Chapter Seventy

Habang bumabiyahe kami pabalik ni Jimin ay laman ng isipan ko ang mga nangyari kagabi, lahat ng iyon. I didn't know if it was because of the place or because of the time or just because of the bottling emotions we were feeling last night that we did… we did what we shouldn't have done.

Pero 'di ba… ganoon naman talaga?  You were capable of doing something wrong because of your feelings. Hindi ko alam kung nagsisisi ba ako, hindi ko alam kung nalulungkot ba ako at hindi ko alam kung nadidismaya ba ako.

I was… I was just very confused.

Vague feelings were pressuring me when I had all the vivid memories of what happened last night. I remembered everything. I remembered the feelings, I remembered the pain, I remembered the love and I remembered the will. I remembered them very vividly.

I could even remember his small eyes staring deeply but lovingly back at me, the moans and harsh exchange of breaths we shared and the pleasure of our joint bodies together.

I tightly pushed my legs together as I felt that pang of soreness down there, a strong evidence. Gusto kong isipin na kaya ako nagkakaganito ay dahil nabigo ko ang sarili ko. I promised myself to preserve it till my wedding day.

But Hanselle, you're not on the lose. It's Jimin. The man you love the most. Isa pa, baka nakakalimutan mo, you pushed both of you to do it. My inner Goddess reminded me.

Isa pa iyan. I could also clearly remember how he had stopped last night but I had dragged him deeper the abyss, pulling him down the pleasurable sin. It felt like I had just done what Eve had done before.

Dahan-dahan ko siyang nilingon na nasa driver's seat at nahuli ko siyang pasulyap-sulyap sa direksyon ko. He diverted his full attention back to the road when he noticed that I caught him stealing glances at me. Should I apologize to him? Lalaki siya baka… baka nadarang lang siya.

"Jimin," tawag ko sa kaniya.

Hindi namin binuksan ang mga nangyari kagabi paggising namin kaninang umaga. Pareho kaming gulat nang makita namin ang mga sarili namin at nagmadali nang magbihis, hiyang-hiya sa mga sarili namin. Maybe, we were both confused.

Nilingon niya ako ng saglit at ibinalik din ang atensyon sa daan. I pressed my lips together, urging myself to speak about last night. "Aren't you tired? I can drive." But I was too damn afraid to say something about it. What had happened wasn't just something that was easy to deal. We had never planned it and no one had foreseen that it would happen.

It both shocked us.

But you are both willing when you did it… My inner Goddess whispered.

I closed my eyes firmly as I felt my nails digging my palms. Hindi… dahil huminto si Jimin kagabi. Ibig sabihin, hindi niya gustong ituloy. He had doubts last nights. At nakaka-inis lang isipin dahil ako yung nagtulak sa kaniya para ituloy iyon.

Crap, I couldn't even tell it!

My trail of thoughts stopped when I felt the car stop moving. Nang nag-angat ako ng tingin ay nasa gilid kami ng highway, cars were everywhere. Mukhang nasa city na kami.

"Why-Why d-did you stop?" I asked, stuttering when I turned to him. My heart starting beating abnormally fast and loud with his stoic but very bothered face.

He sighed deeply. "Misseu, we both wanted it right?" he suddenly asked in a suffering tone that almost made me tear up. His eyes were looking for something through my eyes from within me.

Napanganga ako at matagal na napatitig sa kaniya habang dinadapuan ng paghihirap ang mukha niya. It was like he had been keeping the struggle within himself.

"Tell me, I did not just want it alone," nanginginig niyang sabi. Inihilamos niya ang kamay niya sa mukha niya na para bang nagsisisi siya at nahihirapan siya. I had never seen him this struggled and confused. "We… we both liked what happened, right?" umaasang tanong niyang muli kalakip ang nagniningning na mga mata, his eyes were filled with hopes and… unshed tears.

That washed away all of my fears, all of my confusions and all of the questions. He had lent it to me even before I lent it to him because he was just as confused as me and he was just as scared as me.

My eyes immediately pooled. Nanginig ang mga labi ko at mabilis na tumango para malaman niyang gusto ko, ginusto ko ang lahat ng mga nangyari at wala akong pinagsisisihan. It suddenly felt right. Pinahid ko ang namamasa kong mga mata. "I love y-you." I sobbed as I gave him a smile, assuring him that what had happened between us might be wrong but I was not regretting it.

I was not regretting anything because I did it with him. I had given him my innocence that he deserved.

Gumuhit ang isang palagay at banayad na ngiti sa mga labi niya bago niya pinunasan ang mga mata niya. "I love you," aniya. He then leaned closer to me. He gently hooked his arm around my neck as he dropped a gentle but long kiss at my forehead.

Now, I could say that what happened last night was just in a right setting. In a dark solemn place, with the dust of lights above, where we shared our first night together. It was perfect and he had made it even more perfect. Dahil sa kaniya ko naibigay ang bagay na iyon. Everything would always be perfect with him.

He still had another plan for the day. We stopped by a small noodle store to grab out breakfast. Alas-otso na at ilang oras na kaming bumabiyahe dahil maaga kaming nagising kaninang umaga. I could say that he had an eye for a safe place because there weren't really a lot of people recognizing him.

Dumaan pa kami sa isang dress boutique. Pinapili niya ako ng mga damit na kahit tinatanggihan ko siya ay pinilit niya pa rin ako.

"You will thank me later," tanging sabi niya lang.

So I chose clothes that fitted my taste, most were blouses and jeans. When I said I was okay with those, he suggested I picked dresses. Nagtataka man ay kumuha rin ako ng ilang dress. Ibinili rin niya ako ng sapatos. I picked shoes but he suggested I picked heels. Bakit kaya hindi na lang siya ang pumili ng mga bibilhin niya sa akin tutal naman ay may sarili siyang opinyon sa kung anong pipiliin ko? Though, hindi naman niya iniilingan ang mga pinipili ko.

Nang dinala niya ako sa isang jewelry boutique ay matigas ko na siyang inilingan. He had already bought so much for me. Hindi na ako makakapayag kung pati alahas ay ibibili niya pa sa akin gayong hindi ko naman hilig ang mga iyon. Wow, he would pass as a sugar daddy with his expensive and luxurious spendings! At suwerte niya dahil hindi ako maluho!

"Where are we heading now?" I asked him as I noticed again that we were back on a long road. Pakiramdam ko kapag ganitong mga daan ay patungo sa probinsya o kahit saang malayo sa kabihasnan.

"Busan," maikli niyang sagot.

This time, the car stopped in front of a big modern house inside a peaceful neighborhood. Ang buong akala ko ay hahayaan niya lang akong manghula ngunit nang pinatay niya ang makina ng kotse ay napansin niya yata ang pagtataka sa mukha ko.

"Welcome to Park Household," aniya habang nagpipigil ng ngiti.

"Park… H-Household?" Unti-unting humina ang boses ko nang mapagtanto ko kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin at nanlalaki ang mga mata ko. Nilingon kong muli ang malaking puting bahay na may matayog at engrandeng kulay itim na gate bars. Kita mula rito sa labas ang driveway patungo sa napakalaking bahay. May iilang kotse, tatlong magagarang kotse ang naka-park sa driveway. Mayroon ding guard na nakatayo sa may guardhouse sa gilid ng gate.

"Yes, misseu. Exactly what you are thinking," sabi niya na may kalakip nang ngisi ang tono.

Napakapit ako sa seatbelt. "You didn't tell me!" akusa ko sa kaniya. Why didn't he tell me such a special occasion?! E 'di sana nakapaghanda man lang ako! Pakiramdam ko amoy damo pa ako dahil sa pinanggalingan namin!

"I was trying to surprise you," he said, matter-of-factly. Nakatitig siya sa akin gamit ang inosenteng mga mata. What if they wouldn't like me because I was not presentable now? Ni hindi pa ako naliligo. I had just changed into a new clothes but that wasn't enough! I needed a shower! More of it, actually!

I frustratedly and unknowingly strangled my hair in despair. I couldn't show up like this in front of his family. I would die in humiliation! Binuksan na niya ang pinto at lumabas, hindi pinapansin ang paghihirap ko. Umikot siya para pagbuksan din ako habang giting-ngiti siya na para bang natutuwa siya sa nangyayari.

Of course, he planned this! All this!

I hopelessly stared at him as I tightly clutched on my seatbelt, seeing if I could still change his mind. He just smiled and gently reached for my hand before lightly pulling me out of the car. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang lumabas. The cold immediately striking to my skin. Napansin niya iyon kaya kinuha niya ang parehong kamay ko at hiningaan. That warmed me a little. Tinakpan din niya ang mga tainga ko katulad ng ginawa niya noong nakaraang gabi.

"Don't worry, misseu. My parents are still at the shop. My brother is at school. There are only maids," sabi niya para pagaanin ang loob ko. That shortly pampered me but didn't ease the nervousness I was feeling.

Kagaya ng bahay ng BTS sa Seoul, ang living room din ang kaagad na bumungad sa amin pagpasok namin ng malaking bahay o mas mabuting tawagin ko itong mansiyon. Kung ano ang pangunahing kulay ng bahay sa labas ay ganoon din ang kulay nito sa loob, some colors were blending, pero mas nangingibabaw ang puting kulay.

The furniture were all in white such as the set of couches in the living room, the cabinets, the lamps at both sides of the big flat screen television on the wall and the round coffee table in the middle of the set of couches. The color of the marbled floor complemented very well with the house's interior motif. Kulay itim ang sahig at kita ang repleksiyon ng kahit na ano dahil sa kintab nito.

The frames of abstract and mind blowing paintings on the walls were breathtakingly beautiful as if they were bided costly. Sa kabilang gilid ng living room, the wall opposite the television set, naroon ang estante ng mga picture frames and group of figurines. Sa kantong opposite ng living room ay may itim na pabilog na dining table. On top was a white elegant vase housing different colors and types of flowers, mostly were white tulips. Mats were fixed accordingly on the table, in front of each of the black chairs.

Kung titingin ako sa dulo ay matatanaw ang engrandeng hagdan patungo sa ikalawang palapag. Sa likod ng hagdan ay may isa pang pasilyo at sa tingin ko ay daan iyon patungo naman sa iba pang bahagi ng bahay.

"Let's go. You need to prepare," ani Jimin at pinangunahan na ang paglalakad patungo sa hagdan nang maisara niya ang pinto sa likod namin. Dala niya ang mga paper bags na binili namin. Wala pa akong nakikitang tao sa bahay, kahit ang mga maids na sinabi niya kanina ay missing in action.

Tahimik na lang akong sumunod sa kaniya. Umakyat kami sa engrandeng hagdan at medyo nag-alinlangan pa ako nang pumasok siya sa isa sa hilera ng mga itim na pinto sa second floor. I could see that the house was a contrast between color white and black.

Sumunod ako sa kaniya sa loob at isinara ang pinto habang unti-unti ko nang naririnig ang pag-iingay na naman ng puso ko. We were inside a room, all alone. Hindi naman sana big deal dahil ilang beses na kaming napag-iisa sa isang kuwarto pero iba ang sitwasyon ngayon. May nangyari na sa amin…

Sinalubong ako ng kulay asul na silid kaya sandali akong nahatak mula sa mga iniisip ko. Kahit dito ay kulay asul ang kuwarto niya, parang iyong dati nilang silid ni Taehyung sa bahay nila. Sa dingding na nasa ibabaw ng kama, ang pinaka-unang mapapansin sa silid, ay ang napakalaking portrait ni Jimin na naka-filter ng black and white. Kilala ko ang larawang iyon. Kuha iyon sa isang performance nila kung saan sumasayaw siya. He had his sleeveless shirt lifted up to show his abs.

May ganoon akong larawan niya sa phone ng gallery ko.

Uminit ang pisngi ko habang iniiwas ang tingin ko roon saka bumaba ang tingin ko sa kama, kulay asul ang bed sheet nito at maging ang mga unan. Sa kanang bahagi ng headboard ay may isang puting pinto at sa isang gilid ng silid ay may sala set, naroon ang isang itim na bean-shaped couch at isang itim ring coffee table.

"You should take a bath first." Narinig ko ang boses ni Jimin at nahanap ko siya sa harap ng nakabukas na pinto. Kaliwang bahagi naman ng silid kung nasaan ang hilera ng ilang mga gym equipment at isang maliit na refrigerator. He had already changed his clothes inside the door, so that was a walk-in closet. Naka-simpleng itim na T-shirt na lang siya ngayon ngunit iyon pa rin ang suot niyang pants.

"That door is the bathroom." Itinuro niya ang pintong tinitignan ko kanina, iyong malapit sa kama.

Nagtatakang tiningnan ko siya ngunit napagtanto ko rin agad ang gusto niyang mangyari nang madako ang tingin ko sa mga paper bags na niliagay niya pala sa kama. Pumasok ako sa banyo at ginawa ang mga dapat at kanina ko pa gustong gawin. Nakatapis lang ako ng kulay asul na tuwalya nang sumilip ako sa labas pagkatapos kong maligo.

I couldn't go out of the bathroom with only a towel draped around my body. Seeing the coast clear, I went out and walked to lock the door. Mabilis akong nagbihis ng isa sa mga dress na binili sa akin ni Jimin. I chose the peach long sleeves dress that only reached the above of my knees but gracefully hugged my waist with a silk ribbon on the back.

Now, I understood why he told me that I would be thanking him for buying me these clothes. May mga inimpake akong damit pero walang nararapat doon na puwede kong suotin para sa napaka-espesyal na okasyong ito. If only he had informed me earlier, then I could have prepared everything.

Nag-bo-blower ako ng buhok nang tumunog ang phone ko na nasa kama lang dahil nilabas ko ito kanina. I checked it and saw Aly's digits. Agad ko itong sinagot.

["Where are you? You said this morning you're going home today."] May pag-aalala ang tono ng boses niya sa kabilang linya.

I hardly bit my lower lip. Nang tinawagan ko siya kaninang umaga ay sinabi kong ngayon ako uuwi. Hindi ko naman alam na pupunta pala kami ni Jimin dito sa Busan at nawala na sa isip ko ang sabihin sa kaniya dahil caught up na ako ng ideyang i-mi-meet ko na ang parents niya.

"I'm in Busan, Aly." I honestly told her while clutching hardly my phone.

["What? Busan? What are you doing the—oh my God, Jimin isn't planning to introduce you to his family, is he?!"] gulat niyang tanong. I was amazed she guessed it that fast.

"Aly, kinakabahan ako," I uttered, slowly drawing air in my lungs with my deep inhale.

["Okay, Hanselle, I don't know how to tell you to calm down because if I were you, I might die but you need to calm down. Wala ng atrasan iyan. He's really serious with you. Just be yourself. Okay?"]

I inhaled more air, this time, a bit harsher. "I think, I'll just go with the flow. Aly, how's Holly?" tanong ko nang maalala ko ang kapatid ko. Medyo na-gi-guilty ako dahil dapat ay magkasama naming pinapasyalan ang buong Seoul ngayon pero heto ako at kasama si Jimin. Iniwan ko siya sa Seoul.

["I actually took a sudden day off,"] sagot ni Aly na ikinalaki ng mga mata ko.

"I'm sorry, Aly!" I exclaimed, now feeling guilty. Dahil sa akin ay hindi tuloy siya nakapasok!

["Don't worry, Hanselle. Parang ikaw lang din naman itong kapatid mo, lalabas kami. Gusto niya raw masubukan mag-sauna. Ang weird nitong kapatid mo ah. She's acting like she has never been into one!"]

Natawa ako ng bahagya dahil na-i-imagine ko nang nakasulat iyon sa listahan niya ng mga gagawin dito saka ako kumalma sa sinabi ni Aly. Nagpasalamat ako at muling humingi ng sorry dahil sa abala. Aniya ay mag-enjoy na lang ako at siya na muna ang bahala kay Holly. Nang matapos ang tawag ay nagpatuloy ako sa pag-aayos ng sarili.

I just put a very very light makeup. Hinayaan kong nakalugay lang ang mahaba kong buhok dahil wala akong alam na ibang style ng pagtatali ng buhok bukod sa bun at ponytail, though I was actually becoming used to the long hair. Tanging pink pearls bracelet lang ang accessory na makikita sa katawan ko bukod sa pares ng rose gold infinity earrings ko na noon ko pa suot at well, ang singsing na ibinigay sa akin ni Jimi  na nasa ring finger ng kaliwang kamay ko.

"Eomma, you can see her later at dinner." Narinig ko ang boses ni Jimin sa labas ng silid nang inaayos ko na ang mga paper bags na nasa kama.

"We're friends. I've met her before you two have met." Kasunod ay ang pamilyar na banayad na tinig.

At bago pa ako makapag-react man lang ay bumukas na ang pinto. I was stunned to see a very familiar face, but I was more stunned to see Jimin's mother for the third time, this time, I as Jimin's girlfriend for real! At nakakamanghang dala-dala pa rin niya ang elegance na una kong napansin sa kaniya noon. The way she matched her clothes defined her elegance.

I really didn't have to check for the tags because I was sure, her clothes were all high-end.

"Eomma!" Jimin stomped his feet trying to stop his mother from doing whatever he didn't want her to do but she just strode inside the room leaving Jimin on the doorway.

Nagpigil ako ng ngiti nang makita kong may suot siyang plain white apron at cooking gloves, bukod pa roon ay mukhang naligo na rin siya dahil naka-pink button-down polo na siya at maayos na naka-brush up ang buhok. I really liked it when he was showing his forehead.

"Aren't you cooking? Go back to the kitchen and I'll take care of her," banayad na wika ng nanay niya habang nakatingin sa akin na may matamis na ngiti sa mga labi kaya napangiti rin ako.

I saw Jimin scratch the back of his head as he looked at me apologetically, but I also caught him stare at me from head to toe before he restricted a smile from forming on his lips. I chuckled mentally because of that. Tumango ako sa kaniya para ipakitang okay lang ako. Hindi ko naintindihan ang mga pinag-usapan nila ng nanay niya pero sa tingin ko, sa nakikita kong liwanag sa mga mata ng nanay niya, gusto nitong makita ako.

Nag-init ang pisngi ko dahil doon.

In the end, Jimin left the room before giving his mother some talks that was beyond my comprehension.

"Nice to see you again, Hanselle-ssi!" Jimin's mother beamed at me. Hindi pa nga ako nakakabawi sa masaya niyang tono ay natagpuan ko na ang sarili kong yakap-yakap niya. Nagulat ako na alam na niya ang pangalan ko, because I was sure I had never mentioned it to her before. I didn't see the need before since BTS was okay without it at first.

"I expected to see you but not this late! My son is too busy that's why he brought you here this late," aniya nang pakawalan niya ako. At makakalimutan ko ba naman na bihasa siya sa Ingles? Naalala ko ang una at pangalawang beses naming pagkikita. She really was too easy to talk to. Bukod sa pareho kaming nagkaka-intindihan ay napaka-soft-spoken niya rin.

I was not so comfortable with people I just met but she had made it easy for the both of us.

"I got mad at him when the media flocked about him and Sally-ssi. How could they foolishly believe it?" inis niyang sabi na kakikitaan ng disgusto ang hitsura ngunit nananatiling malambot ang tinig. Dama ko sa boses niya ang bahagyang iritasyon. I softly held her arms and gently pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed so we could talk properly.

Masuwerte ako dahil kahit na walang alam ang buong mundo sa totoong relasyon namin ni Jimin, I knew having his mother and his family with us was enough reason to keep fighting. Who was the world to say anything about us when even his family wasn't saying anything?

"It's okay. I understand that he's a public figure," I softly answered her with a smile.

She then found my hands, now bringing back her giddy smile from awhile ago. "But isn't it hard for you that he's owned by somebody else in the eyes of the public?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.

It was warming my heart to know that she had thought of me in the middle of Jimin and Sally's pretend relationship when most people always made me feel how out of the picture I had ever been.

"That's just one of the many things I've endured for him," I honestly said her. Dahil bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa relasyong ito at sundin ang isinisigaw ng puso ko, tinanggap ko nang hindi magiging madali sa amin pareho ang lahat ng ito. We were just starting, at kailan ba naging madali ang lahat ng umpisa?

Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang pagpisil niya sa mga kamay ko. Really, I was so thankful knowing that his family was with us, some weight in my heart had been lifted. At most, his parents' approval of us overpowered everybody's opinions.

Sabay kaming bumaba nang ma-ihanda na ang hapunan, kahit na nakakaramdam ako ng guilt dahil sa sobrang ayos ng pakikitungo sa akin ng pamilya ni Jimin gayong hindi ako confident sa magiging tungo ng pamilya ko kay Jimin. I tried to act very normal. I was between being comfortable and this guilt. Hindi ko alam kung napansin ba ni Jimin iyon kaya't naramdaman ko ang kamay niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko habang kumakain kami.

His father would try to ask me questions that I willingly answered. Mga tungkol lang naman iyon sa personal background ko bilang tao. Of course, his father was surprised when I said I was a Filipino. Medyo pormal makipag-usap ang tatay niya at kagaya ni Jimin noon, mabagal magsalita sa Ingles pero nakakabuo naman siya ng mga salita.

Nalaman ko ring kaya alam ng nanay ni Jimin ang pangalan ko ay dahil sinabi niya. He sometimes told our story to his mother over the phone. Nakikita kong mas malapit siya sa nanay niya.

Nang matapos kumain ay nagpaalam ang mga magulang niya at para raw mapag-isa kami dahil gusto na rin daw nilang magpahinga. And so, we were left alone here in their living room.

"I'm sorry for my mother's nosiness," ani Jimin nang mapag-isa kami. Bukas ang malaking telebisyon at umi-ere ang isang drama. "She was just so excited to see you again," dagdag niya.

Nangingiti tuloy ako, kasi na-i-imagine ko ang kakulitan ni Mamang kung sakaling ipakilala ko sa kaniya ang boyfriend ko. But of course, the question wasn't about how would she treat my boyfriend, it would always be who was my boyfriend.

Nawala ang ngiti ko at bahagyang napayuko ako. "She's very nice actually," sagot ko na pilit itinatago ang lungkot. I really didn't know how my family would treat him if I ever introduced him to them, would they accept him like how his family accepted me? Or would they judge him like kuya Haynes did before?

I really didn't know, and I didn't want to take a risk. Ang pinakahuling nanaisin kong mangyari ay ang husgahan siya ng pamilya ko.

"Because she likes you. She is not that nice to other people," aniya sa malambot na tinig.

Nilingon ko siya para lang makitang hindi sa telebisyon nakatuon ang mga mata niya kung hindi sa akin. Hindi ko nakikitaan ng ganoong personalidad ang nanay niya, or maybe because, he was right. His mother liked me so she wouldn't treat me bad. We were kind of the same actually.

"I think I'm now a step ahead of Sally." Ngumuso ako sa kaniya at nang kumunot ang noo niya ay nagpatuloy ako. "Your mother isn't in favor of your public status with her," dagdag ko.

I felt his one hand gently combing my hair from behind. Nakatungtong ang braso niya sa backrest ng inuupuan ko habang bahagyang nakasandal ako sa kaniya. The couch was too long yet, nagsisisiksikan kami sa gitnang bahagi, like space wasn't invented for us.

"You are a lot of steps ahead, misseu. Don't compare yourself to her." His brows crossed. Mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko kaya hinuli ko ang kamay niyang naglalaro sa buhok ko at hinila para tuluyan na niya akong ma-akbayan.

Nagsumiksik pa akong lalo sa kaniya. "Whatever you say, she's still very lucky to be your girlfriend in the eyes of the public." Umirap ako kahit na hindi niya nakikita. Naramdaman kong bumuntong-hininga siya dahil nakasandal ako sa dibdib niya. Humigpit ang yakap ng isang braso niya sa akin.

I even felt him softly kiss my head. "Are you jealous?" he asked, sounded amused.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. It would be so immature if I told him that… yes, I was jealous. I was jealous every time their names would be on TV, on any social apps and on tabloids. I was jealous every time people would feast at the sight of them together. I was jealous, and very immature.

"I understand," I uttered dishonestly as I sniffed on his shirt that had the evidence of his rich smell.

"You are jealous." He declared, much more amused.

"I'm not." Pumikit ako ng mariin saka bahagyang umiling dahil ayaw kong ipakita sa kaniyang nagiging immature ako.

"Please, stop being so mature. I know you just don't want to get jealous over something you think is so trivial." Muli kong naramdamang hinalikan niya ang ulo ko pero sa pagkakataong ito, matagal iyon.

"I'm not… j-jealous," pagpupumilit ko pa rin. Dahil totoo naman, totoong napakawalang kuwenta lang kung iisipin ang dahilan ng pagseselos ko dahil alam na alam kong walang mamamagitan sa kanila ni Sally.

Sasagot pa sana siya kung hindi lang kami nakarinig ng sunod-sunod na kahol. Pareho naming nilingon ang pinagmumulan noon, at mula sa pinto ay naroon ang isang lalaking sobrang hawig ni Jimin habang bitbit sa mga braso nito ang napakapamilyar na aso. Only that some detail about the dog had changed. Mas lumaki ito kaysa sa asong naaalala ko at mas kumapal din ang mga balahibo nito.

"Hyung?" the man inquired, looking confusedly at Jimin before drawing his pair of small eyes to me. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya at dahil abala siya paninitig sa akin ay nakawala sa mga braso niya ang aso saka agad na tumakbo patungo sa direksyon namin, kay Jimin.

The dog excitedly caressed Jimin's legs with his head as if wanting to get carried by his owner. Natatawang kinarga ni Jimin ang aso at hinaplos-haplos niya ang ulo nito.

Sa tuwa ko ay hindi ko na napigilang haplusin din ang aso. "Nice seeing you again, Ippi!" I happily told the dog. Mukhang naintindihan ako nito dahil napunta ang ulo nito sa mga haplos ko. I chuckled at the tingling sensation its head hairs brought my palm.

"He still recognized you," natatawang sabi ni Jimin.

"Yes. I guess so." Kinuha ko sa kaniya ang aso para ilagay sa mga hita ko. Nakakatawang isip na halos sakop na nito ang buong hita ko gayong napakaliit lang nito noon sa mga hita ko.

"Hyung, when did you get home? And who is she?"

Naalala ko ang lalaki nang magsalita siya. The way he called Jimin, he must be Jimin's brother. Naglakad siya patungo sa amin at napansin ko pa ang pagsulyap niya sa asong nasa kanlungan ko.

"She's my girlfriend," ani Jimin.

Hindi ko alam ang sinabi ni Jimin pero mukhang masyado iyong kagulat-gulat para manlaki ang mga mata ng kapatid niya na para bang may sinabi siyang napaka-imposibleng bagay.

"Are you cheating on Sally-ssi?" anang kapatid ni Jimin sa tonong nang-aakusa.

What were they talking about?

"Sally is not my girlfriend, Jigs." Matalim ang tinging ipinukol ni Jimin sa kapatid niya nang dumiin din ang tono ng boses niya. Akala ko ay magsasalita pa ang kapatid niya ngunit tahimik lang itong nagtungo na sa hagdan at walang lingon-lingong umakyat.

"Did you fight?" I asked him, seeing the not so good composition he and his brother had before the latter left. Umiling siya at ngumiti saka binalingang muli ang asong nasa kandungan ko na ngayon ay nananahimik na.

I guessed, Ippi had fallen asleep under my touch.

"Cat or dog?" Matapos ang ilang minutong pananahimik niya ay nagsalita siya. Napahinto ako sa paghaplos kay Ippi at tama nga ang hinala kong tulog na siya. The dog was now sleeping silently on my lap.

"Huh?" taka ko siyang nilingon pagkatapos.

"I mean, what do you like most, cat or dog?" he asked, blinking at me with those small eyes.

"Cats. I've liked cats ever since. They seem soft," I answered him, matter-of-factly. Gusto ko ang mga aso, pero mas gusto ko ang mga pusa. That was what you expect from a person like me. I like things that could define as soft. "But I like dogs too," dagdag ko sabay haplos kay Ippi.

Halata namang mas gusto niya ang aso e. I often saw his pictures being intimate and sweet with dogs.

Nanatili kami sa living room, tahimik na nag-uusap ng kung anu-ano lang habang bukas pa rin ang TV. Mag-aalas-otso pa lang dahil maaga kaming naghapunan kaya wala na kaming ginagawa. Sinabi rin niyang dito kami magpapalipas ng gabi. And that was, after he promised me that we would only sleep and nothing else, that calmed the crap out of me.

Tinanong din niya kung anong oras bukas ang flight namin ni Holly.

"It's evening," sagot ko, both feeling sad and happy because I would be leaving but at the same time, we still had all day tomorrow with each other.

Really, I didn't know I could really put up to this just for him.

Pinagmasdan ko siya habang isinusuot niya sa akin ang makapal na pink na winter jacket, pinagsuot niya rin ako ng pink gloves at pink na bonnet habang nakabihis na rin siya ng katulad ng suot ko, kulay blue nga lang ang kulay ng sa kaniya. We were matching again.

"But it's late already." I told him when he told me where doing something. "And it's cold outside," dagdag ko pa.

"That's why you should dress warmly," tanging sagot niya.

"What are you planning to do again?" kunot-noong tanong ko dahil gabi na at hindi ko alam kung may mapupuntahan pa ba kami ng ganitong oras.

"You'll know when we get outside," nakangisi niyang sagot saka pisil sa ilong ko.

And oh, I didn't feel anything good about his smile.