Part I

 

Karina wasn’t used to waking up with someone beside her. 

 

This is the first time it happened out of all the times they’ve slept together. Not that she’s complaining. If anything, she wants to get used to it.

 

Tinitigan niya ang maamong mukha ni Winter sa tabi niya and she thinks she definitely could get used to it. Yung mahaba niyang pilikmata, ang matangos niyang ilong at ang nakaawang niyang bibig — she wants to memorize it all. At napangiti na lang si Karina nang dumapo ang mga mata niya sa hubad na katawan ni Winter, the thin blanket barely covering her milky white skin. 

 

She’s tempted to reach out and fix the hair that fell on her face. Pero nakontento na lang siya sa pagtitig sa magandang mukha ni Winter hanggang sa kumurap ang mga mata neto. 

 

Napangiti ulit siya. Ang good nga naman ng morning niya. 

 

“You stayed,” her voice was soft but hoarse. She cleared , “good morning.” 

 

Kinusot ni Winter ang kanyang mga mata, halatang inaantok pa. “Anong oras na?” 

 

Pumaikot si Karina at kinuha ang phone niya sa bedside table. “Mag seven pa lang sa umaga.” Hindi na niya matiis, she reached out and brushed Winter’s hair out of her face. “Gutom ka na ba?” 

 

Napabalikwas naman si Winter sa higaan at dali-daling bumangon. “,” she hissed. Natatarantang hinahanap ang bra niya at mga damit na hinubad niya kagabi. Hindi na niya matandaan kung saang sulok ng kwarto tinapon niya ang mga damit niya. They were all lips, tongue and hands, too hot to even care. 

 

“Wait, slow down,” napabangon na rin si Karina, covering her bare torso with the blanket. “Maaga pa naman.” 

 

“Late na ako,” yumuko si Winter at kinuha niya ang nahanap niyang shirt sa sahig. “Uuwi pa ako para mag-ayos.”

 

“Dito ka na mag-ayos,” suggest ni Karina. “I’ll lend you my clothes.” 

 

Hindi na pinansin ni Winter si Karina. She quickly buttoned her jeans and grabbed her phone but before leaving, kinapa niya muna sarili niya kasi parang may nalimutan siya. And then she saw her watch on the bedside table at kinuha ito. “I’ll text you.” 

 

Humiga na lang ulit si Karina at napatingin sa kisame. She let out a contented sigh and smiled. And suddenly, she squealed, namimilipit sa kama niya. Kanina pa talaga siya nagpipigil. 

 

Ang saya niya lang. Parang gusto niyang manlibre ng breakfast. 

“Anong nakain mo at nanlibre ka?” Tanong ni Ryujin, ang kanyang bestfriend at workmate. 

 

Ngumisi lang si Karina kay Ryujin at napakagat ng labi. 

 

“Hindi pala ano. Sino,” Ryujin snorted while blowing on her coffee. Hinampas lang naman siya ni Karina. 

 

“Gago,” saway niya habang nakangiti. Hindi pa rin talaga mawala ang ngiti sa mukha niya. She’s too cheerful. 

 

“Tama naman ako.” 

 

“Oo na!” 

 

“Pero nakakatakot ang pagiging masaya mo ha. It’s nothing new?” 

 

Napatili na lang ng mahina si Karina and moved closer to Ryujin para bumulong. “Ang sarap pala gumising at unang makita mo ay isang Winter. Nakakabusog.” 

 

“Okay, TMI, Rina. I didn’t need to know,” Ryujin gagged. 

 

Inirapan naman siya ni Karina. “Well, too bad. I’m going to tell you everything.” 

 

“Please spare me the details!”

 

“Oh, I really won’t.” 

 

Ryujin only shook her head before standing up. “Wala pala akong choice.” Sinukbit niya ang laptop bag niya. “Magkwento ka na lang habang naglalakad tayo. I don’t want to be late. The things you put me through, Karina, seriously.” 

 

Karina only kissed Ryujin on the cheek, “Kaya love kita eh!” 

 

Ryujin could only roll her eyes, “Sure you do.” 

 

They’re on their way to the office tower, with Karina clinging onto Ryujin’s arm. Nakadiretso lang ang tingin ni Ryujin habang nagkwekwento si Karina. Supportive na kaibigan si Ryujin. Sa tagal nilang magkakakilala, it’s rare to see Karina this excited especially now that they’re working adults. 

 

They both need a little bit of fun in their lives.

 

Pareho sila Ryujin at Karina na web developer, palaging nakatutok sa computer. Ang utak nila ay puno ng codes. Anytime someone asks what languages they speak, sasabihin na lang nila na Python or Java.

 

And they’re always almost met with weird stares. No one else gets what they do, sila lang. Kaya nga sila naging close since high school. They understood each other well. So well that they both decided to take the same course, in the same university and applied for the same job. Kung tutuusin para silang kambal tuko. There was no Karina without Ryujin and vice versa.

 

Nakakapagtataka lang na hindi pa sila nasasawa sa isa’t-isa. If anything, mas nagiging close pa nga silang dalawa. Gaano ka close? Sila lang may alam. 

 

So Ryujin can only listen as Karina talks about Winter.

 

She’s all ears, her attention solely on Karina’s voice and the way she giggles at every mention of Winter’s name. Tumatango-tango lang paminsan-minsan si Ryujin sa mga sinasabi ni Karina. 

 

Gets naman ni Ryujin ang kaibigan niya eh. Matagal nang patay na patay si Karina kay Winter. Since high school. All three of them were in the same circle of friends. And ever since then, wala ng ibang bukang bibig si Karina kundi si Winter.

Ang cute ni Winter kanina sa class.

 

Ang galing talaga mag drawing ni Winter. 

 

Ang talino ni Winter sa math. 

And everyone knew of Karina’s crush for Winter. 

 

Hindi naman kasi subtle si Karina sa mga pagtingin niya kay Winter. No, she made it known na gusto niya si Winter. 

 

At alam din yun ni Winter. Kaso, Winter never reciprocated. Sa kasamaang palad, inignore lahat ng advances ni Karina sa kanya kasi she was already head over heels in love sa kaklase nila. So in love, they lasted ten years.

 

And now Winter was single and Karina was over the moon when Winter finally gave her the time of day. It only took a year after Winter’s break up. 

 

So when Karina gushes about Winter almost everyday, gets talaga ni Ryujin yun. Ibibigay na sa kanya itong moment na to sa friend niya kahit minsan ay naririndi na siya.

 

Minsan boses lang ni Karina ang naririnig ni Ryujin, walang words na pumupasok sa tenga niya. 

 

 “...at ayun nakatulog na lang kami at nagising ako na katabi ko siya,” Karina sighed dreamily as she sat down on her chair. 

 

Umupo na rin si Ryujin. Sa totoo lang, yung last part na lang ang nahagip ni Ryujin sa kwento ni Karina. 

 

Pero sa kanya na lang yun. 

 

“That’s great, Rina,” sinabi na lang niya. “Anyway, let’s get down to business?” Pag crack ni Ryujin sa fingers niya habang binubuksan computer niya.

 

Karina put on her headphones, nodding. “Sige. Ang dami pa nating papatayin na bugs.” 

Ang mahirap sa ginagawa ni Winter ay pinapalibutan siya ng mga lalaki. Ma senior or junior ang colleague, most of them are men. So as much as possible, ayaw na ayaw ni Winter na magkakamali siya sa trabaho niya. Being in a male dominated industry, she puts ten times more effort sa work niya.

 

Konting mali lang at binabatikos na siya, degrading her skills as an architect. As if naman mas magaling yung mga lalaki sa kanya. Most of them are nepo babies. 

 

Kaya napamura na lang si Winter nang makarating siya sa meeting ng very important client about ten minutes late. And she has nothing to blame but herself.

 

Bakit ba kasi siya nakatulog sa condo ni Rina? Masyado yata siyang napagod sa ginawa nila na hindi na siya makabangon at umuwi after.

 

Winter wanted this project. It’s a new housing development meant for low income families. Ngayon ang presentation of proposals nila and it was down to her and the nepo baby, Jeno. 

 

Kaya naman nung nalate si Winter, pansin na pansin yung smugness ni Jeno from across the room. 

 

“Nice of you to join us, Miss Kim,” Mr. Lee’s condescending voice boomed throughout the room. Daddy ni Jeno. Minus points na kaagad si Winter pero naniniwala si Winter na magaling siya and she will not go down without a fight. 

 

Mas maganda din ang proposal ni Winter.

 

Having seen firsthand ang mga bahay ng low income families and how they lived, alam ni Winter kung ano ang kailangan nila. 

 

Napabow na lang si Winter, apologizing, “Sorry, I’m late. Please, continue.” Hindi na siya gumawa ng excuse. Umupo na lang siya at nag hi sa client silently. Mukhang hindi naman galit ang client nila. If anything, she was welcoming pa nga. 

 

Hindi na nakinig si Winter kay Jeno. Alam naman niya kung ano yung proposal niya at sa tingin niya hindi siya pipiliin. 

 

His ideas were not on par sa vision ni Miss Tiffany.

 

Jeno’s designs were too unrealistic sa hinahanap ng client nila. His materials cost too much at higit sa lahat, he did not design the houses with the families in mind.

 

Masyado kasing mayaman, he’s so far removed from the realities of other people. So out of touch. 

 

Nagtataka din si Winter kung paano nakapasa si Jeno sa boards.

 

He’s so mediocre it’s sad. 

 

“Thank you, Mr. Lee,” pumalakpak si Miss Tiffany kay Jeno. “Can we see the next one? Miss Kim, are you ready?” Nginitian si Winter ni Miss Tiffany at tumango lang ito. 

 

Clearing , Winter clicked on the first slide.

 

Unang slide pa lang, nakikita na ni Winter ang pagiging interested ni Miss Tiffany sa proposal niya. 

 

Her designs were simple that would meet the needs of the families. The materials were local so hindi na kailangan mag export. Hindi lang sa makakasave sila sa budget, magagamit din nila ang local businesses sa Pilipinas. At dahil palaging nasasalanta ng bagyo ang bansa nila, ang designs ni Winter ay sturdy enough to withstand a storm. 

 

Ang hirap na kasi kapag masyadong cheap ang materials, masisira lang kaagad yung bahay at madidisplace ang mga families. Walang kwenta din ang housing development na to kung wala pang isang taon ay wala na yung bubong. 

 

Kung binibigyan pansin lang ng gobyerno ang pagiging disaster-ready ng Pilipinas, edi sana mas masaya ang mga Pilipino.

 

Nakakapagod maging resilient. 

 

Kahit si Winter na mas maangat konti ang buhay, nakakabwisit ang pagiging resilient ng mga Pilipino. Nakakagalit. 

 

“...we can save some of our budget using local materials and pay more attention to how we structure the houses for natural disasters. What we save, however, can be spent on materials for climate-proofing,” nakangiting pagtapos ni Winter sa presentation niya. 

 

Halata ang pagmamangha ni Miss Tiffany kay Winter. Binigyan lang naman niya ng standing ovation si Winter. Right then and there, alam na ni Winter na ang proposal niya ang pipiliin.

 

“Amazing work, Miss Kim!” Miss Tiffany praised. “I can’t wait to work with you on this project. Mr. Lee, thank you for your proposal but I don’t think I have to think much about which proposal impressed me the most.” Kinamayan ni Miss Tiffany si Jeno. Nawala na rin yung smugness sa mukha niya. Pati na rin yung Daddy niya ay halata yung inis sa anak niya.

 

That’s right, mas magaling ako sayo, isip-isip ni Winter. 

 

“Congratulations, Miss Kim. I’m confident this project will be in good hands.” 

 

“I won’t let you down, Miss Tiffany,” Winter smiled. 

 

Habang nagliligpit si Winter sa mga gamit niya ay nilapitan siya ng mag-ama. 

 

“You got lucky, Winter,” sabi ni Jeno. 

 

Hindi lucky, smart. Unlike you. 

 

Sinaway naman si Jeno ng Daddy niya. “Tumahimik ka, Jeno. As for you, Miss Kim. Siguraduhin mo lang na hindi mo mapapahiya ang kompanya. Masyadong malaki tong project na to,” tiningnan si Winter mula ulo hanggang paa. “Kahit malaki ang tiwala ni Miss Tiffany sayo, hindi pa rin ako kampante na ikaw ang mag lead sa project na to. Babae ka pa rin and women are not nearly as good.” 

 

At yung konting saya na naramdaman ni Winter ay biglang nawala, napalitan na lang ng inis. 

 

If only Winter could talk back, matagal na niyang ginawa. Instead, she plastered on the fakest a smile and stared them down, “Don’t worry Mr. Lee. At least alam ko ang ginagawa ko.” 

 

Konti na lang at sasapatusin na ni Winter si Jeno. 

 

Magkasama silang pumunta sa site sa isang project na silang dalawa ang naghahandle at dahil isang petty loser si Jeno, ginawang utusan lamang si Winter. 

 

Pinapahiya pa siya sa mga workers nila. And God knows how much Winter has worked so hard to earn the respect of these men. Isinantabi na lang muna ang inis niya kasi Winter doesn’t want to stoop down to Jeno’s level.

 

She’s better than that.

 

At kahit stress na stress na siya for playing nice with Jeno, Winter still did everything she was asked kahit hindi naman niya dapat ginagawa yun. 

 

Ginugol na lang ang sarili niya sa housing project the whole afternoon. Winter reached out to the contractors, engineers, and suppliers. Kahit na the project doesn’t start in two months, ayaw ni WInter maging unprepared. Gusto niya, lahat okay, lahat ready. Walang palya.

 

Hindi na niya namalayan ang oras nang matapos siya. Halos eight na pala ng gabi. And even all the work she did, it did little to her stress.

 

Mabilis niyang niligpit ang gamit niya at umalis sa opisina. She passed by Jeno’s office and bigla ulit siyang nainis. Winter grabbed her phone from her bag and quickly sent a text. 

 

Winter: punta ako diyan

Winter: be there in 30 

Without warning, Winter captured Karina’s lips in hers. Karina didn’t even get a chance to look at Winter when she opened the door. It was all lips, tongue, and hands…again. Parang kagabi lang pero this time, parang gigil na gigil si Winter.

 

“Winter wai —” hinalikan lang ni Winter si Karina ng mariin, rendering her speechless.

 

“Less talking, more taking off the clothes,” Winter said in between kisses habang hinuhubad niya ang t-shirt ni Karina. Napangisi na lang si Winter nang makita niyang hindi naka bra si Karina. 

 

"You're prepared," she said as she latched on Karina's neck.

 

"Ah, a-alam mo naman hindi ako nagbabra sa bahay," Karina replied breathily, hands fumbling with Winter's blouse. 

 

Karina didn’t waste any more time. Tinulak niya si Winter papunta sa kwarto niya. There was a sense of urgency in Winter’s kisses and Karina responded with the same fervour. 

 

In her haste, hindi na namalayan ni Karina nasira niya ang isang butones sa damit ni Winter. 

 

Her hands quickly mapped the expanse of Winter's , unclasping her bra in the process. 

 

Sa tanang buhay ni Karina, hindi niya akalain that she would be able to do this to Winter. Never niyang inexpect that she could make Winter moan in pleasure underneath her. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would hear Winter breathily chant her name over and over in ecstasy.

 

Flipping them over, Winter nipped and every flesh she could on Karina's body, stopping just above her belly button where Karina trembled.

 

"Winter please," ungol ni Karina. 

 

At para namang nalagutan ng hininga si Karina when Winter buried her head in between her legs. 

 

"God, Rina, you always taste so sweet." 

Nakangiting hinihingal si Karina sa tabi ni Winter. Napalunok na rin siya, nanunuyo ang kanyang lalamunan. Napatingin siya kay Winter.

 

"That was…" she started and then giggled. Napatawa rin si Winter at mahinang umagree. "What got you so riled up?" Tanong ni Karina. 

 

Napansin niya kasi ang pagiging aggressive ni Winter kanina. Mabilis lahat ang pangyayari. 

 

Napabuntong hininga si Winter. "Just stressed sa work." Karina nodded as Winter pushed herself up the bed. "Anyway, nagutom ako." 

 

Tumawa ng malakas si Karina at pabirong sinabi, "akala ko pa naman mabubusog ka na sa ginawa mo kanina." 

 

"Shut up," Winter pouted. "Hindi pa ako nag dinner."

 

"Dessert first pala before dinner?"

 

"Karina, seryoso," mahinang tinapik ni Winter ang tiyan ni Karina. 

 

"Gusto mo bang kumain dito?" Karina bit her lip. She hoped that Winter would say yes and stay the night again. 

 

Napaisip si Winter bago siya bumangon ng tuluyan. Napapadalas na ang pag stay niya sa condo ni Karina. Pero pagod na rin siya at gutom na gutom. 

 

Hindi na rin masama if she stays a bit longer.

 

"Might as well. Wala naman pasok bukas." Napangiti naman si Karina dito. 

 

Karina finally got up and made her way to her bathroom. "Wash up lang ako. Sunod ka na after kong matapos and then I'll cook something for you." 

Karina: wanna grab dinner?

 

Nilagay agad ni Karina ang phone niya sa drawer ng desk niya after she sent the text. Matagal niyang pinag-iisipan kung yayain ba niya si Winter for dinner. Three straight days na siyang nag OT and namimiss na niya si Winter. 

 

Alam din naman niya that Winter is always busy. Nagbabakasakali lang that Winter would agree to her harmless invitation. 

 

It had been such a bliss the last time they were together that Karina craved for more of that.

 

Napapangiti na lang siya kapag iniisip niya yung pagiging intimate nila. 

 

At hindi about . 

 

It was the intimacy, the closeness right after that. 

 

Sure, the was mind blowing pero mas masarap maramdaman yung pagiging soft ni Winter sa kanya. 

 

After nilang kumain, they stayed up talking. 

 

Kahit naman magkakilala na sila since high school, they never really knew each other, not to that extent. 

 

Madaldal si Winter kapag nakabwelo.

 

Sobrang entertaining niya lang magkwento tungkol sa mga shows na pinapanood niya. And Karina was content just listening to her talk in the dead of the night.

 

Parang hinehele lang si Karina sa boses ni Winter.

 

Hindi na niya namalayan na nakatulog na pala siya. At kahit na gumising siyang mag-isa sa kama niya, hindi mawala yung mga ngiti sa labi niya. 

 

"Rina, shawarma tayo later?" Ryujin showed up beside Karina. “Nag crave ako bigla.” 

 

Karina held her hand up, “Wait.” Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang drawer niya para silipin ang cellphone.

 

Honestly, medyo nervous siyang makita kung may reply na ba si Winter. Ayaw niyang mag-expect pero kasi she got excited thinking about what happened last. 

 

Karina finally let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding when she saw Winter’s reply. 

 

Winter: sure

 

“Next time na lang, Ryu,” pangiti niyang sabi kay Ryujin. “May date ako.” 

 

Tinaasan lang siya ng kilay ng kaibigan. Hindi mabasa ni Karina ang  expression ni Ryujin. Hindi alam ni Karina kung jinujudge na ba siya ng kaibigan niya or ano. Or baka naman masyado lang niyang binigyan pansin ang reaction ni Ryujin.  

 

“With Winter?” 

 

“Yup,” Karina grinned, popping the “p” at the end. 

 

Tumango na lang si Ryujin at bumalik sa table niya. “Alright, enjoy. Tawagan mo ako if anything happens, okay?” 

 

“Don’t worry. Naka speed dial ka po.” 

Winter thought it was a good idea to unwind. Masyado na siyang busy sa housing project and she had been staying too lat