Karina

Years have passed, pero ganon pa din kami ni Winter. She was still the same as before, but more mature now. She grew a bit taller, but still shorter than me. Her hair is now longer.

"Karina, tapos ka na sa plates?" Heejin asked.

Yes, Heejin, you heard it right. Hindi ko ineexpect na pag-dating namin ng college ay magkikita ulit kami. Matagal ko na silang pinatawad, and we're very good friends again.

I nod, "Yeah, ikaw?"

She snorted, "Sana all! Hindi ako maka-concentrate sa dorm eh naloloka ako kay Hyunjin!" Reklamo niya.

I chuckled, "Bakit nanaman?"

"Inaagawan ako ng drafting table." Bigla siyang lumapit sa akin, "Pwede maki-gamit ng iyo?"

"Yeah, sure." Natatawa kong sagot dito, "Ngayon na ba? I'm actually on the way home na eh, pwede ka sumabay." Pag-offer ko sa kaniya.

Nagliwanag naman ang mukha niya, "Sure?!" Tumango ako, "Salamat ah!"

I texted Winter that Heejin will be using my drafting table at our condo. Yes, our condo. We live together. Tita was very worried kay Winter sa college, buti nalang daw at nandito ako. She even suggested na we should live together daw, as a good girlfriend, why not?

That's why were living in a condo thats only five minutes away from the university.

Magkatabi kaming mag-lakad ni Heejin, and natatanaw ko na ang bukas na main gate ng SMU. Winter told me na sa harap lang siya nag-park. A familliar Lexus came into sight.

She rolled down her windows, "Hop in!" Aya niya sa amin ni Heejin.

As we settled, Winter gave my knuckles a kiss. Making Heejin scoff on her seat. Inismiran lang siya ni Winter. Winter and Heejin have became very close too.

"Ano? Wala ka nanamang drafting table?" Pabalang na tanong ni Winter kay Heejin sa backseat.

Sinabunutan siya ni Heejin, "Ikaw makipag-agawan don kay Hyunjin."

Tumawa lang kami ni Winter sa sagot niya. Hyunjin is very...masungit. Mas pipiliin nalang ni Heejin na mag-hanap ng ibang drafting table kaysa sa makipag-agawan kay Hyunjin.

"What if kayo talaga?" Pagbibiro ni Winter kay Heejin, "Bagay kayo!" She squeeled, kaya nasabunutan nanaman siya ni Heejin.

Palagi silang nag-aaway, and it's so funny. One time I asked Winter why she kept picking a fight with Heejin, ang sabi niya sa akin ay kasi inaway daw nila ako dati. Ganiyan din ang ugali niya kay Jinsoul, pero tahimik lang siya pag-dating kay Yves, Lip, at Hyunjin.

Natatawa nalang ako everytime na maalala ko yung first meeting namin. I was a frehsman noon, and Winter was still in Grade 12. SMU has a good reputation sa college, that's why they transferred in SMU noon.

First day of classes as a freshman! I'm excited and at the same time scared. Magkakaiba ang course namin nila Yeji. Yeji is taking civil engineering, same as Lia. Giselle and I are taking architecture, pero magkaiba kami ng block. While the three guys are taking mechanical engineering.

Whil I'm on my way to the cafeteria, kung saan kami magkikita nila Giselle, and my girlfriend with her friends.

"Karina?"

"Yeah?" Agad akong lumingon kung saan ko narinig ang tumawag sa akin.

Nawala ang ngiti ko. My fingers stopped typing on my phone. Parang nawala ang kaluluwa ko. Heejin, Yves, Jinsoul, Lip...and Hyunjin. They're here. Right in front of me.

Bago pa may makpagsalita sa amin, may humawak sa balikat ko. It was Giselle.

"Ano ka ba? Kanina ka pa namin tinatawag." Sabi nito at hihilahin na dapat ako ng may makita niya ang nasa harap namin, "Ay hello! Bagong friends mo, Rina?"

Hindi nga pala kilala ni Giselle sila sa mukha. She only knows them by name.

I cleared my throat, "Uh, Gi, sila Heejin, Hyunjin—" Her brow raised, "Yves, Lip, and Jinsoul." Pakilala ko.

Nag-iba ang timpla ng mukha ni Giselle. Yung friendly na ngiti niya napalitan ng frown.

"Okay. Una na kami ha." Masungit na sabi ni Giselle sa kanila at hinila na ako.

When we arrived at the cafeteria kung asan sila Lia, agad na kinwento ni Giselle sa dalawa ang nakita niya.

"Teh ayan ba? Yung papalapit sa table?" Bulong ni Lia, nagkumpulan silang tatlo, at natatawa nalang ako, "Saan diyan yung Hyunjin? Usap kami." Kunot noong sabi ni Lia.

I chuckled, "Guys, calm down." Saway ko, "Wala na 'yon. Done na."

Yeji scoffed, "Hindi! Anong done done pinagsasabi mo? Wala!"

Papalapit sa amin sila Heejin. Matagal ko naman na silang napatawad, even if they didn't ask for forgiveness. Hindi ako makaka-move forward sa buhay ko if stuck pa din ako sa past.

Si Heejin ang nasa harapan, "P-pwede ba t—"

"Hindi pwede!" Sagot ni Giselle, at tumango-tango naman sila Yeji at Lia.

I saw guilt in all of their eyes, lalo na kay Hyunjin na nag-iwas ng tingin. Sinaway ko sila Giselle at pinakalma ang tatlo, tumayo kasi sila bigla.

"Yeah, Heej, we can talk." Sagot ko dito nang kumalma yung tatlo.

"Dito kayo mag-uusap." Si Yeji, "Kailangan kasama kami."

Natatawa ako pero pinigilan ko dahil kitang kita ko ang takot sa mga mata nila Heejin. Well, Yeji can be pretty intimidating sometimes.

Agad akong umiling, "We can talk in private if you guys want." I offered at tumayo, giving them a small smile.

Yves gave me a nod and looked away. Yeji and Giselle looked deflated, I just gave them a smile para alam nilang ayos lang sa akin.

Pero bago kami maka-alis sa pwesto, I saw a furiously walking Winter towards us. Her forehead is creased, a visible frown, and her hands formed in a fist.

Napatingin ako kayoa Yeji, and she gave me an apologetic smile. Siya siguro ang nag sabi!

"Walang aalis!" Sabi nito at padabog na nilapag ang hawak niyang libro sa lamesa.

Nagulat ang mga nasa katabi naming lamesa, pati na din sila Heejin, at Giselle. Lia glared at Winter, nakahawak sa dibdib niya.

I pursed my lips, "We'll just talk for a minute, no big deal." I told them, Winter's forehead still creased. If they weren't here, I would have kissed Winter. Instead, I just held her arm to assure her, "Sandali lang."

Her face softened and slowly nod.

We went to a more secluded area. Hyunjin kept apologizing, same as Yves. Halos lahat sila. Well, nasabi ko naman sa kanila na napatawad ko na sila. Pero I don't think that we can go back to what we used to be before, as of now.

The talk went well. For me.

"They know noh?" Heejin asked after a while.

I nod, "Yup." Natawa nanaman ako nung natandaan ko ang inasal nila kanina, "That's why they reacted like that. Sorry." I chuckled.

Yves laughed awkwardly, "They're your friends, magre-react talaga sila ng ganon..."

Hyunjin and Lip just hummed, while Jinsoul smirked, "May nagugustuhan ka naman ba?" Bigla niyang tanong.

Napunta bigla sa akin ang atensyon nilang lahat. Heejin was anticipating, I can see it in her eyes. Lalong lumaki ang ngisi ni Jinsoul nang makitang namumula ang mukha ko.

"Uh..." I chuckled, "I have." Nahihiyang sabi ko.

Heejin grinned, "Sino don?"

As we entered the cafeteria, I saw Winter walking back and forth, while thinking. Her face is filled with concern. 

I pouted, "The short haired one."

Isa lang naman short hair don.

Heejin gasped, "Yung cutie?"

I glared.

"Grabe naman maka-bakod, kayo na ba?!" Natatawang sabi ni Jinsoul, habang papalapit na kami sa pwesto nila Winter.

"Actually..." I trailed off, "She's my girlfriend." I said as I held Winter's hand to stop her from walking back and forth.

It was my turn to smirk. Ha!

Winter is now walking around the condo with her comfortable clothes on. She sat comfortably on our couch, and opened the TV. Binuksan niya agad ang Netflix, at nanood ng isang K-drama na inaabangan niya.

One thing about Winter when we started living together, gusto niyang nakataas ang paa niya at naka-patong sa lamesa pag naka-upo sa couch, and I hate that. I smiled when I saw her tuck her leg under the other.

"Ay pota." We both looked at Heejin when she cursed, "May sharpener kayo?" She asked.

I nod, "Check mo diyan sa drawer sa gilid." 

Hindi ko napansin na lumapit na pala sa akin si Winter. I'm currently preparing garlic bread. Her arm s around me, and resting her forehead on my shoulder.

"Pagod?" I asked.

She hummed, "Super..."

I kissed the top of her head, "Go to sleep na, mahal..." I whispered, "I'll wake you up kapag dinner na."

I can hear Heejin humming, naka-suot kasi siya ng airpods, while Winter sways with me. Akala ko ba antok na 'to? Natatawa akong sumunod sa kaniya.

"What are you doing?" Natatawa kong tanong sa kaniya.

She shook her head, "I just miss you."

"I think you're really sleepy na baby." Pang-aasar ko niya.

Umungot siya, "Ganyan ka na ha..." She said, "'Di ba pwedeng miss lang talaga kita?" Inangat niya ang ulo niya.

Her eyes looked so sleepy. "You look really sleepy na talaga. Go sleep na." Turo ko sa couch.

We stayed like that for a moment bago siya umalis sa likod ko at humiga sa couch. Naka-tulog agad siya pagkahiga niya. Ang bilis talaga niya maka-tulog.

Grabe lang naman daw kasi ang pagod niya. She's really exhausted sa course niya. She's taking a pre-med course pala kasi she wants to be a doctor eh. Nagrereklamo nga siya sa akin na 2nd year pa lang daw siya drained na siya, what if med school na? 

I trust my girlfriend. I know she can do it.

Madami siyang reklamo pero ginagawa naman niya lahat ng requirements.

Heejin Bading

Heejin: Sent a photo

Heejin: Tulog na tulog si idol!

Heejin: HOY SINO NAG PANGALAN NG GC 

Ryujin: HAHAHAHAHA

Ryujin: Cute ni Win.

Karina: Hahahaha! Love the GC name.

Heejin: Gusto mong wasakin ko tong drafting table mo?

Karina: Lol as if you can :p

Ryujin: OH AWAY AWAY

Yuna: SIGE NGA HAWAKAN MO NGA SA TENGA

Heejin: OO KAYA KO TALAGA

Karina: @Hyunjin

Heejin: KAYA KO MANAHIMIK

Ryujin: HAHAHAHAHA

Yuna: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA WALA KA PALA

Hyunjin: ?

I chuckled as I lowered down my phone and looked at Heejin pouting. She still hasn't finished her plates, tapos naasar pa siya sa GC. I don't know why they kept calling Heejin 'bading' when she says na straight naman siya.

When I asked Winter about it, she only told me, "Gaydar, baby."

"Still not done?" I asked her as I took a seat, iniangat ko ang ulo ni Winter para ipatong sa hita ko, "Dito ka na mag-dinner." 

She sighed, "Thanks talaga, Rina."

I nod, "I'll just order ng dinner natin. Anything you want?" 

"Kahit ano nalang," Sabi nito, "Mag-aambag nalang din ako."

"Okay." 

Dinner time, gising na si Winter. Kanina pa niya ginugulo si Heejin sa ginagawa, and I can't help but laugh at the two of them.

"Drawing ba 'yan?" Insulto ni Winter, "Seryoso ka na niyan?"

Tinampal ko ang braso niya, "Baby, you're too harsh."

Buti nalang Heejin can take a joke. Alam naman niya sa sarili niya na magaling siyang mag-drawing. 

Inirapan siya ni Heejin at binato ng tissue ng McDo, "Sana 'di mo matandaan sagot sa recit niyo bukas."

"Hoy! Wala namang ganyanan!" Panlalaki ng mata ng girlfriend ko, "Hindi ka sana papasukin ni Hyunjin sa dorm!" Bawi nito.

Natahimik lang silang dalawa nung inabot ko na sa kanila ang kanilang pagkain. I feel like I'm taking care of two children who keeps bickering on every little thing.

The next day, Heejin went to our condo again. Gamit nanaman ni Hyunjin ang drafting table niya. Hindi talaga siya makapag-reklamo kapag si Hyunjin ang usapan.

"Nandito ka nanaman?!" Winter said as she entered our condo, removing her shoes, "Babe, hindi mo ba gagamitin ang drafting table mo?" Nagtatakang tanong nito.

I shook my head, "I'm done na."

Inasar niya muna si Heejin bago si