Chapter Thirty

With everything Tita Janna told me in mind, I let my mind instruct my hands to properly do every knot and pull while Jimin stood in front of me with a biggest grin he could muster, his hands were behaved by his sides and his sweet minty scent invading my nose.

"Don't move or else I'll strangle you with this tie," naka-irap na sabi ko sa kaniya dahil masyadong malisyoso ang mga tingin niya sa akin nang mag-volunteer akong ayusin ang necktie niya para sa kaniya.

Nasa kuwarto ako ng mga magulang niya kanina para magpaturo kay Tita Janna kung paano ina-ayos ng tama ang necktie at tulad nang napag-usapan namin ay itinuro niya sa akin kung paano niya iyon ginagawa kay Tito Nigel at sa mga anak niya. It wasn't so difficult and complicated as it looked. Mukha lang siyang komplikado dahil hindi ko alam kung paano ginagawa, hindi rin siya mahirap i-memorize dahil kaunting buhol lang at hila ay tapos na.

"Go, pick a nice tie for him!" Tinapik ni Tita Janna ang puwet ko nang matapos kami saka ako kinindatan at inginuso ang nakabukas na pinto ng kuwarto nila ni Tito Nigel.

"Tita!" natatawang sigaw ko, bahagyang nagulat sa ginawa niya.

"Gooo, baby girl, he still have a meeting to attend!"

Friday na bukas, dapat ay hindi ko na nagagawa pang makipagbiruan kay Tita Janna o mag-abala pang mag-ayos ng necktie ni Jimin para sa kaniya pero nagpasya akong bukas ko na iisipin ang mga mangyayari bukas.

It would be just a dinner, I just let myself believe that a simple dinner with those people would never bring bad things to my way. Iniisip ko na lang din na kakain lang kami bukas ng gabi kasama ang mga ibang tao, wala ng iba pa.

It felt light having that thought, to be honest.

"Hm, you've learned very well, east. Baka istorbohin kita sa room niyo sa tuwing magugulo ang necktie ko sa school dahil sa mga bab—aww, c-careful…" Natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang marahas kong hinila ang dulo ng tie niya na malapit ko nang matapos para masakal siya. He let me pull him down, his frowning scrunched face only an inch away from my scowling one that ready to spat hell on him.

Masama ang tinging sinalubong ko ang mga mata niyang hindi na makatingin ng diretso sa akin, saka mabagal na bumaba sa mga labi niyang naka-awang ang mga mata ko.

"You dare to freaking flirt at school, I'll cut your shiny chili pepper!" I warned him in clenched teeth, now killing in my mind all the girls who would ever try to give into his flirtatious charm.

His hands immediately found the front of his pants, protecting his shiny chili pepper from my unforgivable and murderous mind. He quickly shook his head, eyes now widening in fear while gulping so hard.

Kung noon ay nagagawa ko pang manahimik lang at hayaan ang mga babaeng iyon na magkaroon ng pagkakataong makalapit man lang sa kaniya, ngayon ay hindi na. Not now that I was already aware of what I felt for him. Now that he was mine, he should hold responsibility over what I felt for him and those bitches should really know their place by now.

Subukan lang talaga niya, makita-kita ko lang talagang mukha na naman siyang ginahasa sa loob ng LSAC premises, talagang puputulan ko siya.

"I'll stay away from all the boys at school, in exchange, I don't want to ever see you near any bitches. Fair and square?" Sa pagkakataong ito, malumanay na lang ang boses ko at puno ng pag-iingat.

The last thing I wanted to happen was to pick on a wrong matter. Ramdam ko namang may nararamdaman siya sa akin, at hindi rin naman ako nanghihingi mula sa kaniya ng spoken assurance pero hindi ko rin naman gugustuhing mag-assume.

Maingat ko nang inayos muli ang pagkakabuhol ng necktie niyang hinila ko, niluwagan ko ulit ito saka muling hinila ng marahan sa paraang hindi siya masasakal. Pinagpag ko ang ibabang dulo nito pagkatapos saka ngumiti sa kaniya.

It was a black and blue horizontal striped tie that I got from his walk-in closet, I wisely chose that to match with his plain white long sleeves polo and plain blue pants. The polo was a bit loose for his slender body but it still looked good on him as it lamely tucked into his pants that showed his black leather belt.

"I don't get near them, sila iyong lumalapit sa akin," aniya saka ngumuso na tila ba hindi niya alam ang gagawin niya, bahagya niyang hinawi ang itim niyang buhok gamit ang isang kamay habang ang isa ay nanatili pa rin sa harap ng pants niya.

Ako naman ang ngumuso nang makita kong muling nalaglag pabalik sa noo niya ang mga hibla ng buhok niya.

"I don't get near boys too, sila rin ang lumalapit sa akin—"

"Fine, fine. No girls near me and no boys near you, a fair deal. Does this mean…" Saglit siyang huminto para tumingala at lumunok, nang muli siyang yumuko sa akin ay sinuklay niyang muli ang ilang hibla ng mga buhok niyang na humaharang sa noo niya. "Girlfriend na kita?"

Once again, I saw the shiniest glints only his eyes could give. Wala sa mga kalangitan ang universe ko, nasa mga mata niya iyon katulad lang ng wala sa mundo ang langit ko, nasa kaniya iyon.

Ngumisi ako saka pinalitan ng kamay ko ang kamay niyang sumusuklay sa buhok niya. My fingers gently brushed his hair back, every strand tickling the middle of my fingers but it felt so soft and good to touch.

God, I love this man so much, I love him so much!

"Well, your beautiful girlfriend I might say," sagot ko at bago pa man niya ako mahawakan sa baywang ay mabilis na akong tumalikod para mag-ayos na rin ng sarili ko.

I lightly chuckled when I heard his frustrated grunt that soon followed by, "I wanna kiss my beautiful girlfriend!"

We still had a meeting to attend. Actually, it was just him, he just planned to bring me along because I didn't want to get left here. Sina Tita Janna at Tito Nigel ay papasok sa office, si Jaye ay paniguradong lalabas din kaya maiiwan akong kasama ng mga maids.

No, I didn't want that.

"Thank you and I'm looking forward to be working with you, Mister Park. Like I said, just leave everything to me. This construction company I know caters great engineers and well, working men. All you have to do is tell me all you desire for this project, I'll do my best to submit with everything."

Nagtapos ang lunch meeting na pinuntahan namin ni Jimin sa pagkakamayan, both parties promised to commit with everything that would regard the very context of this meeting.

Jimin planned to build a house around one of the beautiful lands in Palawan. The land wasn't one of their properties, 'cause Park Corporation didn't have properties in Palawan.

Puwede namang mamili na lang si Jimin sa mga lupaing pag-aari ng pamilya niya sa kahit saang parte ng Pilipinas pero habang nasa sasakyan kami kanina patungo rito sa meeting ay sinabi niya sa aking sinadya niyang mangutang sa Daddy niya para makabili ng lupang masasabi talaga niyang kaniya sa pagdating ng panahon.

He didn't want to just take a land from Park properties since he was sure his father would give it to him for free, or if not, with a crazy big discount.

He had a point. My man was so witty and smart. May potensiyal nga siya para humawak ng business dahil sa takbo ng isip niya sa mga bagay-bagay sa murang edad pa lang. Also, his parents were considerate enough not to train them at the young age, though they both had made Jimin and Jaye think that they would be handling their business in the future.

"I really have to break a bone in the future to pay the debt I borrowed Daddy…" He jokingly told me though I knew, he meant it.

"Eighteen ka pa lang kasi napaka-komplikado na ng mga iniisip mo. Are you planning to marry me early?" pabiro ko ring sabi, naalala ko na naman iyong hitsura niya nang malaman niyang failed ang pag-a-attempt niyang i-surprise ako.

"You heard my Dad, he won't let me marry you until I close a lot of deals for his company. He's pretty wicked and your Daddy, I still need to work for his approval."

"I told you, let's just elope. Spain or Hawaii is a great getaway."

He didn't say something about that, but I did see how he tensed in his seat upon the mention of the word 'elope', just like how he went frozen and mute last night upon our very deep banter about it. Maiintindihan ko kung natatakot siya pero gusto kong malaman niya na handa akong tumakas, takasan ang lahat ng ito kasama siya.

Pagkatapos ng meeting na iyon with Architect Lorenzo ay napagpasyahan naming magtungo sa ARMY Pools, we both needed something to ease off the turmoil within us and let us both wind up from all the stress.

Katulad nang inaasahan ay agad naman kaming nakilala ng mga staff at hindi na hinanapan ng membership card.

"One pool room," pormal na sabi ni Jimin sa babaeng staff na magalang at mahinhing lumapit sa amin bago magtanong kung anong gusto naming gawin.

I disregarded my inner bitch when I saw the female staff talking professionally to him, no hint of any flirty movements and malicious gazes. Hindi ako war-freak, hindi rin ako basta-basta nang-aaway ng walang dahilan pero hindi ko maipapangakong mapapatahimik ko ang inner bitch ko kapag nakakita ako ng kahit na isang babae lang ditong hayagang nagpapakita ng interest kay Jimin.

I don't punch girls, but I pull hairs.

Hindi na kami nagtungo sa reception desk kung nasaan ang karamihan sa mga magagandang female staff dahil agad namang tumalima sa gusto namin ang staff na lumapit sa amin.

"Si Sir Taehyung iyong kasama niya noong nakaraan!"

"They're friends, natural sa kanila ang pumunta rito. Kung minsan nga ay si Sir Namjoon ang kasama niya."

"Iyong Ate niya? Iyong mukhang foreigner? Si Sir Jin iyong kasama rito kahapon."

"Si Sir Hoseok ang boyfriend noon, 'di ba?"

Bago ko pa man malingon ang mga babaeng nasa reception desk na nilampasan na namin ay agad ko nang naramdaman ang pagdausdos ng isang braso ni Jimin sa baywang ko at paghila niya sa akin palapit sa kaniya. I knew he just did that to stop me from going boar-mode towards the annoying and murmuring bitches at the reception desk.

I lightly gasped when I felt his fingers softly pinching the skin on my hips beneath the smooth cloth of my dress, his strong arm holding me tightly yet so softly and my body sensitively so close against his warm yet hard one. I just wanted to cling on him forever and let him pour me his sweet minty scent, kahit ang damit na suot ko ay may bahid na ng amoy niya dahil naka-stock sa walk-in close niya.

"Don't mind them, east. I need you away from trouble, ayaw ko nang makipag-date sa kung sinong maisipan mong gantihan. Let's stop from this, hm?" bulong niya sa tainga ko, mukhang sinadyang hingaan ang balat ko para akitin ako.

"Boyfriend na kita kaya hindi ko na gagawin iyon. You just don't know how hard it was for me everytime you were dating those girls before, it wasn't fun!" Halos magkandahaba ang mga labi ko dahil sa pagkakanguso.

Nagpatuloy lang kami sa paglalakad, sa harap namin ay ang staff na siyang magdadala sa amin sa pool room. Maliwanag ang mahabang corridor na binabaybay namin dahil sa mga nagtataasang mini chandelier sa kisame ngunit hindi masyadong nag-iingay ang mga yapak namin, kahit na naka-heels ako maging ang staff dahil sa carpeted floor.

May ilang mga kuwarto kaming nadadaanan para sa ilang mga activities dito, may mga videoke rooms, private drinking rooms and bowling rooms for those who, like us, just also wanted to wind up.

Mayroon ding playrooms for casino pero mga higher-up members lang puwede roon. Hindi rin puwede kaming mga students doon kahit na members kami, kahit sina Kuya Namjoon, Kuya Jin at Taehyung ay hindi rin pinapayagan doon. Hindi naman kasi basta-basta lang kung ano ang itinataya roon, land properties and stocks ang madalas na itinataya ng mga members.

"It was fun for me—" He stopped when I hastily turned to him and gave him a death glare. "I-I mean, it felt nice helping you get even on all your—"

"Trust me, I didn't feel nice at all having to hurt girls using you, west. Firstly, malabo man sa akin noon, it didn't feel nice knowing you were with them and probably loving them with all your might—hey, you're squeezing me!" Hinampas ko ang dibdib niya dahil sa biglaang paghigpit ng yakap niya sa akin at nakaka-inis lang dahil mukhang ang layo pa ng elevator na magdadala sa amin sa tamang palapag.

Mabuti na lang at hindi kami nililingon ng babaeng staff na nasa harapan namin. On the second thought, even if she did, it would be none of her business. Isa pa, I didn't want our relationship to be a secret anymore. I would even be more than delighted to tell Daddy that I couldn't date Jungkook because Jimin was my boyfriend now.

"I didn't feel nice dating those girls too, east. It was hard, knowing I was kissing someone who wasn't you." Imbis na pakawalan ako ay mas idiniin niya ako sa sarili niya habang nagkakandahaba ang nguso niya, parang may hindi magandang ala-alang naglalaro sa utak niya.

Kahit nang makarating kami sa harap ng elevator na nakabukas na at pinapanatiling bukas ng staff ay yakap niya pa rin ako ng mahigpit. I should be raising a brow at the female staff who stood at the side of the elevator, her head down, but instead, I felt my cheeks heat up knowing someone was witnessing my intimacy with Jimin.

We had always been so sweet with each other, student at LSAC might gawk at us but not be curious about our real score 'cause they all knew how we were, but everything was different now!

Jimin Park was now my boyfriend!

Imagined the whole school knowing that fact, imagined them seeing us together, I would seriously feel strange just like how I felt passive and shy with this female staff with us.

"Liar! Alam kong nagustuhan mong i-date ang mga babaeng iyon!" singhal ko sa kaniya nang maingat kaming pumasok sa elevator kasunod ang staff. Hindi yata kapani-paniwalang hindi siya nag-enjoy sa pakikipag-date sa mga babaeng iyon.

Jimin Park, a man of pleasure? This playboy?

"You're wrong, my lady. The only good thing about it was when you let me fvck—"

"Jimin! You brute! One more word and I'll hurt you!" saway ko sa kaniya, itinulak ko siya palayo sa akin pero nagsara na lang ang pinto ng elevator ay yakap pa rin niya ako ng mahigpit.

Napakaluwag ng elevator pero nagsisiksikan kaming dalawa sa isang sulok, ang staff ay nakatayo sa harap ng buttons, nakatalikod sa amin at nagpapasalamat akong tahimik lang ito.

Masama ang tinging binalingan ko siya, ang mga kamay ko ay desperadong nakahawak sa braso niyang nasa baywang ko para alisin at damang-dama ko sa mga dibdib ko ang kalmadong tibok ng puso niya dahil sa dikit na dikit ang mga katawan namin.

I liked skinship with him, alright! But he was pissing me off now!

My blood boiled even more when I saw him pursing his lips and staring amusedly at me, his handsome face once again blessing my whole existence.

Just, why was he so handsome?

"What? Talk again, brute!" I scowled at him.

"You said you'll hurt me if I speak one more word!"

"Jimin!" Hinila ko ang damit niya para magpatuloy siya dahil gusto kong marinig sa kaniya ang mga nararamdaman niyang hindi ko kailanman nalaman noon.

Bahagya siyang humalakhak saka tumango, unti-unti nang lumuluwag ang hawak niya sa akin pero nanatiling yakap pa rin ako.

"I hated hurting them but everytime I remember they've made you mad, I couldn't help but get even for you too. I didn't sleep with them like you think I do, ni hindi ko alam kung bakit sa tuwing nakikipaghiwalay ako sa kanila ay uma-arte silang parang may nangyari sa amin, saying I could get them pregnant. Really, it'll always be just you to whom I'll ever spill my babies…" Napalunok siya nang makasalubong niya ang mga nanlilisik kong mga mata.

I didn't know, he really had the tendency to blurt out words that irritated me. I knew that he loved to ramble trivial things, he always didn't think all that he said but it wouldn't be good when there was a third presence here with us. Kasi kaya kong palampasin ang mga sinasabi niya pero hindi kapag may nakakarinig na ibang tao.

Also what he said made me want to hunt all those bitches who desperately and pathetically chased after him like my man held responsibility over their desperate and pathetic demeanor.

Hindi naman pala sila ginalaw ni Jimin!

Just where did they freaking get the thick face and shamelessness?! Hindi ba nila alam kung paanong palagi akong natatakot na baka isang araw ay magkatotoo na lang talaga ang sinasabi ng mga babaeng iyon?!

Damn, how dared them even assume that Jimin would seriously believe their craps?! My man was not freaking stupid! At kapag naayos na namin ang lahat ng isyu namin, ha-hunting-in ko talaga kung sino ang nag-imbento ng ganoong pananakot kay Jimin!

Ipinanalangin kong sana ay makarating na kami sa tamang palapag, the elevator suddenly felt too slow with us all here but my heart unbelievably cheered just because of the fact he just broke to me now.

Damn, it was just me. It was just me all along!

"Let me speak first and enough with giving me death glares, Hannan. I'm serious here. I want us to stop already. It's not nice to be labeled as someone who breaks heart and who plays around with girls but it was more harder to be with girls I don't really like. I was so nice to them, only to get backstabbed for hurting them. Please, can we please just stop? Let's just focus with each other, hm."

Sa lahat ng mga sinabi niya, sa haba ng mga sinabi niya ay nakakapagtakang nagawa kong iproseso ang lahat ng iyon.

It struck my heart with how he softly begged me to stop, it pained my heart knowing he was also affected with all the bad rumors about him and it devastated my heart knowing he had settled for it all, all just because of me.

It was me, it was me who had put him on such ordeal.

"Hannan, let's stop, okay?" He lightly pushed me towards him, softly crashing my little body against his, his voice sounded so soft and pampering.

"I told you, I won't put you again on such ordeal, you're my boyfriend now and I don't intend to share you anymore. I'm sorry for even pushing you to do those things…"

"Yah, I've been wanting you to own me and not share me. You just don't know how you've made me so happy. Fvck, what have I become for you?"

Hinayaan ko siya nang yumuko siya sa akin, hindi ko inalintana pa na may kasama kami sa loob ng elevator dahil buong puso akong pumikit at hinintay na dumampi ang mga labi niya sa akin. Humigpit ang kapit ng kamay ko sa damit niyang nasa bandang dibdib niya nang maramdaman ko ang banayad na pagdampi ng mga labi niya sa mga labi ko, steady iyon at sobrang lambot na para bang wala siyang ibang gustong gawin kung hindi ang damhin lang ang mga labi ko.

His arms, as if feeling the turmoil within me, wrapped tightly around me to prevent me from falling since my knees started weakening and my form already leaning weakly against him. His heartbeat synchronizing perfectly with my heartbeat as his lips pulled upwards against mine, making me also smile.

Hindi na ulit, hindi ko na ulit siya ilalagay sa sitwasyong pareho naman naming hindi gusto.

We would stop, we would stop from here.