Chapter Two

♪ Soundtrack: Closer by The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey ♪

Why did I forget that he often appeared at parties like this too? How did I ever forget that we often crossed path at such parties like this, only for him to suck away all of my excitement, resulting to me having my good mood taken away and going home earlier than I would have intended to? Just why did we need to cross paths again even after everything?

Could he just like be gone from my life, like for good? It seriously sickening for me seeing his disgusting face all over again. Okay, fine, he was disgustingly handsome but his face didn't have an affect to me anymore. At least, I believed so.

In a beige longsleeves dress shirt tidily tucked into a black slacks, revealing his elegant and expensive black belt, his dirty perfectly brushed brown hair parted at the side showing disrespect with his smooth forehead as his chocolate and deep eyes were rudely and stoically staring at me and his crimson thin lips gaped... images of Jeon Jeongguk flashing continuously right before my very eyes.

Saglit lang siyang nadapuan ng tingin ko pero agad kong nakabisa sa isipan ko ang ayos niya ngayong gabi. Kahit ang tantiya kong red wine na inumin niyang hawak niya ay hindi nakalagpas sa mga mata ko! What the hell?! Ako lang ba ang nag-aakalang isang mabilis na sulyap lang ang naibigay ko sa kaniya? I was sure as hell that I didn't give my eyes the chance to stare at him for long! And would I even? He was an eyesore!

I stared pathetically at my irritated reflection in the mirror. Kung hindi ko pa binabalak na umuwi na ay hindi ako maghihilamos dahil masisira ang makeup ko pero dahil nakikinita ko na ang naka-lock na gate ng bahay oras na lumampas ng twelve midnight ay nagpapakaba sa akin.

Alam kong tototohanin ni Evah ang sinabi niyang pagsasarhan niya ako ng gate.

Naglabas ako ng tissue sa pouch ko at tinuyo ang basa kong pisngi. At least, I was a little sober now. Hindi naman ako lasing, nahihilo lang dahil kakaunti lang naman ang nainom ko. And I could still surely drive home safe.

"Oh, c'mon, stop it! Tama na ang isang beses! Why do you keep on flashing in my mind?!" inis kong singhal sa repleksiyon ko nang muli ko na namang maalala ang imahe ng lalaking iyon.

I could perfectly say if things about him had changed. Kasi kahit na hindi kami madalas magkita, sa loob ng limang taong lumipas, may mga pagkakataong nagkikita talaga kami sa iisang lugar, mostly if there was an awarding event or parties like this. I didn't live my five years in showbiz hiding from him, I kept on avoiding him but I didn't hide from him. Useless dahil nasa iisang industriya lang kami pareho.

How could I say this? If I were to compare him from the kid I had known before, I could say that his body had matured now. Madalas ko iyong mapansin sa kaniya sa tuwing nasa iisang lugar kami. He was now more of a fully ripened man, with his large frame and perfectly bulky body. Minsan nakakatakot makita ang bawat pagbabago niya. It felt like he was getting better and better as time passed by, as he grew older, and I freaking believed that was scary.

"He's still a kid, Em," saway ko sa sarili ko habang umiiling para iwaglit siya mula sa isipan ko. Dinampot ko na ang pouch bag ko at nagtungo na sa pinto pero parang gusto ko na lang ulit itulak ang sarili ko pabalik sa loob ng banyo at i-lock ang pinto nang may maabutan akong pigura na prenteng nakasandal sa dingding, sa gilid ng pinto.

I tightly clutched my pouch bag as I inhaled and exhaled deeply to catch up with the way my heart was beating rapidly. Oh, not for the jerk but because of surprise. Shame. At nakaka-inis lang dahil sa ginawa kong iyon, nasinghot ko ang bango niya, both baby and musky scent.

Langya! Hindi pa rin talaga siya nagbabago!

Tumuwid siya ng tayo nang magbaba siya ng tingin sa akin matapos niyang mapansin ang presensiya ko. Oh, another thing about him, he had gotten taller than ever! Matangkad na siya noon pa pero mas tumangkad siya ngayon.

Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil masyadong mabigat ang mga titig niya at nakakangalay ang tingalain siya lalo na at hanggang balikat niya lang ako kahit na naka-heels ako.

"Are you alone? Where are your friends?" I heard his baritone yet soft voice, talking to me as if we had been speaking to each other since time immemorial, and as if he was forgetting what he did to me.

At sino bang makakalimot sa boses niya? Kahit yata ilang taon pa ang lumipas na hindi kami magkita, there was no way I would forget his voice if I always heard them on TV, singing and performing. Plus, he often tried to start a conversation with me at sudden civil meetings like this. Kahit na paulit-ulit ko siyang ini-ignore.

Just how shameless?

"Obviously, they're not here. And I'm not alone," pabalya kong sagot sa kaniya at nagsimula nang maglakad palabas ng hallway. Magpapaalam na ako kay Lee Anna na uuwi na ako.

Ang makipag-usap kay Jeon Jeongguk ay hindi na bago sa akin. We often talked, but not in a normal way. It was better to say that he always found his way to be shameless in front of me and construct a conversation with me. Madalas binabato ko siya ng mga pabalyang sagot dahil hindi ko maintindihan kung paano niya ako nagagawang kausapin gayong may malaki siyang kasalanan sa akin.

He was just too shameless. Really shameless.

"Are you going home already?" Nakasunod pa rin sa akin ang loko. At iniisip talaga niyang normal sa amin ang magpalitan ng mga salita. Like what the hell? Kung umarte siya, parang wala siyang atraso sa akin.

I wouldn't ever forget that he, and his jerks of a friend had sinned to me, and to my friends.

"That's none of your business," I said nonchalantly trying to ignore his expensive elegant presence behind me. Kahit na alam ko sa sarili ko kung gaano siya ka-persistent. Iyon nga ang dahilan kung bakit kahit na sinubukan kong lumayo sa kaniya noon, nakuha niya pa rin ang loob ko.

Plus, a Jeon Jeongguk was just too hard to ignore.

"Noona—" He quickly stopped when I hastily turned around to face him. Binato ko siya ng masamang tingin. Subukan niya lang talagang bigkasin ang salitang iyon, I wouldn't think twice to spit hell on him!

"Why are you following me?" inis kong tanong sa kaniya nang mapadpad kami sa hall at nakasunod pa rin siya sa akin. As far as possible, I was keeping my voice toned down. I couldn't afford to get everyone's attention. I suddenly wanted to ask him the question he threw me earlier. Where were his friends? Bakit ako ang ginugulo niya ngayon? Every chance he got, really?! Hindi ako tanga para muli siyang hayaang makapasok sa buhay ko! Like, Cinderella would surely choose the right Prince now!

"I... are you going home n-now?" His deep chocolate eyes gracefully and softly fell down on mine, far from how he was staring rudely and stoically at me earlier. Sa sobrang banayad ng boses niya, parang naririnig ko na ang mga sinabi sa akin ni Hanselle noon, limang taon na ang nakakalipas...

"Of course. Just don't leave your shoe to find a stupid Prince who only knows how to flirt. Find a Prince that won't let you go even when the clock struck at twelve midnight," sagot ni Hanselle nang tanungin ko siya kung maaari bang ako ang metaphor ni Cinderella sa metaphorical story na kinuwento niya.

I had loved Cinderella ever since I was a child. Sa lahat ng Disney Princesses, siya ang pinakagusto ko. I just so loved her story so much. Kaya nang banggitin ni Hanselle si Cinderella, naisip ko na kaagad na sa kuwento niya... I could be the metaphor of Cinderella.

Mas lalong tumalim ang titig ko sa kaniya. Kung noon, I considered him as the Prince in my Cinderella life story, I had come out wrong, so mistaken. Hindi sapatos ang iniwan ko noon, puso ko ang iniwan ko sa kaniya, at ni wala akong ideya na wala siyang balak manatili dahil bago pa man sumapit ang alas-dose, inunahan na niya akong lumisan... dala ang mahalagang parte ng pagkatao ko.

Sa kuwento namin, ako ang naka-iwan, siya ang umalis. Now I was confused, who was the real Cinderella in the two of us?

"Stop following me. People might think there's something between us!" I annoyingly hissed at him in a low voice, avoiding to get attentions. Mag-aalas dose na, babiyahe pa ako at kung hindi pa ako aalis ngayon, baka lampas alas-dose na ako makarating sa bahay at baka ang saradong gate na lang ang madatnan ko.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad. Nang makita ko ang kinaroroonan ni Lee Anna, kahit na nararamdaman ko ang pagsunod ni Jeon Jeongguk sa likod ko ay nagpatuloy ako. Bahala siya riyan. Magbibitiw na ako sa pag-aartista, hindi ko na poproblemahin kung may lumabas mang isyu kinabukasan, mas maaapektuhan siya.

And oh hey, I was hell sure he couldn't afford to get his beloved image get stained. And his beloved BTS. Tsk.

Nagpaalam ako kay Lee Anna na nasa couch malapit sa counter kasama ang mga kaibigan niya. Hindi nakalagpas sa mga mata ko kung paanong tumagos ang mga mata nila sa likod ko at may pagtatakang tumitig, though I could see the obvious amusement and admiration shading their eyes for the gorgeous guy behind me.

Lahat naman. Lahat naman talaga ng mga taong nakakasalamuha niya ay talagang ganyan ang nagiging epekto sa kanila ng isang Jeon Jeongguk. Everyone in the industry adores and respects their group.

I sighed mentally. How could I dispatch him silently? Iyong hindi na siya makakalitaw pa sa harapan ko kahit kailan. I wasn't even fine before being with him in the same place, in the same meter pa kaya? And we were not even in good terms!

"Will you please stop following me?" Huminto ako sa paglalakad nang makalabas ako ng bar at makarating sa hallway kung nasaan ang mga elevators. My heart throbbed irregularly at the realization that the coast was clear, deserted and very silent.

Kaming dalawa lang ang tao at hindi maganda iyon.

Sinulyapan ko ang hilera ng tatlong elevators at nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga nang makita ang ilang metrong distansiya ko sa pinakamalapit na elevator. Now, I didn't want to be alone with him in this kind of cleared coast place.

"Let me drive you home—"

"I have my car. And please, will you please, stop following me!" singhal ko sa kaniya sa hindi ko na mabilang na pagkakataon. Inis na nagmartsa na ako patungo sa pinakamalapit na elevator at agad na pinindot ang down button. I felt him still following behind me, totally unfazed by my obvious and constant hate for his presence.

Buwisit! Wala ba siyang magawa sa buhay niya? Just so he knew, I hated him! I didn't want to talk with him! I didn't even want be with him!

"Wait! Noona, just let me drive you home and then I'll—" He stopped abruptly, his shining lips—due to his infamous lipbalm—slightly gaped. Wala pa rin talagang kupas ang lokong ito. Napakaguwapo pa rin. It should be a sin to be this handsome. His hell of a handsome face could save a nation, to be honest.

"Leave me alone, will you?! We're not close so stop following me!" Sa sobrang inis ko, dahil sa kakulitan niya at sa ginamit niya para i-address ako ay itinulak ko siya. He must know I was already getting so mad because I couldn't keep up with speaking Korean anymore. He knew I always spoke English when mad.

Just then, the elevator door parted.

He clearly flinched at what I did. Bahagya pa siyang napa-atras pero saglit lang iyon dahil kumunot ang noo niya at bago pa man muling magsara ang pinto ng elevator ay mabilis na hinawakan na niya ang pulupulsuhan ko para hilahin ako papasok ng elevator. The door then closed, with me squirming in his tight grip and hating how close my body was to his hard and bulky one.

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO, JEON JEONGGUK!" Pinaghahampas ko gamit ng isang kamay kong hawak ang pouch ko ang mukha niya habang kinakaladkad niya ako sa basement nang makalabas kami ng elevator.

Umiilag siya kaya hindi ko matamaan ang mukha niya at mukhang hindi napapansin na nasasaktan na ako sa paraan ng paghawak niya sa akin. Oh, I was willing to give him a bruise that could be the feast his fans would be digging tomorrow. Ang saya sigurong makita siyang nag-pe-perform sa stage dala ang pasang ginawa ko.

"I was asking nicely, noona, but you kept on hissing at me. Now, you'll be riding my car!" banta niya sa akin sa natural niyang malalim na boses.

Napatigil ako sa paghampas sa kaniya at napatitig sa side-profile niya. Walang bahid ng ngiti sa mukha niya. And I could only pity the things he was looking at, he looked like someone who was ready to kill someone or to destroy something... but then, I couldn't help but laugh hard.

Oh, look at this kid threatening me!

I laughed insanely while being dragged by him, not anymore irritated with how he was tightly holding me. Nilingon niya ako ng nakakunot pa rin ang noo. Mariing nakasara ang mga labi at tipong pinag-aaralan ang kabuuan ng mukha ko. I suddenly regretted washing my makeup off my face. Ano na kayang hitsura ko ngayon? I could only imagine my mascara smudged dark around my eyes and my lips pale due to the absence of my lipstick.

"Waeyo?" he innocently asked. Ang kunot niyang noo ay naroon pa rin ngunit ang matalim niyang mga mata ay kumukurap na ngayon sa pagtataka.

"Did you just threaten me? You? A Kid? Don't forget, Jeon Jeongguk-ssi, you're still a kid in my eyes. Your threat will always be just a nonsense kiddie tantrum for me." Nginisian ko siya para ipakitang hindi ako natatakot sa kaniya. I didn't even want him to think that I was taking him seriously, not even before, not ever.

Mananatili siyang bata sa paningin ko. That kid who was so persistent and spoiled. Hanggang doon na lang. Whatever he did, tumangkad man siya, lumaki man ang katawan niya tulad ngayon at madagdagan man ng taon ang edad niya, always, he would be just a kid for me.

His face darkened even more, his thick brows instantly furrowing and his thin lips pursing hardly. Kung noon, sa tuwing inaasar ko siya ng ganoon, he would just pout and give me a fake teary eyes, things about him really did change. But then, that was fine. He wouldn't affect me anymore because I had changed too.

I had changed for the better.

"Let go of my hand now, Jeon Jeongguk-ssi. I need to go," seryoso kong sabi sabay hila sa kamay ko ngunit imbis na sundin ako ay pumihit siya paharap sa itim na mercedes benz na nasa harap namin na ngayon ko lang napansin.

He quickly and silently opened the door of the passenger's seat before silently yet harshly throwing me inside. Napa-igtad pa ako nang marahas at malakas niyang isinara ang pinto. My insides churned unbelievably at the smell of a mixture of baby and musky scent. He was still a baby! Hindi ko na tuloy namalayan nang umikot siya para makapasok sa driver's seat. And uh, he still smelled the same! Sinasabi ko na nga ba!

"Seatbelt," mariing aniya habang ikinakabit ang seatbelt niya at matalim ang tingin sa manibela.

"Open this door, Jeon Jeongguk," utos ko sa kaniya sa matigas na tono, pinapantayan ang diin ng tono niya.

"Am I really still a kid for you?" he lowly asked in a deep voice, ignoring what I said, as he held firmly on the wheel with both of his hands. His palms corded at the tight gripping but I didn't dare got affected. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung bakit nagpapadala ako sa kaniya ngayon e. Hindi kami close. Fine, magkakilala kami at sinong makakalimot sa hindi magandang nakaraan namin? Baka gusto niyang ipaalala ko sa kaniya kung sino rito sa amin ang naunang mang-iwan?

He had closed his door even before I could step in, so he couldn't just step into my life, just so he knew, I also had my doors closed exclusively for him!

"I said open this door!" I also ignored what he asked. Alam niya ang sagot sa tanong niyang iyon. Alam din niyang hindi magbabago iyon.

"This kid can give you the world, just so you know," aniya sa seryoso pa ring tinig.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Like who the hell cares? I didn't need the world. I never did. And also, most importantly, not if it came from him. One more thing, I loved my own world where he and I couldn't coexist.

"In three, open this door or I'll break your car's window, kid," banta ko sa kaniya na pinakadiinan ang huling kataga para sagutin ang una niyang tanong.

I hoped it was clear to him.

"Before that happens, you're already panting over this kid's kisses."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya kaya mabilis ko siyang binalingan ngunit ang malalambot niyang mga labi ang sumalubong sa akin. His soft lips harshly ambushed my unprepared ones as his hands tightly yet gently cradled my face, pulling my face deeper while he tilted his head for a good angle.

I was too stunned to even process what he was doing to me until I felt his soft and wet lips moving sensually and very gently, though in a very demanding way, against my frozen lips. Kumurap ang mga mata ko nang maramdaman ko ang mararahan niyang halik sa pang-ibabang labi ko na para bang gusto niyang tumugon ako at ang mga daliri niya ay dumidiin sa magkabilang pisngi ko.

I had been kissed. That was a must in the line of my work, plus how could I forget that it was him who had first given me the experience of my first kiss? It was him who had taken the very first chance of tasting my lips that had been untouched by no other man. But no one, not even the most famous actor I had worked with had made me feel the way he was making me feel right now.

Five years ago, he had made me feel how to be kissed, thoroughly, intensely and sensually. And he was making me feel it again.

"Uhg..." I found my own voice in an obscene panting when his lips disappeared from my lips for a second before I felt it again, more intense and more sensual than ever. Napakapit ako sa balikat niya kasabay nang pagkakalaglag ng talukap ng mga mata ko nang magsimulang maglikot ang dila niya sa loob ng bibig ko, ang mga labi ay may sariling ritmo at isinasabay ang mga labi kong para bang ngayon pa lang nahalikan.

Ang isang kamay niyang kanina lang ay nananahimik sa pisngi ko ay sumuot na sa batok ko para gabayan akong ibalik ang mga halik na iginagawad niya sa akin. How could he stay the same after all those years? How could he still taste the same, like the only man I had ever liked to taste?

"J-Jeon... Jeongguk-ssi..." I managed to breathe his name in desperate breathing between his torturing and demanding kisses. Para bang isinisigaw ng mga halik niyang ang batang ito, ang batang ito ang siyang magpapabuhay ng natutulog kong pagkakababae.

I then thought, sleeping? No, it wasn't. Matagal na itong nagising. Noon pa lang, five years ago, it was awakened when this man, this kid rather, had opened the door of earthy doings right in front of my eyes.

My mind shortly forgot everything and let myself be drowned in his sweet kisses, I let myself sink into his touch and send all the protests away from my mind. Hinayaan ko nang magtungo ang kamay niya sa likod ng suot kong dress at ang isang kamay ay naglalakbay pababa sa baywang ko. I heard him unzipping my dress and only his kisses were what mattered for me, his touches burned me as his very scent just showered me emotions I couldn't name as of the moment.

Masyadong mabilis, it was just his kisses awhile ago that was making me all needy and crazy over him... kaya nang maramdaman ko ang isang kamay niyang humahaplos sa isang dibdib kong hindi ko namalayang lumaya na sa suot kong dress ay tuluyan nang lumimot ang isipan ko.

Iisang bagay na lang ang kaya nitong iproseso. Jeon Jeongguk, his touches, his kisses and all of him. Just him... to be honest.

Only Jeon Jeongguk. All over again.

When he said I would be panting over his kisses, he didn't specifically tell me that I would be panting while he was on top of me, doing all the earthy doings to me and shattering my long kept innocence. He proved to me that he was no longer a kid, that he had never been, when it came to me. But then, mistakes are often done willingly. Sometimes, call of need. Sometimes, call of heart. Or maybe, I was just persuaded because as always, as ever, as he had been, he was persistent.

As ever, my heart, my mind and all of me was a slave for him.

I didn't even know that even after all those years that passed, he still had this effect on me that I could forget anything, I could throw everything away just because he was kissing me, just because he was making me feel again how it was to be touched by no other than Jeon Jeongguk.

That Jeon Jeongguk could still burn all of me, and turn me into a vulnerable heap of ash... helpless and desperate.

If giving myself to him was the biggest mistake I could have ever done, I guessed, it was fine, because it was the sweetest thing I had ever felt.

Nang dumating ang premiere night ng huling pelikulang pagbibidahan ko ay labis-labis ang excitement na nadama ko. Tumawag sa akin si Eura unnie nitong umaga lang at sinabi niyang magkakaroon ng maliit na meeting sa pagitan ko at ng ilang executives pagkatapos ng event.

Maaaring pilitin nila akong huwag na munang umalis, na muling pumirma ng kontrata pero alam ko sa sarili kong buo na ang pasya ko. I wanted a break, from the spotlight, from the showbiz world. From all this.

"Kumawo, Jul-hye-ah," nakangiting sabi ko sa babaeng may blonde na buhok at may singkit na mga mata nang matapos niyang ayusin ang buhok ko.

I was excited, of course. Pero nalalakipan iyon ng paninibugho, alaala ng mga kaganapan noong gabing iyon ang laman ng isipan ko sa mga sumunod na araw. Just what the hell had happened? Did I just... did we... really? It had happened nights ago already but it still kept on hunting me.

Nang magising ako nang umagang iyon at matagpuan ko ang sarili kong nakahiga sa ibabaw ni Jeon Jeongguk at yakap-yakap niya sa loob ng sasakyan niya, bodies unclothed, legs tangled together, his hot breath peacefully hitting my nape, agad na dinagsa ang isipan ko ng sobrang daming katanungan. Why did I let it happen? I meant, what really happened? I tried to convince myself that nothing had happened, that we had only slept together. I comforted myself that we had only slept together but the soreness, the pain I had felt downtown was telling me otherwise!

He dared! He dared to touch me!

Kasabay rin noon ay ang pagbuhos ng ala-ala sa akin kung paanong paulit-ulit siyang humingi ng tawad sa akin at pina-ulanan ako ng mararahang halik habang paulit-ulit akong lumuluha at humihikbi dahil sa sakit na naramdaman ko sa ibaba ko nang tuluyan niya na akong maangkin... pain; both physical pain and emotional pain.

The softness and the concern that had mirrored his eyes while whispering me soft apologies were all somehow attesting that it all had happened. But then, mabilis din namang nilukob ng hiya ang loob ko nang maalala ko ring halos magmakaawa ako sa kaniyang bilisan, because the pleasure was near to torture, almost unbearable that I only wanted him to give his utmost.

The pleasure was unbearable than the pain itself.

Oh my gosh! Tell me I didn't do all of those! It wasn't me! Ilang araw na akong binabagabag ng ala-alang iyon! That kid had really taken my innocence! And I couldn't accept it! I couldn't understand! I couldn't... I mean, I didn't feel regretful at all to be very honest though...

Para bang ibinigay ko sa kaniya iyong bagay na matagal na niyang pag-aari. Alam kong mali. Sobrang mali. Galit ako roon sa tao, at nakaka-inis lang dahil tandang-tanda ko kung paanong kinalimutan ko ang lahat dahil lang sa mga halik at haplos niya.

Em! He's a mistake! His overall existence is a mistake! He's your mistake! Get a freaking damn grip!

"You're always welcome, Emi-ah." Jul-hye stopped the track of my thoughts, her English speaking was improving because they were somehow trying to learn English for me as she smiled back at me before turning her attention back to the stuff on the countertop.

I just stared at her, trying to take Jeon Jeongguk and all of what he did to me that night away from my mind, from my system.

Emi, I was known as Emi in the showbiz world. Ang HIT mismo ang nagbigay sa akin ng palayaw na iyon na nagmula sa second name kong Emerald. Hindi na ako tumanggi pa dahil ang mahalaga sa akin noong mga panahong iyon ay ang makapag-debut bilang artista.

My makeup was done by Kei. HIT entertainment had given me a great team actually. Magaling mag-makeup si Kei at gustong-gusto ko kung paano inaayos ni Jul-hye ang buhok ko. She didn't follow the trends, she was always making me the trend. Palaging nagiging fashion icon ang my hairstyles ko dahil sa kaniya. She was actually just my age, samantalang si Kei ay mas bata sa amin.

"You know what, why don't you introduce your admirer to me? He never went off the drain in sending you flowers everyday." A voice constructing perfect accented English resounded the room.

I watched as Eura unnie appeared from the door, carrying a familiar bouquet of flowers as she walked towards me. Magaling si Eura unnie mag-ingles dahil nagpa-part time siya as English tutor sa ilang mga batang artista ngayon. Ngumuso ako at inilahad ang kamay ko nang makalapit siya sa akin. Inabot niya sa akin ang pumpon ng pamilyar na mga bulaklak. The blue bouquet wrapper housing a crowd of blue tulips... only this time, they were unusually mixed with white tulips.

I mentally raised a brow because the white tulips were new, it had always been just blue tulips before. Mabilis ko rin namang isinantabi ang pagtataka dahil naisip kong baka bagong style lang ito ni Yohan.

"He's shy, unnie," natatawang sagot ko kahit sa totoo lang, hindi naman mahiyain si Yohan Cha. He was just too much of a private person and I was trying to understand that he wanted to protect both of our image that was why he was not making a move to me vulgarly and only sending flowers to me.

"Oh, tell me about it." Umirap siya. Natawa na lang si Jul-hye na hindi pa rin natatapos sa pagliligpit ng mga gamit.

Binaling ko ang atensyon ko sa mga bulaklak at bahagyang sininghot ang bango ng mga ito. My forehead creased as I saw a white rectangular something from the crowd of flowers. Yohan Cha never sent flowers to me with a note. Nalalaman ko lang na siya iyon dahil sa texts na natatanggap ko galing sa kaniya. I picked the note and read the words written on the card in a very pretty cursive penmanship...

'Congratulations, Noona. - JJK.'

I unconsciously clutched the paper inside my palm and gritted my teeth in irritation. What the hell, he didn't have any plans on leaving my life alone! Naisahan na niya ako, ano pa bang kailangan niya?!

That jerk!

My heart cheered warmly as the whole cinema clouded with claps and screams when the movie ended. Tanging ang movie credits na lang ang makikita sa malaking screen sa harap.

This was one of the hardest things to let go, the warm acceptance from the people. Sa loob ng limang taong pananatili ko sa mundo ng showbiz, marami na akong nakasalamuhang mga nakakatuwang fans, there were those who showed me unfailing support and love but then, haters and bashers had come along. Sa mundong ginagalawan ko, hindi ang dami ng fans ang makakatukoy sa kasikatan ng isang artista, you're famous enough if you have fans but you're phenomenal if you have more haters.

Gusto kong maluha nang inimbitahan na kami sa entablado para ihayag ang mga pasasalamat namin ng leading man ko, dahil kahit na palagi namang ganito sa tuwing makakatapos ako ng isang pelikula ay hindi ko pa rin mapigilang maging emosiyonal. Siyempre nagpasalamat kami sa isa't isa ni Han Seth. I had encountered lousy, assy and rude actors, I had worked with them and I was thankful that Han Seth wasn't a handful one. He was easy to work with and very humble.

Of course, may after-party na magaganap matapos ang premiere night na sa ballroom hall ng isang sikat na hotel ginanap.

I had been smiling at big people in entertainment business. Since the movie was sponsored by big businesses, big bosses were here to give their warmest congratulations in flesh.

"Emi-ssi, congratulations! Han Seth-ssi!" masayang wika sa amin ng isang lalaking may malaking tiyan sa suot niyang puting tux. Namumuti na ang ilang buhok niya, ganoon din ang balbas niya.

I recognized him as the chairman of a radio station company. Yumuko kami ng sabay ni Han Seth para magbigay-galang sa kaniya at sa mga iba pa niyang kasama sa mesa. Matapos kaming magtungo ni Han Seth sa ilan pang mga taong may mga malalaking pangalan sa show business para personal na magpasalamat ay bumalik na kami sa mesa kung saan kasama namin ang ilan pang artistang kasama namin sa pelikula.

"You look very beautiful tonight," ani Han Seth sa pangsampung beses na yata ngayong gabi habang ipinaghihila ako ng upuan.

"You've said it for the umpteenth time already, Han Seth-ssi." I chuckled in a low voice.

Simpleng white halter-top ball dress ang suot ko ngayong gabi na si Eura unnie pa ang pumili. Hanggang tuhod lang ang tabas nito. I perfectly matched it with a pair of Cinderella glass heels and lacy white arm-length gloves. Ang buhok ko ay nakalugay lang ngunit maayos na nakakumpol sa kaliwang balikat ko at ipinapakita ang makinis na balat ng kanang balikat ko

Han Seth, pairing with my outfit since our clothes had come from one source, he was wearing a white tuxedo, beneath a white longsleeves and a white pants. His black hair was neatly brushed sideways that made him look like he just went out of a fairytale book. He was a veteran actor, that was why I was more than grateful to be paired up with him. And well, he was a real gentleman that was why I didn't say anything when he took off his tux earlier and put it on my shoulders. Tanging puting longsleeves na lang ang suot niya at nasa akin ang tux niya.

He actually cheered every heart at the cinema earlier when he did it but then, we were actor and actress, acting was just a piece of cake for us.

"Emi-ssi..." Nahinto ako sa pag-upo sa upuang hinila pa ni Han Seth para sa akin nang kalabitin ako ni Eura unnie. "There's someone who wants to personally congratulate you," aniya sabay hawi ng sarili niya para ilahad sa akin ang taong nasa likod niya.

And then I thought, déjà vu.

Once again, appearing elegantly in front of me like nothing happened, in his simple white button-down polo tucked in a black pants, revealing his black luxurious belt, his dirty brown hair neatly brushed sideways as alway and looking so undeniably handsome more than ever.

Jeon freaking Jeongguk.

The man, the kid rather who had taken my innocence and I had prayed not to cross paths with anymore.

♣♣♣

edited.

just in case no one has told you yet, you're cute and valid 💕.

- Hannan ♥