Naabutan ko si mommy. Nanonood siya sa tv sa living room area. Dito nakalagay ang pinakamalaking tv sa bahay. And usually, my mom watches here kasama yung mga kasambahay namin.

She’s simply browsing through the Youtube feed pagkarating ko sa bahay from my trip to Tagaytay with Irene. It was seriously fun but I’m really starving. Lately, napapansin ko na napapalakas akong kumain. Siguro dahil na rin sa dami ng aking ginagawa. I have to juggle acads and the hotel. And of course, Irene.

“How was your trip, Seul?” Tanong ni mommy sakin. “Did you eat yet?”

“I’m starving. Masyadong traffic pauwi. I didn’t anticipate it at all.” I answered as I took off my shoes and changed into my comfy slippers.

“Manang, can you make init the sinigang for Seulgi?” Minsan natatawa na lang ako sa pagka-conyo ng nanay ko. Dali-dali namang tumango at sumunod si manang kay mommy at umupo na ko sa table. Rinig na rinig pa rin yung pinapanood ni mommy sa tv.

These days, she’s really into kdrama. Di ko naman ikakaila na both of my parents’ sides ay may lahing Korean. This is why the university is catered to anyone who has Korean blood. Halos bilang na bilang lang din ang mga Pinoy sa university. We can say just play safe and tell everyone it’s an international university. So far, si Lisa lang yung kilala kong Thai. I also know Tzuyu who’s Chinese.

Nagserve na si manang ng sinigang na mukhang tira nila kanina. Magana naman akong kumain habang si mommy ay patuloy na nanonood ng trailers ng kdrama. Di ko alam pero yun ang nakapila sa recommended playlist niya.

Natapos na ko kumain at umupo sa couch, sa tabi ni mommy. I guess, I am bothered. I feel like mom feels lonely. Dito sa bahay siya lang ang natitira together with the helpers. Dad and kuya are always at work, while I am studying. Minsan lang din lumabas si mommy with her friends, I can say na inaadik na lang siguro niya ang panonood ng kdrama at pag gush niya kay Ji Changwook or Song Joongki.

“How was the hotel?” She asked, her head is still tilted to the tv.

“The hotel was nice. The staff, ganun din. You know Ate Solar? Ka-batch ni kuya yun. Siya yung manager ng hotel.” I simply answered. I know mom is against sa pagbibigay sakin nito. I think she just wants me to enjoy my college life bago pa ma-involve sa business.

“That’s good to know.” This time tumingin na siya sakin. “I heard you were with Architect Bae’s daughter.”

“Yeah, I was with Irene.” Napakatipid kong sagot. But looking at my mom’s face, mukhang di siya satisfied sa ganung sagot lang. She is yearning for more. “Nililigawan ko po.”

Pota. Eto na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. After that time na sinabi ko sa kanya na break na kami ni Jisoo, she kept mum about it. One year ko ba namang itago at alam kong nahurt siya dun. Siya ang nagtanggol sakin kay dad when I came out. She made sure to invite Jisoo in our family dinners. And I guess, she and my ex were just close. Kaya feeling ko, she wants to know if I’m doing okay when it comes to my love life.

The next thing was up. Trailer ng isang action movie with a rookie actor. I must admit, gwapo siya. Nowadays, I think mas pipiliin talaga ng tao yung delivery ng stories ng mga koryan. Ibang-iba ito sa typical Filipino setting na may kambal na pinaghiwalay sa pagkanganak tapos makikita sila ng long lost tatay nila na may kabit. Halos paulit-ulit na lang ang theme nito, kaya I understand why a lot are clinging onto kdramas.

Mom and I were commenting on how cool the actor was. Bata lang din siya, ka-age ko. Kaya nagulat ako na may kasunod na interview pala ito. Mas nakakagulat na nandun din si Jisoo. She wasn’t really seen in the trailer, pero it looks like she’s the main lead in this film.

Naramdaman ko ang concerned na tingin ni mom sakin. Nakita ko na tinapat niya na yung remote control at akmang ililipat na ito.

Pinigilan ko siya at ngumiti lang ako. “It’s okay. We ended in good terms. And besides, I’m curious on how she is these days.”

“That’s good to hear, anak.” Tipid na sabi ni mommy. Siguro nakikiramdam din siya.

“This is your first time in the big screen. How do you feel about it?”

“I guess, it’s overwhelming. This is my dream that I worked hard for. I’m really excited to see how it goes from here.”

Jisoo has her irresistible charms. Sa one year namin, I can say she has no problem with saying what’s on her mind. It still shows. She’s confident and straightforward. Nakakaproud kahit hindi na kami. She handles herself really well.

Napunta yung usapan sa love life. The interviewer knows how to squeeze some juice. Tinanong nito kung may naiwan ba siyang boyfriend sa Pilipinas. Tangina, moment of truth ba ito?

“Boyfriend? No. But I had someone special I had to leave.” Tipid niyang sagot sa interviewer.

Ang sakit sa puso.

“Special ka naman pala, anak. Dadalhin na ba kita sa Mandaluyong?” Biro ni mommy. I think my mom just wanted to clear the air.

After naming matapos yung interview, nagpaalam na ko papunta sa room ko. Realizing now, things don’t always go like we planned to. And with the current circumstances at hand, I just think letting go of her was meant to be. Siguro nabigla at nasaktan lang ako. Jisoo was my first love and was also my first heartbreak.

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“Akala ko ba ang mag-kapartner sa HUMA, sila Rose at Lisa? Bat kasama sila Mareng Wendy at Mareng Jennie sa lakad niyo?” Medyo napabalikwas si Yeri sa mga nakikita niya sa timeline niya. Nakaka-umay. Mukhang si Joy na lang ang kulang at magiging ninth wheel na talaga siya.

Monday na naman. Isa ito sa mga araw na buo ang barkada sa lunch. Iba ang atmosphere, lalo na at masyadong obvious at sailing na rin ang JenLisa.

 “Naiinggit ka na naman, Yeri. Baka dapat hanapan na kita ng jowa.” Sabat ni Seulgi na nakatabi kay Irene.

“Wala ka rin namang jowa ah!” Rebut ni Yeri at binato si Seulgi ng tissue na pinagpunasan niya ng