affiance

verb

affianced; affianc·ing

transitive verb

: to solemnly promise (oneself or another) in marriage 

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It has been a week since he moved in. The condo unit was nicer than he imagined. Yung mga inconvenience na naisip nya isn't as severe as he thought it would be. Hindi naman sya gaanong lumalabas ng bahay so there's no way he might encounter haphazards.

A few days ago, the company called to check up on him and after that short but really stressful phone call, Jongdae's already talking about some of the proposed projects for him.

And every night, Jongin and him... spend dinner together. It's either at Jongin's house, or at his house. It never really mattered to him. Ang sakanya lang, naeenjoy nya ang company ng lalaki, and same goes with Jongin, hopefully.

It was all going smooth.

It was so much better than he imagined. Sometimes he felt like he's undeserving of all the good things he's having right now.

"So, you still haven't introduce me to your dinner mate." Jongdae said.

Napangiwi sya. Really, you can already wrote a whole novel just from how many times Jongdae asked him about his dinner partner. Hanggang ngayon, name was still unspoken. Hindi nya alam kung anong i-rereact ng manager once he told him who it was.

Jongdae might flip.

"You know I never asked for your nosiness? Ano nga palang sinabi ng management?" Sagot nya dito, clearly avoiding the topic of his dinner mate.

"Either a comeback or debut drama. Wala pang clear na balita but both are being weighed into consideration."

Tumango sya. A drama huh. Why does drama sounds better than writing music? The dread and darkness he felt from making music still lingers and it wouldn't hurt to try new things, such as the debut drama his manager was talking about.

"I might consider drama."

Jongdae stared at him longer than he expected.

"What? Its a breath of fresh air. I need a new environment."

Jongdae just nodded but turned silent afterwards. Alam nyang naiintindihan naman ni Jongdae ang nararamdaman nya, pero hindi to sangayon sa gusto nyang gawin.

It just doesnt't feel like as enjoyable at it did before, music. Parang pakiramdam nya, everything is an obligation, responsibilty, just to pay back all the people who has supported him throughout his music career, para lang masuffice lahat ng expectations na nasa balikat nya, galing sa mga tao na humihingi ng patunay galing sakanya. It's not the feelings he wanted to feel anymore. He just want to stop doing it, doing music.

But he's damn scared too... of oblivion. Of people leaving him after knowing that D.O couldn't sing anymore. Natatakot sya na baka pag tumigil sya, all the people who has supported him, all his fans, all the love they are giving him will vanish with his music. He couldn't let go of it.

"I'll be going then Kyungsoo." Jongdae said as he cleared the plates on the table. Tumango sya saka hinatid ang manager hanggang sa pintuan.

That was the last time he saw Jongdae sober.

---

He was petrified when he opened the door to Jongdae that night, the guy was drunk in his wits, and totally unresponsive. Ni hindi nya nga alam kung pano pa ito nakapunta sa condo unit nya ng ganon ng lagay.

"Jongdae? What the actual fuck?" His manager casually fall right into him kaya wala na syang nagawa kundi saluhin ang lasing na lalaki. He was struggling to guide the guy inside, nang makarating sa sala, his energy has worn down.

Inihiga nya ang lasing na manager sa couch. He couldn't believe his eyes. Jongdae drank this much, his strict as fuck manager. Napahinga nalang sya ng malalim. Pupunta sana sya sa kusina para ipagtimpla ito ng kape ng biglang hatakin ni Jongdae ang damit nya.

"What the hell Jongdae?!"

Tinanggal nya ang pagkakahawak nito sa damit nya pero mas lalo syang nagulat ng magumpisang tumulo ang mga luha ng lalaki. Shit. This is so fucking unbelievable.

"You're so insufferable. I can't believe this."

Mabilis syang kumuha ng damit atsaka tubig at binalikan ang manager sa couch. Iyak pa rin ito ng iyak while mumbling things he couldn't even understand. Slurred ang mga salita nito. Lumapit sya sa manager atsaka ito sinubukang itayo. Jongdae protested and cried even harder.

"Please Jongdae." He still needs to see Jongin. Ang sabi nya papatulugin nya lang ang manager saka sya pupunta sa unit ni Jongin but Jongdae was suddenly throwing a fit, para 'tong bata kung umasta. He has never seen the guy act like this before. Bago nya pa matawagan sa Jongin para icancel sana ang dinner nila, narinig nya nalang ang pagtunog ng doorbell nya.

Dang, Jongin's outside already.

"Minseok." Jongdae said again, this time clearer and louder. The actual fuck?! So he was getting drunk because of Luhan's boyfriend. Argh. This is so messed up. Jongdae suddenly sprang from the couch and covered his mouth. Alam nya na agad ang gagawin nito.

Pagkadala nya kay Jongdae sa banyo, mabilis syang tumakbo papunta sa pintuan para kausapin saglit si Jongin.

"Hey, good even—"

"Hey." He said, out of breath.

"Let's go? The food's waiting." Sabi ni jongin, expecting him to go out as well. But by the looks of the situation, sobrang hindi na sya makakaalis.

"Sorry, babawi nalang ako bukas Jongin. I had an emergency, I swear, paghahandaan ko bukas."

"Oh..." He can clearly heard the dismay from the guy's voice. Muntik nya pa itong hatakin para halikan sa pisngi pero narinig nya nanaman ang boses ni Jongdae sa loob, shouting. Parehas silang napatingin ni Jongin sa loob ng bahay.

"Ano yon?"

"That was... the emergency. Sorry I really have to go."  Mabilis nyang isinara ang pintuan ng hindi manlang lumilingon sa lalaki saka tumakbo papunta sa banyo.

Jongdae was sprawled down the floor crying his heart out like a fucking teenager.

"Ano nanaman?" Inis nyang sabi bago hubarin sa lalaki ang damit nito. The guy smelled sour from all the vomiting he just did. Ipinasok nya ito sa shower saka binuksan ang tubig hoping that Jongdae will sober up.

Nang matapos nyang iwan sa shower si Jongdae ng 20 minutes, maya maya lumabas na ito ng naka bathrobe. The guy was silent, and he knew Jongdae is probably embarassed or just brokenhearted or something. He wanted to ask questions pero parang hindi appropriate na magtanong sya dito dahil ss itsura ng manager.

Lumubog ang couch sa kaliwa nya, indicating Jongdae sat beside him.

"So... you sober now? Makakausap ka na ba ng matino?" He said before looking at Jongdae.

Nakayuko ito... and the next words he uttered shook him more than the accompanying tears of his manager.

"Luhan's marrying him... Minseok."

----

sehubo