“Salamat.” Winter told Karina as they stood in front of room 701, Winter's unit. 

“Anong salamat? Ikaw nga nagbayad ng kinain natin.” natatawang sabi ni Karina as she remembered how Winter threatened her earlier saying, “Kapag hindi mo 'ko pinagbayad, isusumbong kita kay ate.” 

She didn't get threatened, she just lets Winter pay because the threat is actually funny and adorable at the same time. 

“Hindi. Salamat kasi pinayagan mo 'kong sumama sa'yo.” 

Karina almost pat Winter's head but she settled on the girl's shoulder instead, “No problem. Magiging friends na din naman tayo, 'di ba?” 

“Ah, oo. Sige.” 

Winter's door then swung open, revealing her older sister, Taeyeon. “Finally! Grabe maglayas ah? Ano? Ginaganyan mo nalang ako ngayon?” Taeyeon said with an eyebrow raised but Karina knows that she's just being playful. “Thank you, Karina ah? Kunin ko na ulit 'to.” pinatong ni Taeyeon ang kamay sa ulo ng kapatid at hinatak palapit sa tabi n'ya, hindi naman umangal si Winter. 

“No problem po. See you around, Winter.” 

They watch Karina enter her own unit before Taeyeon closed the door and walked the both of them to the living room. 

“Wala na si Eunhyuk. Mag-usap tayo.” seryosong sabi ni Taeyeon as they sat across each other. 

“Ate ko, ayoko.” 

Tinaasan s'ya ng kilay ni Taeyeon, “Anong ayoko? You can't just always ignore the things that should be discussed, Win.” 

“Payag naman po ako na umalis ka.” 

“Alam ko. Pero do you really want it?” 

Winter didn't answer. Taeyeon knows the answer to her own question and Winter knows that her older sister knows that too. 

“Okay. Hindi na 'ko aalis.” 

Agad na umalma si Winter, “Ateee,” 

“Ano? The trip can be rescheduled, and besides, kakauwi lang din naman namin from another trip. Baka 'di ka na makahinga pag umalis ako ulit.” 

“Andito naman po si Chaewon.” 

“Nasa business trip s'ya 'di ba? Alis nalang kami ni Eunhyuk kapag nakauwi na s'ya.”

“Kaya ko naman po dito mag-isa. Ako nga lang po nakatira dito mag-isa matagal na. Naglaba po ako kanina, hindi nga lang ako nakaluto kasi dumating na kayo, pero kumain naman na po kami ng kapitbahay ko sa labas, magluluto nalang po ako mamaya para sa'tin kung dito ka kakain. Kung uuwi ka naman na po, mago-order nalang ako kasi tinatamad na 'ko, dagdag hugasin pa din.” 

Napakamot si Taeyeon sa ulo n'ya, “Sumama ka nalang kaya sa'min ni Eunhyuk?” 

“Ayaw ko po.” 

Tumayo si Taeyeon, grabbing her bag. “Uwi na 'ko. My decision is final, hindi na kami tutuloy sa trip.” she leaned in to kiss her sister's forehead. “Full sched ako bukas, baka sa next day na ako makapunta dito ah?”

“Opo.” 

Taeyeon ruffled her hair before leaving while Winter watch her from where she sat. 

With her ate's decision, she knows that Eunhyuk will get mad at her again. 

“Ano naman.” she mumbled to herself. 

• • • 

The next day, nag-aantay si Winter ng binook n'yang grab papunta sa office ng ate n'ya, may kailangan kasi s'yang ipadalang hardcopy na in-encode n'ya kagabi. 

She's working under her sister's company where she sits in front of a computer. She chose that position and work so she could stay in her place where no interaction with other people will commence.

Mag-isa lang s'ya sa bahay n'ya, no disturbance, no social interaction with her workmates at hawak n'ya ang oras n'ya. Hindi na din n'ya kailangan bumili ng mga office attires.

Tahimik na naghihintay si Winter when a car stopped in front of her. A very familiar car. 

She sigh, “Sabi ko na nga ba.” she mumbled to herself as Eunhyuk gets out of the car, striding towards her. 

“Balak mo ba talagang sirain ang relationship namin ng ate mo?!” galit na galit na sabi ni Eunhyuk, dinuro din s'ya nito. “I was about to propose to her sa trip na yun, Winter! We're finally going to level up our relationship and try to plan for our future!” 

Kakalabas lang ni Karina sa building nila when she heard the loud voice of a man, when she looked at where it came from, nakita n'ya kung anong nangyayari.

“She's always cancelling on me because of you! Nagkaka-gulo ang relationship namin dahil sa'yo! Anong balak mo? Anong gusto mo, ha? Sa'yo lang attention ni Taeyeon habang buhay? Tangina, magpapa-alaga ka nalang hanggang tumanda ka? Actually matanda ka na nga eh, hindi ka na bata pero masyado ka pading nagpapa-baby. May buhay si Taeyeon at may future ahead of her, hindi katulad mo. Hindi porket wala kang plano sa buhay mo, idadamay mo na ate mo!” 

Karina found herself walking towards their direction. 

Si Winter