Chapter 22

Maaga kaming nagising ni Jin-Hyeong, though he got up early than me. Inasar pa ako nito na ang lakas-lakas ko kung humilik. I know he was just joking until he showed me a video, him recording me while I was asleep and I was just snoring so loud that I apologize to him because that might be the reason he woke up early than me. I only felt relieved when he told me that it wasn't the reason and that's fine, it doesn't really bother him.

The good thing about this, may understanding akong boss. I get to sleep with on the same bed at walang malisya sa aming dalawa 'yon. But if the paparazzi are here and saw our situation, they already would make a fuss about it.

Chini, BJH, and I are expecting their intrusions these coming days. Chini even planned to extend their stay here in Jeju, pero kabilin-bilanan kasi ni Jin-Hyeong na gagawin niya lang ang isa o hanggang tatlong interview at hanggang doon na lang 'yon saka na niya itutuloy ang trabaho pagbalik ngg Seoul.

He's on a holiday vacation, he clarified so whatever requests and interview that will come, next week na niya mae-entertain iyon. So, the day after tomorrow, Chini and her boyfriend will fly back to Seoul with an agreement to Jin-Hyeong that he will participate in every interview who called them and he just went for it. Work is work.

"What should I wear?" BJH asked. He got a light blue pullover on his right hand while on the other is a flamingo print button-down polo shirt. Napangiti ako nang makuha ng mga flamingo ang atensyon ko at saka ko tinuro ang hawak niya sa kanan. "This one?"

Sinuri niya ito at saka niya binalik sa closet ang pullover at dali-dali niyang inalis ang towel na nakapatong sa balikat niya at kanyang sinuot ang pinili kong damit for him.

Jin-hyeong somehow gets comfortable undressing in front of me. And the fact that he knew that I've seen all of him, parang wala na sa kanya 'yon. Most Koreans are actually conservative, but when it comes to Jin-hyeong—I guess he's an exemption. But then, he got pretty much something to be proud of. Witness ako ro'n and I can stand against people if they attack him like that.

He also gained a few pounds during our stay here sa Jeju. Pa'no ba naman, his mother feed him so well kaya lumulusog siya. If I'm going to compare his body fit when he got out of the military and now at this moment, there's a lot of things that have changed and I'm proud of his improvement. I'm much more excited about the future he's aspiring to have.

When Jin-hyeong finally wore the polo, agad naman niyang hinubad ang towel sa kanyang waist. He just grabbed the pants inside the closet while I turned my back and do something not to mind him dressing at the corner.

"Done!" he announced. I immediately turned back to see him. "So, how do I look?" he asked.

I looked at him from head to toe. He's still barefoot, but on how he looks so fine now. Tumango-tango ako. "I think you're good na! And you don't even need to wear any footwear kasi hindi naman nila makikita 'yon."

"Are you sure?" he asked. Determinado naman akong tumango sa kanya.

Saglit lamang ay may kumatok nang paulit-utli sa pinto at nang tawagin kami ni Jin-hyeong ay kilala na namin sa tono pa lamang ng boses nito. I scurried my way to the door and opened it for Chini.

"Bakit naka-lock?" intriga nitong tanong.

"I am dressing," sagot ni BJH.

She rolled her eyes. "As if naman hindi pa namin 'yan nakita." And then she looked at me. "Ah, so you're just here watching Jin-hyeong wear his clothes, huh?"

"We both shared this room," depensa pa ni BJH. "And I needed her opinion on what should I wear. I don't need your opinion now. I'm already good with this."

"Palit ka sana ng mas light and comfy top, anyway that's your choice. So, Seung-gi sets up the laptop in the backyard. I think your background there would be fine and there's not much noise around so that'll be a good set-up."

"Cool! Should we go there now?"

"Let's go! You still have fifteen minutes before the meeting."

Sumunod ako sa kanila palabas ng kwarto. As we headed downstairs, we just went to the backyard and found PSG setting up the laptop there.

"Musn iliya?" Chini asked PSG. (What's going on?)

"Waipaie yeongialhal su absspnida," he said. (I can't connect it to the Wi-Fi.)

Chini grunted and saw how PSG struggling through connecting it. "Nanen ggerteulhanen bangbupeul dangxinage malhassda." (I told you how to do it.)

"Naga hal shuissge haejwer," pagpresenta ni BJH. Umatras ang dalawa at hinayaan nila si BJH gawin 'yon. Hindi pa man nakatatagal ng ilang minuto ay natapos na niya agad 'yon. "Wanro. Jigeum yeongialdoea issspnida." Natulala na lang ang dalawa. (Let me do it. Done. It's connected now.)

"Aterhge gruhgehapnika?" takang tanong ni PSG. (How do you do that?)

"Dangxineun danji olbarn amhorl nuhahaehahago yeongial adeul gutida. Gger mola?" tamad na sagot ni BJH. (You just need to put the correct password and you'll get connected. Don't you know that?)

PSG laughed. "Mulon, nanen ggerteul algoissda! Nanen danji jiangchie exukhazi anha." (Of course, I know that! I'm not just used to this device.)

Pinalo naman ni Chini sa dibdib ang jowa niya. "Ani, gnen danji babo gata." Pag-ikot pa nito ng mata. Kinukuha naman ni PSG ang kamay niya pero pilit niyang inaalis. (No, he's just being dumb.)

Napangisi si BJH at bahagyang napailing ang ulo. "Sujuneun adissa?" he asked. (Where's Seo-jun?)

"Gga adiro gassnenji morgessjiman, gnen danji ge chingudle zhong ilburl mannal gutirago malhassda. Nanen adi issnenji mornda." Kibit balikat pa nitong sagot. (I'm not sure where he went, but he just said he'll be meeting some of his friends. I don't know where.)

"Anyway, you sit on the chair now, Jin-hyeong and we'll just wait for their call."

Nasa gilid lamang ako habang naghihintay magsimula ang interview ni Jin-hyeong. Of course, Chini had to post something on her profile about Jin-hyeong's interview so people have something to look forward to. A moment later, she's already freaking out dahil maraming nag-react at message sa story na pinost niya maging sa twitter post.

"This should be trending," Chini said.

"Don't hope too much about it," sagot ni BJH.

"I believe this will be your biggest comeback, Jin-hyeong. Believe me," PSG said.

"You always said that," aniko. Nilingon ako ni BJH. "Why do you always say believe me... are you a God?"

He laughed when I said that. Naintriga rin naman si Chini at tawang-tawa pa sa sinabi ko. Nagtataka nanan ako sa reaksyon nila o siguro nakatatawa lang talaga 'yong tanong ko?

"I was serious though..."

"No, it's fine," PSG said, tapping my shoulder. "I don't know why I always say that, but maybe I got used to it, too. And I just said that to encourage them. A single word that can change their heart and mind might help them figure it out on their own as well. You don't have to believe in me but believe in yourself. You're the one who can make a change for yourself and not the other people. So, believe me, it works every time." He smiled and the little wisdom he shared with me made sense.

Chini then comes at me and nudge on my side. "See? I know I've picked the right person." She giggled. Alam niyang waging-wagi siya kay PSG and I must say rin naman na she's lucky for having him. I can see that he's serious about her and I also believe that their little secret relationship will meet its shine soon.

Five minutes after eight, Jin-hyeong's interview started. Nakikinig lang kami sa kanya. This interview isn't live but will be broadcasted later in the evening. Iyong mga gustong ma-interview si Jin-hyeong ay nasa iisang group video call na lang. I don't know how this interview will take long.

It was only supposed to be Jin-hyeong in front of the cam and Chini will guide him behind the scenes, though she has to step in when these journalists have been asking questions to Jin-hyeong that he wasn't supposed to answer so Chini took the floor and she's the one who answered it in behalf of him.

I decided to get back inside the house to grab them some water. They've been talking and talking. I can also feel that Chini's getting furious about the interview, but she just kept her temper and smile in front of the camera. As soon as I reached the kitchen, I found Jin-hyeong's mom there.

"Good morning, tita," pagbati ko rito.

"Good morning din," malambing nitong tugon sa akin. "So, how's the interview going?"

"It was good. They were so giddy about Jin-hyeong's stay here in Jeju and his post about the vendor at the Sunrise peak. It's quite getting a lot of attention."

She chuckled. "I must say to you, he's a shy kid. I mean, I was the one who pushed him to do this and that. When he's studying theatre arts, he flew to New York to be an exchange student there and he excelled so much from that little shy kid."

"Ah... are you the one who told him to study theatre arts and go to New York?" I asked, wincing.

She shook her head. "No. It was his decision to study that course. His first option is to be a chemist, but I guess there's another plan for him. He's grown quite a lot, doesn't he?"

I nodded as I agreed with her. "Yes, tita. From the first time I met him and to this day, marami talagang nagbago sa kanya. And I mean by nagbago is a good thing. Pero sasabihin ko na rin ito, tita, kasi ito 'yong napapansin ko kay Jin-hyeong." Lumunok ako ng laway bago ituloy ang sasabihin ko. "Lately, he's not feeling it all. Para bang... he's not interested in going back to what he usually does before. But I'm always there to motivate him or what, hindi ko naman siya sinusukuan."

"Alam mo, Jelay, 'wag ka mag-alala masyado," aniya. "He'll come around. He's just adjusting. He's been away for almost two years and that's normal. I met his father a year before his enlistment. I waited for him to come back and he thought that I found someone else while he was away. I was just there waiting for him. I let him adjust and do things on his own and when he's ready to do what he usually does, he'll come around. Mightier and stronger. So, don't let him push you away, but be there for him, alright?"

I smiled and nodded. It's kind of an assurance na susunod ako sa sinabi niya sa akin and I intend to keep it that way.

"At oo nga pala. May kailangan ka ba rito sa kusina ngayon?"

"Ah, opo. Magdadala lang po sana ako ng tubig para sa kanila. O kung may banana milk po kayo rito para kay Jin-hyeong, mas better po kasi favorite niya 'yon."

"Meron! Check mo sa fridge. Mag-iinit na rin ako ng tubig. I'll prepare a tea for you guys. Masyadong malamig sa labas. Pampainit lamang ng sikmura."

While tita boiled some water ay kumuha na ako ng banana milk sa fridge para kay Jin-hyeong. As soon as tita finished preparing the tea ay dinala ko na ang tray na naglalaman no'n palabas ng bahay. PSG saw me carrying the tray so he went to help me. Doon ko lang din naman napansin na nakabalik na si Seo-jun at may kasama itong ilang mga babae na sa tingin ko ay mga kaibigan niya.

"What's going on?" I asked PSG.

"Oh, Seo-jun brought some of his friends to watch Jin-hyeong. Though I told them to be quiet so they could have a picture with after the interview and because they also knew me, they took a picture with me. We haven't got a picture together, right, Raijine?"

I chuckled. "I don't think it's necessary when you're going to be with Chini most of the way." Tinapik ko ang balikat niya. "I hope you've got what it takes to handle her."

He even squinted his eyes. "What do you mean by that?" he asked. I just laughed it off and then went to Chini and Jin-hyeong to serve them their drinks.

Jin-hyeong already sets his eyes on the banana milk so he grabbed and he excused himself for a while to drink it. A curve grew on his lips upon drinking it and I know I simply made his day by doing that. Chini then drinks the tea and as well I am.

We thought that his interview by the morning will end ay makapagpapahinga na ulit si Jin-hyeong, but Chini announced something na may tumawag sa kanya na gusto nila ifeature si BJH sa isang segment ng show nila and they are already here to meet him and to shoot the segment kahit wala pa mang napagkasusunduan. In the end ay napapayag naman si Jin-hyeong. They will shoot sa Sunrise Peak kung saan ay kikitain din nila 'yong vendor do'n.

I came along with them to see how the shooting goes. Nanonood lamang ako at this time, marami na ring nakinonood sa amin. There were people who wished to have a photo with BJH pero dahil tight ang schedule nito at pinakaiingatan talaga ni Chini, si PSG ang hinayaan niyang makipag-picture sa mga nanonood sa shooting. Four hours straight and itinagal ng shooting. Kasama na ro'n ang exclusive interview. Jin-hyeong didn't change his flamingo polo shirt and he's cute on it.

Later in the evening, we watched the news regarding his interview and all. Ang shinooting nila kanina ay sa weekend pa ipapalabas so everyone has something to look forward to. Chini was satisfied watching the news and even reading the blogs from the people who interviewed them because the next morning, Jin-hyeong has been trending worldwide and people are excited about his epic comeback. Whether it's music or drama, they are waiting for it.

I'm happy for Jin-hyeong. He's getting what he deserves now.

***

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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