I could feel her grip on mine while looking at the two people infront of us. 

 

So they are invited too.

 

"Baby…" I heard my babe whispered but I refuse to look back. I dont know what to feel. 

 

Its Ms. Kim we are talking about and I know how much she likes Seulgi. Halata naman. Kahit ngayon na kung paano kuminang ang mga mata nya pagkakita sa amin or shoud i say, sa girlfriend ko. Kahit sino sasabihing crush nya ito.

 

And I dont have any idea kung aware ba si Seulgi. I hope wala.

 

My eyes landed at the girl clunging to Ms. Kims arms. Shes not familiar. Ngayon ko lang sya nakita.

 

"Ah pinsan ko si Exy" Ms. Kim announced as she notice my curiousity towards the girl.

 

Exy?

 

I finally look at my babe at gusto kong matawa sa itsura nya ngayon.

 

She seems constipated habang nagkakamot ng pisngi.

 

"Hehe ang galing nagkita kita tayo m-masaya to hehe" I force myself not to laugh and give her a kiss. How can she be so cute? She looks awkward and I know nag iisip na yan ng mga sasabihin nya sa akin mamaya.

 

Huh! Bakit kasi di nya ako sinabihan prior na invited pala admirer nya? Edi sana nakapaghanda ako.

 

Parang mas y pa 'tong suot ni Ms. Kim kesa sa akin eh.

 

Gosh Joohyun you're not like that! Remember? Humility  goes before honor. You're a classy woman from a classy family. A successful and confident young lady who is always trying her best but not forgetting to be humble.

 

Kalma. Ikaw ang bida!

 

"Okay lang ba na- nandito kami?" Ms. Kim asked shyly habang nakatingin na naman kay Seulgi.

 

I examined my babe fit. She was simply wearing her usual get up. A pair of frayed shorts partner with her white sneakers and she chose to throw her hair up in a bun.

 

God! Kung alam ko lang edi sana dinala ko yung labcoat ko. Nakakasilaw yung legs nya ang haba pa naman.

 

I prevented my jaw from clenching.

 

"Oo naman si Ligaya kaya nag invite sa inyo. Kung sa bahay ko pa malamang hindi" seulgi joked and I saw how Ms. Kim smiled wider at unti-unting humalakhak. Pasimple nyang pinunasan ang nangilid na luha sa mata.

 

Masyado naman ata syang napapasaya ni Seulgi.

 

Sobra bang nakakatawa ang biro na iyon ng girlfriend ko? Parang hindi naman.

 

"Ikaw talaga ang laki ng galit mo saken. Alam mo yung kasabihan? Na the mo-

 

"Doc!" I want to thank Yeri for cutting her off. I know what she was about to say and I don't like it. Imposible na wala syang ideya na mayroong namamagitan sa amin ng crush nya.

 

"Grabe akala ko mawawala na ako mabuti nalang kabisado ko pa. Pero infairness mas lalong gumanda ang kaharian ni Ate Joy" Yeri said as her eyes wandering sa kabuuan ng bahay ni Joy.

 

"Ate ka dyan!" napatingin kaming lahat sa taong nagsalita. May hawak itong aso at naramdaman ko ang pagsandal ni Seulgi sa akin. 

 

Ang cute nung maltese. I suddenly remember my sister. Mahilig yun sa puppy.

 

"Baby nasabi ko na ba sayo na mainit ang dugo sa akin ng alaga nya?" I chuckled and she hide behind my back as the puppy bark grew louder. Masama ang tingin sa kanya.

 

"Ate Joy!" Yeji excitedly ran over her. I smiled at the thought na sobrang close nya sa mga kaibigan ni Seulgi. How I wish na ganyan din sya sa akin. She barely talked kanina nung papunta kami dito. Sinundo ko kasi sila as I offered. Ayaw pa nga ni Seulgi.

 

I tried to make a conversation with her but she seems awkward unlike ngayon na ang daldal nya habang kausap si Joy.

 

But I can wait. Naexcite tuloy ako sa ideya na balang araw magiging comfortable din sya sa akin.

 

"Bro!" someone shouted and we all look at her. I think hindi sila nalalayo ni Yeji ng edad. At kagaya ni Yeji, patakbo itong lumapit kay Ms. Kim.

 

"Hey. How are you?" Ms. Kim asked as she messed up the kid hair.

 

Magkakilala sila?

 

"Fine. What about my favor? I dont care about Ate she can't stop me and-

 

"Anong I can't stop you? Sinasabi ko sayo kung sino ka man na Ms. Kim ka wag na wag mong ibibigay ang gusto nya" a familiar petite girl comes out. Her hands on her waist and looks dagger at the two.

 

"I won't" Ms. Kim nervously laugh while raising her both hands.

 

"Tara na sa loob tsaka na tayo magusap-usap nagugutom na ako. Tagal nyo" reklamo ni Joy. She nodded and gave me a small smile before going inside. She handed her puppy to the small girl. The latter frowned pero parang wala na syang magagawa kung hindi ang tanggapin iyon.

 

Wait. Sila ba yung sinasabi ni babe na WenJoy? Cute.

 

Humarap sa amin si Wendy na malaki ang ngiti.

 

"Whats up guys! Welcome to our humble abode" I heard a giggle beside me.

 

"Our. Sana all" seulgi said as she took my sweating hands. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng hiya at kaba. Napansin naman nya agad iyon.

 

"Kinakabahan ka ba Hyun? Wag kang mag-alala mga loko-loko yan. Sila ang dapat mahiya sayo hehe" she showed me her light smile and I did the same.

 

"Oh wala munang maglalandian ngayon mga single kasama nyo" pagsingit ni Yeri. She put her arms around me and teasingly dragged me away from her dad.

 

"Akin muna si Doc" nakuha nya pang dumila kay seulgi and I can't explain how frustrated my babe was.

 

"Hoy anong sayo!" seulgi shouted while chasing us.

 

We settled sa sala nila. Nasa magkabila ko ang dalawa at hindi pa din ako binibitawan ni Yeri. Nasa harap namin sina Ms. Kim habang nasa kusina naman ang Wenjoy. Joy was forced to lock her puppy up inside her room. I dont know the hidden story between the maltese and babe. I will ask Seulgi later.

 

"Win pakiayos din nung akin. Kainis wala akong makitang font na sinasabi ni Sir dito" nabaling ang atensyon ko sa dalawang batang nag-uusap malapit sa amin. The short blonde hair girl is busy typing on her laptop. Napatingin sa amin yung isang mahaba ang buhok na may hawak din na laptop at nahihiyang nag iwas ng tingin. May something sya na binulong sa kausap kayat napatingin din ito sa amin. I smiled at them.

 

Unti-unti nyang ibinalik ang tingin sa ginagawa. Napansin ko ang pamumula ng tenga nito.

 

"Update mo muna Word mo"

 

"Pano ba?" she pressed her ears impatiently. Halatang ayaw magpaabala sa ginagawa.

 

"Ako na lang mamaya" lumaki ang ngiti nung isa.

 

"Yeyyy the best ka talaga Wintong!" 

 

"Ah si Winter tsaka si Lia yan babe. Sumasideline yan sa shop namin. Mukhang namiss sila ni Joy. Namiss magpaayos ng files" natawa ako sa sinabi ni Seulgi.

 

"Girlfriend mo te?" Lia asked while grinning. Mabilis ang pagsulyap sa amin ni Win.

 

"Ohla. Call her Doc Irene" she also introduced Yeri and Ms. Kim with her cousin to them. They just smiled and I noticed how shy Winter is. She looks so soft. How cute.

 

Sayang wala dito si Jimin.

 

"Naku Dad mukhang hindi lang ikaw ang cute sa paningin ni Doc." my eyes grew bigger sa sinabi ni Yeri. 

 

How could she…

 

"Ano yon?" seulgi face came closer to mine and I could feel my burning cheeks. 

 

"N-nothing. I just uhh Winter is cute but it doesn't mean na hindi ka na cute sa paningin ko. I just well my sister is fond of puppies. And I think magugustuhan nya si Winter" she frowned.

 

Gosh Joohyun. Pinagsasasabi mo?

 

"Ang sinasabi mo ba ay mukhang tuta si Winter?" I almost faced palm myself dahil sa lakas ng pagkakasabi nya. Napatingin tuloy sa amin ang lahat ng nasa sala.

 

Why are you so loud baby?

 

Pero mas lalo ata akong namula sa sinabi ng isip ko. You're hopeless Joohyun.

 

"Ang sinasabi ni Doc ay may kinks sila ng kapatid nya sa mga mukhang hayop" added by Yeri and I just want to disappear right now.

 

Goodness! How could she say that?

 

"K-kinks?" inosenteng tanong ni Seulgi. I placed my hands on her lap at huminga ng malalim. Finding the words to say.

 

"Forget about it baby. We both loves cute creature, thats all. I know my sister so well and I think she will like Winter kapag nagkita sila." she only blink her eyes at pinili na lamang manahimik.

 

"Love pa nga" naghampasan ang dalawa sa likod ko. These two dorks really love to tease each other. Lambingan na ata nila yon.

 

"Si Yuna nga pala?" biglang tanong ni seulgi as her eyes looks around the room.

 

"Hindi nakasama te. May biglang lakad sila ng family nya" Lia answered.

 

"Kaya pala tahimik si Winter  kasi wala dito yung bestfriend" the shy girl again pressed her reddened ears as she turned her back to us.

 

"Hindi ko bestfriend ang higanteng yon" they all laugh and I can't help myself but to smile too.

 

Not long after ay niyaya na kami ni Joy na kumain. Wendy was holding a can of beer when we arrived at the kitchen. She smirk to seulgi at mabilis na ibinaling ang tingin sa akin.

 

"Do you drink ba Doc?" she asked. I was about to answer pero inunahan ako ni baby.

 

"Psh girlfriend ko pa hahamunin mo. Sumusuka ka na, tinatamaan pa lang sya" they all look at me na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Seulgi except kay Ms. Kim na nakangisi lang.

 

"One on one tayo Doc?" I stop myself na tarayan ang paghahamon sa akin ni Ms. Kim. I just smiled.

 

"Baby was only exaggerating. Its not that hindi ako nalalasing. I just can handle myself sa alcohol"

 

But if you compete with me I won't back down.

 

"Hindi kasi makarelate ang baby mo sayo Doc. Uwak kasi yan kapag nalalasing" nagtawanan sila sa sinabi ni Wendy.

 

What does she mean? I mean, i know uwak but how it was related sa alcohol?

 

"Ah talaga ba Wan? Sino kaya ang sadgirl kapag nalalasing. Ngawa kung ngawa"

 

"Oh wag pikon"

 

"Hindi kaya ako pikon! Tsk."

 

"Tingin ng hindi pikon"

 

"Heh!"

 

"Stop it guys. Hindi na kayo nahiya sa bisita" and as if natakot silang dalawa kay Joy. Sabay silang nanahimik at naupo na parang walang nangyari.

 

We started eating and I can tell that Wendy really is a good cook. Tama nga ang kwento sa akin ni baby. I enjoyed the food especially kasama ko at nakilala ang mga taong kay seulgi ko lang naririnig dati.

 

I'm happy that my girlfriend was surrounded by these people.

 

"Ate Wends walang palya talaga mga luto mo. Pwede po ba kitang asawahin?" Lia said while chewing. Mukhang nahiya naman si Wendy by just looking at her red cheeks na hindi naman ganun kapula kanina.

 

"Mag-aral ka munang mabuti."

 

"Keep dreaming Lia. Ate have this big crush on someone" Ryu receive a dangerous  glare from her sister but the latter seems unbothered at nagpatuloy lang sa pagkain.

 

"Tingnan mo si Joy baby hihi" bulong ng katabi ko. Actually, kanina pa sya bulong ng bulong sa tenga ko and I could feel her hot breathe there.

 

At kanina pa din ako nagpipigil na wag syang landiin.

 

"What about her?" I asked while pinching her nose. She frowned sabay tanggal ng kamay ko sa ilong nya.

 

"Tingnan mo kasi" umiling ako.

 

"I can't lalo na kaharap kita" kitang kita ko ang paglunok nya at natawa ako ng unti-unti nyang iniwas ang mukha sa akin. I heard a cough from someone.

 

"Pasintabi naman sa mga kumakain"

 

"Ate wag mo namang ipahalata na kinikilig ka" mabilis ang naging paglingon ko sa kapatid nya. Yeji caught me looking at her at kagaya ng ate nya, mabagal nyang iniwas ang paningin sa direksyon ko.

 

"Inggit ka lang kapatid" 

 

After we ate, unexpectedly, Ms. Kim and I ended up sa sink as per ordered by Joy dahil hindi daw sya naniniwala sa pamahiin na bawal paghugasin ng pinagkainan ang bisita.  Seulgi was strongly disagree kanina with her at nagprisinta na silang dalawa nalang ni Ms. Kim instead of me.

 

But ofcourse, why would I allow that to happen?

 

Pinagtulungan lang naman syang hilahin ni Wendy at Yeri palabas ng kusina. She offered na babantayan nya nalang daw ako pero hindi sila pumayag.

 

"Baby kasi yung panaginip ko huhuhu"

 

"Ang clingy mo tangina! Dali na baka bugahan na tayo dito ni Joy ng apoy"

 

Gusto ko pa sana syang tanungin about sa panaginip nya pero tuluyan na syang nahila palabas.

 

Anong panaginip?

 

I remember na may binanggit na sya akin tungkol doon. But she didn't tell me the whole story. Binalaan nya lang ako na wag lalapit kay Ms. Kim.

 

I think its the other way around.

 

"Kumusta Doc?" Ms. Kim broke the silence between us. Shes washing the dishes while I do the rinsing kaya hindi na ako nagsuot pa ng gloves unlike her.

 

"I'm good" she nodded and didn't utter a word again. 

 

Should I talk to her?

 

Hindi naman kasi ako magaling sa mga ganitong bagay especially we're not close. 

 

Whats to talk anyway.

 

"How about you?" sa huli I decided na kausapin na din sya casually. Shes part of the project so…

 

"Goods din though I wonder pa din bakit nandito kami ni Exy  haha" napatingin ako sa kanya.

 

"Joy invited you right?" she eagerly nodded and laugh.

 

Sabi ni seulgi nature na daw kay Ms. Kim ang palaging nakangisi at tumatawa. Kaya hindi na ako nagulat na ganito sya. A happy go lucky lady.

 

I suddenly feel envious. Stop it Joohyun!

 

"Omsim. Pero isang beses lang naman kami nagkita."

 

Napaisip din tuloy ako. Bakit nga ba bigla nya kaming isinama sa bonding nila? 

 

Or is it related ba doon sa nangyari last week?

 

"Maybe she just want my girlfriend to be safe. You know about last week" natigilan sya. Nagulat siguro na alam ko ang tungkol doon.

 

"You- oh right. Perks of being a girlfriend" she stated obviously. I smile and nodded.

 

Aware naman pala sya na may namamagitan sa amin ni Engineer.

 

"Dapat lang naman hindi ba?" we both look at each other pero sya ang unang nagbawi ng tingin.

 

"Oo naman. Pero Doc kinausap ko na ang pinsan ko. She swear na wala syang binabalak na masama kay Engineer. Saktong nandoon din sya sa lugar na iyon and she followed her dahil akala nya magkasama kami"

 

I know

 

"Thats a relief. Maybe Joy really wanted to hear your side too kaya sinama nya kayo dito. And as for me, well, getting to know the girl of her bestfriend?" she chuckled and amusingly look at me. She even bump my shoulder pero mahina lang naman.

 

"Taas mo naman mambakod" nagkibit-balikat ako.

 

"I had to. She easily caught the attention of everyone without her knowing."

 

"Yeah…" she silently agree. Hinarap ko sya at nilabanan ang titig nya.

 

"You like her" I said with conviction. She just only smirk.

 

Hindi na sya nagulat na alam ko.

 

"Shes not hard to like. Pero marunong akong lumugar Doc. Just dont make me go to her" I could feel my creasing brows.

 

"What made you think na I will let you go to her?" it took her a minute to answer.

 

"Dont worry. It will never happen unless you choose to leave her.."

 

After a short time ay natapos na kami ni Ms. Kim. Dumiretso agad ako sa sala kung nasaan ang iba while she use the restroom muna. 

 

I try myself na hindi mabother ng sinabi nya. Why would I though? Just so she know, I hate leaving.

 

I was once left by someone.

 

Someone so treasure to me. The pain was unbearable that I chose to blame anyone to lessen that lethal feeling.

 

But a realization kicks me. Ako pala ang dapat sisihin.

 

Sa akin dapat sila magalit.

 

Ako ang dahilan kaya binawian ng buhay si Mommy. I became a hard-headed daughter unlike noon na palaging nakikinig sa kanya.

 

"Please anak, can you listen to Mommy again? Can you make me happy again?"

 

But I never listen.

 

I run away instead and that was the worst decision I ever had.

 

I didn't know it was the last.

 

The next thing I knew, tumatawag na si Dad. Crying his heart out.

 

"Dangshin-ui…..eomeoni…..shes..shes gone"

 

"Hyun!" I get back to reality ng marinig ko ang boses na iyon ng girlfriend ko.

 

Seulgi

 

Shes always been good at distracting me in a good way.

 

Kahit naman noong mga bata pa kami. Hindi ko alam kung paano nya nagagawa pero nakikita ko nalang ang sarili kong tinitingnan sya.

 

Pakiramdam ko, required sa akin na pagmasdan lahat ng kilos nya.

 

Shes freakin' cute and y.

 

A baby outside but forgive me God for I have to say this. Shes a freakin' fire inside! 

 

Just like an ice cream yeah? Craving satisfied kapag natikman mo na.

 

What the hell Joohyun?

 

Its not my fault naman na maging ganito towards her. Kasalanan niya dahil lumaki syang hot and handsome. She used to be my dainty kid.

 

Fluffy cheeks, those monolid eyes and that adorable smile she always giving me.

 

Lahat naman ng iyon ay nakikita ko pa din sa kanya maliban na lamang sa katawan nyang to die for.

 

Did she do work out ba o hindi nya lang talaga sinasadya na lumaking m