Chapter 5

"What do you think I should get?" tanong ko kay BJH dahil kausap ko siya over the phone.

Nasa isang clothing shop ako ngayon. He gave me his card so I can pay for it. Dumiretsyo siya sa restroom while I went to a store para maghanap ng mabibiling damit niya at mapalitan ang natapunang shirt niya. Well, this is kind of my suggestion, dahil ayokong umuwi ay sinabihan ko siyang bumili na lang kami ng maipapalit na damit so hindi na kami uuwi ng condo niya. He went with the idea so I ended up confused inside this clothing store as to what I should pick for him.

"I don't know, Raijine. I'm not there to see it."

"Then video call kita so you can see it," aniko. Mabilis ko namang inilipa thru video call ang pag-uusap namin saka ko pinakita sa kanya ang mga sweatshirt, plan tees, at collared polo-shirt na nasa harapan ko ngayon. Tinutok ko naman sa camera iyon so he could see it. "What do you think you should wear?"

"I don't know..."

I was about to cry kasi hindi siya nakikipag-cooperate sa akin. Mukha lamang niya ang nakaharap sa maliit na screen ng phone ko—it was an old Iphone 6, wala akong budget to buy the latest models. Pinapanood niya lang din ako mag-struggle and I'm not sure if he's playing with me now.

"Ito bang sweatshirt bet mo?" I queried.

"That's cool... anything?" he asked.

From what he could only see from my camera phone, tinuro ko sa kanya 'yong collared polo shirt and he just shook his head.

Napabitaw naman ako ng malalim na hininga. "I'm not sure what should I get to you? Kailangan mo rin ba ng brief?"

He squinted his eyes as if he's questioning with that kind of look. "Why do you need to buy me a brief? My shirt's only a mess... and not's what inside."

"No... I mean... whatever. So, what do you want? Ikaw naman 'tong magsusuot ng damit, e. I want to pick something you'll be comfortable with and somewhat looks like you... something that gives the Baek Jin-Hyeong true energy."

"Then imagine me wearing what you think looks good on me," he said. "I'll give the decision to yours. Surprise me, Raijine." And then he just ended the video call.

"Sir?!" I was about to call him back, but I stop acting heinously. He's just giving me the decision so reckless. Magpapalit din kaya siya ng damit niya pagdating do'n sa interview? Makaaapekto ba ang pipiliin kong damit sa brand image niya? I've got a list of BJH's brand contracts at sa tingin ko hindi naman magkaroroon ng conflict if he's going to wear a shirt out of his sponsors.

Then I just took the risks and picked whatever he would look good in it. Dumiretsyo agad ako sa cashier para bayaran ang dalawang binili kong damit for BJH. When they punched the items and I gave the card, the cashier lady asked me why am I using a different name on the card and because I don't want to make any trouble, I just had to get a quick call from BJH and confirmed that I'm his assistant.

Parang tanga na pinigilan ni ateng cashier 'yong kilig niya nang makausap niya ito thru phone. Para bang ayaw pang ibalik sa akin ang phone ko kung hindi lang binaba ni BJH ang tawag. She immediately packed the items for me and apologized for the inconvenience she did. Umalis na rin ako ng clothing shop at tinungo ang restroom kung nasaan si BJH ngayon.

I just left him there earlier just to buy him a new shirt. Pinaiwan ko na rin naman sa kanya 'yong Killian paper bag ko since I'm a rush. I texted him when I'm already out of the restroom and already waiting for him.

A moment later, he came out of the restroom and my eyes landed on the mess on his shirt. Inabot ko sa kanya ang paper bag mula sa clothing shop na pinagbilhan ko. His eyes landed on it and instead of grabbing the paper bag and get back inside the restroom to change, he pulled me in and I was so surprised when he did that. Nasa gilid lamang ako habang pinapanood kong hubarin ni BJH ang marumi niyang shirt saka niya nilapag iyon sa may washbin at nilahad niya ang kamay niya expecting the shirt I bought for him.

"Ay, sorry, wait!" aliliga kong sagot sa kanya.

Hindi ko sure kung bakit pinanood ko lang siyang maghubad sa harapan ko at gawin ko ang trabaho ko. Ang kinis naman niya kasi. Matikas ang pangangatawan. He's slim pero alaga naman ang katawan niya at ang kutis. But I've always known BJH took a lot of his taking a bath.

Kinuha ko dalang damit na binili ko at inipit sa kilikili ko ang paper bag. Napangiwi naman ako ng magpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa pastel pink sweatshirt na may bunny design at saka plain beige shirt with collar. "What do you think ang mas bagay sa 'yo?"

"What do you think?" tanong nito sa akin. Mapakakamot na lang talaga ako sa ulo ko kasi sa akin na naman niya tinapon 'yong tanong na 'yon.

"Hindi ko alam... pumili ka na lang kung anong gusto mo. Lamigin ka pa. Nakahubad ka pa naman... sak aang lamig-lamig dito sa restroom."

Ngisi na lang din naman ang naging respond nito sa akin. "I know... so choose one for me. What do you think suits me?"

"Uh... this one?" Iniangat ko 'yong kamay ko na may hawak sa pastel pink sweatshirt na may small bunny design sa left chest. Inabot naman niya iyon at tinitigan. Para naman akong baliw na sobra ang kaba sa dibdib ko dahil baka hindi niya magustuhan iyong binili kong damit sa kanya.

"This is cute. I'll wear this," aniya matapos eksaminahin ang shirt.

He nodded. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag do'n kaya naman binalik ko na sa loob ng paper bag ang isang shirt at iyong maruming pinagpalitan niya. He was about to wear the sweatshirt when we heard someone getting inside the restroom so we both panicked. Dahil hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko, tinitigan ko na lang si BJH dahil siya naman ang naghatak sa akin sa loob and he made a quick plan by pushing ourselves inside the cubicle.

Good thing, hindi gano'n kasikip ang loob ng cubicle dahilan para magkaroon pa kami ng espasyo sa pagitan naming dalawa o kung nagkataon, baka meron nang kumikiskis sa aming dalawa ngayon.

We listened to the person who came in and walked in just to the cubicle next to us. Nakatungtong ako sa inidoro para hindi mapagkalamang dalawa kaming nasa loob ng cubicle. Sobrang tahimik naming dalawa na pati pag-ihi ng lalaki ay rinig naming dalawa. We both wanna laugh at the moment, but we remained in silence dahil mabubuking kaming dalawa rito ngayon.

When the person walked out and heard the running water from the sink, I shifted my attention to BJH.

"Ah... sir... why are you hiding?" I asked. He squinted his eyes as if it's our only way so people won't be able to find us here. "This is the men's room... and you're a guy and it's okay for you not to hide, right?"

He looked at me as if he's internalizing everything I've mentioned and then he was about to laugh as his shoulder started moving so I had to cover his mouth with my hand so he wouldn't make a noise. Nagulat pa siya sa ginawa ko pero naiintindihan naman niya kung bakit ko ginawa 'yon. Pinakiramdaman na lang din naman namin kung palabas na ba 'yong lalaki o hindi, but then few came in and out, and then we stayed inside the cubicle for almost fifteen minutes until the restroom laid at peace for a moment.

BJH was the first one who walked out of the cubicle to check if there are still people around the restroom and when he managed to check it and we're alone inside, he knocked on the cubicle door making me walk out of it so we'll be out of this restroom as soon as possible. We thought it was safe and sound already, but just when he opens the door, a man came in sight and shocked plastered in his face. That's the moment my boss and I started running away from the area until we stopped chasing our breath and started laughing about what happened.

"Jami issassa!" he muttered, laughing. (That was fun!)

I nodded, agreeing to him. "Yes! That was so hilarious. If that man could only see his reaction, it was priceless!"

"Yeah!" He giggled. And then we heard a phone ringing and it's coming from his pocket. "Zamkkan," he excused himself. (Wait a minute.)

Sinagot naman niya 'yong tawag and he spoke straight in his language kaya hindi ko rin na-process agad sa utak ko 'yong pinagsasabi niya. I checked my phone and then I gasped so bad when Chini ringed for a few missed calls and she's been flooding me with messages kung nasaan na ba raw kaming dalawa ni BJH. I was about reply to her messages when BJH came back at me announcing that he just got a call from Chini and she's already looking for us and we should get going to the location of his interview.

Ako 'yong nanlumo kasi dapat ako 'yong nag-iinform sa kanya at laging attentive sa schedule niya at kung ano pang mga ganap pero ako pa itong lutang ngayon. Nagmamadali kaming tumungo ni BJH sa basement parking area. Halos ang lalaki ng mga hakbang ko para lang masabayan si BJH sa bilis ng paglalakad niya. Kinuha niya pa 'yong ilang paper bag na dala ko para hindi ako mahirapan and with that, we finally reached the parking and the driver met us there and there we leave right away.

We'll be heading to one of TYPE Entertainment's studios to have his interview. It only took us about fifteen-minute drive and as soon as we've reached the place, Chini's already waiting for us outside of the studio. Hindi ko anman alam kung anong ipakikita kong reaksyon kay BJH kaya tahimik lamang ako at si BJH na ang unang lumapit sa kanya. Agad niyang senermonan 'yon kasi dapat pagsapit ng noon ay nandito na kami, but we're ten minutes late. Kasunod lamang nila akong dalawa papasok sa loob ng building.

Tumungo naman kami sa elevator at lumapag sa 8th floor kung nasaan ang studio units. Agad namang dinala si BJH sa dressing room so he could prepare before he go and face the camera. Tahimik lamang ako at pinapanood habang minamandohan ni Chini iyong mga nag-aayos na make-up artist, hairstylist, at wardrobe personnel. When Chini secured everything for BJH, nalipat sa akin ang atensyon siya at saka tinabihan niya ako sa pagkatatayo ko sa gilid.

"Jelay." Sa pagbanggit pa lamang nito ng pangalan ko, alam kong it's already not a good new for me kaya hinanda ko na ang sarili ko. "Akala ko nagjojoke lang si Jin-Hyeong na pumunta kayo sa Galleria ngayon, but then I saw this picture while surfing online, are you guys kidding me?" Pinakita niya sa akin 'yong photo namin do'n sa restaurant sa Galleria na kumakain tapos 'yong picture na natapunan si BJH ng pagkain sa damit niya. Napailing na lang din naman ito sa akin kasi hindi ko rin naman alam ang gagawin ko. Napayuko na lamang ako at hindi ko napigilang tumulo ang luha ko. Sinilip naman ni Chini ang mukha ko pero pilit ko namang iniiwas. She hold me on my shoulder then to my chin para iangat niya. "Hala, Jelay! Bakit ka umiiyak?"

Humihikbi na ako pero pinipigilan ko lamang bumuhos ang emosyon ko. Hinaplos naman nito ang likod ko upang patahanin ako.

"Sorry, Chini..."

Napabitaw na lang din naman ito ng malalim na buntonghininga. "Hindi naman ako galit 'no? Siguro slight kasi we're on a schedule today tapos kung saan-saan pa nagpupunta, but I know this is Jin-Hyeong's idea so don't cry na. Hindi naman kita pinapagalitan, I'm just making sure na kayo nga talaga 'to at hindi edit lang."

"Thank you..." I muttered. "Alam mo rin namang hindi ko pwedeng paalisin si BJH na siya lang mag-isa, 'di ba?"

"Yup, true naman." Tinapik naman niya ang balikat ko. "But this could be a good reminder na rin for future situation na mangyari 'to ulit, alright?"

Saglit lang ay hindi namin namalayan na nakatayo na pala si BJH sa harap namin. He already had his make-up done, changed his clothes, and had his hair done perfectly.

"Ulge mandlerssa, Cini?" he questioned his manager. (Did you make her cry, Chini?)

"Ani. Nanen danji mioc gazi jilmuneuhlago issassda. Gnionen danji ulda..." she answered. "Anyway, are you ready for your first interview post-military?" (No. I was just asking some questions. She just cries...)

BJH smirked. "I don't know... maybe."

"And oh! I have an exciting news for you. It's about something Mr. Hwang proposed and you'll be glad that I made it happen. We're going to talk about it later after your interview so we could have some little celebration, right?"

He nodded. "Cool." And then he looked at me. "Are you okay, Raijine?"

I nodded swiftly. "I am..." And then I smiled.

The next thing happened, BJH was called by staff so they would brief him on what he should be doing on the interview. By what BJH didn't know, Chini and I saw Mi-Sun walked inside the other dressing room and we just look at each other shocked and with so many things to say.

"Dodaeche," Chini uttered. (What the fuck.)

***

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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