She Is...

DON'T GO (KMS)

"Would you like to talk with me over a cup of coffee?" she was stunned seeing him.

How the hell did he knew that she was staying here?

"Y-yes" she blinked more than thrice just to know if she wasn't hallucinating.
"Snow, you're not seeing things" he laughed loud.

He somewhat changed. His physical appearance.
Naka-suot s'ya ng black, pure black at ang buhok into ay semi-bald, wala na ang buhok na s'yang kinaiinggitan niya.

"Come on, don't just stare at me" he smiled.

Nakaka-inis dahil nagagawa pa nitong ngumiti, samantalang s'ya mangiyak-ngiyak.
Umupo sila sa nga upuan sa coffee shop. Ang kinuha nila ay tabi ng salamin na pader, sa bandang tagong bahagi.
Tahimik sila na para bang tinatantya s'ya ng lalaki.

"What do you want?" saad ng binata. Umiwas s'ya ng tingin.

Maganda ang tanawin kung tutuusin pero hindi niya ma-appreciate ito ngayon.

"Snow..." she was called by her name. "Cappuccino and Black Forest" she silently said.
"Okay, wait here" tumayo ito at pumunta sa counter. Habang umo-order ang huli, nakatingin lang ito na binabantayan siya. Wala ng bago doon, sanay na siya, bantay sarado naman talaga siya mula pa noon.

Wala pang limang minuto ay nasa harap na niya ang lalaki at kasalukuyang inilalapag ang order nila.

"Hyung" tumingin siya rito ng marinig ang malutong na halakhak nito. Mabuti na lamang dahil walang tao sa shop pag ganitong oras.
"My...my, bata ka pa lang alam mong dapat ay oppa ang itawag sa'min but you're really consistent" ang tawa ng binata ay hindi humuhupa.
Sumimangot pa siya lalo, pero unti-unti ding lumawak ang kaniyang ngiti nang ma-realize na...
"Yaaaaa!! You've spoken the language I've been using since then" mangha niyang saad.
Who wouldn't?
"Of course. We, all, wanted to learn your language. There are some instances that you say phrases in other language which is, by the way, we don't know " he gazed her with full of meaning.

She blushed when she remembered what her 'hyung' said.

"Hey!" she drink her coffee to ease the embarrassment she is currently feeling.

Silence filled them once more. It wasn't awkward, she knew better than that.

"Hyung..." her voice cracked. Pinangilidan siya ng kaniyang luha. Ayaw man niya umiyak pero mukhang hindi niya magagawa 'yun.
"I'll miss you, dongsaeng" "is it mandatory?" bulong niya.
"Yes" sinabayan ito ng isang banayad at tipid na tango.

Lumipat ito sa kaniyang tabi at niyakap siya ng mahigpit na tila ayaw pakawalan. Nakatago siya sa dibdib ng binata. Ramdam niya ang maingat na paghagod sa kaniyang buhok. Buhok na ayaw ipagupit ng mga taong daig pa ata ang mga magulang niya.

"Listen," mahinang sabi nito "...take care of your hyungs" medyo may humor na sabi ang 'your hyungs'.

"You know how naughty they are. And makulit sila, daig pa ang mga bata" humlakhak muli ito.
"So, please, guide them while I'm away"

"Yes, hyung"

"Pag may sakit sila convince them to take their medicine.
Tell them not to abuse their health. Be happy, well, it's not like I would leave them" he lightly laugh tila pinapagaan ang ma-drama-ng tagpo.

"O-of course. You forgot that I studied PhD to help you taking care of them when they cannot because of being busy with their career" habang nag-aaral s'ya laging naka-tatak sa utak niya na 'doing her best means not to build disappointment to her 'oh-so-called hyungs'.'
"Oh, yes. I believe we are all there to support you" may kinang ang mata nito at may tono ito na tila inaalala ang panahong iyun.

They seem to be so proud of her. Wala siyang nakitang disappointment pag may mali siyang nagagawa, instead they chose to cheer her up.

"It is really in the law?" muli niyang tanong. Nagbabakasali na hindi na nito kailangan gawin ang ikinada-drama niya.
"Yes" "I have one last request" humugot ng malalim ng hininga ang binata bago sinabing...
"Pag pumunta ako doon, ayokong sumama ka"
"What? Why?"
"Gusto mo bang mahirapan ang hyung?" umiling agad siya.
"Let the members do it, okay?"

"Don't go to camp..."
"If complying there means protecting the country and keeping you safe, then I will. We will all do it over and over"
"...Xiumin hyung"