Bitter Holidays in Jeju

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"I need you guys to come back to Seoul," Chini stated, sounded like an order already. I know what she's trying to impose because we have to be there for his work and BJH just can't get away with it whenever he can. I can see the frustration in Chini's face, but the dismay was plastered in BJH's face. "Jelay? Jin-Hyeong? Ano na?"

BJH took a deep breath. He was about to get up from where he was sitting pero agad siyang pinigilan ni Chini. She even looks at me as if I did something wrong. Sa tingin ko, malaki nga talaga ang pagkakamali ko rito. We wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for me.

I feel like he's just trying to be cool and act so calm kahit na iritadong-iritado na siya. I'm probably his number one hated person and I'm already accepting my fate because of it.

"What do you want me to say?" BJH asked, he looked so done with this conversation already.

Pumeywang si Chini. "Why did you left Seoul without telling me something about it? And then you brought Jelay as well. Yeogiser shiganeul nangbihazi anhass eumion johgessda?" (I hope you didn't waste your time here.)

Napangisi si BJH at bahagyang napailing sa binitawang salita ni Chini. "Nanen gazocceae hamkke jinagoissda. Ywae naga yeogiser na shinageul nangbihago issni?" (I'm staying with my family. Why would I be wasting my time here?)

Wala namang naisagot si Chini at napaismid na lamang ito. Hinarap naman ako ni Chini saka siya humalukipkip. I was never ready for this kaya kung ano mang sabihin niya sa akin, tatanggapin ko na lang kaysa mapauwi sa Pinas nang wala sa oras.

"Thanks to you, Jelay at sinabi mo sa akin kung nasaan kayong dalawa ngayon. Less struggle for me, you know?"

Sinilip ko ang mukha ni BJH at hindi siya lumilingon sa akin. Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako. Alam kong ipapasok ni Chini 'yong tungkol do'n kaya naman nahihiya ako sa boss ko kasi kabilin-bilinan niyang 'wag ako magbibigay ng kung ano mang salita. Not even our location.

"Pwede mag-explain?" tanong ko.

Napataas ng kilay si Chini. Wala pa rin namang kibo si BJH kaya sobra-sobra ang kabog sa dibdib ko.

"At... bakit mo naman kailangan magpaliwanag?" takang tanong ni Chini.

Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga. Umayos pa ako sa pagkauupo ko at nilunok ko pa ang laway na barado sa lalamunan ko. Ang lamig-lamig na nga pero feeling ko nag-iinit ang buo kong katawan. Para bang pinagpapawisan nang kung ano na hindi ko maipaliwanag.

"Okay... I only told you where we are kasi pinilit ko akong sabihin 'yon, but at first, bago ko sabihin sa 'yo 'yon, I have an idea that you've already figured out where we are kasi nga you're using a tracking app and you can find us by means of Jin-Hyeong's phone. I thought you'd already know by then, so I believe you knew. And then I just found out that Jin-Hyeong's using a new phone and you wouldn't be able to track his location down if the app isn't downloaded there. I guess that's why he told me not to say anything because you won't even have a single idea about where we are... but you did now because of me."

I was explaining myself so dire that I just want to defend my side, but I know it wouldn't make any difference kahit na magpaliwanag pa ako nang paulit-ulit.

"Oh, so that's how is it?" she wondered. "But anyway, uulitin ko lang ulit ang sinabi ko kanina, we need to go back to Seoul now. I know you just want a holiday from what you've been through and I know you deserved it, but a lot of work has been waiting for you back in Seoul, Jin-Hyeong. If you won't be coming back, you'll lose it again. Then Dong-Yoon will get the offer again, as usual."

"Then let him take it," walang ganang sagot ni BJH. "If he wants the project, let him have it."

Chini grunted, rolling her eyes. Para bang susuko na rin siya sa pagpupumilit kay BJH. Hinila naman ni Chini 'yong wooden chair at saka siya umupo ro'n.