Chapter Text
“Won, ano ulam mo?” tanong ni Mingyu habang nakasilip sa ulam ni Wonwoo.
Sa isang buwan ata nilang halos magkasama sa tuwing kakain at uuwi, sanay na si Wonwoo na kasama si Mingyu. Sanay na rin siya na madalas humingi si Mingyu ng ulam niya dahil simula nang matikman nito ang Asado ng tatay niya, hindi na nito pinalagpas na tikman ang mga luto nito dahil sarap na sarap siya.
“Hindi talaga ako papayag na kapag pumunta ako sa inyo, hindi ko matitikman yung luto ni Tito,” sabi ni Mingyu sabay kuha sa Menudo na ulam ni Wonwoo.
“I don’t think so. Sa mga kuha mo basta-basta ng ulam ko, I don’t give you a chance anymore. Paldo ka na,” Wonwoo replied.
“Edi hindi ka na rin makakatikim ng luto ko. Ayaw mo pala akong bigyan, eh. Ang sarap ko pa naman magluto.” Mingyu pouted. “Tsaka ayoko rin pala talagang magluto kapag may pasok dahil ang aga dapat magising kapag gano’n.”
“But what’s your specialty?” Wonwoo couldn’t help but ask. He still couldn’t believe that for someone who was almost perfect and highly independent for his age, Mingyu knew how to cook different dishes. Lagi niya iyong ipinagmamalaki habang naglalakad sila pauwi.
“Hmm. Siguro kare-kare or palabok? Something easy lang.”
“Puta, ‘wag ka ngang pa-humble! That’s not an easy dish!”
“For me, it’s an easy meal to cook. Sorry,” sagot ni Mingyu, halatang nagmamayabang.
“Wow, si Wonwoo ba ’to? Baka kambal lang, kasi there’s no way Wonwoo would get here at Dunkin before us,” salubong ni Jeonghan habang tinatakpan ang bibig niya sa gulat pag-akyat nila sa second floor ng Dunkin.
Wonwoo rolled his eyes, but he was too guilty to deny it. Mingyu, in his worst possible way, changed some parts of Wonwoo that he never knew were helpful for his mental well-being in the workplace. As much as he hated it because it wasn’t what he was used to and wasn’t part of his routine, he had to admit that some of those changes were not entirely bad.
But in all honesty, he wanted to thank Mingyu for making him explore every street in Mandaluyong.
For making him take the longer route home just because there was a newly opened café nearby. For making him stop by random food stalls he would have normally ignored. For making ordinary weekdays feel less repetitive than they used to.
It was annoying, really.
Because before Mingyu came along, work was just work. Home was just home. The streets of Mandaluyong were merely roads he passed through every day without much thought.
Now, he found himself remembering which streets Mingyu liked to walk through, which convenience stores he frequently visited, and which food stalls he insisted were worth trying.
It was ridiculous.
And if he happened to look forward to their walks home more than he should, it was only because having someone to talk to made the commute less boring.
Nothing more. Definitely nothing more.
Because if there was one thing Wonwoo was sure of, it was that he enjoyed the company—not the person.
At least, that was what he kept telling himself.
“Wonwoo Jeon? Ikaw ba yan? O kambal mo lang? Kasi there’s no way a Wonwoo Jeon would be here before us.” Sabi ni Jeonghan nang pagkaakyat sa 2nd floor.
“Kaya nga. That’s not Wonwoo, that was Patricia,” Seungkwan added, biglang sumulpot sa likod ni Jeonghan. “Gulat kami, eh. Wala na siya sa taas bigla. Nag-CR lang naman kami ni Jeonghan.”
“Gutom na kasi ako,” sagot ni Wonwoo. “Tsaka kaya lang naman kayo nagpa-late kasi alam ni Jeonghan na absent si Sir Cheol.”
“Wonwoo, ako lang ’to, oh! Para namang others ’to,” sabi ni Jeonghan. “One week na kaming hindi nag-uusap, kaya dedma.”
“Kaya pala absent si Cheol, eh. Grabe, hungover. Nag-away kayo?” patawang tanong ni Mingyu kay Jeonghan.
“First things first, bakit kami mag-aaway, eh wala naman kaming label?” tanong ni Jeonghan habang nakapamewang.
“Sino ang ayaw magbigay ng label, te?” Seungkwan rolled his eyes at Jeonghan.
Tumawa na lang sina Wonwoo at Mingyu dahil nag-aasaran na naman sina Seungkwan at Jeonghan sa harap nila. Sayang lang talaga at wala sina Cheol at Seok dahil sabay silang nagkasakit, o baka ginamit lang talaga ang sick leave nila. Si Cheol kasi ay totoong nagkaroon ng hangover dahil sa dami ng nainom niya kagabi, pero si Seok ay talagang may sakit daw dahil nahawa sa kanyang nobyo.
“Won, una na ’ko. Hintayin mo na sila matapos?” tanong ni Mingyu sa kasama.
“Yeah. I have to. Baka asarin pa nila ako for that,” sagot ni Wonwoo, at tumawa naman si Mingyu.
“Okay.” Mingyu stood up and picked up all of their trash on the table. “See you later, Pal!” Kumaway siya kay Wonwoo at ngumiti.
Ano daw? Pal?
Pal as in close friend? Buddy?
That’s what Mingyu decided to call him? Pinag-isipan pa talaga, ah? Classic kumbaga. Para bang siya lang sa buong mundo ang nakaisip no’n.
And strangely enough, Wonwoo liked it.
He liked the idea of Mingyu considering him a close friend. A buddy. Someone worth keeping around.
That’s fine.
That doesn’t erase the fact that he always wanted to be right beside Mingyu whenever he could.
As a friend.
Or at least, that was what he kept convincing himself.
“Awit, ate. Na pal-zoned,” sabi ni Seungkwan bigla. “Yung totoo, Wonwoo? Wala ba talaga kayo ni Mingyu? Like, hanggang doon lang ’yon?”
“Narinig niyo naman, ’di ba? Pal nga daw,” inis na sagot ni Wonwoo.
“Yeah, we get it. But for you? Wala ka bang feelings sa kanya? I saw how you’re putting too much effort in there. Like, you’re not your usual self anymore. Not that it’s bad. But I thought maybe you’re starting to open your heart to someone?” Jeonghan added.
“He’s really a big part of what you saw today, Han. Okay naman kami this way. I think it’s way better like this. It’s actually a good thing that I got pal-zoned, to be honest, so that I couldn’t expect more,” Wonwoo replied.
There. He said it. As much as he appreciates and he somehow felt butterflies on his stomach everytime Mingyu would take the tinik of his fish, how he ties his shoelaces whenever it’s getting loose, or everytime his making sure that Wonwoo is comfortable and not pushing himself way too hard to communicate with people. And also for respecting Wonwoo on how he get easily turn off his social battery.
All that is enough for Wonwoo to appreciate that Mingyu values and understands him.
And if that’s all friends doing to their friends, then it’s not Wonwoo’s place to demand more if that’s just Mingyu doing his job as a good friend. He shouldn’t ask for more if that’s what he’s giving because Wonwoo would be lying if he will say that he’s longing for that.
Hindi na dapat umasa dahil mabait lang talaga siya. At kung mag hangad pa siya ng mas sobra pa sa pagkakaibigan na meron sila ngayon, baka masira lang ang isa sa mga bagay na pinapahalagahan niya ngayon.
Baka dumating sa punto na hindi na siya yayain ni Mingyu kumain tuwing lunch break. Baka hindi na siya hintayin nito pagkatapos ng trabaho. Baka hindi na siya tawaging “Pal” sa paraang tila natural na natural para rito.
And that thought alone was enough to make Wonwoo step back. Because maybe having Mingyu as a friend was already a privilege on its own.
Maybe this was all he was meant to have. A seat beside Mingyu during lunch. A familiar face during long work days. A person who understood him without asking too many questions.
And maybe that should be enough.
So if Mingyu only sees him as a friend, then Wonwoo would gladly stay as one.
He would keep walking beside him. Keep listening to his endless stories.
Keep pretending that his heart doesn’t beat a little faster whenever Mingyu smiles at him.
Because some people are worth keeping, even if they were never meant to be yours.
And if loving Mingyu meant settling for friendship, then perhaps that wasn’t such a bad deal after all.
At least Mingyu was here. At least Mingyu stayed.
And for now, that was more than enough for Wonwoo to quietly wish for—and never enough for him to hope for more.
“Pal, gusto mo daan ka sa bahay sa weekend?” tanong ni Mingyu pagkatapos kunin kay Wonwoo ang bag niya dahil alam nito na madalas nang sumakit ang balikat ni Wonwoo kapag mabigat ang dala.
“Huh? No! Why would I?” Wonwoo made a face.
“Paglutuan kita roon! Sakto wala rin sila Mama at Papa kasi magta-travel sila sa Taiwan. Si Minseo naman kasama boyfriend over the weekend.”
“At tayo lang dalawa sa bahay niyo that time?” Wonwoo exclaimed.
“Huy! Anong akala mo? I’ll never do something you’re not comfortable with, ’no! Good boy ata ’to,” Mingyu replied with a defensive face.
Kahit hindi naman sabihin ni Mingyu iyon ay alam ni Wonwoo kung gaano siya kabuting tao. Mingyu has this side that he’s too shy to express, but since he’s too kind, nailalabas niya rin somehow. Mingyu is a great friend, brother, son, and person, and who wouldn’t keep their eyes on Mingyu?
He’s nice, somehow handsome—or too handsome—and a smart guy. Kahit minsan ay kailangan niya pang ipa-calculate kay Wonwoo ang order nila sa Dunkin, pamasahe sa jeep, o sobrang baryang naibigay ng cashier sa 7/11, he’s smart in his own way.
Kaya there’s no way some of the people who are fascinated by good looks and personality wouldn’t fall for someone like him.
Kaya nga when he saw a girl next to Mingyu while he was waiting for him sa Dunkin, kasi sanay naman talaga silang mag-lunch together, napaisip siya.
Because the girl in front of him right now was somehow already clingy to Mingyu.
Nakahawak lang naman ito sa braso ni Mingyu, at mukhang ine-enjoy naman nito kung paano siya kapitan ng babae.
And somehow, that made Wonwoo feel sick.
Nawalan tuloy siya ng gana.
“Pal, okay lang ba if kasabay natin si Inah kumain? She’s our newly hired HR Assistant Manager in our company,” Mingyu proudly said.
So to put all of this into words, Inah would be with him almost every day since under na siya ng department ni Mingyu.
Maybe sabay na silang kakain lagi.
May maaaya na ring iba si Mingyu na umuwi.
O kumain sa paborito niyang siomai rice ni Kuya Joel.
And maybe he doesn’t need to be with him anymore because he already has someone who’s not boring at all.
At least, that’s what Wonwoo thought.
“Ah, no. Actually, sa office na lang ako kakain because I still have work to do.” Tumayo agad siya sa kinauupuan niya. “Inah, nice to meet you. I’ll go ahead na, ha? Enjoy your lunch.”
“Pal—” tawag ni Mingyu sa kanya, pero dali-dali siyang umalis dala ang ulam niyang fried chicken.
Paglabas niya ay saktong nandoon din sila Seungkwan kasama sina Vernon at Jeonghan.
“Wons, bakit? Tapos na kayo agad kumain? Ang bilis naman,” reklamo ni Jeonghan. “Sama ka sa amin, kakain lang kami saglit. Very quick.”
“No. Ano lang—masakit tiyan. Bibili lang ng gamot. Una na kayo.” Wonwoo just replied to them, and he quickly disappeared from their sight.
Right now, he just wants to eat in peace and alone.
Hindi niya rin alam bakit parang may sakit siyang nararamdaman, eh parang iyon lang naman?
Mingyu is always free to have a friend whenever he wants. Marami rin naman talagang gustong maging friend dahil mabait siya.
But Wonwoo felt weird about it when he saw Inah clinging onto Mingyu.
Kasi sa totoo lang, hindi naman masyadong madamot si Wonwoo. Nagbibigay siya kapag kailangan, at considerate rin siya sa iba.
Hindi niya lang alam bakit noong may nakita siyang babae na ka-office mate ni Mingyu na kumapit sa braso niya habang nag-oorder sila ng pagkain sa Dunkin, parang may gusto siyang ipagdamot.
Parang may gusto siyang bawiin.
Parang may gusto siyang ilayo.
At mas lalong nakakainis dahil alam niyang wala naman siyang karapatan para maramdaman iyon.
Pero paano nga naman siya magdadamot sa isang alam niyang hindi niya pagmamay-ari?
He’s busy overthinking while watching Running Man when suddenly his phone vibrates.
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
What happened to you?
Wonwoo
i ate sa office.
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
But your friends said masakit daw tiyan mo sabi mo?
Ano ba talaga?
Wonwoo
wala. i’m just kidding at them.
can you just eat peacefully there?
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
Ayaw. hindi ako makakuha ng ulam mo eh.
Wonwoo
whatever. you can eat without my food. you can buy whatever you want there.
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
But hindi ikaw yung kasama ko
Wonwoo
pasama ka na lang kay inah :)
bye i’ll eat na
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
Iba naman siya eh.
Wonwoo didn’t reply after that, at wala na ring follow-up message si Mingyu. He didn’t know what he meant by his last message to him. Right now, he just wants to forget how he met Inah, and how close she was to Mingyu.
Kaya Wonwoo spent his remaining hours sa office na tanong nang tanong sa head niya kung may need pang gawin o may iuutos pa sa kanya. Akala na nga ng boss niya ay nagpapaimpress siya for promotion o baka gagamitin ang Vacation Leave niya, pero none of the above talaga dahil gusto lang niyang makalimot.
Sa sobra nga ay muntik niya pang yayain sina Jeonghan mag-samgyup kahit hindi naman siya gutom kasi ayaw niya lang kasabay si Mingyu umuwi. Pero siya na lang ang gumawa ng paraan para iwasan si Mingyu. Ayaw niya na rin namang magastusan siya, at gusto na lang niyang umuwi nang tahimik.
Wonwoo
mingyu, una na ko uwi. may emergency lang sa bahay.
Oh, God knows how sorry he is for his guardian angels right now because of his lies para lang maiwasan si Mingyu. At baka kasi makita niya pa rin na kasama nito si Inah.
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
Hala, ano yun? Do you want me to come with you?
Wonwoo
no need. ingat ka na lang sa byahe. may kasabay ka ba umuwi ngayon?
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
I’ll teach Inah lang how to commute, nagpapaturo eh.
Yan, Wonwoo, tangina, karma mo ’yan!
May patanong-tanong ka pa kasing nalalaman, eh pwede mo naman i-close na lang ang mouth at i-cure na lang ang pagiging curious!
Wonwoo
right. okay. ingat.
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
Ingat, Pal! Message me when you get home :)
And Wonwoo, being as stubborn as he is, messaged Mingyu but treated him coldly. He continuously acted that way hanggang sa malapit nang mag-isang linggo na hindi niya ito sinasabayan mag-lunch at umuwi.
Sinasabi na ni Mingyu na aakyatin niya ito sa office, o kaya naman ay sinasabi kina Jeonghan na pakipilit si Wonwoo na bumaba, pero lagi siyang nakakahanap ng lusot at hindi siya nauubusan ng dahilan.
Hanggang sa isang araw, hindi na lang ito bigla-biglang nag-message sa kanya para kulitin siya.
Hinayaan niya na lang iyon dahil baka busy lang sa work, pero hindi niya pa rin mapigilan na tanungin sina Jeonghan at Seungkwan kung nakita ba nila sa baba si Mingyu para kumain.
“Hindi, eh. Sabi nila Cheol, ayaw daw bumaba. Wala ring gana. Ayaw din naman daw sabihin ni Mingyu sa kanila kung bakit, pero baka may problema lang siya,” sagot ni Jeonghan sa kanya.
“Huwag ka mag-alala, Wons. Pinadalhan naman siya ni Sir Cheol ng kape sa Dunkin at sandwich. Message mo na lang din if ever you’re worried,” dagdag pa ni Seungkwan.
Ita-type na sana niya ang message kay Mingyu para kamustahin ito nang biglang nagpatawag ang boss nila ng meeting at tinambakan agad siya ng trabaho.
Sineryoso ata na nag-a-aim siya for promotion, eh hindi naman talaga!
This day had been really tiring for Wonwoo since nonstop paperwork ang pinapagawa sa kanya. Ni hindi niya na nga mamessage si Mingyu, pero sakto nang mag-5:00 sharp, nakatanggap siya ng text message mula rito.
Bon (Mingyu Kim)
Pal, if you’re mad at me, pwede taympers muna? I just wanna be with you tonight.
Wonwoo
may 250 ka pa sa akin. kain tayo sa siomai rice ni kuya joel? :) see you, bon.
Wonwoo doesn’t know how to make Mingyu feel better, kaya bringing him to his favorite siomai rice stall by Kuya Joel is the safest way because he saw how tired Mingyu’s eyes were when he saw him coming near.
Pagkalapit ni Mingyu sa kanya ay sumandal lang ito sa balikat niya at walang ibang sinabi kundi isang malalim na buntong-hininga. Buti na lang at wala nang masyadong tao around the area, kasi kung meron ay baka pagtinginan sila.
Siya na ang nag-order ng siomai rice ni Mingyu. Kinuha na lang ni Wonwoo sa 250 ni Mingyu ang pambayad sa siomai rice nito, habang si Wonwoo naman ang nagbayad ng mismong order niya.
“It’s okay if you’re not ready to kwento pa. Just eat,” sabi ni Wonwoo dahil pansin niyang nakatingin lang si Mingyu sa pagkain.
“Ang hirap lang, Wons,” panimula ni Mingyu. “Kung kaya ko lang talaga na i-hire yung mga fresh grads, I would do it without a single thought. Because I know they need it, they deserve a job, pero hanggang doon lang talaga yung kailangan, eh.”
Wonwoo didn’t answer. He just let Mingyu let out his frustrations because he could clearly see how down he was.
“Sobrang hirap.” Hinilot ni Mingyu ang sintido niya. “Parang ako lang dati, yung nahihirapan maghanap. Sobrang hassle, stressful. Kaya kung kaya ko lang talaga silang tanggapin lahat, gagawin ko, eh, kasi alam ko kung gaano kahirap. I just want to let them breathe kasi kita ko rin how tired they are sa pag-apply.”
Mingyu has literally the kindest heart and soul because hanggang sa paglabas niya ng opisina ay inaalala niya pa rin ang mga applicants sa company nila.
And somehow, that didn’t surprise Wonwoo anymore.
Because this was Mingyu.
The same person who would remember everyone’s orders.
The same person who would walk slower whenever Wonwoo was tired.
The same person who carried other people’s worries as if they were his own.
“There will be a time that the right doors would open for them, Mingyu,” softly said Wonwoo. “Hindi man ngayon, pero darating din ‘yon. Maybe this rejection isn’t the end of their story. Maybe it’s just leading them somewhere they’re supposed to be.”
Tahimik lang na nakinig si Mingyu.
“You already did your part. You listened to them. You gave them a chance to be heard. You treated them like people and not just applicants.”
“You’re right. Hindi ko lang maiwasan na malungkot for them. Syempre sobrang hirap talaga, tapos baka kailangan talaga nila ’yon kasi baka sila lang ang inaasahan sa kanila,” Mingyu sighed heavily.
“That is something you cannot control anymore, Bon. Wala kang pagkukulang, ang gobyerno natin ang meron,” Wonwoo said.
Mingyu suddenly looked at him intently.
“Bon? Why are you calling me Bon? What does it mean?” Mingyu asked, while Wonwoo was now avoiding his eyes.
“Wala, naisip ko lang. Sabi ko parang cool yung Bon, edi tinawag ko sa’yo,” Wonwoo said.
“There’s no meaning behind it?” Mingyu asked again.
“Bakit? Yung Pal din naman ah,” Wonwoo exclaimed.
And just like that, they were back to normal.
Sabay na ulit silang umuwi at nagpatuloy ang pag-uusap nila sa iMessage hanggang sa makatulog silang parehas.
Kinabukasan, sinabi ni Mingyu na may iba nang kasabay si Inah mag-lunch dahil may naging kaibigan naman daw ito agad on her second day, kaya bumaba siya para sabay silang mag-lunch ni Mingyu.
“Hi, Pal.” Mingyu greeted him with a genuine smile on his face. He smiled and waved at him.
Na para bang miss na miss ang isa’t isa sa ngiti na abot hanggang mata, ah!
“Huy, si Pal pala ’to, eh,” pagbati ni Cheol kay Wonwoo. “Long time no see, Sir Wons!”
“Nandito na pala si Pal,” biglang sulpot naman sa tabi nito si Seok. “Ang PALagi ni Gyu.”
Nagkatinginan naman sina Mingyu at Wonwoo pagkatapos sabihin iyon ni Seok.
“Tanga-tanga ka talaga!” pagbatok ni Cheol kay Seok.
So all this time, his nickname “Pal” coming from Mingyu wasn’t from friend or buddy at all.
It came from being his palagi.
Mingyu’s everyday. Just the person who was always there.
And maybe that should have meant nothing.
But to Wonwoo, it meant everything.