Connect 21: Girl Problems

Ellin's POV

Naglalakad ako sa hallway ng building namin ng mapansin ko si Jin sa locker area. He seemed like he's looking from left and right trying to see if the coast is clear. Malaki ang lockers ng Coachella so any musical instruments that are hand carried can be stored inside. So I wasn't surprised when Jin opened his locker and went inside.

Some of the students do that, either to sleep or hide. Lalapit na sana ako sa locker ni Jin when a group of girls passed by. Omo. Upperclassmen yung iba sa mga yun, same grade level nila Jin at Suga. At ang alam ko, sikat din yung mga babaeng yun eh. Their group is called EXID, composed of different girls from different levels din.

After the girls passed by the locker area, lumabas na din si Jin. Aalis na sana siya ng bigla akong sumulpot sa tabi niya.

"Hi Jin!" panggugulat ko.

"Ay shet na Hello Kitty! Pucha naman! Ellin naman eh!" minsan talaga medyo beki din ang aura nitong si Jin eh pero hindi ko nalang pinapansin.

"Sino type mo sa EXID?" tanong ko kaagad.

His face turned red in an instant! Ah yeah! I got you! "W-Wala! Bakit naman ako—"

"I saw you! Nagtago ka sa locker to catch a good glimpse of them. Sino ba dun?"

"Cut that out Ellin!"

Kilala ko naman silang lima. Yung leader nila si Soljin at si LE naman yung isa pang member na nasa grade 12. Si Hani at Hyelin nasa grade 11 at si Junghwa yung nasa grade 10. Cute silang lahat at ang major nila ay vocals din. Nakita ko na ang group recitals nila at sobrang ganda nga ng mga boses nila.

"Sino ba kasi do—"

"Hoy Jin!" nagulat ako ng biglang lumapit samin yung isang babae na member ng EXID. Yung si LE, ang alam ko pinakamasungit siya eh.

"B-Bakit?"

"Pengeng pera. Bibili lang ako ng lunch." grabe naman pala to kung makautos eh!

"Kapag binigyan ba kita, sasabihin mo na sa akin ang number ni Junghwa?"

"Hindi. Asa ka pa."

"Okay. Eto oh." sabay abot naman ni Jin ng pera. Ngumisi siya kay Jin bago umalis. Hinintay siya ng iba pa nilang member bago naglakad na ng tuluyan papunta sa Caf. Yung totoo?!

"Jin!!! Pumapayag ka na kinukuhanan ka niya ng pera?!!" hindi ko maitago ang pagkadismaya ko.

"She can take all my money if she wants." parang nahypnotized na sagot saken ni Jin habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

"Oh no—don't tell me siya ang—" agad naman akong pinatigil ni Jin ng pagsasalita.

"No one will know. Tayong dalawa lang!" he demanded.

I sighed and nodded. So gusto pala ni Jin si LE-eonnie. Okay. Gusto niya yata na naooverpower siya ng babae? Ewan. Pero bakit gusto niyang malaman ang number ni Junghwa? Kakaiba din tong si Jin eh.

Lunch break na at nahuli pa akong lumabas ng room kasi tinapos ko pang kopyahin yung nakasulat sa whiteboard. Yayamanin kasi ng mga classmates ko eh, picture nalang ang katapat.

As I was going down the Caf napansin kong may tao doon sa may section F. Napanganga ako na makita si Suga while a girl was pinned on the wall. Lalapit na sana ako when I heard the girl crying.

"S-Sorry Suga-oppa... hindi ko talaga pwedeng ibigay ang number niya sayo." nanginginig na sabi ng babae.

Obviously irritated, Suga slammed both of his hands on the wall making the girl squealed a bit.

"Aish. Hindi ko naman siya itetext eh. Kailangan lang talaga namin! Come on Hyelin!" he said.

"Pero—"

Suga placed his hands on Hyelin's head and twirled it left and right. He was playing her like a rug doll. I had to step in.

"Suga!" agad naalarma si Suga at napatigil. "Stop doing that to her!" I ordered.

Suga rolled his eyes. Hindi ko siya pinansin at lumapit kay Hyelin. Kasama din siya sa grupo ng EXID, yun nga lang soft spoken siya at madalas na tahimik lang unlike LE.

"Okay ka lang?" I asked worriedly.

"Yes. Okay lang ako, Ellin. Sanay na ako na ganyan siya saken." sabay tingin niya kay Suga na nakatayo lang sa tabi at halatang bored. "Kinukuha niya kasi yung number ni Junghwa but I will never give her number to him! I will not let you date her!" she yelled.

Nagkamot ng ulo si Yoongi at humarap kay Hyelin. "Kahit kelan ang stupid mo! Hindi ko nga siya idedate. May nag-utos lang saken!"

"Liar!" Hyelin ran away. I sighed and faced Suga.

"Hoy, ikaw. Ano yun? Akala ko pa naman you're sweet dahil sa pangalan mo. Turns out, you are the complete opposite."

"Iyakin na talaga si Hyelin, even before. Hayaan mo nalang siya. Sa iba nalang ako magtatanong ng number ni Junghwa." he walked out.

"Sino ba nag-utos na kunin mo yung number nung Junghwa?"

"I can't tell you that, Ellin." He smiled showing his complete set of teeth and gums of course.

Pinanuod ko nalang siya na maglakad palayo. Grabe! Ganito ba ka-complicated ang ugali ng Bangtan Boys towards girls? Yung isa masokista, yung isa naman parang hindi marunong kung paano dapat tratuhin ang mga babae. Labo!

After ng class agad akong pumunta sa taas kung saan malimit na nagpapractice ang Bangtan Boys, naabutan ko si Jimin na nagsasayaw mag-isa. He's really hardworking. Napatigil siya nang makita niya ako.

"Ellin! Hello! May hinahanap ka? Bukas pa ang practice namin eh pero kung bored ka titigan mo nalang itong abs ko!" nakangisi niya pang itinaas ang tshirt niya.

Humapdi ang mata ko nang makita ko ang abs ni Jimin. Ouch. Masyadong... perpekto... masakit sa mata. Joke.

"Ah hindi! May itatanong lang sana ako. May alam ka ba kung bakit tinatanong nila Jin at Suga ang number ni Junghwa?"

He nodded habang ibinababa ang shirt niya. Buti nalang tinago na niya yung nakakadistract niyang abs. "Ah! Si Leader-nim nalang ang tanungin mo niyan! Sabi niya kasi kapag sinabi ko hindi na daw niya ako ililibre eh."

"What?!" hindi ko maintindihan kung para saan ang ginagawa ng Bangtan at ayaw pa nilang ipagsabi iyon.

"Actually, inaaral ko nga ngayon yung dance steps ng EXID baka sakaling kapag nasayaw ko iyon, ibigay na saken yung number ni Junghwa eh!" sabay sayaw niya sa harapan ng salamin. I sighed and shook my head.

"Where is Rap Monster?" I asked impatiently.

"He's busy writing our next song."

I left Jimin and went straight to JHope. Hindi ko na matatanong si Rap Mon dahil ayokong makaistorbo. I approached JHope before he would even step out of our main building.

"Jhope-oppa!" I yelled so he could hear me and stop. He smiled as soon as he saw me.

"Ellin! Going home? Sabay ka na saken." he cheerfully asked.

"No! I'm fine. Maglalakad nalang ako pauwi. May itatanong lang sana ako."

"About?"

"About Junghwa, you know her?"

His face lit up and smiled. "Yes. So, nakarating na pala sa iyo yun. But you should ask V since siya ang may gustong makuha ang number ni Junghwa eh. Sa kanya mo na rin itanong ang iba pang detalye! Mauna na ako. Bye Ellin!" iniwan ako doon ni Jhope at hindi man lang niya hinintay ang sagot ko. Is he avoiding answering my questions?

As soon as I entered the apartment, I ran upstairs and instead of holding my door knob I found myself opening V's door.

I saw Jungkook and V sitting on the sofa and apparently just talking to each other. I went in kahit pa hindi pa ako pinapapasok ni V.

"What are you doing in my room, Anya?" he asked with a straight face.

Hinihingal pa ako mula sa pag-akyat pero agad din akong umupo sa sofa katabi Jungkook.

"Hi noona! Water gusto mo?" alok sa akin ni Kookie.

I refused and sat straight. "Sorry for barging in without your permission. It's just that I wanted to ask something that what has been bothering me the whole day."

Nakatingin lang saken yung dalawa, waiting for me to ask the question. I sighed and faced V.

"Bakit gusto ninyong makuha ang number ni Junghwa?"

Sevanne's eyes rolled upward and scratched his orange hair. "Aish. Ang hilig mong makielam sa problema ng iba." He said.

"What? I was just concern since I saw Jin and Suga today trying to get her number by talking to some of the members of EXID."

Jungkook stood up and sat next to V. "N-Noona okay lang kami. Gusto lang kasi ni V na makilala si Junghwa diba?" niyugyog ni Jungkook ang balikat ni V but he shrugged.

"Tell me the reason."

V and Jungkook looked at each other. V sighed and nodded at him. "Go on. Tell her." he said to Jungkook.

"But— But it's embarrassing."

I smiled at him and shook my head. "I will try my best to help, just tell me."

He was toying his own fingers while looking down when I heard him sigh. "Kasi— noona... I... I have a crush on Junghwa."

I was speechless for a while but I chuckled unknowingly. "Aww... Kookie." I smiled at him to make him feel at ease. "Normal lang na magkacrush ka. Don't be shy about it."

"Really noona? Kasi... the hyungs told me that it might be helpful if we get Junghwa's number and ask her out. I can't speak in front of her properly."

"So that's why Jin and Suga are on it? Well they failed though. Jin was pre-occupied with LE while Suga cannot even ask Hyelin in a nice way, scaring the poor girl."

"Well, Jin has a crush on LE since elementary while Suga and Hyelin are childhood friends that's why he's like that to her." V explained.

"Kahit na! That's not how you treat a lady! Don't worry I'll help you get Junghwa's number." I said at Jungkook and winked at him.

V's POV

Eto na naman po si Ellinanya Valdez, pumapasok ng basta basta sa kwarto ko at ginugulo ang plano namin para kay Jungkook. But she has a point, mukhang mahihirapan nga kami kung kami pa ang kukuha ng number nung Junghwa.

We don't know how to handle girls. Magkakasama na kami noon pa and we treat girls like how we treat others. In short, they are trash. Hindi namin kailangan ng babae para makapasok sa URDB. We can handle ourselves on our own.

Morning came and I had to go to school too early dahil may practice kami. I was yawning when Anya approached me. Her brown hair was tied up neatly kaya kitang-kita ko yung mukha niya. It was pleasant enough, parang a breathe of fresh air, something I look forward to going to school kind of feeling.

"Come with me! Bilis!" nagulat ako nang hilahin niya yung manggas ng uniform ko and dragging me to an empty hallway.

"What the—ano bang problema mo?!"

"You need to tell me your phone number." nagsalita siya ng pabulong. "And when a random number called you, save that number."

Hindi ko man magets, binigay ko pa rin ang number ko sa kanya and she memorized it. She smiled at me and ran off. Umiling nalang ako but I had to stop again dahil nakita ko siyang may kausap na babae.

"Pwede ba akong makahiram ng phone?" she asked the girl. "Nakalimutan ko kasi yung pack lunch ko sa bahay. Tatawagan ko lang yung landlady ko para ipatabi iyon."

The girl nodded and handed her phone to Anya. She was dialing on the phone and then I felt my phone vibrate.

It was an unknown number.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at pinanlalakihan niya ako ng mata. I think she wanted me to answer my phone.

I had no choice so I swiped it. I can hear her through the other line.

"Hello? Manang Ason! Yung pack lunch ko patabi ah? Thank you! Babye po!" and the phone call ended. I saw her handed back the phone to the girl and bowed to say thanks.

Nakangisi siyang lumapit sa akin and snapped her fingers. "Easy as that, we have Junghwa's number!"

Umiling nalang ako sa babaeng ito. Aaminin ko, that was very clever. Now all we have to do is for Jungkook to ask her on a date. I have to tell this to the rest.

After class, we all sat down the empty dance practice classroom kasama si Anya and Jungkook's phone at the center.

Paikot kami na nakaupo sa sahig. I was sitting beside Jungkook while Jhope was at the other side. Rap Mon and Jin on the left side while Jimin and Suga at the right. Anya was in front of us. Nakaindian sit kami lahat and all of us waiting for Jungkook to dial Junghwa's number.

"Ehhh!!! What if she turns down my invitation?!"

"Then we will try another time, Jungkook. Come on!" pagpapalakas ng loob ni Anya sa kanya.

"Yah! Ellin is right Kookie, listen to your noona!" pagchicheer ni Rap Mon sa kanya.

"There's tons of girls who'd want to date you. If she turns you down, it's her loss." maarteng komento ni Jin.

"Yah! Stop saying that! No one will lose anything but instead pare-pareho tayong may matututunan dito, okay?"

"Ugh. Ellin your words are too deep, tignan mo si Jimin natulo na dugo niya sa ilong. Di siya nakakaintindi ng mga ganyan!" inis na sabi ni Suga.

"Gagu ka talaga Yoongi hyung! Sinong slow? Ako?!"

"OO!" sagot naming lahat sa kanya.

"Wow ah! Friends ko ba talaga kayo?! Kainis eh!" saka siya nagpout sa harapan namin.

"Go on Jungkook." She pushed the phone to Jungkook and smiled.

Huminga ng malalim si Jungkook at kinuha ang phone. Nanginginig niyang dinial ang number ni Junghwa sa phone niya pero agad din niyang binitawan.

"I'm scared! Huwag nalang nating ituloy, noona! I can hide my feelings naman po eh!" he said almost crying.

"Yan tayo Jungkook eh! Sa taguan ng feelings ka lang magaling! Bakla ka talaga!" nagsalita ang hindi bakla, gagu din talaga si Jin Hyung eh. Di naman nakakatulong.

"But Jungkook, you need to man up! You all need to man up someday, right? Hindi naman kayo forever na boys."

"Hala. Ang pangit naman kasi kapag Bangtan Men na ang pangalan namin at hindi na Bangtan Boys. Ang bantot nun Ellin!!" we all grunted with Jimin's stupid side comment.

"Tangina mo Jimin. Wag ka nalang magsalita, di ka naman nakakatulong." sabay batok ni Suga sa kanya.

Natatawa nalang akong umiling. I saw Jhope giving Jungkook a pat in the back.

"Give it a shot first. At least you will not have regrets." he said to Jungkook.

He seemed uplifted kaya dinampot niya ulit ang phone at nagdial. We all gasped upon hearing the first ring. Jungkook was about to end the call again but Anya smiled at him and made Jungkook at ease.

"Yoboseoyo! Junghwa imnida. Sino to?"

Jungkook looked frightened but Anya showed her notebook and there was a written note there.

'Introduce yourself.'

Jungkook nodded. "S-Si Jungkook. Hi Junghwa." we all sighed with relief after he answered.

"Jeon Jungkook? Hello! Number mo to? Why did you called?"

Jungkook cannot find the words to say so he looked at Anya again who had another round of instructions written in her notepad.

'Tell her you called because you wanted to ask something.'

Jungkook cleared his throat before answering. "I- I wanted to ask you something Junghwa... if you don't mind?'

We heard her giggled. "Really? What is it?"

Anya flipped her notepad. The phrase written was 'Ask her out'.

"A-Are you free this weekend? Pwede ba kitang... yayain manuod ng sine?"

Rap Mon, holding his voice down was just jumping around with Jin silently, celebrating how the golden maknae bravely asked a girl out on a date. They look more like proud parents with Jin as the stage eomma and Leader nim as the proud appa. Suga and Jimin waits for Junghwa's response.

"Sure. On Saturday, near the bus station. 9 am? Is that okay Jeon Jungkook?"

Jungkook was living his dream. He nodded happily while holding his phone. "Yes. Saturday. 9 am. See you there, Junghwa."

Anya sighed as soon as the conversation was over and all of us jumped on Jungkook, punching him and kicking him playfully.

"Our golden maknae is now officially a man! Kailangan ng soju party!" naiiyak na sabi ni Jin.

"Omo! I need you there too when I ask Hani out okay?" Jimin said to Anya. Oo nga pala, type ni Jimin si Hani. Pareho silang malandi, bagay. De joke.

Anya looked at us while smiling. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit napapangiti ako kapag nakikita ko siyang nakangiti. Nakakahawa.

"Ellin." Jhope called her attention.

"Hmm? Wae oppa?"

"Gomawo... for helping Jungkook." he pats her head and smiled.

She giggled and smiled back to. "It was nothing, oppa. Jungkook needs help, I will always be there for him."

They both laughed and joined in the celebration, leaving me in awe. Her voice echoes in my head...

oppa

oppa?

OPPA.

Why doesn't he call me oppa?

I want her to call me oppa.

* * * *

Doegopa neoui oppa~

Have you seen the teaser? Kumusta naman ang mamatay? Ang saya maging ARMY, teaser palang patay na kaluluwa mo. Hayup. HAYUP SUGA. HAYUP. T___T

#BANGTANCOMEBACK

#PREPAREYOURSOULS

#BANGTANBEGINS