Erina's Curse (FILIPINO)

Chapter 8

"Okay na po ba 'yan, Prinsesa?"

Raqi placed the ice pack on my swollen ankle then sat down in the sofa near my bed. Days passed by quickly at ngayon lang sila nakadalaw sa'kin because of their busy schedules.

"Ba't parang galit?" pabiro kong tanong. 

"Nakakainis ka kasi! You're so weak, nagtitiis tuloy ako sa tatlong 'to," nakasimangot naman niyang sagot. 

Since the news of my injury came out to the public, they've been attending non-stop interviews about my condition and our delayed comeback. i feel bad for them.

"Sus, miss ka lang niyan Ina," Kesha said while peeling an apple for me. 

They brought almost all kinds of fruit para daw mas mabilis akong gumaling. Hinakot din nila halos lahat ata ng libro sa bookstores dahil nagmukhang library na ang hospital room ko. Hindi ko pa nga nababasa lahat ng dinala ni Soo Hyun tapos nagdala nanaman sila ng idadagdag. Speaking of him, pagkatapos nila mag-usap ng kapatid ko, kinailangan na niyang umalis because he had prior commitments. 

"So, what are you all up to these days?" I asked them habang kumakain ng mga prutas. 

"We're re-recording our previous songs. Your lines was distributed equally to us four, which is btw, kind of a bummer because your notes are too high!" nakasimangot na sagot ni Sassy.

Since we cannot release our new songs yet, they'll recycle our old ones. Makes sense. With a little remix and polishing, those songs can still top the charts. 

"We'll still push through our planned schedules. We'll be performing in several award shows kaya nagpa-practice na kami ng bagong choreography," sagot naman ni Leina.

Sobrang busy talaga nila ngayon that's why I'm grateful na naglaan pa sila ng oras para dalawin ako. Halatang halata nga sa mukha nila ang pagod. Mukhang magdamag sila sa company dahil sa mga sudden changes na kailangan ayusin. 

"I'm really sorry about the comeback......"

Nalulungkot kong sabi. I felt extremely guilty because of my actions. Dapat mas inalagaan ko yung sarili ko kasi hindi lang naman ako ang maaapektuhan. After all, we're a group. The burden of one is also carried by the other four. 

"Don't worry about it. Just focus on your healing," Kesha smiled while tapping my leg.

"And besides, it's not your f*****g fault! Ilang buwan ka na bang humihingi ng pahinga sakanila? Kaya hindi tuluyang gumagaling yang injury mo kasi overworked ka," nakakunot noo namang sabi ni Raqi.

"Raqi's right. Kita mo nga ngayon, kaka-admit mo lang sa ospital gusto ka na agad ilabas. The comeback can wait, but your declining health is the real issue here," Leina exclaimed.

"Girls, its simple. M-O-N-E-Y. Obviously, hindi sila kikita kay Erina habang nakaratay siya dito. I'll bet my Chanel vintage bag that they're already thinking of ways to gain bucks in this situation," Sassy almost shouted habang galit na kumakagat sa mansanas niya. 

And guess what? She was right all along. The next day, Hades together with a production team stormed my room. I was given a script pagkatapos ay inayusan. I don't even know what's happening until I read the script. It's about a week-long documentary of my stay in the hospital. Buong linggo, iba't ibang concern kuno na tao sa'kin and dumalaw at na-interview. Ba't ba 'ko nagulat pa? Talagang lahat ng sitwasyon kaya nilang paikutin para kumita ng pera. 

Natapos ang documentary nang ma-discharge na ako sa ospital. Buti naman kasi sawang sawa na'kong makipag-plastikan kila Hades. The only episode that I've enjoyed is when the girls and Sir Leo visited me. Sila lang naman kasi talaga ang concern sa'kin. My dad and his family never visited me at mas lalo naman sila Mama. But Angelo calls me almost everyday kaya okay na rin. 

Soo Hyun never had the chance to visit me again dahil puno nga lagi ng tao sa hospital room ko. Hindi ko alam kung gumaling ba ako or mas na-stress lang dahil ang ingay lagi sa kwarto. He never visited me again pero minsan nagkaka-usap naman kami sa i********: kaya gumaganda ang araw ko kahit papaano. 

Sir Leo and my assistant will accompany me today. Ihahatid na nila ako sa bahay finally. I'm wearing a yellow halter dress ending just below my knee. My left ankle is in a brace and I'm also using two crutches to support my weight. 

Inabot ko sa assistant ko ang crutches habang inaalalayan ako ng nurses na makaupo sa wheel chair. Sir Leo was pushing the wheelchair hanggang makarating kami sa parking lot ng ospital. Reporters from different stations flood the parking lot at sinubukan akong ma-interview but the security team brushed them off and help us na makaalis doon. 

After a few minutes, nakarating na kami agad sa GreyHouse. My assistant was supporting me kasi medyo hindi pa ako sanay sa crutches nang buksan ni Sir Leo ang pinto ng bahay.

"Welcome home, Erina!" 

The girls, our stylist with his assistants, our make-up artist and her team shouted habang pumapalakpak. Sir Steven Choi, Sir Leo's boyfriend was also there and he was the one who popped the confetti. 

They hugged me one by one and lead me to the kitchen kung saan punong-puno ng pagkain. Inalalayan nila akong makaupo and then we started eating. They even made me blow a cake na parang birthday ko. 

They were all so happy to see me at nagkwentuhan lang kami hanggang gumabi na. Unti-unti naman kaming nabawasan hanggang kaming lima nalang yung natira. 

"Wala pa rin sila Stallion at Kokoro?" I asked Leina. Minsan kasi iniiwan niya yung aso't pusa niya sa bahay nila since we can't take care of them here kapag busy. Pero mas madalas naman sila dito kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit wala pa sila. 

"Tanga, pano ko naman sila maiuuwi dito eh we can't even go home because of all the things we need to do? Yung pagod ko for the past two weeks pang isang taon na," she answered me with a sad smile. Nakakamiss naman kasi talaga yung mga alaga niya. Namin pala, we treat them as ours na rin kasi. 

"Hindi kayo nakakauwi? Pano yung birthday ng mommy mo Raqi?" Since hindi ako nakasama sa pamiimili nila ng regalo, pinapili ko nalang si Raqi ng tatlong bag sa collections ko as my gift for her mom. 

"Pinadala ko nalang mga regalo natin. Naiintindihan naman ni mama, she's actually very worried about you nung sinabi ko kung anong nangyari," she answered. 

"Did you know na hindi pa namin pinapanood ulit yung Crash Landing on You kasi it felt different na hindi ka namin kasama," Leina changed the topic while putting the left over food in Tupperware containers. 

"Nabawasan kasi ng tumitili kaya ayaw muna naming panoorin," dagdag pa ni Kesha habang naghuhugas ng mga pinagkainan.

"Naks, ba't di niyo nalang aminin na na-miss niyo ako ng sobra," natatawa ko namang sagot habang nakaupo lang. Ayaw naman nila akong pagalawin kaya sitting pretty lang ako dito. 

"Basta it felt different when you were not home," Sassy said habang nagwawalis naman.

"It felt happier, noh?" Raqi laughingly said habang kumakain pa rin. Ang takaw.

"Korek!" they all answered in chorus which made me pout. Tinawanan lang naman nila ako habang tinuloy na nila yung ginagawa nila. 

"Bashers!" sagot ko naman habang nakasimangot pa rin. 

After they clean the house at pagkatapos nila akong alalayan para maglinis ng katawan sa banyo, we've all decided to sleep early. Napagod daw sila sa pag-aasikaso ng surprise para sa pagbalik ko. I tried to sleep pero nagpabago-bago na'ko ng posisyon, hindi pa rin ako makatulog so I decided to scroll through my phone. I checked my i********: and saw Soo Hyun's i********: story. Nasa dance studio sila at halatang kakatapos lang mag-practice. He's online so I sent him a message. 

To: soohyun_k216

i'm home

may utang kang dalawang Sunday sakin

I typed habang inaalala yung napag-usapan namin na magiging driver ko sya every Sunday for three months. Nag-reply naman siya kaagad.

From: soohyun_k216

You free tomorrow?

Its Tuesday tomorrow which means na wala siyang practice sa H&H. Aayain niya ba akong lumabas? Sus, miss din ako nito eh. Hindi na lang niya sabihin. 

To: soohyun_k216

duh! I'm always free for you hahaha. Are you asking me out?

Kinikilig at nae-excite pa ako habang nagta-type. Duh? First date namin kung sakali. 

From: soohyun_k216

Sana all.

W-What? Is he freaking serious o nagpapatawa na siya ngayon? Nakakainis naman kung binibiro niya lang ako kasi gusto ko talaga siyang makasama. 

To: soohyun_k216

:(((

Nakasimangot talaga ako habang nagta-type. Paasa din 'tong poging 'to eh. Kung hindi ko lang talaga siya crush, hmp.

From: soohyun_k216

Labas tayo.

Tayo? TAYO? Para akong tanga na ngiting-ngiti. I even bit my pillow to suppress my squeals dahil baka magising sila Kesha. 

To: soohyun_k216

wow talagang ur not asking for permission na ha. Walang tanong tanong, bossy mo ser

I tried messing with him kasi hindi naman pwedeng ako lang yung halos mabaliw na dito. 

From: soohyun_k216

Ayaw mo?

There. I asked. 

Halos hindi na'ko makahinga kasi tawang tawa talaga ako sakanya. He can really make me happy kahit hindi siya mag-effort. I was just teasing him naman. I'd go with him anywhere, kahit sa dulo pa ng mundo, chos!

To: soohyun_k216

What time?

Ngayon palang iniisip ko na kung anong susuotin ko bukas at kung anong ayos ng buhok ko. Sana matapos na ang gabi para umaga na agad. 

From: soohyun_k216

I'll pick you up at 10. 

Ba't antagal? Alas tres palang ng madaling araw pwede mo na 'kong sunduin! Or better, ngayon na mismo. I smilingly told myself. I was thinking of what I'd say to him when he sent me another message. 

From: soohyun_k216

Magpahinga ka na.

Kahit na gusto ko pa siyang makausap, pumayag na rin ako. We said our 'good nights' and forced myself to sleep. Kailangan maganda ako bukas at kailangan punong-puno ako ng energy dahil kailangan ko talaga ng effort para landiin siya. 

Kinabukasan, maagang umalis ang girls. Pagkatapos naming kumain and after they help me take a bath and do my routine, sinundo na sila ng van. According to Sassy, maaga na daw talaga silang umaalis at late nang nakakauwi dahil nga marami silang ginagawa. Hindi ko na sinabi sakanila na may lakad kami ni Soo Hyun ngayon kasi nagmamadali din sila kanina. And besides, I feel like keeping this from them for now. They're too busy at ayoko ng dagdagan pa ang mga iniisip nila. 

I was busy applying lotion pagkatapos ko mag make-up when I heard my phone. 

From: soohyun_k216

I'm here.

Huh? Its just 9:40 and he's 20 minutes early. But its okay, I like people who knows the value of time. 

Nagmadali na akong maglagay ng lotion. I fixed my 'The Beatles' white shirt na nakatuck-in sa fitted jeans then added a Gucci belt for style. I put my plain black face mask, wallet and cellphone sa Chanel sling bag habang sinusuot ang puting Gucci Slip-ons. I can't wear rubber shoes dahil naka-bandage ang left ankle ko.

Dinampot ko ang itim na shades sa kama pagkatapos mag spray ng perfume at naglakad na papunta sa pinto. Kaya ko naman kahit walang crutches. Basta bawal lang tumakbo at magbuhat ng mabigat. May kaunting kirot pero kakayanin. 

After closing the gate, I saw Soo Hyun leaning on a black Range Rover. He's wearing a mustard hoodie, jeans and white shoes. I can't see his face clearly dahil nakasuot siya ng itim na cap, naka-shades at naka face mask pa. Tagong-tago talaga kasi kahit ako hindi siya makikilala. 

He opened the passenger door at pumasok naman ako kaagad. I'm fixing my seat belt when he opened his side of the door. Tinanggal niya ang cap, face mask at shades before starting the engine. 

"Pano ka nakapasok sa village?" I started the conversation habang pinapatong ang dalang bag at shades sa dashboard ng sasakyan. 

His car is very clean, huh? Light brown and mga upuan pero most of the interior are black. Akala ko makalat ang sasakyan niya but I guess I was just stereotyping. 

"I called one of the producers I know who live here. I asked for a visitor pass," he answered habang seryosong nagda-drive.

He looks so handsome while holding the steering wheel with one hand habang nakapatong naman sa biintana ang isa niya pang kamay. Hindi na'ko nahiya at tinitigan ko nalang siya. He's even touching his lower lip with his thumb! Parang ang lalim ng isiisip niya.

He suddenly turn his eyes at me kaya nagulat ako. But I didn't avoid his gaze, nakipagtitigan din ako sakanya hanggang siya na yung umiwas at tinuon nalang ang pansin sa harap. Duh? Ba't ako iiwas eh gustong gusto ko ngang titigan yung mukha niya?

"So, where do you want us to go?" he suddenly asked habang nakatingin sa daan.

"I actually want to buy a car," sagot ko naman.

Matagal ko ng gustong bumili ng sarili kong sasakyan. One of the reasons kung bakit hindi ako lumalabas kapag Sunday bukod pa sa wala naman akong pamilyang dadalawin, ay dahil wala akong sasakyan. Pwede naman akong magpahatid sa drivers ng kumpanya pero siguradong imomonitor din nila kung saan saan ako pupunta. For once gusto kong tumakas sa H&H, kahit isang beses lang sa isang linggo.

"Do you even know how to drive?" natatawa pa niyang tanong. 

"No. That's why you're here di ba?" I answered him truthfully. Hindi talaga ako marunong mag-drive kasi hindi naman ako nagka-chance na matuto. 

"Fine," he clicked his tongue. "I'll be your personal driver for three months," lumingon siya sa'kin habang nakangiti. I smiled back. 

Nagkwentuhan pa kami tungkol sa kung ano-anong bagay nang huminto ang sasakyan sa isang mataas na building. 

"A Car Expo is currently being held in this building. You'll have a lot of choices here," he said while fixing his seat belt. 

Nagsuot na kami ng face mask and shades para maiwasang makilala. I was checking my face in the mirror nang bigla niyang pinatong ang cap sa ulo ko. I looked at him with questioning eyes.

"Wear it," he said then fixed his hoodie to cover his head. Napangiti naman ako then sabay na kaming lumabas ng kotse. Para kaming takot na takot sa araw dahil balot na balot. Good thing, we're wearing nice clothes kaya hindi naman siguro kami pagkakamalang holdaper. 

We rode the elevator and then get out on the ground floor. We were greeted with noise dahil ang daming tao. The whole floor is filled with different models of car tapos may parang stage pa sa gitna where the sales people are situated. Nagulat ako nang ilagay ni Soo Hyun ang kamay niya sa likod ko, inalalayan niya akong maglakad papunta sa mga kotse. Gentleman talaga.

May mga nakakalat na upuan kaya kumuha siya ng isa and led me to the sides. He nudged me to sit tapos tumayo siya sa harap ko. He put his hands sa may gilid ng upuan at inilapit ang mukha sa'kin. Para akong malalagutan ng hininga kasi ang lapit niya. Heaven.

"Anong gusto mo?" he asked me habang palingon-lingon pa sa paligid. 

"Ikaw," I jokingly answered kaya napalingon siya sa'kin agad. 

"Anong gusto mo sa kotse ang ibig kong sabihin," he said while rolling his eyes.

Natawa nalang ako sa sarili ko kasi alam ko na agad na iniikutan niya ako ng mata kahit na naka-shades pa siya. Sungit kasi. 

"Heavily tinted, black and ordinary," sinagot ko nalang yung tanong niya habang napapangiti. 

"Ordinary?" nakakunot noo niyang tanong.

"Yes. Yung hindi makakaagaw ng atensyon ng tao," I just want a simple car. Yung hindi halatang celebrity yung may-ari. 

"Okay. How about a Lexus?" he asked.

"Is it like your car?" I'm a novice when it comes to any type of vehicles. Which actually explains why I don't drive. Si Kesha naman kasi talaga yung expert pagdating sa mga sasakyan, may car collection nga 'yon eh. 

"No. Come, let me show you."

Inalalayan niya ulit akong tumayo. Para kaming naglalakad sa altar dahil daig pa namin ang pagong sa bagal. I told him that we can walk faster because I can handle it naman but he refused. Kahit na wala pa atang 20 meters yung sasakyan na gusto naming tignan, inabot kami ng 15 minutes dahil ang bagal talaga naming maglakad. It's okay though, pano ang lapit niya sa'kin kasi nga inaalalayan niya ko. He smells so good as always. 

"This is a Lexus RC-350," he said while looking at the car.

The white paint of the compact two door car is gleaming through the light. Malinis tignan at heavily tinted. 

"You want to take a look inside?" he asked in which I nodded. He raised his left hand as a signal and a minute later, a sales person came our way for assistance.

The sales person immediately opened the car door after Soo Hyun asked him to. Inalalayan niya akong pumasok sa driver's seat tapos umikot siya at sumakay sa passenger's seat.

"The RC-350 is equipped with vertical G-sensor for , Differential (TVD) with three operating modes, Standard, Slalom, or Track, front and rear coil-spring , mono tube gas-filled shock absorbers and ball-jointed stabilizer bars," the sales person explained to me habang nakabukas ang bintana ng sasakyan. 

Marami pa siyang sinabi but he doesn't need to sell it to me more kasi nagustuhan ko naman na siya agad. Soo Hyun suggested it so I'm sure it's good. The sales person finished explaining habang inalalayan ako ulit ni Soo Hyun na lumabas sa kotse.

"I want it," I told him while smiling. Nakita ko pa sa peripheral vision ko na napangiti din yung ahente dahil nakabenta siya today. 

"That was fast, huh? So you want the black one?" tanong niya pero umiling ako kaagad.

"No. I changed my mind. I want the white one," I said while smiling.

"Why?" he asked habang nakakunot ang noo. Nagtataka siguro kung bakit biglang gusto ko na yung puti.

"I thought you want the black one para pareho tayo," he exclaimed which shocked me. But I recovered fast and smiled at him again. 

"Yours is black, mine's white. Opposites attract. Meant to be kasi tayo," I exclaimed which made him laughed. Natawa nalang din ako sa mga kalokohan ko. But atleast I made him laugh!

The sales person led us to their office and then the process of purchasing a car began. After signing multiple papers, natapos naman kami kaagad then sumakay na ng elevator para bumalik sa sasakyan.

"Are you sure that it's okay?" I ask him while fixing my seatbelt. Sakanya muna kasi idedeliver yung sasakyan. Hindi naman kasi ako marunong mag-drive tapos siya naman magiging driver ko. 

"Yeah, you don't want them to know na may sasakyan ka na diba?" sinabi ko kasi sakanyang ayokong ipaalam sa H&H na may sasakyan na 'ko. I just want something na hindi nila kontrolado. 

"Thank you," I smiled at him and he smiled back. Tinanggal namin ang mga suot na face mask at iba pang nakatakip sa mukha bago niya pinaandar ang sasakyan. 

"Where do you want to eat?" he asked. Lunch time na rin kasi at nararamdaman ko na yung gutom. 

"Picked a restaurant with VIP area though. Ang hirap naman kumain na naka face mask," he exclaimed habang napapatawa pa. 

"You now what? Gusto ko ng sweet potato!" ang tagal ko ng nagke-crave pero carbs daw kasi kaya hindi pwede. 

"W-What?" he asked habang nakakunot yung noo. Nagtataka siguro kung bakit sa dinami dami ng pagkain sa mundo, kamote pa ang gusto kong kainin. "Please....." I looked at him with pleading eyes and pouting lips. 

"Fine," he finally agreed. 

We looked for sidewalk vendors na nagtitinda ng sweet potato. Nakahanap naman kami kaagad kaya bumaba na si Soo Hyun para bumili. I was so excited when he returned kaya kinuha ko agad sakanya. I peeled the sweet potato and ate with 'gusto' kahit na medyo mainit pa. 

I was in my third sweet potato already nang makaramdam ako ng uhaw.

"Water..." I asked him for some water pero wala siyang dala kaya bumaba siya ulit para bumili sa malapit na convenience store. 

Pinagpatuloy ko naman ang pagkain nang biglang mahulog sa may damit ko yung kakagatin ko sanang kamote.

"s**t," I exclaimed while looking for a tissue. 

I searched the compartment in front of me at may nakita naman akong wet wipes na agad kong ginamit para punasan ang damit ko. I was supposed to close the compartment when something caught my eye.

There were photographs na nakaayos sa may gilid, katabi ng power bank. Because of curiosity, kinuha ko yung mga pictures at isa isang tinignan. 

There were mostly pictures of Soo Hyun with his family. There's also a cute photo of him with his dog, I think. An adorable portrait of him and his twin sisters also made me smile. Halatang close na close kasi sila. Tinuloy kong tignan yung mga pictures habang napapangiti kasi ang saya saya ni Soo Hyun sa mga kuha. Pero sana hindi ko nalang tinuloy. Sana huminto nalang ako agad.

I saw a picture of Soo Hyun.

With a girl. Kissing him on the lips.

With a handwritten caption below. 

'Love of my life'

Author's Note:

walang author's note