Handshake

Chapter 47

Hindi intensyon ni Jeonguk na marinig ang mga sinabi ni Yeri kay Krystal. Nagkataon lang na nandoon siya sa loob ng quarters nila, napapalit ng damit dahil plano niyang makipagkita sa mga kaibigan na kasalukuyang nasa Seoul.

Nang bumalik ito sa hospital, napansin niyang hindi okay ang babae. She looks like she did not have enough sleep. Gusto niya sana itong tanungin pero mas pinili nalang niya ang tumahimik. He still knows his limits as a friend. Medyo matagal na din niyang nakakasama si Yeri, kahit papaano'y nakilala na niya ito, she wanted to be alone when she has problems. But, at that moment, he wanted to comfort her... kaya naman sinundan niya ito.

"Yeri.." pagtawag niya, pero hindi siya nito pinansin. Nang makalabas sila ng hospital, marahan siyang tumakbo para maabutana ng babae. "Okay ka lang ba?"

She glared at him but as soon as she realized that it was Jeonguk, she calmed herself by closing her eyes for a few seconds. "I'm fine.." kalmado man, ramdam pa din ni Jeonguk ang galit sa boses nito.

"I..I heard what happened in the quarters."

"You heard? You were there?" Jeonguk nodded. Kinabahan siya dahil akala niya'y magagalit si Yeri, pero hindi. "I'm sorry you have to hear that. Can you.."

He already knew what she wanted to say. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

Pilit na ngumiti si Yeri kahit na ang mga mata niya'y iba ang sinasabi. Napansin niyang bihis na bihis si Jeonguk. "May pupuntahan ka ba?" she asked.

"Ah. Makikipagkita ako sa mga classmates ko dati." Sagot niya. Tumanggo naman si Yeri at sa tingin niya, mas kaylangan siya nito. "Pero, pwede naman kitang samahan. Saan ka ba pupunta?"

"Actually, I have nowhere to go."

Jeonguk wasn't familiar of the places in Seoul but he knows somewhere which he thinks can help Yeri to relax.

Before they left, Johnny who just came outside the hospital with the other residents saw them two. He smiled seeing Yeri with someone. Alam niyang may pinagdadaanan ito at kahit gusto man niya itong samahan, hindi niya magawa dahil na din sa responsibilidad niya. But thanks to Jeonguk, he was there to be with her.

They went to Cheonggyecheon Stream, a modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul. Yeri waited at the stream while Jeonguk was buying food and drinks for them. After half an hour, he came and gave the sandwich and drinks from Subway to Yeri.

"I'm sorry.." he apologized. "Medyo madami kasing tao."

"You said, you're going to meet your friends.." Yeri stated right after he sat down beside her. "They must be waiting for you."

"I told them I won't make it. You need me more than they do."

Dahil sa sinabi niya, napangiti si Yeri. "Sinabi mo din yan sa mga kaibigan mo?"

Ngiti lang ang naging sagot ni Jeonguk. "Pero okay ka na ba?" Ngiti lang din ang naging sagot ni Yeri dahil kahit anong gawin niya, hindi niya magawang maging okay. "Kung ano man ang problema niyo ni Dr. Lee, sana maayos niyo din kaagad."

"Hindi naman talaga kami ang may problema.." she said and took a bite from the sandwich. Inubos muna niya ang laman ng bibig bago hinarap ang lalaki. "Kapag nalaman mong may iba ka pang kapatid, magagalit ka ba?"

"Hindi.." kaagad na sagot ni Jeonguk. Sigurado siya, ito ang dahilan kung bakit puno ng lungkot ang mukha ni Yeri. "But people has different point of views." He said. "Yan ba problema mo ngayon?"

"All my life, I thought I was the only girl in the family pero nalaman ko nalang na may kapatid pa pala kaming iba."

"I was actually in the same situation before. I was just 10 years old when dad brought his son from another woman in home. Mom knew from the start and Dad explained to me everything. I got mad at first but after living with him, I learned to accept him."