Karina

 

The orientation took longer than I expected.

 

I kept listening even if I was so bored. I don't have anyone to talk to. Ang dami kong naririnig na nakikipag-usap sa friends nila, not minding the speaker.

 

"Bago siguro?"

 

"Ang bango tanga!"

 

"Shh...ingay mo Hyem."

 

I turned sidewards nung may kumalabiy sa akin, "Yes?" I asked.

 

She's pretty.

 

"Bago ka? Ako pala si Eunbi, ano strand mo?" She said.

 

"STEM, you?" I answered.

 

Disappointment showed on her face, "ABM ako! Grade 12 ka na diba?" I nod, "Ano section?"

 

I showed her my schedule, tapos tumango-tango siya before turning behind her and pointed to the bigger group of girls.

 

"Sila Giselle 12 STEM-A 'yon! Kaklase mo sila." She said while smiling, "Tara, puntahan natin." She chuckled.

 

I just nod. There's nothing wrong with new friends naman diba?

 

"Giselle!" She called, "Uchinaga!" What? Is that some Japanese word? Humarap samin 'yung 'Giselle' and her eyes went to me.

 

Eunbi introduced me, "Hi..." I shyly said, with a small smile.

 

Giselle's smile were wide, "Hello! You're so pretty!" Nagulat ako nung niyakap niya 'ko, at nakipag-beso, "STEM ka?" She asked, her eyes twinkling.

 

Tumango ako, "Yup. 12 STEM-A to be specific."

 

A series of 'nice' can be heard from them. I chuckled when they kept asking me questions, at tinataboy nila si Eunbi dahil spy daw ito.

 

"Friends na tayo ha!" Excited na sabi ni Giselle, and locked our arms together, "You don't have to be shy na." She smirked.

 

"Parang wala si Winter?" Yeji said, looking at the far leff, "Sila Ning lang nakikita ko."

 

Giselle scoffed, "Maliit kasi siya!"

 

Binatukan siya ni Lia, "Mas matangkad nga sayo 'yon."

 

Napatawa na ako. It's been a while since I've had fun with friends. I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. Haha, friends.

 

Friends aren't supposed to bring you down.

 

"Kukuha na daw ng ID," Lia announced, "Pila kayo sa labas!" Pinapila niya kami ng alphabetical before we went outside.

 

A group of students was also there. Mukha silang mga bata. Lalo na 'yung girl na short hair with bangs. Elementary ba 'to?

 

Giselle has been talking non-stop, lalo na dahil mag-kasama kami sa likod. Tawa ako ng tawa sa mga kwento niya. Apparently, the girl na may bangs na mukhang elementary is her friend pala. Ayon daw 'yung 'Winter' na hinahanap ni Yeji.

 

"Oo! Ang sarap niyang asarin," Natatawang kwento niya, "Ayaw na ayaw niyang inaasar siya doon sa crush niyang si Kuya Doyoung."

 

Sumingit naman si Chenle sa amin, isa pa nilang friend, "Si Kuya Doyoung 'yung nasa presentation kanina." Tukoy niya doon sa pinresent sa orientation kanina.

 

Oh. He's good-looking nga.

 

"Ganon mga type ni Winter! Mga talented," Natatawang dagdag ni Giselle, "Kaya nagka-crush din kay Ate Sana eh." She chuckled.

 

Ate? Girl?

 

Oh...

 

"Is she also on the presentation?" I curiously asked.

 

Kumunot ang noo niya, "Oo! Doon sa last slide."

 

Oh. The pretty girl.

 

"Mamaya pag nakita natin sila pakilala ka namin." Ngisi ni Giselle, "I'm sure they'll like you!"

 

Grabe lang ang daldal ni Giselle. Hindi ba siya nauubusan ng kwento? Nung napa-tingin samin si Yeji ay tinawanan niya lang ako and mouthed 'goodluck'.

 

She kept talking about the guy na ka-talking stage niya daw, and hindi na daw ulit siya kinausap after several days. I asked her kung taga SMU ba, but she simply said no.

 

"...ayon, in-unfriend ko na siya. Ang kapal ng mukha niya!" She said, irritated.

 

"He's kind of an ." I said, "Mixed signals?" Tumango siya, "Kapal nga ng mukha."

 

Inaasar siya ni Mark, na pinsan niya pala, "Deserve mo 'yan, Selle!" Natatawang sabi nito.

 

Binatukan niya ang pinsan at tawa lang naman kami ng tawa. Inaantay nalang namin matapos 'yung 11 STEM-B bago kami papasukin para mag ID picture.

 

Giselle called Winter papunta sa amin. I didn't know but I felt nervous when she's walking towards us.

 

She's now infront of me. I can smell her scent! She smells like a mix of lavender and vanilla. Her eyes are so expressive and deep. I can get lost while looking at those eyes.

 

"Bago ka lang po?" Ningning said with a hint of smile.

 

I pointed at myself, "Ako?"

 

Tumawa siya, "Opo."

 

I gulped. I probably looked like an idiot.

 

Yeji places her arm around Winter's shoulder, kumunot naman ang noo ko. Giselle never mentioned anything about them?

 

"Hello bebe, kumain ka na?" Ayan lang ang narinig ko. Hindi ko na narinig 'yung una niyang sinabi.

 

Tumuro siya sa cafteria "Libre mo ko, sandwich lang."

 

They talked for a while before Giselle introduced me to them. My heart almost skipped a beat when she smiled at me.

 

"..." I mumbled.

 

 

-

 

 

Giselle, Lia, and I went to a cafe. Yeji was taking Winter and Yuna home. Susunod daw siya mamaya.

 

"Huh? Matalino naman si Win." Pagtatanggol ni Lia.

 

I kind of asked them about Winter. I just can't get her out of my mind.

 

Giselle looked at Lia, "Well, if you're talking about acads, yes she's matalino! Pero if you're talking about something else, she's very slow kaya!" Maarteng sabi ni Giselle.

 

I chuckled. Ang arte lang ng pagka-sabi niya.

 

"Haha, sabi ko nga." Lia laughed, "Natatandaan ko 'yung kaklase natin nung Grade 11! Diba nagka-gusto kay Win 'yon?"

 

I leaned forward sa table, "What happened?" I curiously asked.

 

Giselle eyed me, "Chismosa ka pala ha." She laughed, "Si Miko?"

 

"Oo! Miko!" Natatawang sabi ni Lia, "Ang yabang pa non, sabi pa niya mapapasagot niya daw si Winter in a span of three days."

 

Tumawa din si Giselle, "Alam mo bang lumabas 'yung protective instincts nila Jeno noon? Hahaha! Naiinis kasi sila doon kay Miko."

 

If I were Jeno din naman, I'd probably feel mad and inis. Parang ang pangit din kasi ng approach nung Miko. It seems like sinasabi niyang ang 'easy' lang ni Winter.

 

"Oo! Nasuntok ata nila si Miko." Tawang tawa si Lia.

 

"I think he deserves it." I said.

 

Lia pointed at me, "Correct ka diyan!"

 

"So what happened after?"

 

Tumawa naman si Giselle bago itinuloy ang kwento, "Manhid kasi si Winter," Natatawang sabi niya, "Kailangan mo talaga siyang diretsuhin."

 

Sumabat si Lia, "Ayon, hindi niya nagets 'yung ipinaparating ni Miko sa kaniya. Hahaha, hindi niya nga kinakausap 'yon. Nagulat nga siya nung sinabi naman na nililigawan siya ni Miko." Tawang tawa lang kami.

 

Manhid. Haha.

 

Nag-message samin si Yeji na hindi na siya makaka-sunod kasi nag-samgyup sila. Inis na inis naman ang dalawa kasi iniwan daw sila. Kaya nag-post naman sila ng IG Story, at tinag kami.

 

Nag-follow back na din kami sa isa't-isa. I can't help but to stalk Giselle just to find her.

 

 

@kimwinter

 

3 posts     2.76k followers     347 following

 

This account is private.

 

 

Oh. Naka private siya.

 

"Ano 'yan?" Napatago naman agad ako ng makita kong nakasilip si Lia sa phone ko.

 

I shook my head, "Nothing."

 

Giselle eyed me suspiciously, "Kars." Napatingin ako sa kaniya, "May itatanong lang ako sayo." Nagka-tinginan sila ni Lia.

 

"Yes?" I smiled, and sipped on my coffee.

 

"Bading ka ba?"

 

I choked on my coffee.

 

Lia was also looking at me curiously.

 

"Well..." I looked away, cheeks reddened, "Halata ba?"

 

Lia and Giselle gasped.

 

First day na first day out agad.

 

 

-

 

 

Gossip Girls

 

Giselle: Hey girls!!

 

Yeji: Gi, pang-ilan na to?

 

Giselle: This is a secret GC. HAHAHA

 

Giselle: May dirty little secret si Kars.

 

Karina: Dirty.

 

Karina: HAHAHA

 

Lia: HAHAHAHA maka-dirty naman!

 

Yeji: Grabe! Hindi ako relate! Daya niyo.

 

Giselle: Eh kasi nag samgyup ka! Di mo manlang kami sinama! Desurb mo yan.

 

Yeji: Edi sana 'di niyo nalang ako sinama sa GC noh?

 

Lia: HAHAHAHA try mo mag guess.

 

Karina: I don't think she can guess. Hahaha.

 

Yeji: Try ko HAHAHA. Clue?

 

Karina: Hmm.

 

Karina: Unexpected?

 

Giselle: HAHAHAHA HOY ANG LAKING CLUE!!!

 

Yeji: Unexpected? HAHAHA PARANG ANG HIRAP.

 

Karina: Just state some things that you think you'll never see me doing or you'll never see me as.

 

Lia: Madali lang siya, Yej.

 

Tawang tawa ako sa mga guess ni Yeji. Sobrang layo kasi talaga. I probably looked insane while turning around on the bed, giggling.

 

Napatigil ako sa pag-tawa ng may nag-notify sa phone ko. Parang huminto ang buong mundo ko.

 

@kimwinter liked your post.

 

I immediately clicked the notification, at dinala ako nito sa picture ko from...last year? Was she stalking me? Oh my God. I clicked her profile, tapos biglang:

 

'The user does not exist'

 

Did she just blocked me?

 

What the ?

 

Another notification popped up. From Yeji.

 

Gossip Girls

 

Yeji: Last na 'to! Nade-drain ako sa inyo!

 

Yeji: Nanghuhula ako ha! Sana 'di ka magalit @Karina

 

Yeji: Last na!

 

Yeji: Gay???

 

I gasped.

 

Karina: Correct.

 

Yeji: HOY?!?!?!?!

 

Yeji: Is this true?!?! OMG KARS?!?!

 

Yeji: WELCOME TO THE CLUB!!!!!

 

Giselle: Oh, btw, Yeji's bi.

 

Karina: Oh!!

 

Karina: HAHAHAHA I THINK YOUR GAYDAR'S BROKEN

 

Yeji: HAHAHAHA IKR

 

Yeji: I should've known!!!!

 

Lia: Papunta palang tayo sa exciting part.

 

Akala ko safe na 'ko. Akala ko lang pala.

 

Yeji: Since when?

 

Karina: I just realized last year. HAHAHA

 

Yeji: Ooooh.

 

Yeji: May natitipuhan ka ba sa SMU?

 

Giselle: HAHAHAHA ITO NA ANG EXCITING PART

 

Lia: (2)

 

Yeji: MERON?!?!! SINO BA 'YAN!!! YOU GUYS CAN TELL ME HAHAHAHA

 

Karina: HAHAHA I think you can figure it out.

 

Yeji: HOY ANO?! HULA HULA NALANG PALAGI?

 

Giselle: HAHAHAHA choice ni Kars.

 

Karina: Hahaha. It's no big deal.

 

Karina: I think I have a little crush on Winter.

 

Karina: @Giselle nga pala! How dare you call Winter my dirty little secret!

 

Yeji: PUTANGINA?!?!?

 

Lalo akong natawa.

 

They kept reminding me na Winter's very dense, buti nalang I'm straightforward. Maybe I should slow down for a moment? Baka mabigla.

 

Giselle made another GC, kasama 'yung buong tropahan nila Winter, and the guys.

 

I was thinking of a topic to finally talk to her nung maalala kong naka-block pala ako sa kaniya sa IG. Tawa ako ng tawa dahil ang bilis niyang ma-asar. She's just too cute!

 

I think I'm liking her even more.

 

Too cute to handle.

 

 

-

 

 

Sinundan ko si Winter nung magpaalam siyang bibili lang siya ng drinks. I'm annoying her para i-followback niya 'ko sa IG. Naka-private pa kasi.

 

I smiled when I saw her clicking something on her phone. Then showed her phone to my face, pinapakita na naka-followback na siya. I gave her a smile.

 

I leaned on the railings while waiting for her to finish buying drinks. Inabutan niya 'ko ng coke which I politely declined because I don't drink sodas.

 

Hindi ko talaga nagustuhan ang soda. Parang may something sa lalamunan ko.