WHEN IT WAS YOU

Is this for real?

Cheolo drove Soonyang home first.

"Bye Soonyang. Goodnight!" Soonyang just waved and entered their house. Woo waved at her also.

"So, Wonwoo. What happened. It will be awkward na kasi kung tanungin naming kayo agad. Ang tahimik nya."

"I told her everything Cheol. Then she cried."

"What? Why?" Hani was worried about Soonyang.

"I'm not sure Hani. But I don't see any sadness or frustrations in her eyes. I think she's just shocked or confused that is very understandable because of what Gyu did to her."

"So what's next?"

"I'll wait for her answer. Ang odd ng pakiramdam ko. I know how she's afraid for this kind of situation again. I know that she doesn't want the same thing as before. But her tears has deeper meanings eh."

"Well, let's see nalang. Manghihingi nalang din siguro ako ng update kay Ji if ever to help you."

"Thank you, Cheol at Hani. Kung hindi dahil sa inyo, I would missed this chance siguro."

"No problem, Woo."

Soonyang went straight on her room and continued on sobbing. She locked the door and burried her head on her pillows. She then dialled Ji.

["Hello? Hm- Bakit ka napatawag?"]

"Ji..."

["Hey, umiiyak ka ba?"]

"Ji... Si kuya Woo."

["What? What's about kuya Wonwoo? What did happen to him? What did he do to you?"]

"He told me that he likes me"

["Wait, what? Am I hearing it right? Oh my- is this for real? Wait pano nya sinabi?"] Ji genuinely reacted that way though she already knew their plans. She's still surprise that Woo finally got the courage to do so.

"I still can't process everything that happened. And hindi ako nananaginip, Ji. This is really happening."

["Pupunta ako bukas jan sa inyo. Tell me everything, okay?"]

"Yes, Ji. Please come."

As Soonyang ended her call with Ji, she saw the notification that Woo had messaged.

"Soonyang, if this things bothers you so much, then tell me, Okay? I will be the one to adjust. I don't want to put you in great confusion. But please, believe me. I like you. A lot. And I always will."

Soonyang slept while crying the whole night. She's just too overwhelmed. She can't find the right word to express what she's feeling.

Early the next morning, Ji came to Soonyang's house and locked themselves at her room.

"Ji, hindi ako nananaginip. Look." Soonyang showed her phone with Woo's message.

"So this is really happening. Tell me what happened yesterday."

Soonyang told the whole story to Ji in detail.

"So why did you cry?"

"At first, I'm happy kasi na crushback ako, girl. Pero nung tinanong na nya ako kung pwedeng manligaw, kahit gaano ko kagusto sabihin na 'Oo gusto rin kita', 'Oo, pwede mo akong ligawan', parang may nagholdback sa heart ko. Maybe I'm still traumatized by what happened."

"So what's your plan now?"

"He told me that he'll wait for me. And that words made me fear. Baka matulad kay Gyu, na mapagod sa paghihintay sakin kasi hindi pa ko sigurado sa sarili ko. Nadidismaya ako sa sarili ko, Ji."

"Don't be. Actually, it's a test for them nga ih. Dyan mo mas makikita kung sino ba talaga ang totoo sa kanila. What if si Kuya Woo na pala diba?" Ji, hugged Soonyang.

"Wala pa man, masaya na ko para sayo, Soons. I'm happy that it's kuya Woo."

"Masaya din ako, Ji. This is the first time that I felt this happy."

All thanks to Ji who's always there to understand and cheer Soonyang whenever she needed help. Weeks had passed that Woo and Soonyang haven't talked yet. Woo was busy on studying for their board exams and Soonyang was busy looking for a job.

Soonyang tried to call his brother to get some advice about Woo.

"Kuya?"

["Heyy Soons. I missed you so much. Bakit ngayon ka lang tumawag?"]

"Kuya, I have something to consult from you."

["Kaya pala kinakabahan ako na tumawag ka ng ganitong oras e. Hmm, ano yun?"]

"Remember everything that I told you about Gyu?"

["Yes, I'll never forget about that Soons. Kung nanjan lang ako sa Pinas baka nabawian ko na 'yang Gyu na yan e. Why?"]

"Well, I'm just afraid that it might happen again."

["Bakit? Meron ba ulit nanliligaw sayo?"]

"Actually, yes po. But I liked him also bago pa man nangyari lahat ng g**o sa amin ni Gyu."

["So bakit ka natatakot?"]

"He told me things that I'm so afraid to hear again. Words that Gyu kept telling me before leaving me. Baka ang maging ending nanaman, mapagod sila sa paghihintay sakin kasi di pa ko ready?"

["Soons, lahat naman ng nagmamahal, masasabi ang mga bagay na 'yun. So what kung di ka pa ready? So what kung pinaghihintay mo sila? It's on their part na kasi ikaw ang pinili nilang mahalin. And they have to know what could make you happy."]

"Pero kuya, what if.."

Jooheon interrupted Soonyang.

["Yan ka nanaman sa mga 'what ifs' mo. Soons, listen to kuya. Please, give yourself a little grace. Yes, pwedeng mangyari ulit yang mga kinatatakutan mo, pero pano kung iba na pala 'to. Ito na pala yung talagang makapag bibigay ng saya at peace sayo? Do not be afraid to take the risk, Soons. It'll teach you to be better, trust me. Kung gusto mo narin sya, bakit mo pipigilan ang sarili mo?"]

Soon tried to comprehend everything that Jooheon told her.

["Hey, anjan ka pa ba?"]

"Hm~"

["Keep me updated ha. I missed you so much. I missed Mom too. I'll call her after this. Nga pala, baka umuwi kami ni Seul next month. Seul wanted to meet you again e."]

"Okay kuya. I missed you too and ate Seul."

["Anything you wanted to say pa?"]

"Uhm, yes po. Kuya, will it be okay kung di muna ako magtake ng board exams?I don't think I'm that ready na po ih."

["You have to ask Mom. Pero para sakin, maganda na habang fresh pa, makapag take ka na ng board exams."]

"I told Mom na. Its fine with her naman na, kuya."

["Well, if she's okay with it, then go. But promise me that you'll take the exams parin ha?"]

"I cannot promise, kuya."

["Natatakot ka nanaman? Please, promise me."]

"Alright. I promise."