.
Kusang bumukas yung bisig ko sa kanya. The next thing I knew, I am hugging him. He hugged me back.
"Don't hold back your tears. Rinig na rinig ko ang pag-iyak ng puso mo."
Ani ko. Bigla naman siyang umiyak. I tapped his back. He is sobbing. Hindi ko inalintana yung t shirt kong nagsisimula ng mabasa.
"Gwaenchana..."
I whispered to his ear trying to comfort him. Ito yung unang beses na nakita kong umiyak si Soobin. Ito rin yung unang beses na umiyak siya sa bisig ko. I admit, I don't like him. Sinasagad niya yung pasensya ko minsan. Pero seeing him this way made me think na he is a good man. He deserves a woman to love him to the fullest, but I don't think it's Lia.
Soobin;
Nagising ako sa tama ng sikat ng araw sa aking mukha. I opened my eyes at bumungad sakin ang natutulog na mukha ni Suri. Dun ko lang napansin na nakayakap pa rin pala kami sa isa't isa. I slowly move my arms around her.
I looked at the clock on her mini table. It's already 7:15 am. Bumangon ako at lumabas ng kwarto. Kinuha ko yung uniform ko na nakasampay sa labas ng bintana. Nilabhan to ng nanay ni Suri kagabi. Dumiritso ako sa CR at nagbihis.
I walked towards the dining area at nadatnan ko si mama Saeron na naghahanda ng breakfast habang si papa Jim naman ay nagbabasa ng diyaryo.
"Oh Soobin gising ka na pala, anong gusto mo? Kape, gatas o choco?"
Tanong niya. I smiled at her.
"Di na po ako magtatagal aalis na po ako. Maraming salamat po sa pagpapatuloy sakin dito." I said at nagbow.
"Mag-agahan ka muna, breakfast is the most important meal of the day." ani ni mama Saeron.
"Mag-aagahan na lang po ako sa bahay. Kailangan ko na po talagang umalis."
I refused. Nalungkot naman si mama Saeron but still, she managed to give me a smile.
"Okay sige, mag iingat ka pauwi."
Sabi ni mama ni Saeron. I bowed once again bago umalis ng bahay nila. I need to go to someone's place. Yesterday was a mistake. I shouldn't come at this house. I shouldn't feel relieved in her embrace. I should avoid her before things get worst.
Suri;
Wala na si Soobin sa bahay pagkagising ko. Sabi ni mama maaga daw siyang umuwi kaninang umaga. Ewan ko pero nag aalala pa rin ako sa kanya. Sana naman kahit papaano naging magaan na yung pakiramdam niya.
Sabado ngayon kaya wala kaming pasok pero may duty ako ngayong umaga. Naglalakad ako papunta sa coffee shop nung biglang nagvibrate yung phone ko. Kinuha ko to sa aking bulsa. Si Yeonjun tumatawag. Teka, pano niya nakuha yung number ko?
"Yobosaeyo?" sagot ko.
"Suri, free ka ba ngayon?"
Tanong ni Yeonjun. Napakamot ako sa batok ko.
"May duty ako ngayon eh, bakit?"
"Kailan yung out mo?"
"Mga 4 pm pa. Bakit nga?"
"Wait for me at 4 pm. Susunduin kita sa coffee shop. Let's have a date. Bye!"
"Teka-"
Di ko na natapos yung sasabihin ko nung pinatay ni Yeonjun yung tawag. Jusko naman! So wala na akong time para mag ayos? Magdidate kami ng haggard ako ganun? Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at pumasok na sa coffee shop.
Soobin;
"So you'll have a date with her?"
Tanong ko kay hyung. Ibinaba na niya ang phone niya at naghanda ng coffee para saming dalawa.
"Yes."
Simple niyang sagot. Wala man lang ka emosyon emosyon yung mukha niya.
"You're not playing with her, are you?"
I said looking at him seriously. He gave me a blank stare. Those eyes. It's so emotionless since Mara noona left him.
"No. I'm just taking the consideration of what you have said. That dating Suri may help me forget Mara. That maybe she is the key for me to move on. I'm trying to like her back just give me some time."
I became quiet. I told hyung about Suri's feelings towards him without her knowing. I also told him to date her. But I just hope that this will work. I hope that hyung won't hurt her. It's the only way I know to make her happy.
"So what's the shot, did your brother already know about you and Lia?"
I shook my head. Alam rin ni hyung yung samin ni Lia but he keep it a secret to everyone lalo na sa grupo. Ayaw niyang malaman ng ibang members ng TXT yung tungkol sa kalagayan ko. In fact, he is helping me also maliban kay Suri.
"Hyung, I broke down. I saw them yesterday. They were so happy and they even kissed."
I said at napayuko. Hyung placed the coffee in front of me. Hinawakan niya ang braso ko.
"You keep on telling me to move on but you can't even tell yourself to broke up with Lia. You know that this will get worst right? But still, why are you pushing this through? It's forbidden love, Soobin. This is not the kind of relationship you dreamed for."
Ani ni Yeonjun hyung at kinuha ang kamay niya sa balikat ko. I gave him a weak smile and took a sip on the coffee. Our attention got caught by the sound of the doorbell. Ilang beses din yung nagbuzz. Kumunot yung noo ni hyung.
"Let me take this for a minute."
Inilagay niya yung coffee niya sa kitchen counter at pumunta sa dining area para buksan ang pinto. When he opened the door, his mood suddenly changed. His eyes light up for a second pero he concealed it with a cold stare. Sino kaya yung tao sa labas? Hindi ko nakita yung tao sa labas kasi nahaharangan siya ng pinto.
"What?" he said coldly.
"Ito na yung ipinahiram mong pera sakin nung isang araw. Ayaw kong magkaroon ng utang na loob lalo na sa isang kagaya mo."
Rinig kong sabi ng tao sa labas. Sa boses pa lang niya, I already know who she is. It's Mara noona. Lumapit ako kay hyung and tama nga ako. She is still beautiful like before.
"Soobin?"
She said upon seeing me. I gave her a smile and waved at her.
"Annyeong noona!"
Bati ko sa kanya. She smiled at me. Mara noona is known for her delicate smile. That is also one of the reasons why hyung fell for her and he still do.
"Ang tangkad tangkad mo na ha tsaka ang pogi pogi mo na rin."
She said. Nagpogi sign naman ako.
"Siyempre noona, ako pa."
Nagtawanan kaming dalawa. But it stopped when hyung did a fake a cough. We both look at him. He's jealous. I know.
"Yun lang ba yung ipinunta mo dito o meron pa?"
He sarcastically asked. Noona's bright expression changed. I can say that she is irritated.
"Aalis na ako. Bye Soobin."
Paalam niya and smiled at me once more. Tumalikod na siya samin at naglakad paalis ng bahay ni hyung. He is looking at her back while she is walking away from us.
"So you still have a contact with her?" I asked.
"We just bumped into each other. She need some help that's why I lend some money. But since she already paid it back, I think this is our last encounter."
Ani ni Yeonjun hyung. I nodded at him indicating that I understood what he said. But somehow I wonder, does setting him up with Suri will really help him to forget Mara noona? Is it really the right choice to do? Or not?