~Oh Sehun~

Napabalikwas nalang ako mula sa pagkakatulog nang maramdaman ang paghila ni Luhan sa kamay ko. Napatingin ako sakanya at nakatingin siya sakin. Ngumiti siya at ganun din ang ginawa ko.

"Ayos ka na pala, Seth." sabi niya at umupo.

Tumango ako at saka ko lang napansin na nakatulog pala ako kakabantay sakanya. "Yes." i answered and brushed sleep from my eyes. Pero napansin kong hindi parin niya binibitawan yung kamay ko, at ganun din ako. "I woke up kanina lang." sabi ko saka ngumiti.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" tanong niya habang nakakunot noo.

I smiled. "I want to thank you." i answered. "Thank you for staying up forty-eight hours for me. Thank you and i want to repay you. Kaya ako andito."

Luhan grinned. "Wala naman akong sakit ah." sabi niya at napa-hikab. I chuckled. He's so cute when he do things like that.

Well... he's cute every time.

"But still..." i said and smiled wider.

Umiling naman siya and he reached out to touch my forehead with his free hand. "Wala ka ngang sakit." he said and pursed his lips. "Pero bakit nangyari sayo yun, Seth? Why did you pass out?" he asked and i can see concern in his eyes.

I looked away. "It's... nothing." i muttered.

"Sabi ni Kyungsoo, hindi mo na kailangang mapunta sa ospital. That you're not sick." pagpapatuloy niya pero hindi ko parin siya magawang tignan. "Pero... sobra akong nag-alala, Seth. Akala ko, hindi ka na magigising."

He suddenly squeezed my hand and i was forced to look at him.

"I'm happy you're back." he said and smiled too warmly. I forced a smile and stared at his kind face. I would never get tired of looking if it's his face that i'll be gazing at for forever.

"Master!" Kyungsoo suddenly came in from the door, alerting Luhan and me.

Puno ng takot ang mukha niya and i stood up, let go of Luhan's hand and walked towards Kyungsoo. Ramdam ko pa ang sakit ng katawan ko but i ignored it.

"What is it?" tanong ko.

Namumula ang mukha ni Kyungsoo. "Andito na siya, Master." he whispered. "Ang Daddy niyo, he's in the living room."

I stared at him wide eyed and looked back at Luhan. Nakatayo na siya at nakakunot noong nakatingin sa amin. Lumapit siya sa amin habang may nag-aalalang reaction sa mukha.

"Anong problema, Kyungsoo?" tanong niya at napatingin saming dalawa. "Anong meron?"

Hinawakan ni Kyungsoo yung kamay ni Luhan. "Y-yung Daddy kasi ni M-master... andito." kinakabahang sabi ni Kyung. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Luhan at napatingin sakin. I looked back at him and forced a smile.

"Walang mangyayaring masama." i said and sighed. "Just stay here and let me talk to my father, okay? It's a father and son thing." i said and looked at both of them.

Nagkatinginan muna silang dalawa saka tumango. Pilit naman na ngumiti si Kyungsoo. Hindi na nila kailangang madamay na dalawa.

Napatingin ako sa pinto at naglakad papunta doon. I opened it and felt my heart starting to pound fiercely.

"Seth!"

Lumingon ako at bago pa ako makapagsalita, Luhan is suddenly in front of me. He encircled his arms around my waist so suddenly and hugged me really tight. He buried his face into my chest and i can feel his nervousness.

I was shocked and can't move.

"Seth..." he whispered at parang naiiyak na siya. "If things won't go well... i'm right here." bulong niya at mas hinigpitan pa ang yakap sakin."We're right here. Hindi kami mawawala."

I looked down and patted his head once. Then i encircled my arms around him and buried my face into his hair.

"I know." i muttered and pulled him tighter.

He then pulled away slowly and stepped back from me. His eyes are full of worry and he gave me a tiny smile. "Sige na." he said and wiped tears from his eyes. "Kailangan niyo nang mag-usap." he looked down and he looks really sad.

I nodded slowly, still feeling his body against my arms.

I gave him another glance before turning away and heading out the door. Napatingin ako sa ibaba at andun nga si Daddy. Naka-business attire palang siya at mukhang inip na inip. Paikot-ikot lang siya sa sala habang tumitingin-tingin sa relo niya.

"Dad?" i called as i walked down the stairs fast.

He looked at me and glared. "Finally!" he said, exasperated. "Kanina pa ako andito, alam mo ba yun? I told that Do Kyungsoo to call you fast!" sigaw niya habang galit na nakatingin sakin.

I looked down and pursed my lips. "Sorry, Dad." i said and tried to calm my nerves. Nakakatakot si Daddy.

"Pack your things." he simply said at naglabas ng isang stick ng sigarilyo. "Pack them right now. Magpatulong ka sa maid mo at kay Kyungsoo." he lit his cigarette and puffed smoke around the house.

I looked at him in disbelief.

"B-bat... san ako pupunta?" i asked him.

He looked at me pero agad din niyang iniwas yun. Daddy still can't accept my appearance. Nandidiri parin siya sakin hanggang ngayon.

"Far away." he muttered. "Hinahanap ka na ng mga kaibigan ko sa negosyo. I can't tell them what happened to you." He smoked once again, making the atmosphere gray.

I frowned. "What did you tell them?" i asked.

He scoffed and moved around. "I told them you're on vacation. I can't tell them you're sick or turned into something like that. Gusto mo bang mapahiya ako? My name and fame, baka masira." he shook his head in disgust. "Maybe I could try saying that you're dead already. Para hindi na ako mahirapan pa."

I shook my head in disbelief. "I thought you're my father... but why are you pushing me away?Throwing me into places i don't know!"

Napatingin sakin si Daddy. And for the first time, he looked at me for a long time, taking in my appearance. "You're not my son." he spit and it's like a dagger to my heart. "You are not my son! You stopped being my son the moment you turned into that!"

I stared at him and felt tears."Kyungsoo and Luhan accepted me!" sigaw ko sakanya. "Tinanggap nila ako kahit ganito ako, Dad! They never judged me! Pero bat ikaw? Why can't you accept me!" i shouted and let all the tears run down my face.

But Dad remained cold. "They need you." he said simply."Binabayaran natin sila para alagaan ka! Of course they will pretend to like you! They need your money."

"They have a heart, Dad." i hissed. "Yun ang wala ka."

Daddy laughed bitterly. "Bakit, magagamit mo ba yung puso mo sa mga bagay-bagay?" he asked and puffed. "A person with a heart is a loser. Weak. Fragile. You don't need the heart, you need the brains." 

I remained frozen in place. i can't believe he's saying these things.

"Go and pack your things." he ordered. "Now."

I shook my head and wiped my tears harshly."I'm not leaving." i firmly said. "Ikaw na din nagsabi diba, I stopped being your son the moment i turned into this." i looked at him. "Then you can't make me do things now."

He looked at me with anger. "Tandaan mo, ako parin ang bumubuhay sayo!" he shouted. "Without me, you're nothing but dead!"

"I'd rather be dead!" i screamed at him. "I'd rather be dead, Dad! Lalo na't alam kong yung sarili kong ama, hindi ako tanggap! I tried to please you all my life! Pero bakit kung kelan kita kailangan, wala ka?!"

Daddy stared at me, wide-eyed.

"Remember the night you saw me like this? You got the gun and nearly killed me. You didn't even listen to me." i muttered and look down. "I was expecting my father to say that everything would be fine. That i would get better soon. But no. Hindi yun ang nangyari. You threw me to this place para hindi masira ang pangalan mo."

I looked back at him. "I was wondering why Mom married someone like you. When you never treated us your family." 

Dad looked away and puffed his cigarette one last time. He then threw it to the floor and glanced at me.

"I don't want to leave, Dad." i whispered and looked down. "Dito... nahanap ko ang pagmamahal na kahit kelan, hindi mo naibigay sa akin... and i'm tired of forcing you to love me the way i would have loved you."

Dad remained silent until he grabbed his things and walked away. He threw me another glance before opening the door and leaving.

He left without even saying a word. He left me again.

I slumped to the floor, crying. I sobbed and cried hard, feeling all the pain. Sobrang sakit na sarili mong ama, hindi ka kayang mahalin.

What happened to Dad? Why did he become so cruel?

"Seth..." someone called and i felt a hand on my shoulder, patting me. I looked up and saw them all, Kyungsoo, Baek, Chanyeol, Kai and Luhan.

Luhan hugged me and patted my back gently. "It's okay..." he soothed. "We're here, Seth."

I hugged him back and cried. Suddenly, i felt arms around me, making me feel secure and comfortable. My friends started to whisper soothing words at me and when i glanced up, i saw Sulli, a few steps behind Luhan. I know i'm the only one who can see her.

She wiped tears from her eyes and smiled sadly at me.

I closed my eyes and leaned into Luhan's embrace. And suddenly, it's already my favorite place of all.

*****