Bitter Holidays in Jeju

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"What do you think I should get?" tanong ko kay BJH dahil kausap ko siya over the phone.

Nasa isang clothing shop ako ngayon. He gave me his card so I can pay for it. Dumiretsyo siya sa restroom while I went to a store para maghanap ng mabibiling damit niya at mapalitan ang natapunang shirt niya. Well, this is kind of my suggestion, dahil ayokong umuwi ay sinabihan ko siyang bumili na lang kami ng maipapalit na damit so hindi na kami uuwi ng condo niya. He went with the idea so I ended up confused inside this clothing store as to what I should pick for him.

"I don't know, Raijine. I'm not there to see it."

"Then video call kita so you can see it," aniko. Mabilis ko namang inilipa thru video call ang pag-uusap namin saka ko pinakita sa kanya ang mga sweatshirt, plan tees, at collared polo-shirt na nasa harapan ko ngayon. Tinutok ko naman sa camera iyon so he could see it. "What do you think you should wear?"

"I don't know..."

I was about to cry kasi hindi siya nakikipag-cooperate sa akin. Mukha lamang niya ang nakaharap sa maliit na screen ng phone ko—it was an old Iphone 6, wala akong budget to buy the latest models. Pinapanood niya lang din ako mag-struggle and I'm not sure if he's playing with me now.

"Ito bang sweatshirt bet mo?" I queried.

"That's cool... anything?" he asked.

From what he could only see from my camera phone, tinuro ko sa kanya 'yong collared polo shirt and he just shook his head.

Napabitaw naman ako ng malalim na hininga. "I'm not sure what should I get to you? Kailangan mo rin ba ng brief?"

He squinted his eyes as if he's questioning with that kind of look. "Why do you need to buy me a brief? My shirt's only a mess... and not's what inside."

"No... I mean... whatever. So, what do you want? Ikaw naman 'tong magsusuot ng damit, e. I want to pick something you'll be comfortable with and somewhat looks like you... something that gives the Baek Jin-Hyeong true energy."

"Then imagine me wearing what you think looks good on me," he said. "I'll give the decision to yours. Surprise me, Raijine." And then he just ended the video call.

"Sir?!" I was about to call him back, but I stop acting heinously. He's just giving me the decision so reckless. Magpapalit din kaya siya ng damit niya pagdating do'n sa interview? Makaaapekto ba ang pipiliin kong damit sa brand image niya? I've got a list of BJH's brand contracts at sa tingin ko hindi naman magkaroroon ng conflict if he's going to wear a shirt out of his sponsors.

Then I just took the risks and picked whatever he would look good in it. Dumiretsyo agad ako sa cashier para bayaran ang dalawang binili kong damit for BJH. When they punched the items and I gave the card, the cashier lady asked me why am I using a different name on the card and because I don't want to make any trouble, I just had to get a quick call from BJH and confirmed that I'm his assistant.

Parang tanga na pinigilan ni ateng cashier 'yong kilig niya nang makausap niya ito thru phone. Para bang ayaw pang ibalik sa akin ang phone ko kung hindi lang binaba ni BJH ang tawag. She immediately packed the items for me and apologized for the inconvenience she did. Umalis na rin ako ng clothing shop at tinungo ang restroom kung nasaan si BJH ngayon.

I just left him there earlier just to buy him a new shirt. Pinaiwan ko na rin naman sa kanya 'yong Killian paper bag ko since I'm a rush. I texted him when I'm already out of the restroom and already waiting for him.

A moment later, he came out of the restroom and my eyes landed on the mess on his shirt. Inabot ko sa kanya ang paper bag mula sa clothing shop na pinagbilhan ko. His eyes landed on it and instead of grabbing the paper bag and get back inside the restroom to change, he pulled me in and I was so surprised when he did that. Nasa gilid lamang ako habang pinapanood kong hubarin ni BJH ang marumi niyang shirt saka niya nilapag iyon sa may washbin at nilahad niya ang kamay niya expecting the shirt I bought for him.