Bitter Holidays in Jeju

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

A week after our stay in Jeju, Christmas had quickly passed by at sa ilang araw na lang din ay new year's na. Sobrang bilis ng mga araw na lumipas—parang dumaan si Flash at nag-jump towards the future ang aming mga ganap ngayon lalo no'ng mangyari ang Christmas eve at mismong Christmas day—it's not the first time that I was away with them pero ngayon lang ako nakaramdaman ng lungkot na gusto ko silang makasama at makapag-celebrate together, but I'm here in Jeju. I just need to keep my job so I can give them money at the end of the day.

It was also a good thing for me to hear that our clothing shop back home is doing great dahil marami pa ring bumibili ng mga binibenta namin online and people are still asking for more stocks. Mabuti na lang ay magaling magbenta 'tong kapatid ko kaya naman dalang-dala niya ang business na iniwan ko sa kanya. I'm confident she'll do great back home while I'm thriving here.

"You know that I've been hustling here, Jelay. Even though you guys aren't here with me, ipaparamdam ko sa inyo kung gaano ako ka-stress," tugon ni Chini sa akin.

Bahagya naman akong natawa sa sinabi niya. "Grabe ka, Chini! Alam ko namang kayang-kaya mo 'yan, e. Why don't you spend some breaks na lang din muna, 'di ba? Since it's Christmas season... you should be with your family na rin."

"You know I can't..." Chini answered and I felt a little tone of sadness in it. "I need to stay here because it's my job and I can't just leave my work even though I really want to go home. Pero alam mo kung anong mas better, 'yong bumalik na kayong dalawa rito ngayon para may kasama akong mag-celebrate this coming new year, right?"

Napabuntonghininga naman ako. "As much as I want to... na kay Jin-Hyeong pa rin ang desisyon, e. But don't you worry, as I've learned, babalik din kami after the new year and we'll be there with you. Itutuloy natin kung anong mga dapat gawin natin."

"Yeah, right... I believe so. Bakit kasi ayaw niyo bang bumalik? Did Jin-Hyeong tell you something?

He did pero hindi ako sigurado kung sasabihin ko rin sa kanya 'yon.

"Wala naman, Chini. He didn't say a thing... but he's fine and doing well so you don't have to be so worried about him. He'll be back in Seoul ng buong-buo so don't you worry about it, alright?"

Napangisi naman ito sa kabilang. "Hindi ko alam kung paniniwalaan kita o matatawa ako. But anyway, ichichika ko lang din sa 'yo na na-invite si Jin-Hyeong sa new year's countdown celebration. And guess what, they ask him to perform for the said event pero dahil wala kayong dalawa rito at gumawa na lang ako ng dahilan para hindi masabing ang arte-arte ko para i-reject ang offer, I just told them a lie na gusto ni Jin-Hyeong na magcelebrate privately dahil nga kauuwi lang din galing military and he's still adjusting. Girl, hindi ko alam kung naniwala sila ro'n, but I'm trying to believe that that they did. Nakahuhulas ng ganda." Singhal pa nito.

"Jin-Hyeong would love—" Napahinto ako sa pagsasalita nang biglang sumulpot sa tabi ko si BJH. Tiningnan ako nito at saka lumipat ang tingin sa tanawin ng dagat. Bigla naman akong naconscious sa sasabihin ko kay Chini kung nakikinig na 'to sa tabi ko. "He would love to be there and experience that kind of celebration once again... Uhm... Chini, I gotta go now. May gagawin lang ako."

"Ay, echos ka lang, e. Tumatakas ka lang," aniya. "Anyway, sige. Tawagan na lang ulit kita mamaya."

Nang binaba niya ang tawag ay agad na lumipat ang atensyon ko kay BJH.

"What are you gonna do?" he asked.

Napakunot noo naman ako sa tanong niya. "Huh?"

He smirked, turning his head on me and look straight in my eyes. Gusto kong umiwas ng tingin sa kanya pero baka isipin niyang ginagawan ko ng malisya 'yon kaya nakipaglaban din ako ng titigan sa kanya.