COME BACK TO ME, SLAVEN | #Wattys2019

Chapter 3 - I don't need him to know I exists.

"So si alien boy pala ay kalahi ng alien crush mo rin na si Slix? Or was it Sleight?" Ang tanong na 'yon ng kaibigan ang nagpabalik sa kanya sa Earth.

"Je, his name is Slaven. And he's Korean, hindi siya taga planet Mars. Taga Earth pa rin siya." Pagtatanggol niya sa idolo.

"Okay. Ang tanong geng, naiintindihan mo ba siya? And does he even know you exists?"

"I don't need him to know I exists." Kibit-balikat niyang tugon. "It's better this way. I admire him and he doesn't know, and won't mind at all. That way I'm not vulnerable of getting hurt. And, I may not be understanding the exact meaning of his song, but. . ." Natigilan siya at inalala ang unang beses na mapakinggan niya ang kanta ni Slaven. " But when he sings, I know how he feels. It's like he's opening up his heart to me. And. .I just understand." She sighed.

"Hmmm.. . O siya, ipagpatuloy mo lang 'yang pagde-day dreaming mo dyan sa alien crush mo. Ako'y aalis na at may date pa kami ni Bo." Anito'ng ang tinutukoy ay ang boyfriend na ang bantot ng pangalan, Tiburcio o Bo for short. "Hinay-hinay ka lang at baka mabagok ka sa kaka-Hangul mo, maging alien ka na rin. Mahirap na, itatakwil talaga kita."

Nakangiti'ng kumaway ito palayo. Napapangiti na lang din siya at binuksan ang mp3 player.

****Author's Note: Please play the video of the song 'Come back to me part 2' located in the multimedia section while reading this part. :) That video is the very inspiration I have in writing this story. :) Thank you!*****

Ilang linggo na rin niyang pinapakinggan ang kanta. Sa tinagal-tagal, na halos magdugo na ang tenga niya sa kaka-repeat nu'n sa kanyang mp3 player, ay memorize na nya ito by heart. She's surprised of the impact that the song have on her. She haven't quite decided yet if it's the video of the song that got to her. Or its' the melody or the singer himself with so much soul when singing.

Well the singer himself, Slaven. He haven't invaded the Philippine crowd. She would've known him before if that's the case. Dati na kasi siyang Kpop addict. Kaya nga niya natagpuan ang kanta nito by chance. Naghahanap kasi siya ng alien songs na pwedeng madagdag sa 'Alien playlist' niya. Mga kanta'ng hindi naman niya maintindihan but she listens to them anyway. Partly, for the nice melody, and the solitude she feels while listening to them.

Slaven is not popular to the so called 'Kpop fanatics world' in the Philippines. Nawawala rin ito sa Korean Entertainment World ayon sa mga nabasa niyang article sa internet ng minsan'g ma-curious siya. But she doesn't care. Afterall, she's captivated by the song 'Come back to me' and not because of the handsome singer himself.

She was captivated to the song alright. For months now, she's been listening to the song over and over. Familiarizing every word, every line, and understanding each phrase. Ni hindi na nga niya pinagkaabalahang e-research ang translation ng kanta. She just know its English title and understood that it's about all the 'effort' the guy paid to win back the girl he loves. Sometimes, she wonders if it's wishful thinking on her end.

Napaka-sweet kasi ng effort ng guy just to win back his girl. Sketching a portrait of him and her together, baking her favorite cake, pursuing the girl wherever she is, and doing stuffs you wouldn't think a guy would be humble enough to do for the girl he loves. Is it wishful thinking, for her to be treated that way? Perhaps. . .