Healing [MEANIE]

Eighty-two

Wonu's

Pauwi na kami. I'm in charge of driving. Nasa likod si Dokyeom, nalasing kasi eh. He is asleep. Minkyu is sittting right next to me. Hindi pa siya tulog. Kapag ako ang nagddrive, mabagal ang takbo ng kotse. What I'm saying is dodoble ang makokonsumo kong oras sa pagddrive compare to Dokyeom pauwi ng bahay.

Since tulog naman si Dokyeom, tinanong ko na ng tinanong si Minkyu. "Kyu," I called his name.

"Yes, appa?" He answered with such a cute voice, I love this kid.

"Didn't I say, do not talk to strangers?" Ganito lang ako mangsermon. Mabait ang tono, I don't want him to obey me because I'm scary, I want him to obey me because he respects me as his guardian. "So why did you talk to him? You said he has a name, what's his name?" I asked.

"His name is Gyu ahjussi. Mabait siya appa, don't worry. He is a friend." He smiled, kita ko sa peripheral vision ko. Wala naman pala talaga akong dapat ipag-alala. But his name is Gyu? Woah. Wtf. Nanginig ako bigla, parang nanlamig rin ang batok ko. "And guess what appa, I think he knows your song. Kaklase mo siguro siya but you didn't mention any blind classmate tuwing nagkkwento ka sakin..." he pouted.

Natahimik ako.

"...kinanta mo sa kanya yung kanta natin?"I asked him.

"Yep...may problema po ba, appa?" He removed his seatbelt and reached for my neck. Chineck niya ang temperature ko. "Wala ka naman pong lagnat...let's rest when we get home, okay?" He hugged me.

What a sweet child. But he is being extra sweet today, a while ago he seems a bit down. Nevermind."Okay. Now get back to your seat and put on your seatbelt."

----

Third Person's

Fortunately, nakarating sila sa bahay ng buo. They struggled taking DK in the bedroom and he stinks. Binihisan muna siya ni Wonu bago pahigain sa kama nila.

Minkyu went straight to his room. Paniguradong mag-aaral na naman iyon, Wonu thought.

Napa-isip si Wonu sa sinabi ni Vernon kanina. Ngayon, inaatake na siya ng curiosity. He stared at the gift covered with a blue shiny gift wrap for an hour, thinking. To open or not to open...hmmm.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya. Fine. He unwrapped the box carefully. He just noticed, it's scented. But you'll barely notice it, the scent faded. Siguro dahil apat na taon na rin iyon nakastock sa kabinet ni Wonu.

Pagbukas niya, tumambad sa kanya ang isang box. And an envelope.

Binuksan niya yung box and to his surprise it was a book series. There was a note.

Hindi mo pa ata nababasa ito, hindi ko nakita sa shelf mo eh. Anyways, I dare you to finish this in a month :P sisiw lang naman sayo diba? Happy Birthday, Emo boi.

P.S. I'm sorry. Don't be sad.

He smiled as he read the note. "Sisiw talaga, tatlo lang 'to eh." He muttered as he looked at the books. Nahihirapan siyang huminga. Nafefeel niya na may mangyayari talaga kapag binasa niya pa ang letter.

"You should open it," naalala niyang sinabi ni Vernon and he remembered himself thinking something like 'I promise, I'll try to be brave enough to open it tonight.'. So kahit na mahirap para sa kanya dahil nagdodoubt siya, he opened it.

For July 17 20xx,

Happy Birthday and Congratulations. Alam na alam kong hindi mo ito bubuksan after....siguro weeks or months, im sure aabot ng years. When you're afraid, you behave like that base on my observations. Pero malay ko ba, baka basahin mo kaagad hehehe. Sana basahin mo kaagad-

"Appa?" The door creaked open. It was Minkyu. Tinago niya ang letter sa likuran niya, but Kyu saw it. "Pasok ka, Kyu. What is it? You want me to make you some warm milk before you sleep?" He asked the kid as he lift him up to his lap and nuzzle on his back.

"I...I have something to tell you Appa," naiipon na ang luha sa gilid ng mata ng bata at nakikita iyon ni Wonu. He pretended not to see it though, he knows how Kyu doesn't let anybody see him cry. "I'm sorry. I lied."

Wonu was confused. "Lie? What lie?" He tried to sound as gentle as possible kahit na nasurpresa talaga siya and he felt betrayed.

"Sabi ko po naglalaro ako kaya ang dungis ko palagi at minsan marami pang sugat. The truth is...I'm bullied." Wonu was in shock. How come I didn't notice? Pinaharap niya si Minkyu sa kanya, who is currently crying. "Who?What did theu do?" Tanong ni Wonu habang pinupunasan ang mga pisngi ng bata. Maging siya naiiyak na.

"S-Si Junghyeon po. They call me names. They toss me, kick me...minsan inuutusan nila ako and I have no choice but to follow, kasi sabi nila gugulpihin nila ako kapag hindi ako sumunod...B-But don't worry! I'm okay. It's okay." Minkyu smiled. Nasaktan si Wonu sa narinig at nakita. Just how could he smile like that when he is in pain? He was suddenly reminded of himself back then. Nung umiiyak siya palagi because of him but when he and Gyu meet, he manages to smile so that Mingyu could not see through his pain. He though baka ganun din ang nararamdaman ng anak niya para sa kanya. He embraced the kid tightly in between his arms. "No you're not. Hindi ka okay. I'm sorry, Kyu. I didn't know..." naluluha na siya para sa bata. Matagal na itong nangyayari, simula palang kasi ng school lagi na siyang umuuwi ng madungis, nabubully na pala siya the whole time. Wonu feels irritated of himself.

"Look at me," he asked the kid, Minkyu obeyed. "We're telling the teachers okay? From now on, babantayan na kita palagi. Don't leave school. Susunduin ka lagi namin ni MinMin Appa mo, okay?" He comforted the kid, he stopped whimpering Ugh, he's really still a kid despite how he acts and thinks. "Appa will protect you." Minkyu nodded and hugged Wonu.

Just how much courage did it take for him to say this? Tatlong buwan siyang nagendure...what kind of guardian am I...sinasabunutan na niya ang sarili sa isup niya. He kept swearing to himself inside his head.

"Appa, agahan mo ah...Promise me you'll always be there," he offered a pinky to Wonu. Wonu chuckled, "...promise." he kissed the kid's temple.

"Next time, sasabihin mo agad okay? Hindi naman namin malalaman na may problema ka kapag lagi mong tinatago," Wonu said. Tumango si Minkyu at bumalik na naman ang ngiti.

"Well, it's because of that Ahjussi...actually I plan on keeping it to myself. Pero sabi niya sabihin ko daw sa inyo para gumaan ang loob ko, and it really did!" Proud na proud na sabi niya. Now, Wonu's even more troubled.

Who the fuck is that Gyu, damn it.

"Appa? Appa?" Natulala na pala siya. "You're stunned again." Kyu pouted. He held his father's or should I say mother's hand. " Sorry Appa, may binabasa ka kanina diba? After that, you should rest." His son kissed him on the cheek. "Night nightt, appa." And then the kid went out of their room. He stared at the wall again and then his gaze went to the letter.

"..."

Should I continue ...?

-----

This should be one of the Specials but nah, I've changed my mind. AGAIN. Healing will be a bit longer, sabi ko dati epilogue na dapat ang kasunod pero ang sakit kasi nung epilogue kaya iniba ko hahaha tama, angst nga ito pero masyadong angst na ata kulang nalang patayin ko yung characters LOL (i dont plan on doing that tho) I shall work harder for a better ending. Ciao mates~

Anyways, eto yung topics nung iba sa special chaps

- Mingyu's Eyes

- Kim's Life in America

- Dokyeom's Point of View

- Soonyoung The Great Pretender (not sure)

- What If They Didn't Part