|21| Hug

Faith's Point of View

Nan naui nuneul garigo

I eumage momeul matgigo

Ppeonhan rideumeul mangchigo

Sajaui chumeul bachigo

Neon naui nuneul salpigo

I eumage momi malligo

Tteugeoun rideume gatigo

Sajae chumeul bachigo

Bwabwabwa bwabwabwa bwabwabwa

It looks like a lion

I'm a queen like a lion

Bwabwabwa bwabwabwa bwabwabwa

It looks like a lion

I'm a queen like a lion

Eh oh

Naghiyawan ang lahat habang winawagayway ang lightstick nila.

"Wow! That's great!" puri ni Minnie, ang Thai sa grupo.

I smiled and thank them. Shuhua clapped for me while hugging Soojin.

Lumapit sa'min ang host. "Okay, again congrats Faith!" aniya at nakipag kamay sa'kin.

Bago ako bumaba ng stage ay tinignan ko ulit ang nasa backstage.

Wala na s'ya.

"You seemed so bothered," ani Stay nang makabalik ako sa pwesto.

Lara jumped and hugged me. "Huy! Ang swerte mo talaga! Akalain mo 'yon? Nakaduet mo sila!"

I smiled. "Dapat talaga ikaw 'yon, eh."

"Hala, ayos lang! Pupunta naman ako sa concert nila sa Korea this vacation, eh."

"Really? You really like them, huh?" Stay said while focusing on the stage. I heard him sighed and glanced at me. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Si Samuel..."

"Hmm?"

Pero pinili kong h'wag na munang kumibo.

Kinabukasan...

Pumasok na si Coleen sa DMU. One of my male classmates gave flowers to brighten her mood. But no one succeeded.

Si Lara, ayon, hindi na nakapasok. 9 pm na rin nang ihatid namin s'ya sa bahay nila.

Lara Chen

I'm sick:(

Siguro naman ay sa umaga lang s'ya absent. At dahil wala s'ya, magisa akong nagtanghalian sa cafeteria. Habang kumakain, nakita ko si Samuel na naghahanap ng mauupuan.

I ran towards him at holded his tray. Sinundan n'ya ako sa table ko at umupo roon.

"Samuel, hindi mo sinabi sa'kin ah!" ani ko at nagsimulang kumain.

He organized his plates before eating. "Tss, ano naman sayo?"

"Magaling ka pala sumayaw?" ani ko.

Kung back up dancer s'ya sa concert, ibig sabihin isa s'ya sa mga kasama ng (G)I-dle noong nagperform.

He avoided my gaze. "It's just a past time."

I clapped slowly. "Wow! Ang hirap maging law student tapos rumaraket ka pa!"

"It's not raket. It's a talent," sagot n'ya at nagsimulang kumain.

Uminom ako ng tubig. "Okay, okay. Sabagay, sino namang mag aaral ng law na mahirap..." I glanced at him. "By the way, ang galing mo ah."

He looked at me and smiled. "Thanks. By the way, so you're a fan of them?"

Umiling ako. "Nilibre lang ako ng kaibigan ko. But somehow, I like them."

Naging mapait ang ngiti n'ya. "My girlfriend used to be a fan of girl groups too..."

I stared at his eyes. Those are in pain, and it never lied.

Sumalangit nawa.

I tried to cheer him up. "Ooh, you used to watch concerts with her?"

He chuckled. "Naalala ko noon, she even cried when the tickets were sold out. So I said we'll take a flight to Korea."

I smiled. "That's awful."

He smiled bitterly. "But didn't happen. Not until we know her condition."

Inubos ko ang pagkain at bumuntong hininga. "Don't cry. I don't have tissues."

"No, I'm not a crying baby anymore."

"But it still hurts."

He shrugged. "It's two long years ago. I have nothing to cry," aniya at iniwan akong magisa sa table.

---

Natapos ang maghapon pero hindi pumasok si Lara. I haven't received texts or video calls from her. She must took a long sleep today.

Kakauwi lang na'min ni Stay mula sa DMU. Nagsimula na 'kong magluto ng hapunan nang mag text si Lara.

Lara Chen

Address?

Agh. Why did she love to type shortly? Or making acronyms that I giving me no idea?

"Tumatanda na ba ako?" I said to myself unconsciously.

Instead of thinking anything else. I replied my address.

Lara Chen

Otw.

Here she comes again. I really hate her typings.

Minutes had passed. Malapit nang matapos ang niluluto ko nang may mag doorbell. Napalingon naman si Stay na ngayon ay busy sa laptop.

"Ako na ang magbubukas," ani Stay.

Hinayaan ko naman s'ya at pinatay ang kalan. Nag sandok na rin ako ng kanin at ulam sa pinggan.

"Kain ka," bungad ko nang makapasok si Lara.

Suminghot singhot s'ya. "Mukhang masarap yan ah!"

I chuckled. "Wife material ba?"

"FYI, 20 years old ka pa lang Faith, huwag mo muna isipin 'yan."

"What? Eh ikaw nga 'tong gastos ng gastos sa author na 'yon pero nire reject ka pa rin," asar ko.

Stay smirked while putting his laptop aside. "Nagsalita ang gusto nang magpakasal pero nireject ng apat na beses."

I was about to curse him not until Lara cried.

Nilapitan ko agad s'ya. "H-hey! What happened?"

Habang humahagulgol, nilabas n'ya ang isang regalo sa bag.

"T-that's a latest released perfume from Japan, b-but he rejected it!"

Gosh, a 17 year old crying for that asshole writer.

"B-baka naman kasi hindi s'ya mahilig sa gano'n," pagdadahilan ko.

"Let's eat," ani Stay at umupo.

Pinaupo ko rin si Lara at inabutan ng pinggan. But she just stared at it.

"So, bakit ka ba nandito?" tanong ko.

Bumusangot s'ya. "Ibibigay ko na 'yan sa'yo. Ibigay mo sa crush mo, ah."

"Really? Are you sure?"

She sighed and nodded. "Binibigay ko naman lahat, pero 'di n'ya pa rin ako mapansin."

"Baka naman naiinis na s'ya sa presence mo," Stay frankly answered. Lalong napaiyak si Lara.

I glared at him. "No, it's not that. Uhm, baka hindi n'ya lang 'yan gusto," ani ko habang hawak ang box ng perfume.

"I gifted him e-every male accessories that are newly released, pero hanggang ngayon parang hangin lang ako sa kan'ya," she said and pouted.

"What? Alam mo ba yang ginagawa mo?" Inis na tanong ni Stay.

"Calm down," I mouthed inaudibly.

"H-hindi naman kasi--" He cutted my words and glanced at Lara.

"Masaya ka pa ba?"

Lara wiped off her tears and slowly nodded.

"Eh 'di ituloy mo lang." Then he continued eating.

Binatukan ko s'ya ng malakas dahilan para muntikan na s'yang masubsob sa pinagkakainan. Stay chuckled as I glared at him.

"Lara, siguro tumigil ka muna. Then kapag hinanap ka n'ya, then go. Pero huwag mo ibuhos lahat ng pera mo para sa kan'ya."

Tumungo s'ya. "K-kaya nga 'ko nandito, eh."

"Huh?"

"W-wala na kong allowance. Kapag wala akong napakitang pera kay mama, h-hindi na n'ya ko pagaaralin," aniya at lalong humagulgol.

I tapped her back and sighed. "Ako na ang bahala ro'n, just don't spend too much for that guy again."

"Psh. Kung makapagsalita parang sa kan'ya nanggagaling ang allowance," Stay murmured.

Hahampasin ko na sana s'ya pero naudlot 'yon nang lumayo na s'ya ng kinauupuan.

"Tahan na," ani ko at inalo s'ya.

Hinintay naming matapos kumain si Lara. At habang nasa salas, nakaisip ako ng plano para mawala pansamantala ang nararamdaman n'ya.

"What if mag videoke tayo?" yaya ko sa kanila.

"That's a good thing."

We're unbothered. Malawak naman ang bahay ni Stay kaya hindi kami makakabulabog ng kapitbahay.

Pinili kong kantahin ang My Heart Will Go On dahil iyon naman ang unang unang nakita ko sa book list.

Habang nagsisimula pa lang ang kanta, I opened my arms like what Rose did in Titanic. I looked crazy but I was too carried away on the music.

Lara hugged me from behind and slightly chuckled. "Yeah, I'm your Jack, Rose. Don't worry, we'll be safe," she whispered.

I laughed and started to sing.

Every night in my dreams

I see you, I feel you

That is how I know you go on.

"You guys are awkward. I must be Jack," said Stay and stood up.

Far across the---

Hindi ko natapos ang kanta nang yakapin ako ni Stay mula sa likod. He rested his chin on my head and sang my song.

I'm startled but, Faith, you must be focused! Don't be too shocked as if you've never done that with him before. We used to hug every recognition and such!

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on

Once more you open the door

And you're here in my heart

And my heart will go on and on

"Rose, I love you."