China Doll [DaraGon/NyongDal]

{ 24 }

A/N: Sorry sobrang late :(

{ 24 }

The pilot episode was great. Sa tingin ko ay magiging maganda naman ang feedback ng mga viewers sa amin. We were also checking social networking sites and so far, positive feedbacks are pouring down.

"Thank you, everyone!" Palakpak ni Director Kim atsaka inikot ang mga mata sa aming lahat. "This is only the beginning, but I just want you guys to know that I'm very proud of us!" Dagdag niya pa na naging dahilan ng hiyawan naming lahat.

Nagkanya-kanyang pasasalamat pa kami sa isa't-isa bago tuluyang napagpasyahan na uuwi na kami. After all, mayroon pa kaming shoot bukas ng umaga kaya kailangan na talaga naming magpahinga.

"Dara, una na kami." Paalam ni Kiyong. "Isasabay ko na sina Hyoni sa'kin."

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Sige, sige. Mag-ingat kayo ha? Text me when you guys get home." Paalala ko.

He nodded and patted my head. "Alright, aalis na kami. Mukhang naghihintay na sa'yo si dragon, Dara." Tatawa-tawang sabi niya bago pumihit paalis.

Nagpalinga-linga ako at doon ko lang napagtanto na lima na lang kaming natira rito. Ako, si Jjangmae oppa, si Jiyong, si Soonho oppa, at si Yoona. I want to frown. Bakit andito pa rin si Yoona?

I could hear her childish whines kahit na nasa likuran ko na sila. "C'mon, Ji, hindi ka naman ganito dati ah?" Sabi niya. "Take me home, please. Wala rito si manager oppa," she cutely stated.

Gusto ko ng umirap pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Subukan mo lang pumayag, Jiyong, nanggigigil kong wika sa utak ko. Pasimple akong gumalaw para humarap sa kanila, but I was the one caught by surprise when I found Jiyong staring– well, more like glaring–at me. Yoona was pouting next to him but he doesn't seem to give a damn at all. Nasa akin ang buong atensyon niya.

Sinundan ni Yoona ang tinitingnan ni Jiyong at mabilis siyang umismid. "Jiyong!" Iritable na niyang tawag.

Jiyong's brows were furrowed when he turned to her. "Fine! Ipapahatid na kita kay Soonho hyung." Sabi niya at hindi na hinayaan pang makapag-protesta si Yoona. He led the way towards Soonho oppa and talked to him, with Yoona still sulking next to him.

Hindi ko na namalayan na lumapit na pala sa akin si Jjangmae oppa. "Dara, ihahatid ba kita o si Jiyong na?" Tanong niya.

Hindi ako agad nakasagot. Nag-aaway yata kami ni Jiyong, so... "Hatid mo na 'ko, op–"

I wasn't even able to finish my sentence when someone grabbed my arm. "I'll take her, hyung," malalim na sabi ni Jiyong.

Tumango lang si Jjangmae oppa. "Okay, then. Mauna na ako sa inyo. Mag-ingat kayo!" Huling sabi niya bago dumiretso na pabalik sa trailer ko at nag-drive palayo.

Jiyong dragged me to his own car and pushed me inside the passenger seat. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa dahil halata namang mainit pa rin ang ulo niya. Mabilis niyang pinaharurot ang sasakyan nang walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa.

We reached his condominium building in no time at all. Tumapat na ang valet sa kotse at akala ko ay bababa na kami nang biglang magmura si Jiyong at paharurutin muli palayo ang sasakyan.

"Why? What's wrong?" Nag-aalala kong tanong.

His face was still grim when he answered. "He lives there, too," asar na pakli niya.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sagot niya. He? He who– oh. I turned to him and stared at his face. Magkasalubong pa rin ang kilay niya at naka-isang linya ang labi na para bang nagpipigil ng galit. "What are you staring at?" Malamig niyang tanong.

"Jiyong..."

"What?"

"Jiyong-ah..."

I saw him bite his lower lip and I know his resolve is already weakening. Lihim akong napangiti pero hindi ko pinahalata. "Jiyongie..."

"What, miss?" Tamad na sagot niya muli. We're just driving around with no destination at all but I feel good, just for the sole fact that he's the one beside me. My Kwon Jiyong.

His elbow was propped against the car's window, driving lazily. Ipinatong ko ang kamay ko sa braso niya. "You know that's nothing, Ji."

Ngumuso siya bago nag-park sa tapat ng isang maliit na building. Lumabas siya ng kotse at susunod na sana ako nang marinig ko ang sigaw niya mula sa labas. "Wait for me!" Pahayag niya nang umikot siya papunta sa passenger side. He opened the door for me and he was still pouting when I got out. "I'm jealous but I still want to act like a proper boyfriend."

Para akong naestatwa sa narinig ko. "B–boy... friend?" I parroted and he frowned.

"Of course! Ano bang tingin mo sa ginagawa natin, laro lang?!" Iritadong piksi niya.

He slammed the passenger door shut behind me and began walking inside the building but I was still rooted to the ground. Boyfriend. Kwon Jiyong. Of course. Kwon Jiyong is my boyfriend. I bit my lip. This isn't the first time but why does it feel so euphoric for me to hear him say it with his own mouth?

"This missus, really," he mumbled to himself before going back to where I was. He took my hand and firmly intertwined it with his fingers. "You go wherever I go, and vice versa." He seriously told me before dragging me inside the building.

Nagulat pa ako nang ma-realize ko na isang recording studio pala ang nasa loob. "Kanino 'to?" Tanong ko habang curious na nililibot ng paningin ko ang lugar. It's average in size, pero kumpleto ang mga equipments.

Jiyong was already seated in the sofa and he patted the space next to him. "This place is mine."

My eyes widened. "Really?!" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko nang umupo ako sa tabi niya. "I didn't know you're musically inclined!"

He only shrugged. "Not a lot of people know. And besides, this is mostly my hobby."

"So you write songs?"

"Yeah, sometimes." He turned to me with a smile. "You want to hear it?"

"Of course!" Excited kong palakpak.

Humalakhak siya atsaka tumayo. He opened a CD case and inserted it into the player. Soon enough, his voice filled the whole room.

"Let's not fall in love, we don't know each other very well yet
Actually, I'm a little scared, I'm sorry
Let's not make promises, you never know when tomorrow comes
But I really mean it when I say I like you..."

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit pakiramdam ko ay nagkaroon ng bikig sa lalamunan ko nang marinig ko ang kantang isinulat niya. It was as if this song is his message to me... a warning.

"Don't ask me anything
I can't give you an answer
We're so happy as we are right now..."

Jiyong laid his head on my lap and took my hand before closing his eyes as we both savor the music. He was drawing shapes in my palm and I feel contented. Because he's with me. He's the only person in the world who can make me feel this way.

"Don't try to have me
Let's just stay like this
You're making it more painful, why?"

"Let's just be happy..." Narinig kong mahina niyang bulong habang nakapikit pa rin.

Napalunok ako. He's right. We should just be happy and enjoy what we have right now. No promises. "Alright." Sagot ko naman. I began running my fingers through his hair and he let out a whimper before turning his head and embracing me sideways.

"Let's stay like this for a long while, hmm?" He murmured.