A Flower With Seven Thorns

CHAPTER 88: THE TUG WAR

Kaharap ko na ngayon ang pinto ng kwarto ni Jun.

I know I told Jin I'll give Jun an answer pero ano naman isasagot ko?

It's not that it's my first time getting a confession. Pero ang mahirap lang kasi ngayon ay katrabaho ko sya. It was easy for me before kasi papatulan ko man o hindi, there will be no conflict around us. But this time, patulan ko man o hindi, it will obviously reflect to the whole group. It's not that I'm considering a romantic relationship with Jun. It's absolutely weird.

Napaupo ako at napasabunot ng buhok.

Feeling highschool, C? Feeling nasa wattpad?

Tumayo ulit ako as I recovered myself na may kasabay na malalim na buntong hininga.

"You just have to tell him you're here to work at hindi para makahanap ng ka-other half." bulong ko sa sarili habang pinapalakas ang loob ko.

Bahala na.

Bago pa may dumagdag sa iniisip ko ay kumatok na agad ako.

No answer.

Tulog pa kaya?

Kumatok pa ulit ako pero nilakasan ko na ng konti at dinamihan hanggang sa binuksan na nya.

"H-Hi." di ba, sa dinadami kong iniisip, yun lang lumabas.

Medyo kumunot ang noo nya.

"Kung andito ka para ipaliwanag yung sa inyo ni Ranchee, no need. Cas already did. I acknowledged it. Work is work. Anything else?" he's talking to me pero yung mga mata nya hindi makatingin sakin.

Aw, he's being shy.

Hindi ko din namalayan na napangiti na pala ako kaya mas lalong kumunot ang noo nya.

"What the h3ck are you smiling?" tumawa na lang ako sa isipan ko dahil sa ka-cutan ng batang- no, Jin's right. I didn't noticed his growth dahil tumatak na sa isip ko na sya ang bunso ng grupo.

"Nothing. But there's something else I want to talk to you about." there, I finally got back my sanity.

It looks like he's thinking about the"something" din.

"S-San mo gustong mag-usap?" he tried to avoid my gaze by looking down.

"Well, since I'm already here. . .wait, may specific place ba talaga dapat mag-usap?" kaya nga kita pinuntahan dito sa kwarto mo, di ba?

He's hesitant but he eventually open his door to let me in.

"If you don't mind then. . ." as he made way para makapasok na ako.

And what do I expect? Kwarto lang yata nina Jin at Hope ang nakita kong walang kalat.

Seems like he's working on his song sa nakikita ko sa desktop computer nya. Several jackets hanging around, crumpled papers on the floor as well as on the table, shoes. . .typical room for busy boys.

"You can sit on the chair." tukoy nya sa gaming chair na nasa tapat ng desktop computer nya.

"Ah, no. Bed's fine. Dito na lang ako baka may magalaw pa ko dyan sa workspace mo." sabay upo na nga sa kama nya. It's not as bouncy as my bed but well, we have our own taste.

When I heard the door locked, I was about to face him but as a quick as a sneaky fox, the next thing I felt on my back is the soft surface of his bed.

"Tell me again it's fine, Czera." I can feel his minty breath.

He pushed me down on his bed at pinaibabawan ako. His eyes are serious na parang nawala na yung bunso namin sa grupo. Pero hindi ako nakaramdam ng kaba o taranta.

"I know you won't do anything to me." bulong ko and I felt his hesitation.

Pagkatapos ng ilang segundong titigan na walang kurapan, he let go.

"'Guess I'm right." sabay bangon at sinundan sya ng tingin paupo sa kanyang gaming chair.

"I'm still your Queen even looking like this." he scoffed at my teasing.

"Queen or not, you're still Czera. I just don't want that Czera to hate me. . ." kahit mahina na yung pagkakasabi nya sa huli ay narinig ko pa din.

Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo at hinarap sya.

"Then. . .what about you? Can you hate me?" as I pulled my knee to my chest at ipinatong ang dalawa kong kamay at baba.

"Anong klaseng tanong yan?" napangiti na lang ako.

"Dunno. For preparation?" sinubukan man nyang pigilan ang tawa nya, nakatakas pa din ito.

"Maybe. Kung hindi na kita gusto at may ginawa kang di kaaya-aya. Yet, I still doubt it. Malay natin, I might have a hidden masochistic side." ako naman ang napatawa with his carefree side comment.

More push pa tayo sa maturity, Jonathan Jake.

"Anyways, back to my original intention. . ." tumayo ako at tinungo yung display case nya.

Makikita sa loob ang ilang mga awards and trophies as well as some collectibles, but mostly are pictures from what I think were during his trainee days to the present.

And would you look at that, may ilang mga pictures na din na kasali ako.

Napangiti ako sa mga memories during the time those pictures were taken.

"I'm here- or rather, I became a DR because I want to achieve something. Because just being a queen has its limit. A queen who can only move at night is nothing but a commoner during the day." silence.

"What I'm saying is. . .we're all here to work. To dream. So let's just  focus on that professionally." it slightly caught me off guard nang humalakhak sya bigla. I don't think he's faking it dahil may nararamdaman akong kakaiba sa tawa nya.