Chapter 12

I still have no idea why we're flying to Jeju and that we just sneak out of the house without informing Chini. Sure she would hate me for this, but I hope she would forgive me once she finds out that it was BJH's plan to go to Jeju Island in such a hurry. But what would she react once she knew that we're on the island 281 miles from where she is now—well, she could still be having a good sleep and have no idea that BJH suddenly planned this trip out of nowhere.

Nakatanaw lamang ako sa bintana habang pinapanood ang unti-unti naming paglapag sa isla. Madilim ang kalangitan at mga ilaw lamang mula sa isla ang natatanaw ko mula sa kinaroroonan ko. There's an excitement drilling in my chest and I just couldn't help myself to think about what we could do there.

Good thing I was also wearing a thick sweatshirt and helps me die the freeze away. Hindi naman ako si Elsa to not be bothered. Tahimik lang din si BJH sa tabi ko as if he really had nothing to worry about. I'm not bothering him because I believe this is what he wants and I don't know what made him push this idea through, but maybe it could help him after all the trouble he'd been into.

A moment later when the pilot announced our descending ay ginising ko na rin si BJH. He settled himself and then we finally prepared ourselves for our landing. As soon as we're on land, a few precautions and reminders were announced until the passengers started leaving their chairs so we both did the same thing.

Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan kami mag-stay rito sa Jeju, maybe we'll just a few days here and then we're heading back to Seoul na kasi nando'n din ang trabaho niya. He's got a lot of opportunity waiting for him so this abrupt getaway to Jeju is very impulsive, but maybe BJH has something in his mind about why we're here.

We head out of the aircraft and then we're just walking inside the airport looking for our way out. It's been an hour since we've left Seoul and I'm still wondering what could we be doing today. Hindi naman niya sinasabi sa akin and I feel like I don't have the right to question him right now. Gusto ko na lang matulog ulit.

But Jeju is an expensive island—it's like New York City and I'm not sure if BJH would take care of all the expenses. Maybe he can just cut my part to my salary so he won't have to pay everything for me.

"Saan tayo pupunta, sir? Mag-swimming ba tayo agad?" tanong ko.

He chuckled and I felt a little embarrassed by asking him that question. "No, we're not. We're going to my parent's house."

"Huh?" I wondered. "Alam nila?"

He shook his head. "Nope. No one knows..."

Hindi ko na binalak pang magtanong kung hindi ay sumunod na lang ako sa kanya. But at least, I've got a little idea now na sa parent's niya kami pupunta, but why all of a sudden? At bakit hindi niya ipinaalam kay Chini na nandito kami ngayon?

BJH carried my bag and then we boarded a transit heading to his parent's home in Seogwipo and it'll be an hour and a half ride before we reached them so I've got the chance na makatulog habang nasa biyahe kami. It's one in the morning at pagdating namin do'n ay paniguradong madilim pa rin ang paligid.

BJH doesn't even bothered disguising himself para hindi siya makilala at walang lumapit sa amin na magkakandarapa just to get a picture with him, but good thing, no one came at us running and getting our attention. Patay ang oras at hindi pa gano'n karami ang tao, but for sure, once the sun gets rises, he had to wear something that people won't recognize him.

As we settled inside the transit, magkatabi kaming dalawa at siya ang pinaupo ko sa window side para hindi siya makilala in case 'yong mga taong dumadaan ay mapatingin sa kanya.

"Jin-Hyeong..." pagtawag ko sa kanya.

Bahagya naman niya akong nilingon. "Hmmm?" he hummed.

"What are we really doing here in Jeju?" I asked

He creased his forehead. "You don't want to be here?"

Agad naman akong umiling. "Hala... hindi naman. Kaya nga ako sumama rin, 'di ba? Pero 'yon... curious lang din ako kung anong gagawin natin dito at sasabihin ba natin kay Chini na nandito tayo ngayon?"

He shook his head as soon as I mentioned Chini. "No, don't tell Chini. Let's keep it for ourselves in the meantime and yeah... I don't have an idea what we're gonna do, but that's the best part, right? Expect the unexpected. Live the island life."

"Island life..." halos bulong ko na lamang iyong binitawan at bumalik ako sa pananahimik. Iyon lang din naman ang sinabi niya sa akin kaya hindi na ako magtatanong pa nang kung ano-ano if that's the only thing he wanted me to know.

Dahil sa sobrang tahimik at gaan ng biyahe ay unti-unti akong dinalaw ng antok ko. I slowly close my eyes and yawn and dwell on my sleep. The next thing I knew, my head's already resting on BJH's shoulder and he's also sleeping. Dahan-dahan ko namang inangat ang ulo ko mula sa balikat niya at tiningnan ko ang orasan.

2:23 AM

Even though I felt like I'm bothering him from his sleeping, I started shaking his body lightly just to wake him up. Nang dahan-dahang magising 'to ay inangat niya ang ulo niya at binaling ang tingin sa akin.

"I think we're already near your parent's house..."

He nodded. "Ah, yeah, we're near. Thanks..."

"You're welcome," I smiled, but I'm sure I'm blushing kahit medyo pipikit-pikit pa ang mata ko.

Just a moment later, the transit stopped and dropped us at our destination. Kaunting lakad lang din naman ang ginawa namin ni BJH hangga't sa marating namin ang isang two-story country house. Napalilibutan naman ng pathlights ang pathway kaya hindi kami nangangapa sa dinaraanan namin. As we lead our way to the porch and stood in front of the door, I thought he's going to knock on the door so his parents would make them known by our presence pero hindi niya ginawa 'yon.

Instead of knocking, BJH kneeled down on the floor and grab the flower vase and scoop something out underneath it. He didn't show it to me at hindi ko rin masyadong naanigan dahil madili, but he then directly inserted it on the doorknob and then it just opened the door for us. Napuno pa ng pagtataka ang mukha ko, but he maybe doesn't seem recognize it since it's dark and there are only a few lights around the area.

"Hindi ba natin ipapaalam sa parents mo na pumasok tayo ng bahay niyo? Baka mapagkamalaman nilang magnanakaw tayo, a?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "I don't think they will think of that. Don't worry, we'll make them known later in the morning... shall we take some rest for a bit, and then we'll settle everything then."

"Sure..." I muttered.

He picked up our bags on the floor and we just sneak inside the house as he did to our house in Seoul. Following him behind, we bound to stop to the second floor and the room for us to stay. Good thing, it wasn't locked and we just entered the room right away. He puts our bag on the corner and then he just removed his shirt and lay down on the bed. Nagtaka pa ako dahil ang bilis ng mga pangyayari at parang wala lang sa kanya 'yon. Dahan-dahan din akong naglakad papunta sa kama at tumabi sa kanya.

It looks like I won't be staying anywhere other than here—on the same bed with him.

I lay down next to him, but I tried putting a pillow between us so that will remain our boundary to each other. There's no air-conditioner inside this room, but the windows are open that's why the breezy wind comes inside and that the room so chilly.

Just a moment later, I've Jin-Hyeong snoring and that made me laughed a little. A little longer, I just noticed that I was staring at him just so I can sleep, but then I just had to snap out of my illusions and had to go to sleep because what can I expect for tomorrow?

By five in the morning, I woke up—hindi ko alam kung bakit basta parang nag-jolt bigla ang buong katawan ko tapos nagising na lang ako. I don't know how to explain the feeling, but I guess some already experience na magigising na lang kasi parang inalog ang buo kong katawan. I look at the person next to me and found Jin-Hyeong still fast asleep.

I slowly get up from bed, trying not to wake him up so I could just take a pee for a quick moment. This room has no bathroom so I had to walk out and search where the bathroom is. Tahimik pa ang paligid at nangangatog pa ang buo kong katawan sa lamig ng paligid. I'm pretty sure wala ring aircon dito sa paligid so I believe it's the natural climate of the season... it's Winter season so it's not impossible to feel so chilly every time.

I headed downstairs to look for the bathroom. The good thing for me, the kitchen area's light is open so I headed there and found the bathroom over there. I scurried my way there and spend my time in the bathroom for some time.

As soon as I left the bathroom and just about to head back into the room, dahan-dahang umangat ang tingin ko dahil may isang taong pababa ng hagdan at iyon ay ang father ni BJH. Agad akong napaatras mula sa hagdan at yumuko. Napuno ng kaba ang dibdib ko dahil baka isipin nitong intruder ako dahil hindi naman nila alam na nandito kaming dalawa ni BJH ngayon. Though we've met a few times before in Seoul no'ng first year ko kay BJH, he might have an idea who I am pero... does he expect me to see in his home now?

"Annionghaseyo, sunsangnim," pagbati ko at yumuko bilang paggalang.

"Dolawassa, razin." Ngiti pa nito sa akin. (You're back, Raijine.)

"Ne, sunsangnim. Jinhongi bange issa gnen yeojenhi jago issspnida," tugon ko. (Yes, sir. Jin-Hyeong's in his room. He's still sleeping.)

"Nanen algoissda. Bangana issnen nuhndleul bwassa," sagot nito sa akin. (I know. I saw you guys in the room.)

Napangawi naman ako sa sinabi nito sa akin. Bahagya naman akong nahiya kasi biglaan kaming dumating sa bahay nila. Hindi pa ako sigurado kung alam din ba ng mother ni BJH na nandito kaming dalawa ngayon o ang father lamang niya.

"Ne bangyro dolaganengha?" tanong nito sa akin. (Are you going back to your room?)

Tumango naman ako sa kanya. Tuluyan naman siyang bumaba ng hagdan at tinapik ako sa braso nito.

"Najunge mannalge dangxineun jigeum dangsin jamro dola gayahapnida." Ngiti pa nito sa akin. He's such a humble and gentle person kaya naman kahit natakot ako kanina nang makita siya ay nawala ang kaba sa dibdib ko at nakampante naman ako kahit papaano. (I'll meet you guy later. You should go back to your sleep now.)

"Gamsahapnida, sunsangnim," pagpapaalam ko sa kanya at muling yumuko sa kanya. (Thank you, sir.)

He left me as he go to the kitchen while I ran upstairs heading back to the room we stayed. Para pa akong tanga na hindi maialis ang ngiti sa labi ko nang humiga muli ako sa tabi ni BJH pero kabado pa rin ako dahil hindi ko naman inaasahan na magkahaharap kami ngayon sa ganitong oras.

"Where have you been?" Napalingon naman ako sa nagsalita. Si BJH na nakapikit pa rin ang mata.

"Umihi lang..." sagot ko sa kanya. "And I just met your father downstairs."

"Oh... okay..." he muttered and then he continued sleeping away.

Mukhang hindi naman niya napansin ang sinabi ko kaya huminga ako ng lalim saka bumalik na lang muli sa pagtulog. But whatever happens to our stay here on this island, I hope it won't be something bad... I hope BJH will find something he's looking for that's why we're here o kung wala naman... I hope being away from the media will help him. Nandito lang naman ako sa tabi para bantayan siya. And I'm not even hating my job right now... I'm loving it because of the opportunity and getting to know him real more.

Hopefully... once we get back to Seoul, he's ready to take over the world once again.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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