Chapter Nineteen

I was wrong when I said that the worst was just about to come 'cause it wasn't the worst… the worst was what was coming my way now.

Ang pinakahuling gusto kong mangyari sa araw na ito ay ang makaharap pa si Jimin dahil hindi maganda ang loob ko sa ginawa niya kanina. If it wasn't because of him then I wouldn't have to deal with that loathsome bastard and with that annoying jerk.

There would be no lousy encounter with Cael Severino and an unexpected confession from Jungkook Jeon.

And above all, he ditched me for Cielo Severino! He ditched me for that two-faced bitch when he could have texted me or at least have let me know that he couldn't take me home! What was so hard about it?!

Dati naman ay hindi niya nakakalimutang sabihan ako, mag-e-effort pa siyang tawagan ako o pilitin akong sumabay na lang sa kaniya kaysa ang makasama niya ang dini-date niya. And no, I was pissed so I didn't want to see his face!

I tried so hard to keep a hard and stone face when he was just about ten meters away from me. Pinigilan ko ang mapakunot-noo nang mapansing suot pa rin niya ang uniform niya ngunit nawawala na ang pulang blazer niya maging ang necktie niya. Katulad ng nakasanayan, magulo ang buhok at tumitingkad ang mapulang mga labi kahit madilim na ang paligid.

And he didn't look pleased too. And who freaking cared?! I was pissed! And I might just claw his handsome face if he would dare get near me!

"East—"

Bago pa man siya tuluyang makarating sa mismong harap ko ay marahas na pumihit na ako paharap sa bahay at mabilis na nagmartsa papasok. Nagmadali ako dahil ayaw kong maabutan niya ako. Surely our maids would gladly entertain him if I didn't and surely, my sister would be very nice to keep him company until he decided to go home 'cause I was not in the best of mood to talk to him, see him the most!

Hindi ko pinansin ang mga maids na nakasalubong ko kahit na ramdam ko rin ang pagsunod ni Jimin sa akin at kung paanong lumampas sa likod ko ang mga nagtatakang mata ng bawat maids na nalalampasan ko.

I hoped Daddy was in the study room 'cause I wouldn't want to deal with him too.

"East, wait! East—"

"Jimin, hijo…"

Hindi lang ako ang natigilan sa dulo ng hagdan nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon ni Daddy. I didn't know but I quickly thought how he was talking softly and very openly to Jungkook when I was reminded how he was never like that to Jimin. Casual lang siya sa best friend ko kahit noon pa.

They would talk but not like how Daddy was being overly interested with Jungkook earlier.

Mabilis akong lumingon ngunit agad din naman akong napa-atras nang makitang nasa likod ko na si Jimin, ang isang kamay ay naka-angat at tipong nahinto sa pag-abot sa akin habang nakatitig siya sa direksyon ng living room. His sweet and minty scent immediately soothing my nose and I could have thrown myself onto him and tightly held onto him only if I didn't see my father sitting casually on the couch at the living room.

Sa pabilog na coffee table sa harap niya ay may bukas na laptop, ilang mga folders at isang baso ng tubig. The spectacles on his eyes intimidated me a bit since I didn't often see him wearing such plus he was still in his formal getup, stating how he still wasn't done with his work for today.

"T-Tito Feb!" Jimin piped, shocked. Umatras siya at tuluyan nang humarap sa direksyon ni Daddy.

Naintindihan kong nagulat siya sa presensiya ni Daddy dahil hindi naman madalas si Daddy rito sa bahay. Plus, it had been months already since they last saw each other.

"What are you doing here at this time of the night?" tanong ni Daddy habang unti-unting nagsasalubong ang mga kilay niya. He spared me a quick glance and I knew more than speaking since he was not talking to me.

Kahit na sa loob-loob ko gusto ko na siyang sigawan dahil mukhang nakakalimutan yata niyang best friend ko si Jimin at madalas namang mangyari ang ganito. And because he was too busy with his life, he was forgetting about it.

How could he, really?

"I'm here for Hannan, Tito," sagot ni Jimin, nanatiling nakatitig kay Daddy.

"Hindi ba kayo nagkita sa iskuwelahan kanina? You know it's not nice for two consenting adults staying the night together. Hindi na kayo mga bata. Hannan."

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang tawagin ni Daddy ang pangalan ko at malamig akong tinitigan. From the sides of my eyes, I saw Jimin turn to me but he remained standing there, unmoving. Nararamdaman ko ang biglang pagiging tensiyonado niya dahil nasa tabi ko lang siya at ang malalalim niyang paghinga.

I felt like he was being pulled away from me and I would understand if he felt the same too.

"Go upstairs and do your homework if there's any, or sleep, it's late. You, Jimin hijo, go home. Ipagpabukas niyo na lang ang kung anumang ipinunta mo rito."

I thought it was impossible to hate my father even more but he just proved me wrong. Dahil habang nakatitig ako pabalik sa mga malalamig niyang mga mata ay napagtanto ko lang na hindi ko na maibabalik pa iyong dating Daddy ko na kahit kailan, hindi ako nagawang titigan ng ganoon.

Sitting there, staring coldly at me and trying to pull the most important man away from me was no longer my father, was no longer the first ever man I had loved the most.

I guessed, people really change.

"But Tito—"

Hindi ko na hinintay pang sa mismong harap niya ay bumagsak ang mga luha ko, tinakbo ko na ang hagdan at buong lakas na isinara ang pinto nang makapasok ako sa kuwarto ko.

Just how dared him? Yes, he was my father but he stopped acting like one long time ago and it was hurting me how I still came following him like how I used to 'cause I was his baby girl. Nakaka-inis na kahit nag-iba na nga siya ng tuluyan ay lumalambot pa rin ako para sa kaniya.

It was funny 'cause despite how much I hated him, I was still very willing to give him a chance to be a father to me, to us again. And yes, I was afraid I would just give up with that.

Could I?

My mind had been telling me that he no longer had the right to dictate how my life would turn, he didn't have the privilege to tell Jimin and I what was the right thing to do 'cause he never cared, but my heart couldn't just afford to fvck up! My heart was making me feel how I longed for a father and even though he didn't act like one anymore… he was still my father.

Hindi ba puwedeng bumalik na lang si Mommy para bumalik na rin si Daddy?

Puwede ba?

"I'm worried, Hobi!"

"How long was it already?"

"Been over a week! At halos isang linggo na rin siyang ganyan!"

"Oh now, you calm down there, love. You think Jimin isn't getting crazy? He has been very messed up too, just so you know."

"Duh, I only see him flirting with his flavor of the month, Hobi! Can you just suggest a better thing to—"

"I can hear you two." Nagpa-ikot ako ng mga mata nang ibinaba ko ang phone ko mula sa pagba-browse sa IG, naka-upo ako sa backseat ng kotse ni Kuya Hoseok at halos hindi na makahinga sa higpit ng pagkakakabit ng seatbelts sa akin.

Ate Milan had to ask Kuya Hoseok and Kuya Namjoon to literally steal me from my plans after school that I had been doing within the past few days only to get me lock up on this backseat. Ilang araw na kasi akong walang sinasabayan sa pag-uwi sa kanila dahil palagi akong may lakad. They couldn't probably deprive me the only getaway I found to escape shits in my life for the mean time.

Hindi ko alam kung timing lang bang walang oras sa akin si Jimin dahil parati niyang kasama si Cielo Severino pero pabor na pabor iyon sa ginagawa ko, though he always sent me messages and sometimes called—that none of it got answered—me to inform me.

Hindi na niya ipinapadala si Taehyung para ihatid ako, tipong kumpyansa na makaka-uwi ako ng mag-isa. Simula noong mag-away sila ay hindi ko na muling inaasa ni Jimin ang paghatid sa akin o kahit ang pagkain ng lunch.

Seriously, he had been pissing me off.

Naiintindihan ko namang ginagawa niya iyon dahil sa misyon namin—na nawawala na sa isipan ko, pero pakiramdam ko kasi lumalayo na siya sa akin.

Why didn't he just stick with that two-faced bitch for good? Magsama sila! And there was Jungkook! He was adding up to the shits loading my life!

I didn't eat lunch with BTS and I didn't often go to leisure room anymore but he could still find time to piss me off. Magkasama kami sa iisang silid buong araw kaya paanong hindi? He had all of his time—even authoritatively asked my seatmate if they could switch seats!

Pinag-blush lang naman niya ang seatmate ko na mukhang isa sa mga babaeng nahuhumaling sa kaniya nang kausapin niya ito para makipagpalit ng upuan at ni wala siyang ideya roon! Kahit ang mga teachers namin ay walang nasabi at nagawa sa pagkakasira ng sitting arrangement. I just felt bad for they had to make a sitting arrangement plan again.

He was such a jerk.

Bakit hindi na lang din siya makisama kay Jimin? Magsama sila!

Now the matter here was, natakasan ko si Jungkook sa pangungulit niyang ihahatid niya ako at hindi ko na kailangang problemahin si Jimin dahil nag-iwan na naman siya ng message sa aking magkasama na naman sila ni Cielo Severino.

See?! I was being traded with that bitch!

I could have been checking on gorgeous dresses and trying them on only if I wasn't dragged here and being locked up, very much irritated with Ate Milan and Kuya Hoseok's obvious conversation about me.

"Just drop me off the nearest mall, I have a date." Humalukipkip ako at masama ang tinging sinalubong ang hindi mapakaling mga mata ni Kuya Hoseok sa rearview mirror dahil abala si Ate Milan sa kung ano.

"Really? Who's the lucky boy, S?" Ate Milan asked, peeking at me through the big curls over her shoulder.

"I'm the lucky one. Can't I have a date with myself?"

Mabilis akong nilingon ni Ate Milan dahil sa sinabi ko at nai-imagine ko na ang pag-o-overreact niya dahil sa panlalaki ng mga mata niya at sa pagbuka ng mga labi niya. Kuya Hoseok just silently stared at me through the rearview mirror, driving very carefully.

Bakit ganyan ang reaksyon niya? It was that bad to sometimes treat myself with the things I wanted? Shopping was relieving my stress, it was giving me a world where I couldn't think of all the things that made me need diversion from.

From the unknown feelings inside me for Jimin and Jungkook to the annoying idea that seemed like Jimin didn't care about me anymore!

"S! You should date Kookie! He's courting you, right? Oh my, you just don't know how I just stopped myself from throwing a party—"

"Did he tell you?!" gulat kong tanong. Sa loob-loob ko ay gusto ko nang saktan si Jungkook dahil hindi niya alam kung anong magiging epekto ng ginawa niya.

He didn't know that my sister was rooting for him, for a hopeless relationship between us that wouldn't be happening, not ever. Hindi niya alam na hindi ako titigilan ni Ate Milan hanggang sa magawa nito ang gusto nito. And at this very moment, I didn't need Ate Milan to tell me all what was in her mind 'cause the glint and excitement on her eyes told me already.

This wasn't freaking good.

"We all know, Hannan, except Taetae and Jiminie. Palagi silang wala nitong mga nakaraang araw, parati kayong walang tatlo." Si Kuya Hoseok ang sumagot sa akin dahil mukhang overwhelmed pa si Ate Milan sa nakumpirma niya mula sa akin.

I exasperatedly heaved a deep sigh as I glared at nothing in particular. Now, Jimin quickly stole the irritation I was feeling from Jungkook.

I knew it was not right to feel this for Jimin, he was just doing his part of the mission. He was actually doing his part very well, I should be happy, I should be celebrating 'cause it was only a matter of days before the success of it.

I should be. But why was it that I felt like something was wrong?

Hindi naman ako kahit kailan nabahala sa mga babaeng nagiging prospect namin ni Jimin, fine, I got pissed off a bit with Arianne Lacerna but I had never been this bothered over his bitches. Kay Cielo Severino pa lang. Hindi pa nakatulong na pakiramdam ko, iba ang pakikitungo ni Jimin sa babaeng iyon sa umpisa pa lang kumpara sa ibang mga babae niya.

What was with that two-faced bitch?

"What about I call Kookie so that you could date? Omo, Hobi! We need to get them on a date!"

From glaring at the air, my eyes instantly rolled over the squeaking form of my sister at the shotgun seat. Nai-imagine ko na ang mga posibleng mga bagay na tumatakbo sa isip niya na alam kong kahit kailan ay hindi papabor sa akin, lalo na kung tungkol ang mga iyon kay Jungkook Jeon.

Couldn't I have a break? From that jerk?

"Do it and I'll never forgive you, Ate M." I spat at her, almost growling. Mabibilis ang paghingang sinamaan ko siya ng tingin kahit na nahihirapan akong huminga dahil sa higpit ng pares ng seatbelts na nasa katawan ko. Kanina ko pa sinusubukang alisin ang mga ito pero mukhang itinali yata nina Kuya Hoseok at Kuya Namjoon ito sa paraang mahihirapan akong alisin.

Hindi man lang ba nila naisip na masu-suffocate ako? Damn, I could barely breathe!

"Love, let's just drop her off and have our own date instead."

Hindi ko na namang napigilang magpa-ikot ng mga mata nang makita kong abutin ni Kuya Hoseok ang kamay ni Ate Milan at marahang hinaplos. Good for them, 'cause they had blooming and lovely relationship.

Now that I thought of it, it had been a while since I last been in a relationship and I was starting to realize how my life had gotten so boring without the spice… if only Jimin wasn't being such an annoying brute again.

Damn, I missed him!

"But I really like Kookie for her."

"We all do, love. Magtiwala na lang tayo kay Jungkook. I'm sure he'll have his way to Hannan, in a nice and appropriate way of course."

"It'll be hard, we know their history! My sister hates him and who knows if he'll end up being rejected? Hindi na makakahanap si Hannan ng lalaking katulad ni Kookie!"

"You're making it sound like they're both a loss to each other."

"That's what I mean! They're the perfect match for each other and they're still too dumb to realize that!"

"I'm not dumb." Hindi ko napigilang sumabat dahil nag-uusap na naman sila na para bang wala ako rito. "And yes, he's dumb for thinking that we'll ever happen!"

Muli ko na naman sinubukang alisin ang mga seatbelts pero nauwi na lang akong nahahapo sa sarili kong hininga dahil hindi ko talaga magawa. These people thought I was some kind of a wild boar who needed to be tied up tight, what the hell?

"Tsk, tsk, poor Kook," Kuya Hoseok whispered, loud enough to reach my ears. He then turned the wheel to park the car in front of a tall building.

Pinapagpagan ko ang nagusot kong upper uniform dahil sa seatbelt habang naglalakad ako papasok ng mall na pag-aari ng pamilya ni Kuya Hoseok. I was too pissed that I didn't really mind stopping for the inspection when I carelessly passed the censor entrance and the guards didn't also mind me.

Good for them 'cause I was not in the mood to be firing annoying people. I was a stockholder of this mall chain, together with my sister, it was because of my father's filthy works.

Sa mga negosyong pag-aari ng pamilya ng BTS, ay sa mga negosyong under ng Jung Conglomerates lang ako may pag-aaring stocks dahil investor ng Urduja Co. ang chairman ng Jung Conglomerates na siyang grandfather ni Kuya Hoseok. So to make it fair, my father made both Ate Milan and my name to be under any Jung Conglomerates businesses.

Jung Conglomerates was such a big group in the field of business, there were lots of companies and corporations under their name. Bukod sa hawak nila ang pinakamalaki at sikat na mall chain sa buong Pilipinas ay mayroon rin silang franchises with big company names. Hawak din nila ang pinakamalaking medical facility sa buong bansa at bumibili ng properties as an investment. Kilala rin ang Jung Conglomerates sa Korea.

Clearly, Kuya Hoseok's family was the richest among all the other BTS' families. Kasunod ang Kim Empire, Min Industries, JJG at panghuli ang Park Realty Corporation, that was only because the first three companies had been established longer than the last two.

Now, mukhang matatambakan na naman ng mga panibagong paper bags ang walk-in closet ko dahil sigurado naman akong mapipilitan na naman akong mamili. Like, hindi ko naman talaga ito kailangang gawin dahil may personal shopper naman ako. But I badly, really badly needed diversion.

Jimin was being such a brute. How dared him make me feel this way? How dared him trade me with that Cielo Severino? How dared him set me aside like this?

It was not more likely for a Jimin Park to fall in love. Maybe, yes, it wasn't.

Hindi ko gustong isiping nahuhulog na siya kay Cielo Severino. No, this wasn't like an Arianne Lacerna case. This was different, I knew. Iba na talaga ang pakiramdam ko kay Cielo Severino noong mga unang araw pa lang. Noon pa lang ay nagpakita na si Jimin ng mga senyales na iba si Cielo Severino.

She had been specially different from the other girls… even from me.

"You don't have to buy me t-that."

"I insist."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at napalingon sa pinagmumulan ng mga pamilyar na tinig na iyon. My eyes first met the elegant and expensive interior of a jewelry shop before landing on the two figures inside by the glass that housed the sparkling accessories, hands on each other and backs on me.

Blonde hair and that pair of dangling silver earrings.

It was almost doubtful to think the guy as Jimin Park because of the familiar girl beside him who was clearly not Cielo Severino, but I knew very well the whole posture of the brute. He may change his hair color or dress differently but I would never wrong his posture and stance.

Nakatatak na sa buong sistema ko ang buong pagkatao ng walanghiya at kahit na hanapin ko pa siya sa gitna ng maraming lalaki ng naka-blindfold ay sigurado akong makikilala ko siya.

"Okay, I'd like this simple ring then."

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa pinaghalong pagtataka at inis habang damang-dama ko ang unti-unting pagbilis ng paghinga ko nang unti-unti ko ring makilala ang babae.

Just… just why was Jimin Park with Pauline Alveoli? The same girl who slapped me before and most importantly, Cael Severino's girlfriend?

"You shouldn't have seen this, but I suppose, secrets really tend to be revealed on their own."

Hindi pa nakatulong sa magulong estado ng isipan ko ang malalim na boses na mula sa likod ko kasabay nang panunuot ng pamilyar na amoy sa ilong ko. He smelled like the sweetest chocolate I had ever tasted, as always.

And just what did he mean by that?