Beautiful Time [SHORT STORY]

Part 2: Noona

The meeting ended well and the company has arranged a buffet lunch for everyone. We were briefed with what we have to do. Hindi ko siya kilala actually and he didn't know me either so our company just briefed us about each other na rin. Akala ko he's from NCT Dance Crew or something like that. Turns out, Korean idol group pala yun. Wow. And he trained for years and pareho kaming 18. Wow uli.

I was like the company's baby so I was kind of spoiled. My management seriously loves me and they all treat me as their own little sister. Dahil sa contract namin, we all agreed to not put too much pressure on me and my career so I have deadlines for endorsements and content posting but most days, I am free to do as long as I let my company know.

Gutom na gutom na ako kaya hinila ko na si Sam papunta sa dining hall. Sam is older that me by 4 years. She is the best manager ever and I treat her as an ate.

Nakita ko naman si Jisung na nakayuko lang habang naglalakad. Problema nito? Baka nahihiya pa or what. Nahihiya rin naman ako pero we have to be comfortable with each other para maging okay yung chemistry namin on-cam.

"Uy, Jisung!" Tawag ko sa kaniya. "Let's eat?"

Nagulat naman siya at napatingin na lang sa manager and translator nila. Sabi niya nakakaintindi naman daw siya ng English eh. I heard his translator talking to him so ginaya ko na lang.

"Bap mokcha?" Halata namang nagulat siya pero natawa na lang sila ng manager niya. Medyo naglighten na rin yung mood at sabay sabay kaming kumain ng lunch.

Nakipagkwentuhan lang ako sa mga staff pati na rin sa staff nila Jisung. Lagi nga akong napapagalitan dito kasi ako yung pinakamadaldal eh.

"Recommended sila ng Adidas kasi sila endorser ng Adidas sa Korea so good publicity yun di lang sayo pati na rin kay Jisung. Saka siya kaya isa sa best dancers ng NCT." Explain sakin ni Ate Rina. Siya pala Korean-Filipino translator nila.

"How many are you in the group?" Triny kong chikahin si Jisung.

"Uhh. 21"

"WHAT?" Napalakas kong tanong with matching tayo pa. Ang dramatic teh! 21? Ang dami naman. Natawa naman sila sa reaksyon ko, pati na rin si Jisung.

"Aniyo. Uhh NCT Dream, 7. NCT U uhh NCT 127 10 and WayV" he tried to explain pero di ko pa rin gets.

"There's this NCT System in their company where NCT has unlimited member and different subunits." Explain naman ni Ate Rina na medyo nagets ko naman.

"I see. Ang complicated pala." Di ko pa rin talaga gets pero hayaan mo na.

"Are you not busy? I though Kpop groups are busy with the tour and all. I watched some Kdramas and their schedules are like super hectic." Sumagot naman si Jisung pero medyo Korean kaya hinintay ko na lang na itranslate ni Ate Rina.

"They're already done with the tours and promotions just 2 days ago."

"Really? Are you not tired?" Grabe tours and performances and filming. Sobrang nakakapagod nun.

I was chatting the whole time kaya hindi ko napansin na ako na lang pala hindi nakakatapos kumain. May meeting daw ang management ng both sides kaya bumalik sila ng meeting hall.

"No, you can continue eating, Zen. You two are not needed in the meeting. It's mostly management and papers concerns." Our project manager said.

"Jisung, you can accompany her for a bit while we discuss things inside." Ate Rina told him naman.

Wow, ang awkward. Nakayuko lang siya sa harap ko while looking everywhere but me. I silently ate in my place while he was still there awkward and silent din. Hindi ako sanay na tahimik so chinika ko na lang siya habang kumakain.

"So you have different subunits."

"Yes." He smiled a bit. Buti naman medyo nagwawarm up na siya.

"What subunit are you in?" I asked curiously.

"NCT Dream" Ang tipid naman sumagot nito pero understood naman kasi may language barrier saka kakakilala lang namin.

"Are you the oldest in your group?" I asked. Parang pangbaby kasi yung group name eh. Baka sila yung kumakanta ng nursery rhymes ganun. Mukhang magkakatotoo na na playground content gagawin namin ah.

"Aniyo. No. Maknae. Youngest." He answered. May Korean, may English.

"Aniyo?" I asked. Anong aniyo?

"No."

"Why not?"

"No!" Sagot niya with matching form pa ng X gamit braso.

"Huh?"

"Aniyo means no." He said. Natawa naman ako sa sarili ko.

"Ay, sorry." Natawa rin siya. Grabe pahirapan din to.

"Maknae means youngest."

"Ahhh" Sabi ko habang patango-tango.

"If you are the youngest and you're 18 right? Like me. Then who is the oldest?"

Attentive naman siya habang nagsasalita ako pero di ko sure kung nagkakaintindihan ba talaga kami. The whole time, puro ako lang ang nagtatanong so I got to know him more. Minsan, binabalik niya rin yung tanong kaya yun hindi naman boring masyado.

May Korean lessons din once in a while and I learned lots of expressions and basic words.

The meeting ended after 2 hours or so. May schedule pa ako with a skincare brand after kaya we decided to part ways na rin with Ate Rina and Jisung and his manager.

Papunta na raw sa dorms nila sila Jisung while si Ate Rina may bahay na sarili. Before getting on the van, I tried to apply what I learned sa Korean lessons ko with Jisung so nagbye ako sa kanila.

"Rina eonnie! Babye" Gulat siya eh.

"Jisung noona! Managernim! Babye" I said. Mas gulat sila this time sabay tawa. Tama naman sinabi ko diba. Pagod pa sila mula sa byahe kaya pumunta na agad ako sa sasakyan at nagwave sa kanila habang natawa pa.

"This would be a fun collab."