Bitter Holidays in Jeju

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I quickly finished my bath so I can I assist BJH right after, but earlier when I was showering, I forgot that I had no clothes here and then I just soaked them in water so I won't be able to leave this bathroom because I'll be naked. I was so stressed that I haven't got to think about that. Ang nasa isip ko lang kasi na makaligo na ako para maasikaso ko na rin si BJH, but Chini's a lifesaver, alam na niyang mangyayari 'to so she brought me some of my clothes with her and that's how I got out of the bathroom comfortable and not naked—thankfully.

We're all set and ready to go and we're just waiting for BJH to meet us at the living area.

"Akala ko talaga nagbibiro ka ro'n sa brief, Chini," pagpasok ko ng topic kasi hindi pa rin ako maka-move on hanggang ngayon. Napakamot naman ako sa ulo ko.

Humalakhak si Chini. "Akala mo naman kasi nagjo-joke ako, 'di ba? No, that was true. Mukha lang talagang joke kasi it's not usually Jin-Hyeong would do, pero see him, go na go rin siya sa project na 'to. Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka naman?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay

I pressed my lips together, shaking my head. "Nope..."

She grinned, squinting her eyes. "What's going on in your head, Jelay? Come on, spill it. Bawal dito hindi nangshe-share or else pababalikin kita sa Pinas."

Napahugot pa ako ng malalim na hininga kasi hindi ako ready na sabihin iyon sa kanya. "Kasi naman... nakahihiya naman kung iku-kwento ko. Hindi rin naman alam ni BJH 'yon, e. Secret ko na lang 'yon."

Umiling si Chini, hindi payag sa guto ko. "No. Hindi. Ayoko. Hindi ako payag. Sabihin mo na."

"No'ng isang araw 'di ba nagwowork-out si Jin-Hyeong?" tanong ko saka siya tumango, nakikinig talaga sa kwento ko. Interesadong-interesado masyadong malaman kung ano ba 'yong hindi ko sinasabi. "Tapos lumapit ako sa kanya to help him tapos... bigla siyang bumukaka sa harapan ko. Wala siyang underwear, Chini kaya kitang-kita ko." Gusto kong maiyak dahil hanggang ngayon naalala ko pa rin kung anong hitsura no'n.

Bigla namang humalakhak si Chini at para sa akin nakahihiya talaga 'yon. Mabuti na lang hindi kami magkatabi dahil hahampas-hampasin niya ako sa sobrang tuwa niya. Nang huminahon naman siya at pinunasan ang nangingilid na luha ay hindi pa rin niya matigilang humagikgik.

"Pero seryoso na," aniya nanag bahagyang kumalma. Huminga pa ito nang malalim para tumigil lamang sa pagtawa. She thought it was funny, but that embarrassment I saw tainted in my head. I couldn't ever see him as normal as can be. "Jin-Hyeong don't really like wearing underwear when he's at home. I've seen him nude most of the time—his dangling, but I don't care. Lumaki naman kaming dalawa na magkasama. Minsan nga kinukurot ko na lang kapag pasaway talaga siya. That's why this project would be good for him, baka matuto nang mag-underwear 'tong lalaking 'to. Pero laughtrip talaga!"

Tumuloy si Chini sa pagtawa niya at gusto ko na lamang magtago dahil kahit ayokong isipin, bumabalik-balik sa isipan ko 'yon. Hindi lang naman isa pero dalawang beses ko na siyang nakitaan and he doesn't really mind about it. I know Koreans ay also conservative about themselves, mukhang naligaw ata iyong kay BJH at hindi sumapi sa kanya.

"What's with all this noise?" BJH asked, joining us in the living room.

"No, we're just talking and it was just funny," Chini said, chuckling.

"And what could that be?" he queried.

I tried to give Chini an eye so he wouldn't tell it to BJH pero walang effect. Hindi ko na nga ipinaalam sa kanila 'yong nangyari na 'yon kasi I thought nakahihiya nga at masyadong private na 'yong topic na 'yon, but then Chini just wanted to share it to the person na ayokong malaman niya 'yon. He knew from the bathroom incident, but he has no idea from the one I was talking about.