Yours and Mine are Ours

Chapter X

Erin's POV

"Ms. Erin,do you know Park Lee Young?" Nagulat ako ng tanungin ako ng Head Principal ng Chimsan Academy ng araw na iyon. Pinatawag ako dahil doon.
"He will study TOEIC in our school. Since you have the highest score in TOEIC ,I'll assigned you to mentor him about this test. He will have class every Sunday since he doesn't have work on that day. Don't worry, I'll give you some books and modules." Wika nito.
Ang academy na iyon nagbibigay ng opportunity para sa mga Koreans na gustong pumasa ng TOEIC.
"Okay,ma'am. I accept it."
"You don't have to come here. You can go to the park or anywhere as long as you can help him study. Be sure you help him get the same score you have."
Napangiti ako. I got 900 TOEIC score last month. Mataas iyon.
"I will do my best."
Lumabas na ako sa office nito at bumalik na ako sa classroom ko. Umuwi na ang mga estudyante ko. Si Tae Young lang ang hindi pa since sabay kaming umuwi. Ginawa na nito ang assignment para pagkarating sa bahay ay hindi na ito mag-aaral. Maglalaro na lang ito.
"Tae Young-a,let's go."
"Okay."
Iniligpit na nito ang mga gamit at inilagay sa bag. Lumabas na kami at isinara ko na ang pintuan ng classroom ko. Paglabas namin ay nakita namin silang tatlo. Naglalaro sina Jin at Jae Young sa quadrangle. Nakasandal sa kotse ang nakatatandang kapatid nito.
"Hyung" tawag ni Tae Young. Lumingon ang mga ito sa amin. Sinalubong agad kami ng dalawang bata.
"How are my babies?"
Tanong ko. Niyakap nila ako.
Sumakay na silang tatlo. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto ng kotse niya.
"I have to go somewhere." sabi ko. Hinila niya ako at pinapasok sa kotse nito.
"Where are you going Teacher?"
Nilingon ko silang tatlo.
"I have to meet someone." Pumasok na rin ito.
"Who?" Binuhay na niya ang makina at pinatakbo ang sasakyan.
"My friend."
"Oh I thought I am your only friend here!" wika nito.
"I have now. Drop me in Chanel shop. Please. Thank you."
Tahimik na itong nagmamaneho.
"You enrolled in TOEIC class."
"Hmm,they required me to get TOEIC score since that hospital accepts foreign patients."
I nodded my head to agree what he said.
"I am assigned to mentor you."
Lumingon ito sa akin.
"Oh I thought American teacher was assigned to me. I was given the background of that teacher. She got 900 TOEIC score. Has TEFL certificate. Is that you?" Tanong nito.
"Why? You don't believe me.".
" Actually yeah. I thought you haven't done that. "
"We'll start next weekend. I'll determine which part you are weak then we'll focus on that."
Seryosong sabi ko sa kanya.
"Hyung,Teacher Erin is not the same when she is teaching."
"What do you mean?"tanong nito.
" She's different. That's for you to find out." wika ni Tae Young. Tumawa ako. Kilala na talaga ako ni Tae Young. All the bullies in our school got scared of me because I am terrible too.
"I can change another teacher right?" Tanong nito.
"Nope. You can't."
Dumating na ako sa Chanel Shop. Umibis na ako mula sa kotse nito.
"Bye. "
"Bye,noona."
Bago ako pumasok sa loob ay nilingon ko muna sila. Umalis na ang mga ito. Wala naman akong ime-meet kundi bumili lang ako ng damit. I just received my second pay.
Bumili din ako ng grocery at iba pang toiletries. Mahirap na kapag maubusan ako. At umuwi na ako.
Biglang may lumapit sa akin.
"Hi,do you remember me?" Tanong ng babae. Napatitig ako sa mukha niya.
"I'm not sure."
"I'm Liam's girlfriend."
Napatitig ulit ako sa mukha niya.
Pumunta kami malapit na coffee shop.
"I have to tell you directly my intention."
Nakikinig lang ako sa gusto niyang mangyari.
"I think you already know,Liam quit his work in the hospital. He quit because of you."
"And?"
"I want you to convince him that he needs to go back in there."
"Why?"
"He has bigger contribution in my hospital. We lost an asset when he left."
"I can't convince him. He decided to do that then let him do what he wants."
"No!"
"You want him to come back just to pester him. No let him marry you and do anything just to make you happy,right?can you please stop?"
Sinampal niya ako bigla.
"When you came,he changed."
"It is not me who changed him,it is you because you hurt him."
"I love him but you came!"
"Love?you even strangle his neck just to make him follow you. Please give him freedom. He is in pain too emotionally. It is not only about your relationship before but many things happened in his life."
Tumayo ito.
"I won't allow you to hurt him again. He is happy now. " sabi ko at iniwan na siya. Hinaplos ko ang pisngi ko na sinampal niya. Grabe talaga sila.
Umuwi na ako. Pagkarating ko sa bahay ay agad akong humiga sa kama ko.
"Why is she obsessed on Park Lee Young?"
Bumangon ako.
"Girlfriend niya noon. Bakit ganoon?"
Biglang tumunog yung cellphone ko. Si Park Lee Young iyon.
"Where are you?"tanong nito.
" I'm here already. Why?"
"Did you meet her?"
"Why did you know?"
Kinabahan ako.
"Thanks for doing that to me. Though I feel sorry about your face."
"Okay,no problem."
"She wants me to come back because her father is really upset when I left. He blamed her and told her to go back to States and forget him."
"Do you want to go back?"
Natahimik ito sa kabilang linya.
"Do you s-still like her?"
Umiiyak ito dahil naririnig ko ang mahinang hikbi nito. Mabilis kong kinuha ang jacket at lumabas.
"Where are you?" Tanong ko.
Tiningnan ko ang GPS ng phone ko at ni-locate ko kung nasaan siya. Naabutan ko siyang umiinom ng sujo.Korean wine iyon.
Before I walked towards him,I looked at him intently.
"Yah!" Sabi ko. Umupo ako sa tapat niya.
"Why did you leave your siblings?"
"I'm hurt."mahinang wika nito.
" if you still have feelings for her,you can resign and go back to that hospital. "
"I don't have feelings for her."
"But why are acting this way?"
Kinuha ko ang baso na may laman na alak na dapat ay iinumin niya iyon.
"What are you doing?" tanong nito. Namumula na ang mukha nito.
"You should not drink."
"I want to. If not I'll be insane."
"Do you still love her?" Tanong ko ulit.
"Before. But now,no."
"I can't understand you. You drink more maybe it can help you to clear things up."
"My father died due to vehicular accident. He is assistant director in Hanguk Medical Hospital. Before he was transferred to become a director, her father is an assistant director too. It happened. Right after,he moved to Director position. I feel they are connected to my dad's death. I don't want to think about it."
Uminom ulit ito.
"And then?"
"Now,it happened again. She used me to get that position. I am disgusted to their actions."
"Then why are you drinking too much today?"
"Because I feel bad I can't do anything to my parent's death since I don't have evidence to prove that they planned it."
"God will ask them to pay it. Don't worry."
Uminom ulit ito. Humingi pa ng isa pang alak.
"Are you crazy?"
"Hmm. My life is doomed."
"No don't say that."
"It's heavy and I couldn't carry it anymore. I still have my siblings with me."
"That's why you have to pull yourself together. You still have me. I'm your friend. I can help you with them."
Tumawa ito.
"Funny!it is funny. I have Filipino friend. I'm still lucky right?"
"Of course. You are. Come on let's go home."
Dahan-dahan itong tumayo pero pasuray -suray nang lumakad. Sinundan ko lang siya. Umupo kami sa bench na nandoon.
He threw up and I opened the bottled water and gave it to him. Tiningnan niya ako.
"Why you didn't drink?"
"I can't drink"
Hinila niya ako para umupo sa tabi niya. He leaned his head to my shoulder.
"Can we do this for a while?" Mahinang wika nito. Biglang kumabog ng napakabilis ang aking puso. Nakahawak ito sa aking kamay.
"Erin,do something!!" Sabi ng isipan ko.
"No,stay still Erin. " wika naman ng puso ko.
Hinigpitan pa nito ang pagkahawak ng kamay ko.
"Di ba friends lang ang gusto mo,Erin? Don't let him do that"
"It's okay Erin. You can do like that."
Dahan-dahan kong kinuha ang mga kamay ko.
"Tara ,your siblings might be looking for you already."
Biglang tumunog ang cellphone nito. Sinagot nito ngunit nakahawak pa rin sa aking kamay.
"Yah!Jae Young-a!"
Bigla itong tumakbo na nakahawak pa rin sa aking kamay. Tumakbo kami ng mabilis. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay.
"Jae Young-a!" Tawag nito at pumasok agad kami sa loob ng bahay nito. Nawala tuloy yung pagkalasing nito.
"What happened------?"
Nakita naming nakaupo si Mi Yoo sa sofa nila. Naikuyom ni Lee Young ang kamao niya.
"What are you doing here?" tanong ko.
Tumayo ito.
"I think you can never be useful to me,I'll use your siblings,Liam."
"Hyung,what does she mean?"
"Go to your room" sabi nito. Mabilis naman umalis ang mga ito.
"If you won't stop,I'll do anything just to stop you." wika ng lalaki. Tumawa ang babae na parang nawawala sa tamang pag-iisip.
"Well,what I ask you is really very easy. Why is it so hard for you?"
"Because it isn't right."
"Because of this woman?she needs money from you. She doesn't love you. That's what they do. After they use you, they will leave you nothing."
Nasaktan ako sa sinabi nito. Mabilis kong hinila ang braso niya at hinawakan ko ang mga pisngi niya.
"I won't do that. I will never leave nothing. I will never use you. I don't need your money. I have a lot of money." Tumutulo yung luha ko ng sabihin iyon. Wala akong ibang naisip kundi itaas yung dignidad ng kapwa ko pilipino sa mga oras na iyon. Nasaktan ako sa sinabi nito. Hindi lahat ng tao ay ganoon. Nakatitig siya sa mukha kong nababalot ng luha ko. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit.
"That's enough. Enough of drama! I'm tired of chasing you Liam. Now let's get this done."
"I don't want to come back in Hanguk. I'm happy now.". Sabi niya dito. Naisuklay nito ang sariling buhok.
" fine,"
Umalis na ito. Ibingasak pa nito ang pintuan namin.
Binigyan ako ni Jae Young ng isang basong tubig.
"Thanks Jae Young-a."
Tinapik niya ang likod ko. Umupo ako sa sofa nila. Tumabi si Lee Young sa akin.
"Are you sure you have a lot of money?" Biro nito.
"It's not a lot. Enough to feed me." Sagot ko. Sumandal ako sa upuan. Feeling ko ako yung nalasing.
"I don't like her,hyung"
wika ni Jin young.
"Why?" Tanong nito.
"She dragged Jae Young in her hands and asked where are you."
"She won't come here anymore. You should not talk to her outside she's crazy."sabi nito.
" yeah hyung"
Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata. Hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit sinali ako ng babaeng yon sa drama nito.
"Did she  still believe that we are in a relationship?" tanong ko. Tumingin ito sa akin. Namula ang mukha nito.
"Right?" Sabi ko.
"Yeah. I'm sorry"
"What??"
"I'm sorry."
"She even hit me. That's why she is really angry at me. You can tell her we are not!"
"What?are you out of your mind? She already gave up! Why should I ?"
"Fine. Tsk. Be sure she won't come here again. If she did, you'll see what can I do!"
"You cry again?" Birong wika nito.
"I was hurt. Almost all Filipino women ended up getting married to foreigners so I was afraid you would really think like that to me."
"No. I won't. Ever."
"Really?"
"I'm scared of you."
Tumawa ang mga kapatid nito.