Dara knew she won’t have a peaceful day to pass. Paniguradong bawat araw ay mayroong problema, laging may gulo. Christmas started merry but ended chaotic. Maybe if it wasn’t for the guy who’s besides her, playing his mobile games, she had already run from everything again.
But she cannot. Because Kiyong’s there to making everything better for her.
Naka-upo sila sa sofa pero aakalain mong hindi magka-kilala dahil ang kasama ay masyadong abala sa nilalaro. Kiyong’s having his game face on and this is the moment Dara loves teasing him the most. She wanted to relieve all her frustrations and fright on her boyfriend but she didn’t. Dara thought that she only have Kiyong now, she can’t lose him.
She watched him play until the latter seems to win on his game. Kasabay ng pagngiti ni Kiyong ay ang ngiti din ni Dara. Kiyong did his weird celebration gesture which made Dara even smile wider. Everything he does is weird and awkward, but why am I in love with it? She thought with a silly smile.
“Why?” Kiyong asked, his phone already off.
Umiling si Dara. “Nothing,”
Kiyong spread his arms and pulled Dara for a back hug. At first, you’d think that Kiyong’s sweetly back hugging Dara but he’s really doing a choke move on her, like on WWE. Madiin s’yang kinurot ni Dara sa braso at tumawa ‘to.
“Dapat subukan mong kumawala,”
“Eh kung sinisipa kaya kita palabas ng unit ko?”
Kiyong’s arm loosened. “Love,” he called.
Dara immediately cringed. “Stop it!” she protested but Kiyong’s enjoying himself.
“What? I really prefer calling you love,” Kiyong hugged her tighter.
“Para kasing pang-matanda,” Dara argued.
“Baby?”
Dara stiffened before shaking her head. “Ayoko din n’yan.” She bluntly said.
“Why? I like it, baby… baby Dara!” humagalpak sa tawa si Kiyong at kinurot s’yang muli ni Dara.
“I love calling you Monkey,”
“Alright,” hinalikan ni Kiyong ang tuktok ng ulo ni Dara. “Call me whatever you want.”
Kiyong had to leave due to a prior meeting. Si Dara naman ay nakatakdang umalis patungong Hongkong dahil sa MAMA ngunit hindi n’ya alam kung tuloy ba ito. Mas lalong naging magulo noong dumating si Minzy at ibunyag ang nangyari. She haven’t heard anything yet but she’s already bracing herself for it.
“Do you really need to leave?” malungkot na saad ni Dara. She might leave tomorrow and she won’t be able to meet him for a while.
“I have to,” sabi ni Kiyong habang sinusuot ang coat at sombrero. “It’s about… the drama.”
Ngumuso si Dara at tumango bago ito ihatid sa pintuan. “Bye…”
Kiyong smiled before spreading his arms and Dara hugged him. “I’ll meet you soon, okay? Tingnan mo na lang muna mga selca ko…”
Kinurot s’ya ni Dara at naka-tawang ngumiwi ito.
“I’ll always call you,” he assured her. Kiyong hates to leave her on a time like this. He knows Dara needs him the most right now, but it was his father who’s summoning him. “I love you.” He kissed Dara on the lips before leaving.
Dara can already feel how empty it was. But just an hour after Kiyong left, she received a call that made her rush to the YG building. She knew it… there’s a calm before the storm. No wonder it was too quiet, because the calamity’s just about to start.
