my sweet escape. park jihoon

17

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CHAPTER.17
ELEANOR

"You got your sweldo na?" I asked Jihoon who was sitting in front of me.

It's been days since that party and I'm grateful that I'm okay with Jihoon again even after that night. Since that night we have been really close, to the point that we were talking on the phone at night. Pero we're just friends, siguro. I think I've already considered him as a friend, hindi nya nga lang alam.

Nasa Starbucks kami at tinuturuan niya na ulit ako kasi malapit na yung exams. I think that mas madali nang dito kami sa coffee shop kaysa sa school. At saka para din makabili na din ako ng morning coffee ko, kaya dito na lang kami palagi. 

He took a sip from his coffee, "Oo, 'di ko nga alam na ang laki pala ng sahod ko, para ngang 'di ko deserve, e."

"Why?"

"Kasi diba last week 'di naman tayo masyado nag tutor. Away mo kasi ako, e." he pouted on his last sentence.

I chuckled, "It was my fault, anyway. But, you deserved that sweldo. You've been working hard enough."

He looked surprised, "Ang bait mo ngayon, Miss Eli. Anong nakain mo?"

"Nothing, I just...." I missed you. 

I wanted to say that but I don't want to make it sound so sweet.

"You just?" he was waiting for me to complete the answer.

"Nothing." 

My phone alarmed at that second. I stood up to fix my things while Jihoon was just watching me there. 

"What?" question ko sa kanya.

He smirked, "Kaya mo na ba 'yan?"

I chuckled, "Yes, kaya ko na. It's not that heavy." I assured him. I wore my backpack and noticed his hand.

"Your hand is still... broken," I pointed his bruised hand that was slowly healing. He still haven't removed my band-aid, the print was already fading off his knuckles. I wondered why he still hasn't took it off yet.

"Oo nga, 'e." sagot niya at saka tumayo na siya. "Okay lang, 'di naman masakit."

"You still haven't removed my band-aid." I mentioned.

He looked at his knuckles, "Ba't ko tatanggalin? Bigay mo 'yan, e." he reasoned out.

"At saka noong sinabi mong "it will lessen the pain", totoo nga." dagdag niya pa.

I pulled my books closer to my chest, "I was joking."

"Pero totoo nga, hindi ko na maramdaman yung sakit."

I held his hand using my right arm and scanned it with my eyes, the band aid already looks soggy and it doesn't look as cute as it was before. I ripped the band aid off, making him gasp hysterically.

"Ba't mo tinanggal?!" He exclaimed, pulling his hand away from me.

"Let's replace it na, kadiri kaya," I told him and started walking away.