73//
Lee Niroh's
"Can I talk to her?"
"She's in front of you, talk to her now. We don't have all afternoon."
"I mean... I want to talk to her in private."
Sumimangot si Minho at inismiran si Moonbin. Hindi ko alam ang punto nya at gusto nya akong makausap ng pribado. Alam kong si Ryujin ang rason ng usapan na gusto nyang mangyari, alam din yun ni Minho noh.
"I'll talk with you. But not in private." Masungit kong sabi. Noong si Moonbin pa ang nag hahandle ng mga interns, medyo magalang pa ako sa kanya, pero ngayon, pwede ko na syang sungitan dahil tapos na ang final evaluation.
"Start talking." Malamig din na sabi ni Minho. Magaling talagang actor to, alam kong ini-intimidate nya lang si Moonbin, muka na kasi itong natatae sa inuupuan nya.
Moonbin swallowed the lump in his throat. I knew it, he's nervous and sweaty and he keeps on fidgeting in his seat.
Nandito kami sa God's Menu, tumawag si Moonbin sa akin kaninang alas diyes at nakipag kita dito. Sinama ko si Minho dahil ayaw akong tantanan nito. Napakachismoso kasi talaga.
"I want her back..." Bulalas ni Moonbin.
"Clearly, I don't care about the two of you. Why are you telling that to me? Why don't you tell her instead?" Malamig kong sabi, pero sa totoo lang ay kanina ko pa inaabangan na dumating yung mga order namin. Gutom na talaga ako, tsaka ang sarap ng amoy dito sa God's Menu. Parang dinadala ka sa langit.
"Niroh, I really need your help that's why I'm telling you."
"I can't help you. We're not family, we never were."
Kinuha na si Ryujin ng pamilya nya nung Tuesday pa. And knowing our freak of a father, malamang ay may restraining order na si Moonbin kaya hindi sya makalapit lapit kay Ryujin.
"Please Niroh, ikaw lang ang makakatulong sakin."
"What do you want me to then? Sneak inside their house and kidnap Ryujin for you? That's exciting but I won't do it."
"Just... help me talk to her family."
Tumikhim ako nang maamoy ko ang steak mula sa likuran ko. Ito na yata ang order namin. Nawala sa isip ko ang mga sinabi ni Moonbin nang ilapag ng waiter ang mga pagkain. Finally, makakakain na din.
"Niroh, please help me."
"Let's eat first. Let her think about it while we're eating." Sabi ni Minho na alam kong gutom narin.
We started eating silently. Minho and I are stealing glances of each other while communicating through our eyes.
I can read his facial expression. At pareho kami ng iniisip. Gusto na naming paalisin si Moonbin dahil hindi kami makakain ng maayos. We have the same eating habit, and eating with other people who are not aware of it is just really awkward. Ang hirap talaga kumain sa harap ng hindi mo kasundo.
"So... have you decided on helping me?"
"Fine. We'll go there right now."
Nagbayad si Moonbin ng kinain naming tatlo at magkakasabay kaming lumabas ng restau. Alas tres palang naman, Sunday naman ngayon kaya siguradong nandun ang buong pamilya ni Ryujin.
"What is he doing here?!" Sigaw ni Mr. Shin nang makita si Moonbin na kasunod namin ni Minho.
Tahimik lang si Ryujin na maumbok na ang tyan dahil sa baby nila. Weeks ago, I feel envious of her. But Minho made me feel secured of myself.
"Mainit ata ang ulo." Bulong ni Minho.
"Your room. Now!" Utos nya kay Ryujin.
"Dad!" Protesta ni Ryujin na mabilis na yumakap kay Moonbin.
"Gosh, I missed you." Sabi nya habang nakayakap sa asawa nya.
"I missed you more."
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry..." He kept chanting his apologies.
Hindi ko alam pero...
Natatawa talaga ako.
"I will sue you if you lay another finger on my daughter!"
"Mom! Please... don't let dad!"
"Sir, I know it's so rude to barge in here---"
"Leave."
"Dad, let him talk, please." Sabi ni Ryujin.
"Let him talk..." Mahinahon na sabi ng mama ni Ryujin habang pinapakalma si Mr. Shin na galit na galit.
Umatras ako papunta kay Minho at para kaming mga siraulo na napagitnaan ng drama. I can feel my urge to laugh and meddle but I just want to watch them.
"Sandwich tayo ah." Bulong ni Minho.
"Shhh."
Ryujin started sobbing. Nakayuko lang si Moonbin at parang sobrang fascinated dahil sa baby bump ng asawa nya. He's at the verge of crying, I know.
"I want her to live with me." Utas ni Moonbin habang nakahawak sa balikat ni Ryujin.
"How about you leave this house?"
"Dad!"
"Ryujin hija, makinig ka sakin. Ayaw buhayin ng lalaking yan ang anak nyo, sa tingin mo papayag ako na bumalik ka sa kanya?"
"Dad, please... he said he's sorry."
"And so? Would that change the fact that he'd rather choose to kill your own child than to take responsibility?" Napahawak nalang si Mr. Shin sa noo nya habang pinapanuod si Ryujin na umiiyak.
"Anak... Ryujin, it's all good now because you're still young. Nasaktan ka na nya, pisikal at emosyonal. Gagawin nya ulit yun pag tumanda na kayo!"
"Dad, please."
"Sir, totoo po na nasaktan ko na sya. Totoo po na mas pinili kong... mawala ang anak namin kesa saluhin lahat ng responsibilidad. Pero mahal ko po talaga ang anak nyo. Yun lang po yun, mahal ko po si Ryujin."
"Ano namang magagawa ng pagmamahal mo? Ibulsa mo yan at umuwi ka na."
"Stop being sarcastic, dad!"
Nagtaas ng boses si Ryujin kaya medyo nagulat din ako. She's always calm. And she rarely gets angry or hyped up. "Moonbin loves me. Okay na sakin yun. He wants to take his responsibilities now. Ano pa bang gusto mo?"
"Lagi kang ganyan. Mula noon lagi mong minamaliit si Moonbin. Totoo nga na ayaw nya ng responsibilidad sa anak namin, pero dad, can't you see? Handa na sya ngayon!"
"You always judge him because he's irresponsible. But dad, aren't you the same? Pinabayaan mo si Ate Niroh! Can't people change?"
I saw how Moonbin intertwined their fingers. I saw how he looked at her. And I saw how Ryujin stepped out for him.
They're just two imperfect people who fell in love. There's nothing wrong with that.
