Chapter 9 (1/2)
Hi, mine~ Sorry for the late update! My practic.u.m has started so I'll be busy until January? Don't worry, I will still keep translating but I apologize if some chapters will be late. TT Cheers.
¹Courting- I just want to remind you ,
Miko asked Jhing for permission to court her and Jhing accepted it.
Courting can take days or years, depending if the man gave up on her,
the woman rejects him, or if she accepts him as her official boyfriend.
²Pabebe- Pa is a root word which makes the word mean ”trying to be like,”
or ”acting as” while bebe means ”baby.” So ”Pabebe” means acting cute,
innocent and sometimes, playing hard to get.
#ForTheBrokenOnes
“To blindly judge a broken soul is to not see entirely.”
-x-
For the first time since Miko found his way in Jhing’s circle of boring life, Jhing finally admitted that the reason why she cried was because of him and his crazy efforts. Bwisit. Looking at the paper rose, he probably researched: 'How to make origami roses,' which made her re-think about a lot of things.
Jhing drank the medicine he gave when she went home. Her tears almost ruined the paper rose, so she hid it in the box full of memories.
The next day in the office, Jhing's mind shut down and dismissed her happy thoughts when she saw the family picture plastered on her cubicle’s cork board. They were filled with smiles and happiness radiating from that memory. Everyone was too happy back then.
Too happy. Back then.
“You didn't tell me that you have a new ill.u.s.trator.”
She was out of the office- Jhing was eating in the KFC with Fall, but why did the topic revolve around Miko again?
“You didn't ask,” Jhing shrugged.
Fall frowned. “Because you didn't say anything!”
“Because you didn't ask.”
“Why didn't you tell me that the ill.u.s.trator was handsome!?”
Jhing wanted to choke herself to death. This was the topic she wanted to get out from but no matter what she does, no matter how she ignores it, that topic of him still haunted her.
Jhing was okay with every crazy topic Fall would say but this one? Not a good idea.
If she tells Fall everything, will Fall stop talking about it?
“Isn't Facio's birthday next, next week…”
Jhing had no guts. Even if it's she's her best friend, she didn’t have any strength to tell her their story. Mentally? Emotionally? Physically? Or maybe because she doesn’t know how to tell the story to someone to release and forget all the pent-up pain that was left inside her.
“Is the ill.u.s.trator attending too?”
But of course, the guy’s everywhere, pus.h.i.+ng her to remember everything.
Jhing had no chance to make dumb excuses when the day before Facio’s birthday came. She was hoping for her sickness to return to avoid the things she doesn't want to happen but unfortunately, it didn't.
She was strong as a tiger.
Facio threatened her, ”If you're not coming to my birthday, I will submit ugly ill.u.s.trations to all your future published books.”
She wanted to say, 'Fine, there's another ill.u.s.trator anyway' but that 'another ill.u.s.trator' was the great Miko, so Jhing reluctantly nodded and said, “I'll go.”
As far as Jhing knows, only writers are attending Facio's party. The day of his birthday though, there was someone else who joined them.
When Facio asked for a favor, “Can you buy us some beer? I have to finish my ill.u.s.tration. I'll pay for it when you come back, promise!” Jhing was happy to oblige.
She's already used to being ordered around after all.
But when the universe gave her Miko to help her with the beers, Jhing wanted to cross the road and get hit by a car just to get away from him.
While walking beside Miko in silence, Jhing hugged a pack of beers. The other three packs were held by Miko. Jhing wanted to split it in half, but Miko insisted on bringing everything.
She didn’t argue, but she didn’t want to be useless either.
In the end, Miko let her hold one pack of beers. So even though Jhing could see the veins in Miko’s arms wanting to explode, she ignored it.
That's what he wanted to do.
He should deal with it himself.
Jhing, eyes looking forward, tried to stop her freaking heart from furiously beating. The uneasiness will be over soon… but not too soon for Miko tried to strike a conversation with her.
“You're so quiet.”
Jhing was counting the steps from the store to Facio's house until she heard his voice. f.u.c.k. She lost count. Forcefully burying the anxiety in her heart, Jhing answered, “I’m always quiet.”
They can hear the sound of the beer b.u.mping into each other but Jhing didn't mind. The louder the noise around them, the better. She was thankful that there are almost two meters of distance between them or else, she’ll die if he heard her traitor heartbeat.
“Because I'm here?”
Eyes still looking forward, Jhing's eyes narrowed. “I'm always quiet.” She even wanted to add, ‘Wow, you're so shameless ah?’ but decided to keep quiet.
The laugh from Miko’s voice made Jhing gaze at him. She couldn't help but frown thinking that life is easy for Miko.
He didn't hide the amus.e.m.e.nt from his voice when he asked, “Do I make you nervous?”
Jhing’s brow arched. “You wish.”
Her words earned laughter from him while she looked away. Why is Facio's house so far away? And why are they walking like they’re on the moon?
Jhing starts walking faster to increase their distance. She doesn't want to see Miko’s face even if she really can't see it clearly in the first place because of the darkness of the night.
But the guy was so persistent, he followed to walk beside her.
“You're more talkative in chat.”
Jhing gulped.
One meter distance from each other.
“I'm not,” she said, blocking the memories from her head. “I’m boring.”
He chuckled. “You're right.”
Ah dammit. Jhing glared at Miko who was still laughing. He actually agreed.
How dare he talk like that to her? Are they close? Jhing rolled her eyes. The second she saw Facio's house in the distance, she quickly increased her pace once again. Miko didn't want to lose so he strutted. He was already walking in front of her so Jhing decided to slow down.
When they were in the same phase again, a little closer than a meter distance, she saw Miko’s smile. His eyes looking forward. “39 days.” She didn’t say anything but wondered. “39 days since we last talked like this,” he said.
“I wonder how many days will pa.s.s before I can speak to you again?”
Before Jhing could even react or blink, Miko quickened his steps and went inside Facio’s house.
Jhing was quiet when the celebration began because of the conscience crawling inside her. Almost 20 people were present in the room, she felt suffocated.
After eating, she sat in the corner and decided to check all of her SNS accounts which was a wrong move because her mood worsens.
Ate, are you an ice cube?
She rolled her eyes before she answered:
Duh.
Everyone who was busy watching Miko sing his heart out looked at Fall when she suddenly laughed. Miko commented using the mic 'Fall's IQ is falling.'
A smack from Fall flew towards Miko.
So, yeah.
After a few hours, Miko is already happily chatting with all the authors as if they were his long lost friends. Jhing wasn’t even close to them, it also took a long time for her to be comfortable with Fall but what the heck?
Miko… was one h.e.l.l of a social guy.
Too friendly.
It's blinding.
Fall, beer in hand and phone on the other, went beside Jhing.
“What's your problem?” asked Jhing.
“It's because of you!” Still laughing, Fall added, “You answered like an insane person.”