"Yoona!" Malakas na pagtawag sa kanya nung matanda. "You go picture me and Minjeong there." Sabay turo sa kahoy na railing sa dulo. 

Before us, is the beautiful view at Mines View Park. Paakyat palang ang araw. Pinakita kasi ni dad yung picture namin ni mommy dito sa kanya nung bata pa ako at nangulit nang dalhin siya rito para puntahan ang spot na 'yun at abangan ang sunrise. In some way, he is trying to reconnect with her daughter through me. Wala naman na sa akin, and Jimin's right, he'll grow on me eventually daw which I kind of hate. Hindi dahil ayaw ko kay Lolo, pero dahil mawawala na siya. Getting too fond or attached is the last thing that I want to do, but I can't help it. I didn't expect him to be this likeable.

Being the kind of father he should have been to mom is what he is trying to do with me. Tita Yoona briefly explained that he had his shortcomings being my mother's father: he made her play too much and scolded her everytime she'd lose a match.

But Tita Yoona said that wasn't the reason why mother ran away...

And ever since Lolo found out I existed, meeting me became his sort of last stop before he officially decides to give up on his cancer. This is why Tita Yoona asked if I could go easy on him. I told her I'd try but will still keep my guard up, calling him everything but Lolo kahit ayun naman na talaga ang tawag ko sa kanya kapag iba ang kausap. Besides, teasing Lolo is fun. I call him Paps instead.

"Minjeong-ah," He turned to look at me, standing in front of the exact spot where mom and I took the picture. "Can you help me sit on the railing?" He then handed me his walking cane.

"Paps, you're crazy," I reacted. "They don't allow that anymore. Last time, someone fell." I attempted to scare him but he only pouted.

"Let's just stand next to each other, okay?" I then gently dragged him by the shoulders towards the spot at humarap na kami kay Tita Yoona. Kaming tatlo lang ngayon dahil may biglaang lakad nanaman si dad sa work.

In getting ready, nilabas ko ang aking mga kamay mula sa bulsa ng oversized leather jacket kong nakapatong sa puti kong hoodie. Aakbayan ko nalang si Lolo para hindi na siya nakasimangot. I then motioned for Tita Yoona to take the pictures na. "Hana, dul, set!" She counted to three and proceeded to take burst shots of us.

When she handed me back my phone, I decided to record a mini vlog while we're here. It's what I like to do everytime I'm happy and Jimin's not there para isesend ko nalang sa kanya kapag naisipan ko na. Speaking of my roommate, nag good morning na ako sa kanya kaninang 3am nung paggising ko kaso hindi pa ito nadedeliver. Malamang tulog pa 'yun. Gusto ko sanang mag-update pero gawa nung mood niya kahapon, saka ko nalang siya tatadtarin kapag sinabi niyang goods na siya at baka magising lang sa mga notifications ko sa kanya. Hopefully mamaya ay gumaan na ang pakiramdam niya. But I would really like to know kung bakit gano'n siya kahapon. 

Would she tell me if I asked her?

"Minjeong, you are spacing out." Pagtapik ni Lolo sa akin. "You go take pictures of the sun. It's going up already, you might miss it." I simply obeyed. 

The three of us, along with rest of the morning crowd, stood silently, watching the sun rise up to greet us all hello.

You've been keeping her warm, have you? I asked the sun knowing it's been raining heavily in Manila and Jimin is all alone. A ray of sunlight then hit pass my face, taking that as a yes. I then smiled. Thank you.

"You seem happy, Minjeong." Tita Yoona commented. "Is it because you're leaving tomorrow?"

Medyo nawala ang ngiti ko. Pero totoo, masaya ako kasi makakauwi na ako kay Jimin. 

"It's not that, Tita." I went to explain, still looking at the sun. From the corner of my eye, I see my grandfather taking selfies of himself. "I'm happy not just because my time here is over, but because his time isn't over yet and he's still here."

"Are you still mad at him?" She asked. I shake my head.

"If there's anyone to be mad at, it's my parents." I paused. "They kept me in the dark, leaving me now with a lot of questions,"

Tita Yoona and I went forward to lean against the wooden railing.

"All there is left for me to know now is why my mother ran away..." I continued.

Nginitian niya lang ako. "It's not my story to tell, Minjeong. I'm sorry." Tumango nalang ako.

-

Andito kami ngayon ni Lolo sa isang barber shop. Gusto niya daw magpagupit. Si Tita Yoona naman ay ibinaba ko sa SM dahil doon daw siya kikitain ni dad for business matters. Pero feel ko about ito sa pagiging family attorney niya sa amin. Sabi kasi ni Lolo na sa amin na niya ipapangalan si Tita Yoona kapag nawala na siya. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kailangan namin ng attorney. Oh well, bahala na sila diyan. Usapan na ng mga matanda 'yan.

"Minjeong-ah," Napatingin ako kay Lolo sa pagtawag niya sa akin. He is looking at me through my reflection in the mirror, tulad lang nung sinamahan ko si Jimin noong nagpa-retouch siya ng blonde niyang buhok. "You go get haircut too!" He eagerly suggested.

I gave him a weird expression na parang ayaw ko. "Paps, I'm good with my hair now–"

"But it's long and plain," He complained and reached for something in his pocket. It's his black leather wallet. I watch him unfold it and motioned for me to come close kaya napatayo ako sa kinauupuan ko. "This was your mom in high school. She liked this hairstyle. I feel like it is bagay to you." I laughed when he inserted the Tagalog word. He really is trying haha!

I took his wallet in my hand, admiring the 1x1 photo of my mom. She has this shoulder length haircut in shade of brown. Ang ganda niya. It makes me wonder...

Will Jimin like me in short hair?

"Paps, can I have this?" Sinubukan kong hingin ang picture.

"Only if you get the haircut." He said in a teasing tone.

"Mind you, we're in a barber. I might end up looking like a boy." Reklamo ko na tinawanan niya lang at sabay bumulong sa kaniyang barbero.

Ano kayang sinasabi neto...

"Mami Bey!" Malakas na pagtawag nung barbero at biglang may lumabas na beki sa may counter. Makapal ang make-up nito at ang bongga din ng suot. Aakalain niyong kakagaling niya lang sa drag show.

Slay.

"Ano 'yun mga beks?" Sagot nito.

"May papagupit na babae. Maigsi." Sabi nung barbero kaya napatingin na sa amin yung Mami Bey na tinawag niya.

Lumapit ito sa akin.

"Oh my, oh my. Kay gandang Koryana naman ay~"

"Mag ingles ka Mami! Baka hindi ka nila maintindihan-" Sabi nung barbero. 

Agad akong umiling. "H-hindi po. Taga rito po ako," I kindly corrected. "Yung Lolo ko po ang hindi."

"Minjeong-ah, did you just call me Lolo?" Tuwang pagsingit niya sa usapan.

"In your dreams, old man." I teased.

I suddenly hear Mami Bey clear their throat. "Miss Koryana, what haircut will you be-"

"Minjeong," Lolo cut them off and looked at me. "Show the picture!"

I hesitate for a while, not even wanting a haircut in the first place. Should I really go for it? Mother's haircut isn't that bad naman. I'm sure it would suit me. I just don't know if my roommate will like it.

Speaking of my roommate, bigla akong nakatanggap ng text sa kanya. Reply niya siguro doon sa good morning message ko, meaning gising na siya. I checked it out immediately.

Ang misis 💙: Heyy jwu :((

Ang misis 💙: Goodmorning din ☀️

Me: Hi jimin!!!!!!!! 🤭

I made sure to insert an emoji para lang positive vibes kami ngayong umaga, 'di tulad kahapon.

Ang misis 💙: You seem like you're in a good mood

Me: Gising ka na eh 🥺

Ang misis 💙: Bakit ang cute mo hmp

Ang misis 💙: Anw, you must have questions kung bakit wala akong gana kahapon. I'm really sorry..dami ko lang iniisip at syempre isa ka na dun. I was really upset nung naunahan ako ni jeno na kunin ka for the duo writing project. I really wanted you and couldn't do anything about it. Are you dissappointed?? :((

Hindi ako na-dissapoint sa kanya. Siguro nalungkot lang at may halong pagka-bigla dahil bigla nalang nag-chat si Jeno sa akin na partners daw kami. Gusto ko lang naman malaman yung buong context ng nangyari pero hindi ko nakuha dahil iniiwasan ni Jimin ang mga messages ko. Ayun pala, she was upset with herself na hindi niya ako kinuha.

My heart was ready to reply para lang sabihin na dinecline ko agad si Jeno at maaari pa rin kaming mag-pair up sa project until I heard Mami Bey speak to me.

"Miss Koryana, the haircut?"

"R-right, sorry po." I then handed them Lolo's wallet na kanina pa nasa akin. Tinignan niya ang 1x1 picture ni mommy. I can see a look of approval on their face. "Mhmm bagay...bagay ito. You'll slay in this." 

"Minjeong-ah, I told you it's bagay!" Pagsingit nanaman ni Lolo. "What are you waiting for?"

"Teka, I'll ask Jimin first." Bumalik ako agad sa selpon ko.

"Jimin?" Tanong ni Mami Bey.

"Her girlfriend." Sagot ni Lolo para sa akin. 

"Wag niyo pong intindihin si Lolo," I apologetically responded, looking at Mami Bey. "Kaibigan ko lang po 'yun."

Me: Jimin, one question bago ko sagutin message mo

Ang misis 💙: Sure minjeong 

Me: Familiar ka naman siguro sa mga tanungan na would you still love me if i was a worm keme keme

Ang misis 💙: Yeahh and?

Me: Ask ko lang paano kung kamukha ko si dora 

Ang misis 💙: Lol ang random naman

Me: Sagutin mo nalanggg

Ang misis 💙: Chill, princess. Sasagutin na kita 🙄✋🏻

Uhm, did she just call me...nevermind.

"Minjeong-ah, what did Jimin say?" Tanong ni Lolo.

"She's still typing po." 

Teka, bakit ang tagal niya magreply? 

Ang misis 💙: Mamahalin pa rin haha

Nabigla ako sa sagot niya. It's not how I expected her to answer. Pucha, mali ata ang nabigay kong context.

Me: Jimin hindi 😭😭😭😭

Ang misis 💙: Why? Mali ba akong sagot?

Me: Hindi naman :))

Me: Teka ang confusing ng context na binigay ko huhu

Ang misis 💙: S