SOL
"He's cute—no, he's hot! Gosh, I can give my soul to him if he'll just let me!"
"Are you stupid? He doesn't fall in love. Maybe he's gay? In his 3 years of career, he's the only one in the group who has always been in the headline. Phoenix is the best leader of the band and falling in love is not his style."
"How did you know that?"
"Because I know him very much. I know every detail of his life... even the moles in his body, I know exactly where they are."
All I have to do is to raise my brow as I listen to my students who seemed not to notice that I'm already standing behind them.
"Really? So, where can we locate his moles?" I asked.
"He has a mole on the left part of his chest—Oh my God! Sorry, Miss Sol!" she almost fell on her seat in surprise.
Well, I can't blame them. I smiled inwardly but made sure to keep my blank face. I can see myself to them when I was still studying. Years ago, I was exactly like them.
I put my laptop on the table and started preparing the last lesson I'll teach them for this semester. The president of the class did her part, who happened to be the girl who's talking about the "mole thing" a while back.
"I want you to know that I will not be your Literature Instructor next semester," I announced, making them murmur their violent reactions. "Don't act as if you don't like it because we all know that you're shouting in joy right now. Don't be hypocrites, yes?"
They laughed which made me smile. One thing I will miss about this class is the fact that being with them for the whole first semester creates strong bonds with each other.
I promised myself that when I become a teacher, I'll be the kind of instructor wherein my students respect me not because I am their teacher but because they learn something from me which they will bring with them until they are already successful in life.
"Are you going to be our instructor in other subjects next semester, Miss Sol?"
"I don't know. I want to focus now on my book. But maybe someday, we'll meet again, you as my students and I as your instructor."
I watch my class while they are presenting their reports. I still can't imagine that after everything that happened, I got a job here and now I'm bidding myself goodbye.
What's more to ask?
I've got my dreams to come true: I got the chance to live in Korea, study here, and got a job. I even got a lot of other opportunities after my downfall when I was in the Philippines.
The books I write are all best-selling and I finally bought my dream house.
All of these happen in ten years.
"Miss Sol, you have a visitor."
I snapped back to reality when my student tapped my table. Did I space out that long? I excused myself and navigated my way to the person who's standing next to the door.
He opened his arms so wide which made my students tease us. Instead of hugging him, I punched his stomach, making him shout in pain.
"Is that your way of showing how much you missed me?" he asked.
I make face in front of my class before closing the door. I pulled him to the corner and kick him. He caught my leg which causes me to lose my balance. His retarded laugh echoed in the hallway as he let go of me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him.
"Am I not allowed to visit the most famous author of this generation?"
"Stop it, Chan. I still don't like you no matter what you say."
"Yes, yes. You know how to turn me down." he scratched his head, "By the way, when are you going back to the Philippines?"
"I'll fly tomorrow because I'm so sick of your face."
"Really? I have a piece of bad news to you then," he smirked.
"Don't tell me you're going to the Philippines, too?"
"Uh-huh..." he smiled, "I have a photoshoot with PVNShoppe."
Min Chanseol is the only guy I trust since I went here. He's been my classmate back in College.
When I first step foot in Korea, I thought everything will going to be okay. I know how to speak their language and their cultural background but it has never been easy. Everything from my past keeps me from stepping forward. Studying in a foreign land is hard. I cried many times but I'm proud of myself, I survived.
After a long time, I'm going back to the place where everything started. If it was not for Alvie, my best friend, I don't have any plan on returning. She'll finally get married and she'll probably kill me if I will not show up.
Chan gave me a ride to my house. Mom was preparing the dinner when we arrived, making my glutton friend stay until dinner. Mom loves him. Sometimes I ask myself if I'm her child. Even Zeck, my older brother likes him, too. I often get out of place whenever they talk.
Well, Zeck has two daughters who look like me. They call me mom, too. If we don't have a flight early in the morning tomorrow, Chan will surely stay up late. Everyone calls him Seol when we were in college but decided to change it into Chan because we always mistakenly respond in chorus whenever someone calls us.
"Are you sure you're going back to the Philippines?"
I am working on my novel when Mom enters my room. She's holding a tray with a teapot and cups on it. I stare at her old face.
If there's someone who's hurting the most until now, it was her. After what happened to our family, she stayed up strong but I know deep inside, the cut in her heart still hurts.
Ten years ago, I thought I have a perfect family. My parents were businessmen and we own a lot of businesses and properties. My brother works here and has his own business, too.
We were happy, not until one day, my father made a mistake which turned our life upside down. He spent the money they saved for our future to her mistress and casino.
I never heard anything about it from Zeck but he decided to keep us with him. Until now, I never heard of our father and I don't have any plan of knowing.
"My best friends are getting married. Alvie will surely kill me if I'll not show up this time." I answered without glancing at her.
"I mean... he's surely been there, too. Are the two of you already talk?"
That hits me hard. We're standing on the same ground, breathing the same air, but we never meet each other.
He's all I can see everywhere and he's the talk of the town. He reached his goals and so do I. I teach life lessons and he touches the heart and soul of everyone who listens to his music.
"It's already in the past, Mom. If we meet, then be it. We have our own lives now. He lives his life, I live mine. Let's not bring the past up. He chose to leave and do things alone what we promised to do together. That's life. It's never fair. All you have to do is to pick yourself up, learn from it, and start over again."
Chan picked me up early in the morning. It will be his first time in the Philippines. He can understand a little Filipino and often gossip with my mom. He's like Jedd, he's so jolly that you won't get bored whenever he's around.
I suddenly missed those dorks. Alvie is a teacher in a private school in Manila, Chalk has a dance school for kids, Jedd is managing his restaurant, and Kollin is busy with his parent's businesses. I don't know how am I going to face them. After we broke up, I cut all the connections I have with them. It's only two years ago when I and Alvie get in touch because my mom gave her my phone number.
I have never opened my email since then, even my social media accounts. I focused on forgetting all the bad things that happened to me.
"Are you okay?"
I smiled at Chan's question. Am I okay? I don't know how to answer that question so I just nod.
We checked in to the hotel where the wedding venue is. Maybe because her cousin will come so he must not be seen in public. It was their hotel anyway that's why I have no right to go against my best friend's will.
"Let's part our ways here. I'll be busy with the photoshoot but let's go back to Korea afterward, okay?"
"Fine. Enjoy your stay here, Chan. I'll meet Alvie tonight. Just call me if something came up."
I phoned Alvie that I'm already in the hotel and after almost an hour, a knock on my door shook my sleepy mind. She throws herself at me, making me lost my balance.
"Darn you, little wench! Why did you show up just now?" she cried.
"I'm a busy strong independent woman. I'm busy at the University. I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.”
"Just because you now live in Korea means you're allowed to forget me? You're just like my cousin."
Her last words shut me up.
"I told you, I'm busy at the University. My seniors make me do a lot of stuff—and you know that I need to busy myself for me to forget everything."
She tapped my shoulder and squeezed my arm.
"You know that you don't have to keep it all to yourself. Your friends are here. We're here. The problem with you is that just because you and Phoenix broke up, you also broke up with us."
I wanted to cry but I can't. It seems like all my tears finally run dry. She gave me the gown I'm going to wear at her wedding and reminded me about the rehearsal tomorrow. We had talked a little more before she decided to take a rest and for me to take a nap from the flight.
SolAs usual, I wasn't able to fall asleep. I keep thinking of how am I going to react when we meet. For 10 years, I did all my might to avoid him at all costs. I did a pretty good job, I guess, not until my dearest best friend decided to get married. Of course, he will be the best man and I'm the maid of honor. It's a given since the bride is her cousin. I tried thinking about excuses I can tell Alvie so I would not need to go back in this place but she threatened me so I had no other option but to agree. I'm wearing a loose shirt and long skirt when I went to the rehearsal. I let my hair down and adjusted my eyeglasses. I didn't intend to make a scene but Jed and Kollin ran to me.I should be running away but my feet got stuck and the last thing I got to say is,"Sho
SolToday is the day. Everything is settled and everyone is excited. I can see how my best friend's eyes twinkle as she walks down the aisle. It seems like she's the happiest woman in the whole universe.The ceremony had started when someone came, getting the attention of all the people in the venue.He apologized and motioned the priest to continue what he's doing in a stupid way that made everyone laugh, except me.His hair is dyed white like Jack Frost. His smiles were the same but he looks tired because of the circles under his eyes.Our eyes met, and for the first time in after ten years, my heart skips a beat and seems like millions of needles fissure my heart.I look away and tried to avoid his gaze the whole ceremony but I can feel that he's staring at me. Our hands touch many times as we do our p
Sol11 YEARS AGOEirie Solleigh Santos2nd Year Education Student"Irheobeorin chae Oemyeonhaneun geot gata Chameul subakke eobseo Nuneul gamjiman~""SOL! MAGPATULOG KA NAMAN! BUKAS KA NA BUMIRIT! ANSAKIT MO SA TENGA EH!" binato pa nya ako ng unan."Bakit ba? ginusto mong matulog dito, edi magtiis ka." I sticked out my tongue in front of my kuya.Siya na nakikitulog sya pa may ganang magreklamo. Hindi ko naman siya pinilit na matulog sa kwarto ko. Siya na nga lang ang nakikisuyo, siya pa may ganang magreklamo."Ewan ko sayo. As if naman mapapansin ka ng mga koreanong yan. Pinapaasa mo lang sarili mo."Sinamaan ko lang sya ng tingin. Napakasama talaga ng ugali netong lalaking 'to. Bakit ba ako nagkaroon ng kuyang unggoy?"Tsaka bakit andaming kalat sa pader ng kwarto mo? Ano na namang kabaliwan 'yan?
I was still in a bad mood until I got home.Buti nalang talaga at half day lang yung pasok ko ngayon. Di na nga ako nakapagpaalam kina Alvie eh.If you're wondering who is Ronan, he was my almost-boyfriend. For a fan girl like me, it’s impossible to like a guy other than my idol. You may think I’m overacting but you can ask any fan girl and they’ll say the same thing—unless that normal guy is exceptionally good or we saw something that made him stand out.Ronan and I’s relationship didn't turn out well because he fell in love with another girl. Nasaktan ako? Malamang.Sino bang hindi? Umasa ako eh. Kaso pinagmukha niya akong tanga. Not to sound too bitter but that’s what actually happened.Too ease my already bad mood, kinuha ko nalang yung phone ko. Mag sspazz nalang ako. Medyo busy kami ni Avie sa mga reportings pero that doesn’t mean we’ll stop doing what we’re used to.
"Kuya! Bibili lang ako sa labas!" Hindi ko na hinintay yung sasabihin ni Kuya. 6 PM na din pala. Hindi ako nakakakain ng dinner. Wala kasing mga katulong sa bahay. Nakakasulasok naman yung luto ni kuya. Bibili nalang ako ng cup noodles kaysa naman ma-food poison pa ako dahil sa kanya HAHAHA. The windblow is a little colder now. Nakalimutan ko palang magdala ng jacket. Hayst, ako na tanga. Nahahawa na yata ako sa pagiging makakalimutin ni Lay. Habang naglalakad ako, may nagpatong naman ng jacket sa balikat ko. Huminto ako para mak
7 pm na din at may mga bisita pa rin sa baba. Balak pa ba nilang makipag dinner dito? Nakaupo ako sa terrace ng kwarto ni Alvie. Nasabi ko na ba? Mayaman sila. Nasa America kasi yung papa nya. Napatingin ako sa garden nila. Nandun si Phoenix, kasama nung mga barkada nya. Nag iinuman yata. "Sol." Napalingon ako sa nagsalita. Si Alvie lang pala. Mukha siyang tanga kasi ngingiti-ngiti siya na parang nakasinghot ng sampung katol. "Baliw ka?" I asked her. "Oo bes! Baliw na baliw!” sabay tawa pa niya, “Ang gwapo talaga nya~" Napakunot yung noo ko. Sino na naman ba bukod sa BTS, EXO, Bigbang, Seventeen, Astro at iba pang boy group? "Si Chalk! May gas!" "Nasaan yung gas? Inlab ka sa chalk bes?" Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Alvie. "Ang jeje mo be
I didn’t get enough sleep. These days Mom and Dad are always in an argument. Sometimes they get too loud but whenever they see me, they both tone down your voice or Mom will ask me to go out first, ask me to run some errands but I’m not stupid enough to know that they are fighting. I guess that’s just part of marriage life."May problema ba?"I glanced at Ronan who is watching me carefully. We’re in the office. Did I mention that I’m part of the school newspaper’s staff? I just smiled at him. It’s been a week since I last talk."Tara sa food court dali."Bago pa ako makapagreact, kinaladkad na nya ako palabas. All eyes looking at us. Bakit? Sinong hindi magtataka? Alam yata ng buong College of Teacher Education yung drama ng buhay namin ni Ronan."Kumusta ka?"He asked me as long as we got our seats in the corner.
I noticed how my parents more often my parents have quarrel now. I don’t want to actually meddle because it’s not my place to do so."You can't do this to us!"Napahinto ako sa tapat ng kwarto nina Mommy. I guess it’s one of those days again. Sometimes it’s getting tiring. They won’t fight when Zeck is here and kinda wish he’s here right now. Mom’s voice is too loud I’m afraid the neighbors will hear."I'm sorry, but I don't have any option. I didn't mean it..." Dad's voice broke. Curious of what they are fighting about this time, I stand closer to the door and try to eavesdrop."Di mo man lang inisip yung anak mo! Bakit ngayon mo lang sinasabi?! Matagal na pala yan!"Biglang bumukas yung pinto kaya gulat silang tumingin s