Soju Trilogy 1: Tipsy in Jeju (Published under Precious Hearts Romances)

Chapter 52

Namilog ang mga mata nito. Di marahil inaasahan ang alok niya. "Y-You are too kind. Why do you want me as your friend? I hurt you."

"Nobody is perfect. We love, we get hurt and we do things on impulse because of so much emotion. I am not perfect either. I don't think you are bad person. Sangjang-nim likes you. You took care of Gideon and love him. I am grateful for that. How could I hate a person who loves him?"

Lumunok ito at di agad nakapagsalita. "You are so nice. If you think I am deserving of your trust, then we can be friends. I will work hard for it."

"Fighting!" sabi naman niya at itinaas ang nakakuyom na palad. "I finished dicing the apple and the ginger. How do I create the radish kimchi base?"

Matiyaga naman ang babae sa pagtuturo sa kanya. Napapangiwi na lang si Yana sa dami ng chilli flakes na inilagay sa base. Parang naiiyak siya habang ini-imagine kung gaano kaanghang iyon. Pero naisip niya na paborito iyon ni Gideon.

Simple lang ihanda ang radish kimchi pero maraming ingredients. Mas simple namang iluto ang dried anchovy side dish. Di iyon nalalayo sa minatamisang dilis sa Pilipinas pero kakaiba ang lasa dahil na rin sa mantika na ginamit gaya ng olive oil at sesame oil na sekreto ng kakaibang lasa nito.

Nagbubusa na siya ng dilis nang biglang tumawag si Gideon. Sinagot niya iyon habang hawak sa isang kamay ang siyanse. "Hello! Nasa bar ka na?"

"Nee. Ipinagluto mo daw ako. Gusto kong matikman."

"Pero side dish lang naman ito."

"Pero paborito ko. And besides, I miss you."

"You miss me?" Tumawa siya dahil parang may kiliti na hatid sa puso niya ang sinabi nito. Nakalimutan niyang I-compermantalize ang emosyon niya - ang realidad at ang pagpapanggap. "Kasasabi mo lang iyan kanina..."

"Tell me you miss me, too."

She twisted her lips. "I miss you nang very-very light."

Nagulat siya nang magkalantugan ang mga mangkok sa lababo. Lumingon siya kay Sang Hee. Parang nauupos itong kandila habang dahan-dahang dumadausdos paupo sa harap ng lababo."Gideon, I have to go. 'Yung niluluto ko..."

Pinatay niya ang kalan at dali-daling dinaluhan ang babae. Yumuyugyog ang baikat ni Sang Hee habang umiiyak. Umuklo si Yana sa harap nito. "Mianhamnida, Sang Hee-ssi. I...I didn't mean to hurt you or make you jealous."

"No. I just don't understand what's wrong with me. Why can't Jin Woo-na love me back when I'm just beside him all this time? I tried to be perfect for him..."

"There is nothing wrong with you. Gideon is just not the one for you. Don't let him make you feel like you are not enough."

There was a helpless look in her eyes when he looked at her. "If he doesn't like me, do you think someone will still love me? I am afraid I will end up alone and I am not lovable at all."

Kumuha siya ng tissue at pinunasan ang mukha nito. Hey! You are a great woman. You have so much love to give. I am sure you will find a man who will appreciate you. Even if he is not Gideon."

"But Gideon is the most handsome and the greatest man I have ever met. I don't think I can find another man like him."

"He is not the greatest. He is a womanizer and an asshole sometimes..." Natutop niya ang bibig. Hindi iyon ang dapat na sinasabi ng isang babaeng in love sa boyfriend nito.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ng babae. "I didn't know that you see Jin Woo that way."

"No, Gideon is not perfect. So am I. I have my flaws. B-But he still sees the good in me and appreciates me. So I also appreciate him in his own way. I don't see him like a perfect prince charming. He is just a man."

"A man who loves you. You are one lucky girl," she whispered in a dreamy voice

Pinisil niya ang balikat ng babae. "Nah! You are lucky, too. You don't have to wait for a man who doesn't love you back. Your greatest love is not someone who is the most handsome guy in the world. Your greatest love should be someone who treats you right. Who treats you like you are the most beautiful woman in the world despite your flaws. Who will take care of you. He may not be a demin god like Lee Jin Woo but he will love you for real. And sometimes, you will find your true love with someone unexpected."

"Did you expect that you will fall in love with him?"

Tumirik ang mga mata niya. "No! He used to be my boss and I think he didn't like me back then. Maybe because I don't treat him like a demi god. I had a boyfriend before. But when I got my heart broken, he was the one who took care of me. I didn't expect that he knows how to care, that he has a heart. Love is unexpected. Like an earthquake. You don't know who will rock your world."

"He must have liked you back then when you still had a boyfriend. I mean, how can anyone resist you? You are beautiful and you have a good heart. That's what ahjumma told me. You will fit well into their family."

"I hope so," usal niya at huminga ng malalim.

Muling nakadama ng kirot si Yana sa puso niya. Kapag natapos na ang pagpapanggap nila ni Gideon, sigurado siya na masasaktan si Mi Su. Mas sanay siyang iniiwan kaysa nang-iiwan. Sinasaktan kaysa nananakit.

"Will I find that love?" tanong ulit ni Sang Hee.

"Don't lose hope. Love is a wonderful surprise. Maybe it didn't work with Gideon because someone else is waiting for you. Maybe he is just around. You just don't notice him yet. Sometimes we don't see the star because the sun is too bright. But once the sun sets, you will see the beauty of the star." Pinisil niya ang balikat. "I have to finish cooking the dried anchovies. Gideon is coming over."

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito. "Wae?"

"He wants to try the dishes we made."

Natataranta itong tumayo at hinubad ang apron. "Aniyo! I have to go. He will get mad once he sees me."

"No. I will tell him that you taught me how to cook his favorite side dishes. I am sure he will be nicer to you. And besides, I already forgive you."

Bahagyang kumalma ang babae at tinulungan siya na tapusin ang niluluto.