(KARINA)

[Frosty☃️]

[Good Morning, Rina😊☀️]
[Rina, pasensya na kagabi kasi masama ang pakiramdam ko]

[Dito na ako sa baba ng condo mo]
[Sabay tayo]

Winter is really crazy. You just got embarrassed by your thoughts, so you immediately went home. When I went down, Winter was there, waiting where the visitors usually sit. Manong guards already knows her.

Sanay na ako sa mga thoughts ni Winter about me but yung last yung first wild thoughts niya sa akin.

"Frosty! Pasok na tayo. Then I finished soldering, tested it, and now we just need to place it in the chassis. It's working, so we don't have any issues with basic electronics. As for our workshop project, let's do it at your place since you have a 3D printer, right?" ang cling ko na arm niya na labas namin ng condo.

"Sorry, hindi na kita nahelp kagabi. Sumama kasi pakiramdam ko."

"Kakahiya talaga badtrip may kumislot pa sa akin at ayaw ko na isipin. Buti sa isip ko lang nangyari baka isipin ni Rina ay manyak ako."

I suddenly giggled. If only you knew, Winter, I can read your thoughts.

"Bakit ka natatawa?"

"Nothing, I just thought of something funny," I chuckled with my hand covering my mouth.

"Bakit ganun kapag kasama ko si Rina lagi siyang natatawa? Mukha ba akong clown? Pero ang ganda niya lalo kapag tumatawa lalo nagiging smiley eyes yung mga mata niya."

"Sige, Yung sa workshop pala natin ay sembreak natin gawin or may sched ka for that week?"

"May gagawin sana na supposed to go out of the country with my parents, but let's do it this sembreak. Cancel ko na lang. Also, because after next week, Elle and Ning will be back to volleyball practice. We were just given a break, but, of course, conditioning is needed for the upcoming league."

"Sure ka, Icacancel mo?" her forehead furrowed.

"Yes," I smiled back at her.

Fortunately, it rained before we went out. We planned to wait for it to stop, but classes were about to start. I borrowed an umbrella from the guard. Winter opened it, but I took over because she was holding it too low.

"Hindi naman romantic na ako dapat maghahawak ng payong. Ako yung magpapayong. Bakit kasi mas matangkad sa akin si Rina? Mukha tuloy akong bata pagkatabi niya. Matatangkad pa naman yung mga tumitingin kay Captain. Maitanong nga type ni Rina minsan."

Honestly, one of my preferences is someone taller than me, and Winter doesn't fit that criterion. However, there's always an exception, and Frosty is that exception.

It doesn't really matter if ako ang magpayong to her and I liked it pa kasi mukha siyang small puppy that shouldn't get wet.

Pagkarating namin ng University, Winter asked me.

"Rina, anong type mo? boyfriend or girlfriend? Tapos ano ang preference mo?"

"Do you have someone to refer to me?" was my sarcastic response as we headed to our first class.

"Ako sana. Wehhhh. Sabihin mo nga ng malakas, Winter. Syempre hindi. Mahina pa buto mo pero lalakas din ito pero sana hindi pa huli."

"Ako pa tinanong mo kayo lang kilala ko," ang calm niyang sabi.

"Hmmmm... I prefer a girlfriend, of course. I like a girl who is taller than me, has long hair, and has a cat-face type. As for physical traits, those are preferences. When it comes to mental and emotional traits, I appreciate someone who is kind, open to conversation, gentle, caring, a bit clingy, honest, and willing to correct me if I'm wrong. Also, someone who knows how to cook because I'm not good at it."

"Hala, doon palang sa matangkad. Talo na ako. Short hair pa ako. Tapos sabi nila mukha daw akong tuta. Caring naman ako at marunong magluto. Baka pwede ng pumasok sa banga. Daanin ko na lang sa luto. Sabi nila the key to the heart is stomach kaya busugin ko na lang si Karina sa pagmamahal ay sa pagkain pala."

"Well, Frosty, what's your type?"

"Ikaw."

"Huh?" My smile faltered as I stopped walking. My Frosty seemed to be getting bolder.

"Ah ibig ko sabihin na diba nasabi ko na kahapon na may nagugustuhan ako."

I just nodded, at hindi pala. Sige lang I'll wait for you to gather your courage. Then a girl approached me and confessed she had a crush on me. The girl approached nervously, holding a small bouquet of flowers and a handcrafted crochet dinosaur. May mga students na napatingin.

"Hi... I'm Rachel. I hope this isn't too forward, but I've had a crush on you since last year because you're so skilled in playing, and congrats on being a champion. I think you're amazing. I made this crochet dinosaur for you kasi alam kong mahilig ka sa dinosaur and these flowers... well, I thought they might brighten your day. I just wanted to let you know that you're appreciated."

Napatingin ako kay Winter and hindi niya matago yung pagkaannoy niya.

"Sino naman ito? Dami ko naman kaagaw kay Karina. Badtrip. Tapos mas matangkad pa kay Rina, long hair at mukhang pusa. Dibale mas cute naman ako. Bigyan ko si Karina ng dinosaur na gumagalaw pa pero nakakahanga siya na umamin."

I looked at the flowers and the crochet dinosaur she offered, and I took them, touched by her effort.

"Thank you and I appreciate the gesture, but I think it's important to be honest. I don't really know you, and I believe it's fair to say that I'm interested to someone na. I hope you understand, and I truly appreciate your kind words and the effort you put into these."

*****

"Ay pak.. ganda gandahan naman si bakla. In game naman sa kagandahan," ang biglang sabi ni Winter ng makita si Ning.

"Ganap na ganap naman ang mamshie ko, Aurang- aura ka. Anong mayroon?" Her sulking expression from earlier transformed into amazement as she looked at Ning.

"Ganda ba me, mamsh? Naamaze ka naman sa prettiness ko?" Ning's hair flip and catwalk in front of Winter. Winter was right; Ning has become even more beautiful since being rejected by Elle. She exudes more confidence, and she has gained more admirers. There's an increase in the number of letters left in her locker, and mentions on the confession and freedom page.

"Oo sobra," ang smile ni Winter.

"Kilig me. Paggaling sayo naniniwala me," ang cling ni Ning sa arms ni Winter.

"Sige na napuri na kita huwag ka ng magcling sa akin," ang tulak ni Winter kay Ning palayo sa kanya.

Elle's gaze towards Ning is a mix of admiration and a growing smile. 

" Why do I get annoyed with Winter when they get too close?"

"So, you won't believe me when I say you're incredibly beautiful?" was Elle's attention-grabbing question to Ning.

"Of course, Elle. Naniniwala me sayo."

"You've received gifts again from your admirers?" Ning greeted me upon seeing the flowers and crochet dinosaur. I do accept the gifts, but I make sure to be honest in rejecting them to help them move on sa akin.

I witnessed the disappointment on Elle's face when she lost Ning's attention.

"Yes, the crochet dino is lovely. I'll keep this," I proudly said, emphasizing it to Frosty, who was sulking beside me. Turns out, she's cute when she sulks.

"Sus, anong lovely? Maganda naman talaga pero ano naman pake ko. Tsaka sino yung someone else na interested si Captain. Sasarguhin ko lang."

Fudge, you're the someone I'm talking about, but girl, you're still mahina pa rin. Like hinihintay lang kita magfirst move.

"Ang ganda, right?" ang asked ko kay Frosty.

"Oo," Frosty gave an awkward smile and entered the room.

*****

I rested my head on Winter's shoulder and quietly asked for candy dahil I'm sleepy na sa tinuturo ng prof namin.

"Frosty, do you have candy there?" I whispered.

She just handed it to me.

Do you have a problem?" I asked.

"Wala nakafocus lang ako sa lesson natin," her response to me was serious yet calm and gentle.

"Naiinis ako kaso wala naman akong karapatan. Nireject nga niya yung babae ay tuwang tuwa naman siya doon sa bigay. Tapos napakahaba ng solution para lang sa isang problem pero gets ko naman. Magagamit ba yan pangalis ng inis?"

*****

After class, she remained silent, and a different kind of silence enveloped her, with no thoughts running through her mind. She was extremely serious, exuding an aura that one shouldn't approach, making her quite intimidating. Nagkatinginan lang kaming tatlo nila Elle and Ning. We're aware that Winter has boundaries, valuing personal space, especially when her social battery is depleted. We respect and understand her need for solitude. But she's kind of attractive when she's in super serious mode. She aced our quiz in differential equations earlier without asking me anything. Especially when Josh asked me a question, she gave him a different kind of look, raising her eyebrows before returning to her work.

So, I gave the flowers and crochet dino, even though I liked them, to the janitor, who was delighted. I saw Winter's face light up when I did that.

****

After the last class, Elle and Ning left first because they still needed to work on the power supply since they were partners too.

As Frosty and I walked towards my condo to finish the power supply project, she remained quiet, which was unusual since she's usually the one initiating the conversation.

Upon reaching the condo ay tahimik lang si Winter hanggang nakasakay kami ng elevator.

"Sorry," ang biglang salita ni Winter.

"For what?"

"Basta."

"Okay."

Pagkarating namin sa condo ko ay ginawa namin yung last part ng power supply. Winter assembled the board circuit, transformer, and everything else. We tested it, and it worked. The power supply accurately produced the desired voltage.

"Done na tayo," ang smile na ni Winter na high five sa akin.

"Pwede na tayo magpasa," ang dagdag na sabi ni Winter.

"Una na ako, Rina. By the way, sorry ulit kanina kasi nawala ako sa mood at biglang nanahimik. May time talaga ako naganun na sobrang tahimik," her apology again.

"It's okay and apology accepted na; not all the time are we okay and in the mood. Sometimes, we lose our mood. Also alam namin nila Elle and Ning yung ganong ugali mo na hindi ka masyado magalaw at tatahimik ka na pagubos na social battery mo.

"Do you need some alone time na ba?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Okay. Go home and take care while driving."

She left, and as the door closed behind her, I felt a sense of sadness because I still wanted to be with her. Kaso ano ba karapatan ko magdemand ng time niya? Need na rin niya ng alone time.

(WINTER)

Pababa na ako ng elevator at pakiramdam ko'y masama ako kay Rina. Ewan ko, naiinis ako sa sarili ko. Naiinis ako kapag may lumalapit kay Rina, pero ano nga ba ang karapatan ko? Hindi maiiwasan 'yun dahil sobrang ganda ni Rina. Sino ba 'yung someone else na 'yun?

Wala pa kasi akong lakas ng loob umamin. Hindi rin ako marunong mangligaw, kahit nagawa ko na yun dati. Tapos alam ko babae gusto ni Rina at mas malaki ang tyansa magustuhan niya ako more than friend. Kaso, wala rin akong flirting skills.

Hays, napahawak ako sa batok ko. Parang umuurong ang dila ko kasi kapag sinusubukan kong buksan ang feelings ko sa kanya. Marami pang takot sa isip ko, tulad ng, "What if mailang siya?" o "What if layuan niya ako?" Shuta.

Nagvibrate yung phone ko.

[Captain🏐]

[ingat.]

[thanks]

Ang pagkakabasa ko sa chat ni Rina. Siguro pansin din niya yung pagtahimik ko. Pasensya ganun talaga bigla bigla na lang tumatahimik. Pagbukas ng elevator ay umakyat ulit ako papunta sa unit ni Karina. Ayoko ng ganito yung feel. Magooverthink ako ng sobra.

Mabilis ako bumalik papuntang unit ni Karina. Nagdoor bell ako at nagsalita sa intercom.

"Rina si Winter ito," naghintay lang ng saglit at pinagbuksan niya ako.

"Ohh! Akala ko ba uuwi ka na? May nakalimutan ka ba?" ang gulat niya sabi na bumalik ako at parang wala rin sa mood.

"Hindi pa naman gabing-gabi. Labas tayo. Pahangin lang tayo at hindi pa pala tayo kumain. Kain lang tayo sa labas," ang aya ko.

Yung mukha niya na wala sa mood ay nakita ko napangiti. Hindi ko kasi kaya na ganito. Alam ko ako yung mali.

"Wait, I'll just change. I'm already going to bed na kasi," ang pagkakakita ko na nakapanjama na siya.

"Ay sorry," ang kamot ko sa ulo ko.

"If busy ka— No! Nagugutom din kasi ako. Wait lang," ang putol niya sa sinasabi ko.

Naghintay ako sa labas, nakasandal sa pader. Paglabas niya, nakasuot siya ng oversized t-shirt at cargo pants. Nakapatong din sa kanya ang black cap ko na alam kong sa akin kasi may nakaburda na W sa gitna sa harapan.

Napatingin ako sa kanya ng ilang minuto at napansin ko ang sobrang gandang taglay at the same time ang pogi niya. Hindi talaga nakakapagtaka na maraming magkagusto sa kanya.

"Why? Ganyan ka makatitig?" ang smirk ni Rina.

"Ang ganda mo kasi. Katulad ni Ning lagi kang ring in game sa ganda-gandahan," pabiro kong sabi habang lumalapit sa kanya, natutuwa sa kanyang kagandahan. Napansin ko ang reaksyon niya na lumiit yung mga mata niya. Napakaswerte ko talaga rin na naging kaibigan ko siya.

"Saan ba tayo?" tanong niya habang hawak ang bewang ko.

"Hmmm, ewan ko. Kung saan matripan paglabas natin," sabay ngiti ko sa kanya.

Pagbaba namin, pinagbuksan ko si Rina ng pinto ng kotse at binaba ko ang bubong dahil gabi na at hindi gaanong maraming tao. Nakapag-unwind kami sa hampas ng hangin. Bigla kong napansin ang ganda ni Rina, kaya napangiti ako nang hindi napapansin. Nang tingnan niya ako, agad kong binaling ang tingin ko sa daan. Naglibot kami, at buti na lang tapos na ang rush hour. May nadaanan kaming Jollibee kaya doon kami kumain.

Bumaba kami at pinapasok ko si Rina sa loob. Pumili kami sa counter at nagtinginan sa menu.

"Anong gusto mo, Rina?" tanong ko.

"Ikaw," biglang sagot niya, na nagpangiti sa akin at nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin.

"A-anong ako?" sabi ko, na medyo naantala sa kanyang sagot.

"Sabi ko ikaw? Anong order mo?" ang sabi niya, na nakangiti pa rin.

"Chicken sandwich with fries and Drinks," sabi ko habang nakatingin sa menu, na may kaunting kaba sa boses. Shuta mas grabe magpakaba si Rina kaysa sa kape.

"Sige, yun na lang din sa akin."

"Taya ko, Rina. Ako magbabayad," sabi ko.

"Sige sabi mo," sagot niya.

Matapos naming mag-order, sana ay kukunin ni Rina ang tray at siya ang magdadala, pero pinigilan ko ang kanyang kamay.

"Ako na," sabi ko, habang hawak ang tray.

"Okie," sagot niya. Sumunod ako sa kanya habang siya ang pumili ng aming upuan. Pagkaupo namin, inayos ko ang aming order habang kumakain kami at nagsimula ako magsalita.

"Bakit mo naman ibinigay sa iba yung crochet dino? Diba trip mo yun?"

"Trip ko but I'm concerned the person who gave it might misinterpret it as a sign of hope, even though there isn't any, or that I simply enjoy receiving gifts. I also noticed them following me," ang sagot niya at kagat doon sa sandwich na nagkaroon ng mayo doon sa