Connect 25: V's Step Mom

Ellin' POV

Natapos akong magperform para sa recitals namin at nandyan ang kambal para i-cheer ako at ang Bangtan Boys na nakaupo sa di kalayuan. I saw Rap Monster raised his thumb and winked at me. The rest were all standing up and cheering me on kahit wala na ako sa stage.

They gave me an A+, of course. I got the tune right and the high notes were flawless. I was expecting on acing this since yesterday. Although I sighed seeing Bangtan with only six members today. Sevanne is missing again. As always, for almost a week.

"Grabe! Sa ganda ng grades mo ngayon sa acads at sa recitals, you're really serious on reclaiming your title!" Chowa said as she cling on me after the recitals.

"And I am going to maintain it until the end of the school year," I added.

"Reclaim and maintain! That's the spirit! That's the Ellin we know!" Winona said and giggled as we walk down the corridors and head back to our rooms.

Kahit masaya ako sa naging performance ko, nag-aalala pa rin ako para kay Sevanne. Hindi na naman siya naka-attend ng recitals. Kahit naman hindi siya um-attend ay makakapasa siya dahil ang pamilya niya ang may pinakamalaking share sa school. Kaya lang naman siya nakalagpas ng Grade 10 at nakapag-senior high ay dahil doon.

Pero... he's acting so strange again. He's hiding something from me and from Bangtan.

"Gaaah! Look! Look! Nag-announce na ang school tungkol sa Coachella Athletics Week! Next month pa siya pero meron na agad announcements!!!" sabi ni Chowa kinabukasan pagkatungtong ko palang sa room.

"Tignan mo kung sino ang Team Leaders for each grade level!!!" Wowa exclaimed as she showed me the poster.

Grade 7, 8 and 9 are people that I'm not very familiar of... pero the rest of the grade levels got me...

Grade 10 - Jeon, Cole Jungkook

Grade 11 - Kim, Raphael Rap Monster

Grade 12 - Min, Suga

"WOW!" napatakip ako ng bibig ng makita ko ang mga tukmol sa line up ng team leaders! Hindi ako makapaniwala! Ganito na sila ka-active ngayon sa school?! Wow!

"Makikita kong magbasketball si Suga Oppa!" kinikilig na sabi ni Jean, isa sa mga classmates namin.

"Magaling si Jungkook sa 100 meter dash!" pagyayabang ni Grace.

"Kabog kayong lahat sa OOTD ni Rap Mon okay? Walang binatbat ang mga oppars ninyo!" aba't hindi nagpahuli si Wowa na bias talaga itong si Rap Mon.

Napailing nalang ako habang nakatingin sa listahan. Natatawa akong napakamot sa ulo dahil sa tuwa. "I can't believe this! They're really turning things around!"

***

Pumunta ako sa practice room nila after kong maglunch. Mabuti nalang at walang masyadong tao. Nakasalubong ko ang isang grupo ng Grade 7 na pababa at kilig na kilig habang tinitignan ang mga selfie nila kasama ang Bangtan.

"Annyeong, Bangtan!" bati ko sa kanila.

Jungkook ran towards me ang greeted me with a smile. "Noona!!! Come have lunch with us! Jin-hyung made lunch for us today!"

"Duh, Kookie, I make lunch everyday. Wag 'kang feeling special." Biglang epal ni Madame Jin.

Umiling ako at umupo sa isang vacant seat. "Kakatapos ko lang kumain. Gusto ko lang i-congrats sila Rap Mon, Jungkook at Suga," I said.

"Omo! CA Week! Yes! I am so awesome, neh noona?" Jungkook exclaimed.

"Yes you are Jungkook," natatawa kong sagot tsaka sila nagpatuloy kumain.

The rest were messing around after lunch at naiwan sila Jin, Suga at Rap Mon kasama ko.

"So, what's the next song?" masaya kong tanong.

"Wala pa, hindi kami makapagplano dahil ilang araw ng missing in action si Sevanne." Rap Mon said and crinkle his nose.

"That idiotic piece of shit. What have he gotten himself into again?" Suga said and rolled his eyes. Hay nako Suga, same. Relatable. Ganyan din ang sasabihin ko if ever.

"Ellin, have you seen him?" Jin asked.

"One time, may mga sugat yung mukha niya at gabi na siya laging umuwi. Minsan madaling-araw."

"Is it because his step mom is back?" Jhope suddenly said and everyone of us stared at him. "W-What? Hindi ba kayo aware?" naiilang niyang tanong sa Bangtan.

"The witch is back?" Jungkook said. Jin pick up his fan and throw it on the maknae.

"Don't call her witch!" Jin yelled. He gently holds his water jug and drink from it. "That woman is satan," he blurted out after.

Muntik na akong mahulog sa kinauupuan ko. The rest were agreeing on what Jin said as they nod in chorus.

"Do you really need to say that?" tanong ko.

"If there's someone much evil than Satan, I think it's her... Sevanne's step mom," Rap Monster explained.

"That bitch must've gotten her head hurt after breaking out of the earth's crust coming from Hell," Suga emphasized.

"I agree," Jin said as he fans himself.

I sighed and continued watching them eat. Hindi nga lang ako matahimik sa mga narinig ko. If V's step mom is back then that means trouble? And if V's missing again I'm guessing he is dealing with trouble on his own, AGAIN.

Nakauwi ako ng apartment na medyo lutang ang isip dahil pa rin kay Sevanne. I can't stop thinking about him and I'm sure something's going on. Tinititigan ko lang yung A+ card ko after ng pre-final recitals pero hindi ko ramdam yung saya after kong malaman ang tungkol sa step mom ni Sevanne.

Mga 10:45, nakarinig ako ng footsteps kaya naman nagmadali akong lumabas ng kwarto ko. Sakto nakatayo si Sevanne sa harap ng pintuan niya at binubuksan ito.

"V!" bati ko sabay hampas sa likod niya.

"Hmm?" he replied while still busy unlocking his door.

"W-Where have you been? Pre-final recitals kanina and-"

"Just cutting classes," agad nitong sagot. Nabuksan na niya ang pintuan niya kaya naman agad kong hinila ang white shirt niya mula sa likuran. "Yah! What do you want?!" inis nitong sabi pagkaharap saken.

"Sevanne..." I said with a low voice while looking down, both my hands tightly holding on to the hem of his shirt.

"Anya..." hindi ko siya makita pero ramdam kong humarap siya at hinawakan ang mga kamay ko kaya bumitaw na ako. "Look, I'm just fixing stuffs..."

"With your step mom?"

He sighed and scratched his head. "Yes. I can't hide anything from you now, ey?" he said and then gave me a weak grin.

"Bangtan is also worried about you, you know that?"

"I know, Rap Mon always sends me text messages. I just-well I need to deal with things on my own for now."

"Will you be okay?"

"I will be okay, Anya," he smiled and messed up my hair a bit.

"Okay. If you need help with catching up in school, I'm just here, one knock away from your room. Okay?"

He let go of my hand and nodded. I smiled and I went back to my room. Somehow talking to him made me feel at ease.

The next day, I went to school and attended my first class diligently. Three days from now, there will be an announcement of the Pre-final rankings and I am looking forward for it. Lagi akong dumadaan sa bulletin board to check if the Faculty have already posted it.

Pabalik na sana ako sa room galing sa lunch break when I saw V running down the stairs. I hold on to my backpack strap and shook my head.

"No. You cannot cut class. You can't miss your class without any relevant reason. You ca-"

"Miss Valdez? What are you doing in the corridors? Afternoon class will start in a few minutes?"

I turned around and hold on to my stomach. I saw Sir Servo looking at me with confused eyes. I wrinkled my face and hurled down the floor.

"Sir, ang sakit po ng tiyan ko! Umaatake na naman po yata ang ulcer ko!" I said as I pretended to arc my body because of pain.

"T-Teka-tatawag ako ng nurse sa infirmary-"

"N-Nasa bahay ko po yung gamot! Nalimutan kong dalhin! Hindi po advisable sa akin kapag hindi po yung gamot na nireseta ng doktor ko eh. Pwede po ba akong umuwi?"

"Ah-oh siya, sige! Ako ng bahala sa mga afternoon class mo, ie-excuse ka nalang namin. Sige Miss Valdez, magpahinga ka nalang sa bahay, gusto mo ba ihatid na kita sa may gate-"

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo at umiling kay Sir Servo. "Okay na ho! Pipilitin ko nalang ho! Kailangan ko na kasing umuwi para makainom ng gamot ko! Maraming salamat Sir!"

Nagpatuloy ang drama ko hanggang sa labas ng gate. Sakto! Naabutan ko pa si Sevanne na pasakay ng taxi. Papara pa lang sana ako ng taxi nang may humintong van sa tapat ko at bigla akong isinakay. Nakita ko agad ang mga lalaki sa loob ng van na naka-shades kaya naman pikit mata akong sumigaw at pumalag.

"Ahhh!!! Kayo yung nangunguha ng organs!!! Jusko! Pos dyos por santo!!! Mahilig po ako sa junkfood!!! Madumi na po ang atay ko! Mahilig akong pumapak ng vetsin at-"

"Ellin, calm down!!!" natigilan ako ng marinig ko silang lahat na sumigaw. Nasa loob na ako ng van at naandar na ito. They all removed their shades and realized who they are.

"B-Bangtan Boys?"

"My Goodness! Mukha ba kaming mga kidnappers na nangunguha ng internal organs? Mahiya ka nga sa balat mo!" imbyernang sumbat saken ni Jin na nasa pinakalikuran ng van.

Si Rap Mon at Jhope ang katabi ko. Nasa likuran si Jimin at Jungkook. Suga is with Jin.

"T-Teka bakit-"

"You can't do the secret surveillance without us, Ellin," Rap Mon said and winked at me.

"You mean-you'll follow V too?" I said in awe.

They all nodded.

"Masters, the cab that Master Sevanne is riding stopped at a couture shop," the driver of the van said.

"Okay Fredrickson. Park the van at a nearby area. Make sure he will not notice us," biglang utos ni Jin. Wow, yayamanin talaga ni Madame Seokjin, may driver na english speaking.

"Here, wear this," Jhope handed me sunglasses and a hat. "If we'll follow him secretly, we need some disguise," he said and smiled at me.

I nodded and wear it. Hinila ako ng Bangtan Boys sa kalapit ng boutique ng couture shop kung saan nandoon si V. Jin dragged me all the way to the fitting room and throw in a bunch of clothes.

"A-Anong gagawin ko dito?" I asked while I'm so confused and trying to hold on to all the clothes he gave me.

"Kainin mo?" he said sarcastically bago isarado ang pinto ng fitting room.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Hindi rin nagtagal ay may sales lady na nagabot sa akin ng isang black dress. Hindi ko alam kung para saan pero isinuot ko na lang. Mukhang mamahalin nga eh. Ang alam ko lang naman, magpapalit kami ng uniform para hindi kami mahalata ni V. Ganito ba ang casual clothes para sa kanila?

"Are you done noona?" Jungkook asked as I was done zipping my dress. Tumingin ako sa salamin at ngumiti. Nang makalabas ako ng fitting room nakaabang si Jungkook at Jimin sa akin.

"You look pretty!!!" masayang sabi sa akin ng dalawa.

"Thank you!" pansin ko naman na naka-suit and tie sila. Grabe? Hindi ako informed na may JS prom pala ngayon?

"Wow," I heard Rap Mon's deep voice behind me so I turned around. He looks so good with a coat and a button down and his hair is brushed up neatly. Napansin ko din na may hawak siyang high heels na black. He placed the heels in front of me and shrugged. "You can't pair that beautiful dress with your uniform shoes you know," he said and then laughed.

I wore the heels. I was shaky for a bit but I got used to it after a few minutes. Pinaupo din ako sa may harap ng salamin at nilagyan ng make up. Nakatali ang buhok ko but one of the girls in the boutique removed it. She curled my hair a bit and put some hairspray. They put some jewelry and accessories too.

After Suga snap some selfies, Mr. Fredrikson entered the boutique and whispered to Jin.

"Well let's go, may sinusunod tayong schedule," Jin said and we all went back to the van.

Mukha akong timang habang ina-absorb ko pa yung mga nangyari. Ang alam ko, nagpanggap akong inaatake ng ulcer para magcut class at sundan si Sevanne but I ended up with Bangtan Boys and they let me wear all this fancy things and made me look like a human. Now I don't know where the hell are we going.

"Don't be confused, Ellin." Rap Monster said sort of reading my mind while looking out in the window.

"We're still following V, don't worry. He's just in a very tight schedule. Fredrickson found out he's attending a party tonight with his step mom. And since we are following him, we also needed to disguise ourselves to be able to make this stalking a success." Jhope explained to me and chuckled.

"Is the party this-uhm-extravagant? I mean it's too fancy-"

"You'll know when we get there, Ellin," Suga said. I didn't say a word until we got to the LR Corporation building.

It was a HUGE building. More like 40-50 storey. And since it's already night, the lights in the building are gleaming and beautiful. It made me so nervous.

"Oh my God, don't tell me they own this place?"

"This is just one of the many buildings they own, Ellin," Rap Mon said as we all look up.

"I think I'm going to puke," I said as I can feel my stomach hurling for real this time. The butterflies and bees in my stomach doesn't like the fancy vibe of this place.

"Shall we get in?" sabi ni Jin na agad nagpakaba sa akin at napahawak ako kay Jhope.

"What's wrong, Ellin?"

"K-Kayo nalang kaya? I mean, kaya niyo naman sigurong sundan si V eh? D-Diba? Itext niyo nalang a-ako kung anong nangyari?!" tatalikuran ko na sana sila pero agad akong hinila ni Jhope.

"What about V? I thought you're worried about him. We all are. And we are doing this together, Ellin. Don't be afraid, we're here. Hindi ka namin iiwan," he said and gave me a smile.

"P-Pero kasi-I don't belong in the-"

"None of us do, but we have to go there and save V because I'm sure as hell he thinks the same as we do at hindi natin siya iiwan na mag-isa doon," Rap Mon said.

I'm damn sure V hates fancy parties. He hates pathetic people. The V I know would rather stay in the apartment than do all of this.

I smiled and step towards them. "Let's go and save V."

V's POV

This is a pathetic party. All these bitches dressed but all their boobs and legs exposed. Sana hindi nalang sila nagdamit. All these girls just want to get laid and it makes me sick.

"Sevanne, entertain our guests," bulong saken ni Auntie Elena, my evil witch bitch step mom.

I have to follow her because she'll do everything to ruin Bangtan and our competition in URDB. Yes, she blackmailed me. And no, I can't afford to risk Bangtan. We are one step away from the Champion, I can't take another risk and let them suffer the consequences. In the end, I have no choice but to follow my parent's orders. Since I was born I was never given any choice at all. The only thing I have to do is to be the heir. I was born to inherit all these things.

"Sevanne, nice to see you! You look dashing!" an old lady greeted me. I faked a smile and nodded. "Have you met my daughter Leticia?"

In short, ang matandang hukluban na ito ay binubugaw ang anak niya sa akin. Well, unang una sa lahat, ayoko sa hipon. Baka nga fake lang boobs niya eh. Mukhang sandok pa ang anak niya.

"Hi Sevanne, nice to meet you!" sabi nung hipon na babae at lumapit saken para makipagbeso.

"Yeah. Me too," sabi ko tsaka natatawang lumayo sa kanya after ng beso. "I-If you'll excuse me, I'll just get some drinks. Have fun," nagbow ako bago umalis at dumiretcho sa mga waiter na nagseserve ng white wine.

Naghanap ako ng vodka or kahit anong mabilis tumalab yung amats para malibang naman ako pero si Auntie puro white wine lang ang pinaserve at wala man lang hard drinks.

Kumuha ako ng isang baso ng white wine at inubos iyon. Actually inubos ko lahat ng wine sa tray ng waiter kaya medyo nagulat siya.

"Meron pa ba?" I asked after finishing the last glass.

"A-Ah-yes Sir, kukuha lang po ako-" natigilan ang waiter ng makarinig kami ng nahulog na baso. Everyone shifted their attention at the left side of the party hall.

Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita ko kung sino ang mga taong nandoon.

"N-Nako! I'm sorry! Sorry!" sabi ni Ellin habang bow ng bow sa waiter. Mukhang natabig niya ang tray nito dahilan para mahulog ang mga baso.

Lalapit na sana ako when Auntie Elena got there before I did. I bit my lip as I saw Bangtan's reaction. They were all nervous to face Auntie Elena. They know how much she loathes Bangtan.

"I am very sure I did not invite you meddling kids here," she said as she holds on to her fur scarf.

"Auntie Elena, we just dropped by to see you, we missed you-"

"Well I do not miss you Raphael," Auntie interfered. I saw Rap Mon looked down and shut his eyes out of embarrasement. Hindi talaga natutuwa si Auntie kay Leader-nim dati pa.

"If you are planning to ruin my party I might as well call the securi-"

"Auntie Elena!" Jin rushed to her and smiled. "We just heard you came back and we wanted to greet you. Our families also sent us here to deliver their greetings. They were very delighted that you returned here in the Philippines," he said in a very charming way. Everyone swooned, Jin is very good at this.

"I know how much of a crooner you are Jin, but since you are here for your families just like what you said, I shall consider. Just try not to pester Sevanne with his duties."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil si Jin hyung lang talaga ang kayang sumabay kay Auntie. Chicken feeds lang sa kanyang i-sweet talk si Auntie eh.

Papaalis na sana si Auntie nang tumigil ito at-

"By the way, who is this girl you're with?"

Oh shit.

****

LOOK WHO'S BACK FROM THE DEAD! HAHAHA. SINCE I AM DONE WITH SCHOOL AND IM JUST WAITING FOR GRADUATION AND IM A JOBLESS POTATO, WHY NOT FINISH MY ONGOING STORIES RIGHT?

I miss Bangtan! I miss CTD! ♡