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~Park Chan Hyun~

"Sigurado ka na ba talaga sa desisyon mo, Eun?" tanong ko ulit sakanya. Hawak niya yung clipboard habang nilalaro ang hawak na ballpen sa isang kamay. Inikot-ikot niya ito habang nakakunot noo at nakatingin ng maigi sa aming pito.

Andito kami sa Resto Hyun-Ae. Lunch period na at may general meeting ang mga teachers after nito kaya free cut. Wala nang klase.

Tumango si Ji-eun ng isang beses. "Mukha naman kayong mapagkakatiwalaan."

"Totoo yan, Eun." Sagot ni Hoseok habang naka-ngisi. Nakahawak siya sa baba niya habang tumatango-tango. Tong kabayong to.

Napa-irap nalang ako sakanya. "Eh ano bang magagawa naming pito?" tanong ni Taehyung. Mukhang seryoso siya ah. Career na career ata ang fact na sa unang pagkakataon, may magagawa kaming MAKATUTULONG sa ibang tao.

"Dahil masquerade ang theme ng ball..." sabay tingin sakin. "Oo. Dahil ito sa Cinderella story ng parents mo, Chan."

Tumango-tango nalang ako. Ang sikat ng story nina Papa at Daddy eh, anong magagawa ko?

Inayos ni Ji-eun yung suot niyang glasses saka seryosong tumingin samin. "Kailangan nating madecorate ang buong ballroom hall sa loob ng dalawang linggo. We need to finish it before the principal visits and looks."

"Sus! Eh yung auntie naman na ni Chan ang Principal!" singit ni Namjoon habang nakangiti ng malaki. "Special treatment na ito for sure!"

Tinignan siya ng masama ni Ji-eun. "Special treatment mo yang mukha mo, Namjoon." mataray na sabi nito. "Hindi ka na ba nahiya kay Miss Krystal?"

Napa-pout nalang ang isa sabay tingin sa malayo. Napa-iling ako at napabuntong hininga. Really. With these kind of people? Sa tingin ko wala kaming maayos na matatapos. 

"Teka..." singit ni Jimin sabay taas ng isang kamay. "Pwede bang sabihin mo nalang kung anong gagawin namin? Division of work kumbaga?" Napa-shrug siya sabay tingin sa aming lahat, naghihintay ng approval. Agad naman kaming tumango. 

Napabuntong hininga si Ji-eun at napahawak sa nakapusod niyang buhok. "Actually... papunta na ako doon." medyo asar na sabi nito. "Baka pwede niyo akong patapusin muna bago—"

"JI-EUN! My dearest baby!"

Nag-wave naman ng sobrang taas si Uncle Kyungsoo mula sa counter ng resto. "The food's ready! Ano? Kakain na ba kayo?" 

"Pa, later." nakangiting sagot ni Ji-eun. "I'll just inform you pag gutom na kami. Thanks, anyway."

"Gutom na ako." Bulong ni Jin sa tabi ko pero tinignan ko lang siya ng masama.

Tumango-tango nalang si Uncle Kyungsoo sabay balik sa loob ng kitchen. 

"Now..." pagsisimula ulit ni Ji-eun at agad na nawala yung ngiti sa labi niya. "Hoseok, ikaw ang in-charge the catering. Jimin at Jin, kayo ang in-charge sa intermission numbers. Yoonji at Namjoon, kayong bahala sa budget. You buy, we give the money. Taehyung, ikaw sa music. And Chan..." sabay tingin sakin ng seryoso. I gulped. "Help me with the decorations."

"Sure." medyo mahinang sabi ko.

Maya-maya pa, bumukas ang main door at isang seryoso at cold na Baek Min ang pumasok sa resto. May kasama siyang isang body guard na buhat ang bag niya. So it seems... hindi siya sinundo nina Daddy ngayon. Nakita niya kaming walo saka naglakad papunta sa amin. She looked at me with that blank expression of hers.

"What are you doing here, Oppa?" tanong niya. "With all your friends?"

"We're planning." I casually told her. "For the coming ball."

She nodded and pursed her lips. And then suddenly, I felt like may gusto pa siyang sabihin. Napatingin siya sa mga paa niya at pabalik sakin. She walked closer, almost touching me. "I already met him." bulong niya.

Medyo kinabahan naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Met who?" tanong ko.

"Seth." sagot niya. "Dumating na siya."

I raised an eyebrow. "And?" 

"I don't know." Then she sighed. "Never mind. He won't beat me." Then she clenched her fist, determined. And I knew the problem. Natatakot siyang matalo sa acads. I can see it on her face. This little sister of mine loves competing... especially when she knows she'll win.

And she hates being the loser.

I chuckled and patted her shoulder. "You can do it." I muttered. "Besides, you've proven yourself so many times before already."

"Daddy and Papa would get mad if—"

"Of course... not." tanggi ko. "I swear, they won't."

Min looked me over for about ten seconds before sighing and flipping her hair slowly. Napatingin siya sa mga kaibigan ko saka tumango. "Hello. Sorry to interrupt. Just need to talk to my brother for some seconds."

Tumango-tango lang yung anim and so, Min walked to one of the tables and pulled her books out of her bag. Then she started doing homework. Or advance reading.

We were still planning and debating about the colors for the stage when three men walked to the door. The two are my parents and the other one, I never knew before. Stranger, malamang. Napatingin ako sakanila at ganun din ang ginawa ng mga kasama ko.

"This place really is beautiful." The stranger said while looking around. Matangkad siya at gwapo. Dad's nearly as tall as him and Papa looks like a kid, standing between two tall men. I watched the stranger with curiosity.

"Chan Hyun?" Papa called when he sees me. Napangiti siya ng malaki at natawa. I waved and so did my friends. Dad looked me over and smiled. Anong ginagawa niya dito? May trabaho pa siya ah.

"Yifan," Papa said to the stranger. "Would you like to meet our kids?" 

The Yifan guy caught my eye and nodded, smiling at Papa. I frowned. Well, mukhang hindi naman siya interesadong makilala kami. Napatingin siya sakin and I know then and there that there's something "off" with this man. But I still don't know what that is.

"Min! Chan!" Papa called and we immediately stood up, walking to them. "This is Chan Hyun, our oldest. And of course, Baek Min, our daughter. Guys, this is Mr. Wu Yifan." pagpapakilala ni Papa samin kay Yifan.

Yifan looked at the two of us and smiled wide. "Nice to meet you, guys." he greeted happily but for some reason, it's somewhat forced. I guess. 

I think Min senses it, too, because she raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Wu." she said nonchalantly. And I did the same, smiling tightly and nodding at him.

"I think they're just tired from school." Papa said on our defense. The Yifan guy nodded and looked at Papa with a smile. And his eyes... they're too sincere and knowing.

I suddenly dislike him already.

Napatingin ako kay Daddy and he's just standing beside Papa, holding him by the waist. Pero nakikita ko sa mukha niya kung gaano siya kaseryoso. He's watching. Observing. Guarding.

I know he knows what this Yifan guy really wants... or who.

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