LSS: CLOSE

Chapter 28

After hours of flight, nakarating na din ng Seoul si Jace. Wearing a simple white shirt paired with his acid wash jeans, he wore his glasses to avoid people. Kahit may mga ilan na namukhaan s'ya ay agad din itong nakaalis sa airport ng mapayapa. Sinundo ito ng kanilang manager at dalawa sa kagrupo n'ya.

Sa loob ng sasakyan ay agad n'yang binuksan ang kanyang cellphone at sunod-sunod na text messages at notifications ang kanyang natanggap. Medyo napasimangot ang binata dahil wala s'yang mensahe na natanggap mula sa nobya. Pina-roaming pamandin nito ang sim na ginamit n'ya sa pilipinas. He scrolled through his inbox and smiled as he read his younger brother's message.

"Thank you, hyung." It was a simple thank you, but Jace couldn't help himself but smile as he was called hyung or kuya by a person he hadn't seen for years. Sa isip n'ya ay kulang pa nga ang mga gamit na ibinigay nito kumpara sa mga taon at pagsasamahan na dapat binuo n'ya kasama ang kapatid.

Kung hindi pa n'ya kinalkal ang mga gamit ni Justin noong araw na umalis ito sa kanila ay hindi pa n'ya malalaman ang simpleng hiling nito. That is why he also promised to buy him those things. After reading the message, he opened his Ig account and chuckled to see Justin's photo with the caption, 'Igop, as always.'

"What in the world is igop?" Jace commented with a confused emoji. Lalo naman itong natawa nang makatanggap ng response sa kapatid, which says,

"It means pogi, obob."

Sa isip ni Jace ay baka nabatukan na n'ya ang kapatid kung harap harapan s'ya nitong sinabihan ng bobo. Good thing he knows some curse words in filipino kaya walang anu-paman ay gumanti ito.

"Tarantado, mas pogi ako. Bobo."

Puro emojis ang naging palitan nila ng kapatid kaya naisipan niyang immessage ang nobya gamit ang kanyang account. Sinabihan na 'ya ito dati na wag na n'yang iblock ang naturang account at inamin na s'ya ang may gamit nito.

Hindi na naisipan ni Jace na palitan ang username ng naturang account dahil tamad itong mangalikot. "I'll keep my promise. Wait for me. I love you. "

He sent his message and waited for her response. Sadly, mukhang hindi online ang dalaga kaya naisip n'ya na baka tulog na ito. He checked the time, and it was already ten in the evening. (KST)

'I'm pretty sure she's asleep by now.' Sabi nito sa kanyang isipan at ibinalik sa bulsa and cellphone. Kahit pa ramdam n'ya ang pagod ay nakangiti itong dumungaw sa labas ng bintana habang pinagmamasdan n'ya ang makukulay na gusali.

Minutes after, he noticed a red Hyundai car behind them. Para itong nakikipag karerahan ngunit hindi n'ya nalang ito pinansin at ibinalik ang tingin sa malalaking gusali. Liningon nito ang manager at ang dalawang kagrupo na malalim ang tulog kaya naman maging s'ya ay nakaramdam din ng antok.

Inilabas nito ang kanyang earphones at pinatugtog ang paboritong kanta ni Regina. He slowly closed his eyes as he listened to a song called 'Wherever You Are by South Borders.' He likes it and didn't even realize humming to the song.

Months has passed and Jace was so excited to go back to the Philippines. Magkakasunod ang naging tour at concerts nila at kahit nagkaproblema ay nagawan naman agad nila ito ng solusyon. Ayun nga lang ay halos pitong buwan na nung huli n'yang makita ang nobya.

Kaya naman agad s'yang umuwi sa kanyang pamilya para sabihin ang plano n'yang proposal at wedding para sa dalaga. Matagal-tagal din ang inantay niya and he had to make sure he would give her the best wedding this year, bago maisilang ni Regina ang kanilang anak. Kung bakit naman kasi inilihim pa ng dalaga ang pagbubuntis nito edi sana ay napaaga ang kasal ng dalawa. Kung hindi pa sinabi ni Justin ay hindi pa nito malalaman.

Yes, he got mad at first. He got mad because he wasn't the first person to know about her pregnancy. Kaya nung galit ang binata ay galit din ang nobya, mas galit pa. Jace does not know how to react. Kung matatawa ba ito o maaasar. But in the end, naging okay din ang dalawa at nagkasundo pa nga ang mga ito sa magiging pangalan ng kanilang anak.

Luckily, his parents agreed and wanted to meet Regina at kita sa mag-asawa na mas excited pa ang mga ito na makapunta sa Pilipinas dahil makikita nila ang kanilang magiging apo. They have booked their ticket earlier para makasiguro na nandoon sila sa araw na manganganak ang dalaga.

Jace took a step closer to his dad and smiled. "Dad, Justin is there too. You should see him," sabi n'ya sa kanilang pangunahing lenggwahe.

Akala niya ay magugulat ang kanyang ama, pero siya ang mas nagulat dahil sa sagot nito.

"I know," his dad answered. "Ever since he left this house, we have known where he was. We just didn't have the courage to face him... because we know we are at fault," he added.

Magsasalita pa sana ang kanyang ama ngunit pinigilan n'ya ito. He said that they were misunderstood, and it's no one's fault.

"Let's not think about it. My brother and I are now on good terms. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you and mom again," he said and again smiled at the old man.

Napalingon naman ang dalawa dahil sa sigaw ng ina ni Jace. Naghahanda kasi ito ng pananghalian. His dad gave a tap on his shoulders and turned his back to join his wife. Hahakbang na sana ang binata ng makatanggap ito ng isang tawag galing sa nakababatang kapatid.

"Justin?" he answered. Dinig n'ya ang paghinga ng binata sa kabilang linya na tila ba may humahabol sa kanya. "Hey! Are you in trouble?"

Ilang segundo ay sumagot ang kapatid na tila tuliro, "P-Please come back. She needs you. "

"Jace? I need you here," dinig n'yang sabi ng nobya sa kabilang linya.

"Are you okay? Is our baby okay? I'll be there. I made a promise, remember?" Nag-usap pa ang mga ito ng ilang minuto tsaka ito nagpaalam.

Jace's forehead creased as he turned to look at his parents, worried.

"Jace, what happened?" Dinig niyang sabi ng kanyang ina. Maging ang ama nito ay nagtataka kaya agad n'yang nilapitan ang anak at tinanong kung sino ang kausap. Agad naman nitong sinabi ang sitwasyon kaya kailangan nila agad makapunta ng Pilipinas.

"W-what? Is she okay? Is she about to give birth?" sunod-sunod na tanong ng ina.

Isa-isa naman niya itong sinagot at sinabing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mag-ina at nasa ospital sila ngayon.

"But she could give birth anytime, so I need to be there." Wala na itong sinabi at nagbilin nalang sa mga magulang na tawagan siya kapag flight na nila papuntang Pilipinas.

Jace didn't know what to do first. Kinakabahan s'ya at excited dahil makikita n'ya ang nobya at maiisilang pa ang kanilang munting anghel. Buti nalang at nakapag-book agad ito ng ticket kaya dali-dali siyang nag empake.

He immediately drove his car and went on his way to the airport. Since he was in Busan, the nearest airport would be at Gimhae International Airport, which would take him about a thirty to forty-five minute drive. He looked at his watch and checked his rear-view mirror and once again, his forehead creased as he saw a familiar car. He tried to look at the windshield to see who the driver was, but his mind was too occupied about the situation kaya ipinag-sawalang bahala nalang n'ya ito.

In a loudspeaker, muli n'yang tinawagan ang kapatid upang kamustahin ang nobya pero hindi ito sinagot. He released a deep breath and calmed himself from worrying. Kinapa nito sa bulsa ang isang maliit na black box at binuksan nito gamit ang kanyang kanang kamay, habang ang kaliwa nito ay nakahawak sa manibela.

He genuinely smiled as he looked at the three stone classic solitaire engagement ring which he bought a month ago.

Just in: Breaking News

Looking at the photo shown is what happened recently, when a car crash entirely blocked the road to the airport. There are said to be two casualties. However, the other person, who isn't named yet, as per the family's request, has been declared dead on arrival.