“Maurice Kim, CEO of Kim Entertainment, and his wife, Tara Kim, were involved in a major car accident. Ryan Jang, the CEO of Jang Co., and their driver, on the other hand, was killed on the spot.” 

“Driver of the sixteen-wheeler truck that injured and killed two of the leading CEOs in the country, still in critical condition.” 

These are just some of the many headlines that are being circulated in the media. It's not really a biggie because we already expected the media to get their hands on some information about my parent’s accident since they are well-known chief executives here in the Philippines. 

Siguro at some point it’s kind of bothering me lang since ate Taeyeon and Haerin have been bombarded by the press for interviews regarding the matter whenever they are spotted outside. 

I mean, who would want to talk openly about their parents’ car accident, right? 

Maswerte ako dahil unlike my siblings, hindi ako kilala ng general public. Although, there are some who knew me because of the Wonyoung dating issue. Still, I didn’t really make a mark on people’s minds. 

Mabilis akong naglalakad sa hallway ng hospital. Nang makapasok sa kwarto nila mom ay agad akong bumati.

“Hello, mommy and dad. Kamusta po?” 

I sat on the sofa opposite their hospital beds. Since it’s a sunday, dumalaw ako dito kila mom and dad.

I opened the mcdo paper bag na hawak ko at kinuha ang crispy chicken sandwich na favorite namin ni dad. 

“Dad oh, sarap. Gusto mo?” Pag-aalok ko sa kanya. “Ay, ‘di mo po pala kaya.” 

Dark.

Madalas ko kasing biru-biruin ang parents ko tuwing dinadalaw ko sila. Sabi kasi ng doctor ay nakakarinig daw ang mga na-coma at baka makatulong ang pag kausap-kausap para sa mas mabilis na recovery nila. 

I decided to stay here at the hospital while waiting for Karina’s photoshoot to end. Kinuha kasi siyang celebrity endorser ng isang skincare brand. Pak! Kinis naman talaga ni Rina kaya’t di nakapagtataka na may mga skincare brand na kumukuha sa kanya.

Celebrity na talaga ang bebe ko. Nilabas na rin ang unang episode ng mini series kung saan magkasama sila ni Haerin. Yung main character ang epal na si Jaehyun. Oo, ayon!

Lalo tuloy nag blow up ang career ni Karina at talagang may pagka kilala na ang bebe ko despite the fact na bagong actress pa lamang siya. 

She’s considering nga if i-pupursue niya ang acting or magfocus na lang siya sa modeling career niya. Either way naman, I know na she’ll do great.

Slayrina. Yown.

After eating, I went to mom and dad’s side and fixed their beds. I also checked up on them kung may reaction kung hahawakan ko sila.

Syempre, wala.

I slumped again on the sofa and sighed. Balik na po kayo. 

“Mom, dad. I’m dating someone.” I stopped and fixed my gaze on my parents. Despite being involved in an accident, they seem so at ease. I sincerely miss them.

“I know na this is not an ideal way para ipaalam sa inyo ‘to.” I chuckled. “pero I just can’t wait another day to tell you that someone has been making your daughter genuinely happy.” 

Syempre si Karina. 

Alam ko naman na kilala nila si Karina pero last time kasi na tinanong nila ako, hindi pa kami something ni Rina kaya hindi ko pa rin nasabi that time.

“I’m meeting her mom later. Kinakabahan nga po ako but don’t worry, itataas ko ang bandera ng pamilya natin.” I chuckled. 

Naalala ko kasi na laging sinasabi ni dad sa akin na galingan ko raw if ever may magpapakilala na sa akin sa parents. Huwag daw ipapahiya ang angkan, pagbibiro niya pa.

“She’s smart and kind. She’s also very very beautiful inside and out. I’ll introduce her to you guys soon, kaya gumising na po kayo dyan.” I once again chuckled, a lone tear fell out of my left eye. 

Although flourishing ang acads and lovelife ko, there’s still this blackhole placed inside my heart ever since mom and dad got into an accident. 

Sometimes I just feel empty. 

Mabuti nga at nandyan si Karina. Not to the point na I’m completely dependent on her naman. Siguro, she makes things bearable lang talaga and she also never fails to make me feel like I can open up to her.

“You’ll definitely love her.” I paused again. “‘Cause your daughter loves her dearly.” 

Medyo kinakabahan din ako kasi what if hindi pa pala ready si Karina sa ganitong level at one-sided pa lang pala ang love na nararamdaman ko para sa kanya?

I mean, I’d be willing to wait for her hanggang sa kaya niya nang mareciprocate ang feelings ko pero sa tingin ko, medyo malulungkot ako if ever nga ganon.

Ako naman nagsabi na we should take things slow pero parang panis ko pa ang speed of light sa bilis ng pagkahulog ko kay Karina.

Who wouldn’t?

Hindi nagtagal ay nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. Alas tres na rin at kailangan ko pa sunduin si Karina mamayang 4 pm para sa date namin.

Nag handa lang naman ako ng simpleng dinner and I also bought her some gifts kanina after ko siya ihatid. I hope she appreciates all these kahit rushed talaga.

Laking pasasalamat ko lang kay ate Tiff na tinulungan ako sa pag book ng restaurant pati na rin sa pagdedecide ng tamang gifts na ibibigay sa baby ko. 

I was about to leave the hospital when I noticed Wonyoung exiting the restroom. Huling nakita ko siya ay noong funeral pa ng dad niya. Kamusta na kaya siya? 

“Uy, Wonyoung.” 

Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi ay sa rest house nila sa Baguio muna tumuloy si Wonyoung matapos ang pagkamatay ng dad niya. Way niya raw ito para mag unwind and medyo makawala sa gulo dito sa metro. Siguro ay kakauwi niya lang.

“Hey, Win.” Nakangiting bati niya sa’kin. 

Matagal ko na rin na kaibigan itong si Wonyoung at I really do care for her as a friend at alam ko na ganun din siya sa akin. Lalo na ngayon. Nag-aalala pa rin ako sa kanya dahil alam kong hindi basta-basta makarecover sa nangyari sa dad niya. 

Nagkamustahan kami saglit at tinanong ko na rin siya kung kailan pa siya umuwi. Tama nga ako na kakauwi niya lang dahil last night lang daw siya nakarating dito sa manila.

“Anyway, why are you here?” Tanong ko sa kanya. Bigla namang nawala ang ngiti niya dahil sa tanong ko.

Parang alam ko na kung bakit. Sana pala ay nanahimik na lang ako. Mygod.

“Oh, paalis na rin ako. I just signed some papers regarding.. uhm.” She hesitated. I noticed tears about to fall off her eyes so I quickly enveloped her with a hug.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m sorry.” I murmured. 

Lalo niyang hinigpitan ang pagyakap sa akin at yumuko sa may balikat ko. Ang tangkad tangkad lang talaga nito. Nagmukha naman akong nuno sa punso. 

Hindi na napigilan ni Wonyoung at tuluyan na siyang humagulgol on my shoulders. Hinayaan ko lang naman siyang umiyak dahil it’s obvious na kailangan niyang ilabas lahat ng nararamdaman niya ngayon. 

Sige lang, iiyak mo lang. 

It’s not easy to handle such things lalo na at nasa early 20’s pa lamang naman kami. (I made Wonyoung an ‘01 liner in this story ^^) Sa amin pa namang childhood friends, si Wonyoung talaga ang pinaka iyakin. Tanda ko pa na palagi siyang umiiyak pag inaasar siya dati ni Ning. Si Ning naman kasi ay sobrang mapang-asar noon pa man.

“N-No, don’t say sorry.” She answered in between sobs. “I’m sorry for suddenly breaking down.” She then lifted her head and patted my cheeks. “Thank you, Win.” She smiled. 

I noticed that some people were watching us kaya humiwalay na rin ako agad sa kanya nang maramdaman ko na umayos na at kalmado na ang paghinga niya.

“Saan ka pala? Sabay ka na sa’kin?” I offered her a ride dahil parang wala siya sa wisyo na magdrive. Baka mapano pa ‘to, ewan ko na lang.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll tell my driver to pick up my car na lang dito.” 

Napag alaman ko na sa same building at floor ang shooting place ni Rina at ang pupuntahan ni Wonyoung. Siguro ay model din siya dito? Hindi ko sure pero tamang tama dahil doon din naman ang punta ko. 

After she dialed her driver’s number we immediately went to my car. May duplicate na susi naman daw ang driver nila kaya okay lang na mauna kami.

I connected my phone sa bluetooth speaker ng kotse para hindi maging masyadong tahimik ang byahe. Hindi ko pa rin kasi alam kung paano magsisimula ulit ng bagong topic kasi kanina, umiyak siya dahil sa tanong ko.

Jusko ka talaga, Winter! 

Pansin ko ang paulit-ulit na pagsulyap ni Wonyoung sa cellphone ko. Baka gusto niya magpatugtog? 

“Do you want to play something?” I asked. “Here oh. Play anything you like.” I smiled at her as I handed her my phone. 

“Thanks, Win! Wait ha.” 

She started browsing my playlists. Her eyes sparkled when she saw a particular song. “I like this one.” 

The song started playing..

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset

She's going off about something that you said

'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do

“I know this song.” Nagmamagaling kong sambit.

 Sinong hindi alam ang kantang ‘to? Saan ka nakatira? Ilalim ng bato? Chz.

“Of course you do! It’s Taylor Swift’s You belong with me kaya. We always sing this dati.” Wonyoung replied. A smile crept on her face. That’s better. 

Hard taylor swift stan kasi kami noong pagkabata namin. Naalala ko pa na ang go to videoke song namin dati nila Ning ay yung ‘love story’ at itong ‘You belong with me’. Basta may videoke, matic ayan ang warm up song namin.

“Yeah. We really like Taylor.” I smiled because of the memory. It just saddens me whenever I think of those times.

Kakanta kami kapag may gathering sa kani-kanilang mga bahay tapos buo ang mga fam namin. Ngayon kasi ay malaba na ‘yon mangyari.

Maya maya pa ay damang-dama na ni Wonyoung ang pagsabay sa kanta. Lalo na sa chorus part.

If you could see that I'm the one