Karina

I squeezed Winter's hand while we were on the way to the restaurant. Kanina pa kami tinatawagan ni Ate, bakit daw ang tagal namin. My girlfriend had to calm me down! Halos hindi ako makahinga ng maayos kanina.

"Baby, dapat ako ang kinakabahan dito." She joked. 

I glared at her. She knows how nervous I am, kaya she's trying to lighten the mood. I appreciate the effort, baby, but hindi ko talaga kayang ngumiti ngayon.

Sinalubong kami ni Ate sa lobby ng hotel, "Rina, kalma." Natatawang sabi ni Ate, sinabi pa niya na sobrang stiff ko daw, "Win, akala ko ba kalmado na?"

"Akala ko din eh." I pinched her, "Aray naman, babe!" Saway nito sa akin.

Tinawanan lang nila akong dalawa ng tinignan ko sila ng masama. I can't believe how chill my girlfriend is. Nung na-meet ko nga si Tita ay halos mahimatay na ako, grabe lang ang nginig ko doon. She even saw us sa car! But the more I get to know Winter's family, I could see how Winter grew up to be who she is now.

Tita told me that she was only strict to Winter dahil palagi itong lutang tuwing nagco-commute, that's why she was relieved nung nalaman niyang hinahatid ko palagi si Winter and wants me to continue, I don't really mind.

"Hindi ba makulit si Minjeong?" Tita asked me, isang beses na nag-hangout kami ni Winter sa kanila, "Hindi ka naman naiinis sa kaniya diba? Minsan kasi magulo yung batang 'yon, tapos medyo matampuhin pa." Tuloy tuloy na sabi ni Tita.

I chuckled, "Hindi naman po siya makulit, but she's very matampuhin."

I remembered how she acted when we had our first ever tampuhan. It was our first monthsary. Hindi niya 'ko kinausap, I had to ask for help from Ryujin and Ning dahil sila lag ang kinakausap niya.

Ryujin laughed loudly, "Nag-selos sa inyo?" Ning has the same expression as Ryujin.

I nod, "Hmm. She won't talk to me." 

"Parang tanga talaga yon." Sabi ni Ning, "Hindi ka din pinapansin sa chat?"

Umiling ako, "She's been ignoring me."

"Wag mo din siya pansinin," Natatawang sabi ni Ryujin, "Tignan mo, ikaw pa susuyuin non."

I chuckled. 

She's been ignoring me since yesterday. Nagsimula yon when I accidentally ignored her text while talking to someone. The thing is, it was Jaehyun. Alam ni Winter na nakikipag-flirt sa akin 'to. Maybe he didn't get the sign that I'm WInter's.

"Wala namang magagalit diba?" He asked as he took a sit in front of me, "Solo ka lang ba?"

Parang hindi naman niya ako hinintay na sumagot? 

I cleared my throat, "I'm actually waiting for someone." 

His eyes widened, "Oh? Sino?"

"My girlfriend." I smiled.

"Ha?" Gulat na tanong niya, "So totoo pala yung rumor?" He asked, nung nakabawi na siya. He leaned on the table.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "What rumor?" He gestured me to come closer, so I did.

"Na you're dating Yeji?"

Yeji? San naman nila nakuha 'yon?

Bago pa ako maka-sagot ay dumako ang tingin ko sa labas kung saan nakita ko ang inaantay kong girlfriend ko na masama na ang tingin sa kasama ko. Sinundan ni Jaehyun ang paningin ko at nagtama ang mata nila ni Winter.

"It's Winter." I clarified before gathering my things at umalis na sa pwesto, para pumunta sa girlfriend ko.

Her forehead still creased. "Baby?" Tawag ko sakaniya.

Hindi niya 'ko pinansin. Diretso lang ang tingin niya habang naglalakad kami. I held her hand, pero hindi pa din siya namamansin. She looks sungit and cute at the same time. Some students kept glancing at our hands and I simply don't care anymore.

Today's our first monthsary. I just wanna spend my time with her, hangout for a while, and maybe a simple dinner would do? Just to celebrate our first month together. 

I followed Ryujin's advice. Ang hindi din siya pansinin. If this doesn't work until dismissal, it, bahala na.

Tapos na ang klase namin. I'm so drained. I just miss my girlfriend so much. When I got out of the room, Winter was leaning on the wall. Holding my favorite frappe on her right hand, while her left is on her pocket. Her eyes glistened when she saw me step out of the room.

"Dark Mocha?" She smiled as she gave me the frappe.

I think I have to treat Ryujin and Ningning to a meal.

We had a simple dinner at Ramen Nagi. Yes, doon. Trip down memory lane daw. Ang pinagkaiba lang, kami na, at alam niya na kung anong level ng spice ang gusto niya. She's very picky when it comes to food. 

Kanina pa siya hindi mapakali sa inuupuan niya. I asked her what's wrong pero ang sagot niya lang ay isang simpleng iling. Magka-hawak ang kamay namin habang naglalakad sa seaside ng MOA.

She keeps fidgeting, "Baby, ano 'yon?" I asked her again, napatigil ako nung huminto siya sa paglalakad. Humarap ako sa kaniya, "Babe?"

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, "Pwede bang t-turuan mo 'kong mag-drive?"

"Is that why you're nervous?" I chuckled.

She pursed her lips, "Nahihiya kasi ako, palagi nalang ikaw yung nagpapa-late ng uwi kahit na mas nauna yung tapos ng klase niyo." Nahihiyang sabi niya.

I pulled her for a hug. She's too cute. Really, really cute. 

I really can't with Winter's duality. She sometimes acts like a child, and sometimes...

"..." 

Her soft and warm hands roamed around my body, while her tongue was dangerously exploring my mouth. Her kisses went down to my jaw, and gently it.

I can't believe that this is the same Winter who was so shy while holding my hand on our first date.

"Baby...n-no marks," I reminded her.

The last time she left a mark on me, Ate Irene teased me non-stop.

She fixed her position on top of me before slighly leaning down to my neck. Her hand was on the hem of my shirt, gently lifting it up. My hand on her hair holding it tightly. Hindi ko alam kung paano ang nangyari pero nagulat nalang ako ng pareho na kaming walang pang-itaas.

She groaned when I kissed her deeply, and bit her lip. It sounded so insane. 

I'm going haywire. 

We both panted when we pulled away. Humiga siya sa tabi ko. Still breathing heavily. We both know that this is the farthest we can get. I'm not complaining tho. Seeing her half made me feel things on my stomach. Her black undergarment emphasizes her pale skin.

Pag-angat ko ng tingin sa kaniya ay nakangisi na siya sa akin, "Like what you see?" Pang-aasar niya.

"Hmm." I hummed and pulled her closer, my hand rested on her toned stomach, "Lalo na 'to." I said as I draw circles on it.

Tumawa lang siya at hinayaan ako sa gusto ko. After a couple of minutes, inangat niya ang comforter hanggang sa leeg namin, and scooted closer to me. She put her arm around my shoulder, and kissed my temple.

She mumbled something but I couldn't clearly hear it as I'm feeling so sleepy, "...I love you." The only thing that is clear to me.

It was our second monthsary. The twentieth of October. Few days before Ningning's birthday. We only planned a simple dinner again, we were both busy. Pareho kaming nagtatapos ng requirements sa mga subjects dahil kakatapos lang ng midterms. We've got lots of projects din.

 In the end we cancelled our dinner because both of us were busy. 

Pag-uwi ko ng bahay, hindi ko ineexpect na makaka-receive ako ng flowers.

"Karina Yoo po." Tawag sakin nung delivery boy. Nagpa-salamat ako matapos ko tanggapin ang bulaklak ay inusisa 'yon ni Ate

There was no card or whatsoever but I only know one person who would do this.

Ate scoffed, "Kainis kayong mag-jowa." She bitterly said.

I smiled as I admired the small bouquet of red tulips. Hmm...red tulips symbolizes passion, and romance. It can express that you are deeply in love.

My baby

My baby: Hi! 

My baby: Mahal koooo

My baby: Nagustuhan mo ba?

I chuckled as I took a picture of me and the red tulips.

Karina: Sent a photo

Karina: I love it!

Karina: I love you!!!!

My baby: I love you din baby ko!!! 

Contented na 'ko sa flowers na natanggap ko, I'm not really expecting anything. I think it was seven pm when she texted me to go ooutside of our house.

My baby

7:08 PM

My baby: Baby, baba ka.