Irene

I woke up with no Seulgi by my side but just a pillow in between my arms. I looked at it and knew that it's not one of my pillows. I pulled it up and saw a customized large size pillow with panda bear design. I didn't see this last night, bulong ko sa sarili ko, I pulled myself up to sit and looked around to see if there is any sign of Seulgi, umalis na kaya siya? I took my cellphone to call her when I saw her message.

Seul: Antuking Binibini, sorry I didn't wake you up to say goodbye. You're in deep sleep and obviously dreaming of me:) I may not be there but Panda Pillow will look after you while I'm away, so if you miss me, hug Panda Pillow but don't abuse her, ok?

I was smiling like an idiot and decided to call her.

"Good morning, Mk. Kagigising mo lang?" sagot niya sa tawag ko. Ang sarap pakinggan, sabi niya tawag daw niya sa akin yon pag kaming dalawa lang.

"Kanina pa."  sagot ko lang.

"Kanina ka pa na nanaginip? Kasi ang boses mo mukhang kagigising lang." and I heard her laugh.

"Hey!" saway ko "You're still driving, right? Is it ok talking with you?" pagbago ko bigla ng boses, napalitan ng pagaalala.

"Huwag kang mag alala naka bluetooth earphone ako." sagot niya. "Maganda bang panaginip mo?"

"Yeah, and speaking of dream, why did you say that I'm dreaming of you?!" malakas na boses kong balik sa kanya.

"Hindi ba? Ah paumanhin binibini akala ko kasi ako. Ang tamis kasi ng ngiti mo tapos ay bumubulong ka. Mali lang siguro ang pangalang narinig ko." sabi niya at bigla akong namula.

"Are you serious? Hindi ako nagsasalita pag tulog noh!" depensa ko at natawa siya "Ikaw kaya ang nagsasalita!" balik ko sa kanya at napalakas lalo ang tawa niya. Asar talaga.

"Biro lang... mag almusal ka na tanghali na oh. Alam ko nasa kama ka pa. Nga pala dinala ko yong damit na ginamit ko, patas na tayo kasi hindi mo na binalik mga jacket ko." sabi niya.

"So ganon na lang pala pag ako pupunta sa inyo hindi na ako magdadala ng damit. I'll be using your clothes na rin?" rason ko.

"Hindi mo naman magugustuhan mga damit ko because it's more of shirts and jeans." sagot niya.

"Whatever. Got to go may taping pa ako this afternoon." paalam ko na.

"Sige, Mk. Magingat ka sa mga manliligaw mo baka mahulog ang loob mo sa kanila, makalimutan mo ako." tukso niyang sabi.

"Yeah, right and remember I'm warning you, Seulgi Kang. If I found out that your flirting with the girls out there I'm gonna put you together in the middle of the sea."

"Anong gagawin mo lulunurin mo kami?" Tatawa tawa niyang tanong.

"No! More than that. Papakain ko kayo sa pating!" banta ko.

"Ah ganon ba? Ok lang." simple niyang sagot.

"What do you mean, ok lang?"

"Walang pating doon kaya kahit ibato mo kami sa dagat walang pating na magagawi doon at saka mahusay lumangoy mga babae sa amin, sigurado kayang kaya nila akong iligtas at akayin pabalik ng pampang." tawa niyang rason. How dare you, Seul. 

"Ah ganon? Bahala ka sa buhay mo! Mambabae ka kung gusto mo. You can take all the girls in your island for all I care!" inis ko ng sabi at binabaan ko na siya ng phone.

- - -

As I went down to have breakfast, I think it's already a brunch, I saw Mom and Suzy in a serious conversation but their expression changed when they saw me approaching.

"Good morning, sweetie. What's with the face?" tanong ni Mommy.

"Someone ruined my morning." I simply said.

"Or you just made someone's morning a very good one." kantiyaw ni Suzy, I just gave her a stern look. "You looked really pissed." dagdag pa niya.

"Stop it Suzy, ang aga ha." taray kong sagot.

"Naiinis ka ba kasi hindi nagpaalam sa'yo si Seulgi?" malambing na tanong ni Mommy, I just shook my head.

"No Mom, forget it." sagot ko na lang.

"Yesterday... she asked permission if she could court you." Mom suddenly said and I was surprised.

"M-mom." nasabi ko.

"It's ok sweetie. Matagal kaming nagkausap kahapon at sinabi niya lahat, ang pagkatao niya and her feelings for you. Then she said if I am against and could not accept her she will understand. She'd rather have rejection now than be accepted and rejected afterwards, mas masakit daw yon. That's why she opened herself to me, she'd not force herself to you if I don't want to. But I told her I don't interfere with my daughters' decisions and choices."

"M-mom."

"Like I always wish and pray for you both." she looked at me and Suzy. "I only wish you both happiness and peace of mind, especially you, Irene. Showbiz is kind and hard at the same time on you. You've been in relationships you believed will last. It hurts to see you hurting, so much so that if I could only take all the pain you had, I would." mahinang sabi Mommy na puno ng pagmamahal. "I don't care whom you love, regardless of color, race, religion and even gender. As long as that person loves you... and of course if you love the person, too. And the way I see and feel I think you and Seulgi already had that mutual feelings, hindi ba sweetie?" tanong ni Mommy. Hindi ako agad makaimik, I'm still thinking how to open up but here it is now.

"I didn't know, too, Mom. I just found myself drawn to her. I couldn't even understand myself anymore. I tried to ignore her, avoid her but when I saw her last night as if something inside me was freed, I couldn't explain really Mom. I've never been like this to anyone. To any man that I've loved." gulong isip kong sabi.

"And she was woman enough to stand and tell me about her feelings for you. She dared to say the words that would make her fall back yet because of her love for you..."

"But she still doubts my feelings for her, Mom. Funny how she said she loves me but then she's willing to wait and help me confirm my feelings for her."

"Who wouldn't, sweetie. You're a celebrity, it was a big risk with regards to your career but what concerns her the most is you're straight. She might think you're just confused or even curious." paliwanag ni Mommy at hindi na ako nakaimik, nakita ko silang parehong nakangiti.

"What?" I asked

"Ikaw ang nililigawan pero the way I look at you now parang nabasted ka." kantiyaw niya.

"Suzy!" sigaw ko sa kanya pero nagtawanan lang silang dalawa.

"I'm going to eat now." inis ko ng sabi.

"Ipinaalam ka na rin pala niya sa town fiesta nila. She invited us, too but we have prior commitments." pahabol ni Mommy.

"And?" lingon ko pabalik. 

"I said it depends on your schedule but I believe you already put that day in your calendar, isn't?" ngiting tanong ni Mommy, umiling lang ako at natawa ulit sila. Hay naku kanina si Seulgi ngayon sila Mommy at Suzy. Double whammy. But then suddenly I realized something and I found myself walking back towards them again, without a word I hugged Mom and kissed her.

"Thank you for accepting everything that I am, Mom. And every one that I love." I said with a trembling voice, I didn't realize that I'm starting to cry.

"I love you sweetheart and you are my daughter, how can I not accept you and the one you love?" bulong niya while holding me close to her, then I felt Suzy hand gently rubbing my back and slowly felt her arms around me, hugging me and Mom.

"Li'l Sis, we love you no matter what and regardless of who you love." bulong nito.

"How about Dad?" mahina kong tanong, suddenly I felt their embrace loosen and both lovingly stared at me.

"As if you don't know Dad." sagot ni Suzy. "Right Mom?" baling ni Suzy kay Mommy.

"What do you mean?" takang tanong ko.

"Aren't you curious why your Dad didn't come here anymore when he's supposed to be here anytime last week?" tanong ni Mommy at napaisip nga ako kasi dati rati pag alam niyang problemado ako ay andito agad or darating siya kahit saglit para makita ako pag busy siya.

"Yeah, I thought he'll be coming anytime now?" tanong ko ulit.

"Well, he called me before his scheduled flight back here and asked me what happened to you or kung talagang broken hearted ka. Nagulat din ako when he asked me tapos sabi niya katatapos lang daw niyong mag usap pero parang wala ka naman daw problema. You're all makwento daw at madaldal. So he wanted to confirm if you really doing ok because he can't get here anytime soon. So I told him don't worry too much, Irene's all good and happy though I don't know why." tawatawang kwento ni mommy. And then I remember that time when Dad called a few times puro lang ako kwento. Obvious ka lang talaga Irene, patol ko sa isip ko.

I was in deep thought when my phone rang and when I checked it was Seulgi. 

"See? that's what I mean, Suzy." I heard Mom said and chuckled.

"Yeah, Mom. Look at that smile. Totally whipped."

"No, I'm not!" depensa ko pero tinawanan lang nila ako. Habang binalikan ko ang tawag ni Seulgi at naglakad ako palayo sa kanila.

"Hello Mk, bumangon ka na ba? Huwag kang magpapalipas ng gutom." Honestly  i'm melting with her endearment to me but then naiinis pa rin ako sa kanya.

"Paki mo." mataray kong sagot.

"May pakialam ako, di ba sinagot mo na ako? Kaya may pakialam na ako, girlfriend mo na ako."

What the? Anong pinagsasabi ng babaeng to.

"What do you mean na girlfriend mo na ako?" suplada kong tanong.

"Hindi ba kagabi sinagot mo na ako nong nagtapat ako sa sa'yo?"

"So now you're saying we're a couple?" taas kong kilay na tanong kahit alam kong hindi niya nakikita.

"Parang ganon na hindi kasi hindi pa kita sinasagot eh. Di ba tutulungan pa kitang makilala ang tunay na damdamin mo." sagot niya sabay tawa.

"Nakakainis ka na talaga Seul, ha!" sigaw ko na and when I turn around I saw Mom and Suzy smiling and shaking their head, I look at them and gestured as if asking them "What???" but they just ignored me. 

"Namiss kasi kita agad kaya inaasar na kita ulit." sagot na niya at natahimik na siya. "Sige na kain ka na, may titingnan lang ako saglit mukhang may nasiraan na sasakyan dito sa daan. Alamin ko lang baka kailangan ng tulong. Bye na." paalam niya pero maagap ako.

"Wait! May sasakyan na nasiraan? Anong sakay?"

"Siyempre tao Mk, wala namang ibang pwedeng magmaneho kundi tao di ba?" balik niya.

"Ikaw Seulgi pag hindi ka sumagot ng seryoso hindi na talaga kita kakausapin nang buong taon!"

"Mk naman, masyado kang pikon. Saglit." she paused "Babae ata ang nagmamaneho nasa labas na at mukhang naghihintay ng tulong. Tulungan ko muna saglit Mk, tawag na lang ako mamaya." she said.

"No!" pigil ko. "Don't you dare drop this call. I want to hear you talking to who ever that person is." taray kong banta sa kanya and I heard her chuckle, nakakainis talaga.

"Selos?" komento niya.

"Girlfriend mo ako di ba? So may karapatan akong magselos." depensa ko.

"Kahit sa estranghero?"

"Kahit sino, bakit ayaw mo ng girlfriend na selosa?"

"Bakit ayaw mo ng girlfriend na lapitin ng chicks?" tanong niya pabalik.

"Ewan ko sa'yo!" sabay baba ko ng phone. Ang aga talaga niyang mang inis. I was surprised by the look of Mom and Suzy. All smile but questioning.

"What?" patol ko sa tingin nila.

"You've never been that possessive and jealous before." comment ni Suzy. Inirapan ko lang siya. "Kayo na?" tanong niya.

"Ewan ko sa babaeng yon, sinagot ko na daw siya pero ako hindi pa niya sinasagot. Is there such thing like that?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Malay ko sa inyong dalawa ni Seulgi." balik niya.

"Whatever." sagot ko then proceeded to the dining area to eat. Pero hindi ako mapakali, iniisip ko yong babaeng nasiraan ng sasakyan.

- - -

Seulgi

Hala napikon ko ang Mk ko. Tawagan ko kaya ulit, baka hindi niya sagutin. Hay naku ang galing mo rin kasing mang asar eh Seulgi, sita ko sa sarili ko. Mamaya ko na tawagan pag katapos ko dito, sabi ko sa isip ko. Pababa na ako ng kotse para puntahan ang babaeng nakatayo sa nakahintong sasakyan ng mag ring ulit ang phone ko.

Si Irene. Napangiti ako, inis siya pero hindi makatiis, masarap pala tong magselos nawawala ang pride kahit magtaray siya.

"Hello Mk." sagot ko.

"Mk mo mukha mo, umalis ka na ba o andiyan ka pa sa babae mo?"

"Babae ko agad? Hindi ko pa nga nakikilala." sagot ko sa mahinang boses. Mahirap na mukhang galit at inis na, eh. Ayaw kong ipahalata na natatawa na ako sa kanya. Hindi naman halata na nagseselos siya. "Pababa pa lang ako para tingnan siya."

"Tingnan mo lang huwag mong titigan, subukan mong lumandi ng wala ako diyan Seulgi. You'll see!" inis niyang sabi. Bakit hindi ako naiinis sa babaeng to, mas natutuwa pa akong makitang nagseselos siya. "Don't turn off your cellphone. Use your earphone. I want to hear you talking to her." utos niya. Seryoso?

"Seryoso ka Mk?"

"Ano sa tingin mo? Nakikipagbiruan ako sa'yo?"

Wala na akong nagawa under ni Kumander, hindi pa man kami pero ganon pa man napapangiti ako sa kanya.

"Eto na po pababa na ako." habang nilalagay ko ang bluetooth earphone sa tenga ko.

"Umayos ka Seulgi ka." seryoso niyang sabi. Naglakad na ako at nakangiti dahil na rin sa isiping nakikinig si Irene

"Hello Miss, may problema ba?" tanong ko ng makalapit sa morenang babae na mukhang artistahin ang ganda, nakatayo siya sa may harap ng nakataas ng hood ng kotse.

"Yeah, but it's alright. Naghanap na ng talyer yong kasama ko. Thank you." nakangiti niyang sagot.

"Ok na pala, you can leave her now." sagot ni Irene at napapangiti talaga ako sa kanya.

"Ah, ok sige. Ayos ka na pala. Mauna na ako." magalang ko ng paalam. Buti hindi nakita ni Irene ang kausap ko kundi baka pumutok ang gulong ng sasakyan ko sa selos niya. May kagandahan ang babae.

"Thanks again Miss?" sagot at tanong ng babae.

"Ah..."

"Irene! sabihin mo Irene pangalan mo!" dikta ni Irene sa telepono. Ano daw?

"Ah... Irene." wala na sa loob kong nasabing pangalan ko.

"Nice meeting you Irene, Jisoo here." abot kamay niyang sabi.

"Nice to meet you, too." sagot kong pagtanggap ng kamay niya.

"Anong sabi mo, nice to meet you too?" ulit ni Kumander.

"Sige mauna na ako." paalam ko ng muli dahil pakiramdam ko umuusok ng tenga at ilong ng Mk ko.

"Ok lang ba sa'yo na samahan ako habang hinihintay ko ang kasama ko?" tanong niya.

"He.ll no!!!" pakiramdam ko nabasag ang eardrum ko sa sigaw ni Irene. "Get the he.ll out of there Seulgi or else." sunod niyang sabi.

"Ah... H-hindi na, kasi nagmamadali rin kasi ako eh. Tiningnan ko lang kung kailangan mo ng tulong." taranta kong sabi kahit nakangiti ako.

"Nagpapaliwanag ka pa talaga sa kanya? Hindi ka pa aalis diyan? Isa!" ano? binibilangan na ako?

"Sige na Jisoo, mauna na ako." bigla ko ng sabi habang pahakbang na ako palayo.

"Tinandaan mo pa talaga pangalan niya ha? Dalawa! Pag ikaw naabutan ng tatlo, Seul!" banta niya.

"Nice meeting you Irene!" pahabol niyang sigaw pero kumaway na lang ako sabay sakay ng kotse.

"Andito na ako sa kotse at paalis na po." sabi ko na lang iwas sa galit ni Kumander Hitler habang hingal akong napaupo sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Good, ok safe drive. Call me when you arrive home. Bye. I love you." sabay sabi niya at nawala na siya sa linya.

Natulala ako.

Anong sinabi niya?