Natsukashii • meanie

032 || Natsukashii

4:58 AM

Choi Seungcheol
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Seungcheol: Malapit na kami, as in malapit na kami. Siguro mga dalawang minuto nandiyan na kami.

Seungcheol: Nasundo na namin lahat, kayo nalang ni Miho.

Mingyu: HYUUUUUNG KINAKABAHAN AKO

Mingyu: Shet ano sasabihin ko?

Seungcheol: Chill ka lang, Gyuling. 'Di ka naman papatayin ni Wonwoo.

Seungcheol: Relax ka lang, ipakilala mo si Miho.

Seungcheol: Labas na kayo ng bahay. Malapit na talaga kami.

Mingyu: Nasa labas na kami ng bahay. Buhat ko si Miho, tulog pa eh. Hindi ko na ginising.

Seungcheol: Nakaupo si Wonwoo sa backseat na nasa pinakaharap. Nag-iwan sila ng space dun para sa inyo.

Seungcheol: We're here~

•••

Noong makita ni Mingyu ang van nila Seungcheol, agad siyang tumayo. Sinigurado niyang buhat niya ng maayos si Miho sa isang kamay. Kinuha niya ang duffel bag na nasa tabi ng paanan niya.

Maglalakad na sana siya papunta sa van pero nakita niyang lumabas ng van si Seungcheol, kinuha niya ang duffel bag sa kamay ni Mingyu.

"Pasok ka na sa loob, ako na bahala sa gamit mo." Seungcheol reassured.

"Salamat hyung." He tapped Mingyu's shoulder twice before Mingyu decided to walk towards the white van.

Mingyu can't help but feel anxious with the way his heart is racing faster and faster with every step he makes.

Ano kaya magiging reaksyon ni hyung? He'll get confused, I'm sure.

Noong nasa tapat na siya ng van, someone opened the door, it was Seungkwan. Nginitian niya si Seungkwan na nakaupo sa pinakaharap sa backseat. Lumipat si Seungkwan ng upuan sa second row.

The moment Mingyu lifted his head, his eyes made contact with Wonwoo's tired orbs. Tumibok ng mas sobrang lakas ang puso ni Mingyu. Iniwas niya ang tingin sa kanya, he saw that the other former student council officers are sleeping on their designated seat, while some of them are wide awake. Binigyan nila si Mingyu ng ngiti, warmly welcoming him inside.

"Good morning, pasok na Mingyu." Rinig niyang sabi ni Haseul na nakaupo sa second row.

Tumango naman si Mingyu, "Good morning rin."

Despite his anxiety, despite himself thinking about the possibility of him tripping over, pumasok siya ng van habang mahigpit na hawak si Miho sa bisig niya. Using his left hand, he protected Miho's head to prevent it from bumping.

Noong umupo siya sa tabi ni Wonwoo, inayos niya ang posisyon ni Miho. He let her sit on his lap, the back of Miho is leaning on Mingyu's body. Ipinulupot niya ang isang braso niya sa bewang nito upang masiguradong hindi siya mahuhulog.

Narinig niyang sinarado na ulit ni Seungkwan ang pinto ng sasakyan. Habang si Seungcheol naman nakaupo na sa front seat.

"Sa resort na po, kuya." Sambit ni Seungcheol sa driver.

The moment that the car started to move, Mingyu saw in his peripheral vision that Wonwoo pulled out a blue throw pillow from his bag. He put the pillow on top of his lap. Pagkatapos ay nagulat siya noong tinapik ni Wonwoo ang balikat niya, "Lay her head here, Mingyu. Sasakit leeg niya sa posisyon niya."

Mingyu blinked thrice, Wonwoo’s words is slowly sinking in his head. Bakit. . . Bakit ganito? Hindi ba dapat tinatanong niya kung bakit may dala akong bata at kung ka-ano ano ko siya? Dapat ba ako kabahan? Dapat ba ako matuwa. . . ? Hindi kaya. . . Alam na niya?

Despite Mingyu's unanswered questions, ginawa niya ang sinabi ni Wonwoo. He slowly laid Miho's head on the pillow. Pagkatapos ay ipinatong niya ang binti ni Miho sa kandungan niya. Nagulat nanaman si Mingyu noong kinumutan ni Wonwoo si Miho gamit ang jacket niya.

Now, Mingyu started to be bothered. . . And confused. Mingyu’s expectation started to contradict with Wonwoo’s sudden action. Anong nangyayari, bakit ganito? Bakit ganito. Bakit ganito.

Mingyu bit his lip. His anxiety started to shake his whole composure. Tears started to well up in his eyes when he saw Wonwoo continously stroking Miho's hair with such love and sincerity on his eyes. Wonwoo is even smiling while looking at Miho.

Mingyu didn’t expect this, really.

Mingyu cleared his throat, "H-Hyung—”

“Ssshhh.” Wonwoo softly muttered, before looking up at Mingyu while faintly smiling at him, bumulong ito sa kanya, “Kamukhang-kamukha mo, Mingyu.” He said with such adoration. Naramdaman niyang hinawakan ni Wonwoo ang isa niyang kamay.

Mingyu tightly intertwined his fingers with Wonwoo’s. He did it to talk with him using body language, asking him why he’s acting like this.

Wonwoo reassurely squeezed Mingyu’s hand as a response, his thumb slowly stroking a small part of Mingyu’s skin, “I just know that Miho is your daughter. Nothing less, nothing more. Although you owe me an explanation later, Mingyu.”

Mingyu’s lip started to shake, hindi niya alam ang mararamdaman niya sa sinabi ni Wonwoo. Tears started to fall on his cheeks. Lahat ng kaba, lahat ng pag-aalala, lahat ng luhang pinipigilan niya mula kaninang madaling araw, bigla nalang lumabas ng tuluyan.

Wonwoo worriedly looked at him. He gently wiped the tears away on Mingyu's cheek.

He smiled at Mingyu to assure him that everything will be okay, “Sshh, relax ka lang. I’ll understand your reasons, okay, Mingyu? Tahan na."

Mingyu nodded in response. He wiped his tears and sucked in a deep breath.

“A-Akala ko kasi. . . H-Hindi ko lang inaasahan na ganito ang magiging r-reaksyon mo sa oras na iharap ko sayo si Miho.” Mingyu whispered.

Naramdaman niyang inakbayan siya ni Wonwoo, and then he slowly let Mingyu’s head fall on his shoulders, “I understand. Just save your explanations later. We'll do this step by step, alam ko kung gaano kahirap magkwento at magpaliwanag."

"T-Thank you, hyung. Salamat sa unawa.”

•••