Narrator's

"Pero Minjeong, enough about us. Ano talaga nangyari? Be honest at hindi ka namin pagtatawanan. Let's be serious this time." Ryujin put her elbows on her knees, leaning towards Winter's direction. Ningning sat beside the latter, ready to hear the juicy story.

The girl with the bob looked down and took a deep breath.

"I think nagugustuhan ko na s'ya." Silence ensued between the three of them.

Her friends were, of course, smiling from ear to ear.

"Dalaga ka na, Minjeong." May pagpunas pa ng luha si Ryujin na akala mo ay hindi mangiyak-ngiyak sa pagkwekwento kanina.

"Pakyu." Winter was right about her friends. Kaya s'ya hesitant na magkwento dahil puro pang-aasar lang matatanggap n'ya.

"Okay, seryoso na talaga. Anong nagustuhan mo sa kan'ya?" Ano nga ba, Winter thought to herself.

"Hindi ko pa naman s'ya gustong-gusto. I mean, hindi ko pa sure."

"Paano mo nasabing nagugustuhan mo na s'ya?" The young woman in question found it hard to answer. You can only hear the gentle gush of wind if you were with them.

"Iba kasi kapag and'yan na s'ya. I'm starting to feel things. Nagsimula no'ng nakatulog s'ya sa balikat ko." Winter answered after pondering for a minute. Her friends only nodded in response so she continued.

"I've never been that close with someone since, you know. Hindi ko nga alam kung sinasadya ba n'ya 'yung mga ginagawa n'ya pero... it affects me. Iba na rin na-fefeel ko kapag tinitingnan n'ya ako sa mata, bigla kasi s'yang nangiti. Naguguluhan din ako whenever she's caring, her tone, tapos no'ng treasure hunt." Winter paused to drink.

"Lalo na no'ng treasure hunt. Takot kasi s'ya sa dilim kaya I felt like I should protect her and I did hanggang sa makalabas kami doon sa building. Hanggang makapasok kami sa room namin, hanggang sa kumain ng dinner, hanggang sa pagtulog." Her friends were looking at her with soft expressions, melting over how adorable their friend is.

"There were times na hindi na ako makahinga that night, hindi dahil naso-suffocate ako, pero parang gano'n 'yung pakiramdam because I was hugging her to sleep. At some point, she hugged me back and smelled my neck. I smell like strawberries daw, and she likes strawberries. Hindi ako nananaginip no'n. Sinabi n'ya talaga 'yon."

"Then she kissed me sa forehead when she woke up this morning, thanking me for something I don't know. The little things make my heart skip a beat, the smiles, her eyes, her. And hindi ko pa na-eexperience 'yung ganito since... 'yun nga." That earned some gasps from the two.

"Saan ka confused?" Ning finally said something this time.

"Sa feelings ko at sa mga ginagawa n'ya. Gusto ko ba s'ya o dahil lang hindi ko na 'to na-experience ulit and ngayong nararanasan ko na, sobra-sobra ang kaba ko? Sa mga ginagawa n'ya, is she normally like that? Did she do those things dahil that's how she is with others? Should I stop myself from feeling things?"

"Minjeong," Ryujin called. "Ang cute mo pala magkagusto. Overthinker ka pala." Her friend laughed at her despite getting a hit on the arm.

"Anong gagawin ko?" She waited for three minutes. The two decided to hold a meeting for their advice.

Ningning became the speaker.

"Minjeong, don't stop yourself from feeling things. It's normal na magka-crush at ma-feel lahat 'yan. Siguro ang iiwasan mo lang ay ang umasa. Based sa mga nakwento sa'min nila Yeji at Gigi, she's naturally like that though napapansin nila na parang sobra 'yung sa'yo. She's fond of cute people kaya everything she did, it's possible na baka as a friend lang talaga." Winter felt something deep within her stomach.

"Love, or like pa lang in this stage, without expecting anything in return. Show her how much you like her, and express mo sa kan'ya using your ways. You're free to do that naman, but you can't hold her accountable kapag nahuhulog ka na, okay?" She nodded, thinking she might end up with open eyes until morning again because of overthinking.

"Pero don't lose hope. Hindi natin alam kung anong iniisip n'ya o anong reasons n'ya para gawin n'ya lahat 'yon sa'yo. Continue lang whatever you two have, I mean enjoyin mo lang. Don't think too much about everything. We'll see kung hanggan saan kayo aabot." Winter stood up to give the two a hug.

"Thank you, nadagdagan ang iisipin ko pero sige, I'll like her without any expectations from now on."
 

Minjeong's

Almost 8 PM na bago kami nakababa sa rooftop. Hindi sa nasobrahan kami sa chika, hehe, nakatulog kami. May dala kasing bag si Ningning at may dala pala s'yang maliit na unan. May benches naman sa rooftop kaya nagkanya-kanya na kami.

"Inaantok pa ako." Nagkukusot pa ng mata si Ning habang si Ryu naman ay wala pa sa tamang wisyo.

"Saan kayo galing?" Is that her?

I squinted my eyes, and it was them: Yeji, Giselle, and her.

Hindi naman ako nag-confess sa kan'ya pero bakit parang hindi ko alam paano s'ya haharapin?

"We fell asleep sa rooftop." Ning replied shortly, still sleepy from our short nap.

"Kanina pa namin kayo hinahanap. Magsisimula na ang bonfire." Pumunta muna kami sa banyo para maghilamos, then the three of led us behind the school. There was a clearing in the middle of the trees. The fire was being prepared by the teachers. Halos lahat ng estudyante ay nakaupo na and it seems like everyone have their own circle.

Just like the six of us.

We sat down where the only spot was available. Nasa tabi ko na s'ya ngayon, I don't know how she ended up beside me pero nag-by partner na kaming anim.

"You okay?" I smiled shortly and nodded at her. I'm still thinking about our conversation earlier. Express myself... How am I gonna do that?

"Ang tahimik mo ata?" I should act normal or she'll ask more questions.

"Okay lang ako, inaantok lang."

"Bakit ba kayo natulog sa rooftop? Our room has a bed, you know?" Nakatulog ako kakaisip sa'yo.

"Ewan? Hahaha, nagkwekwentuhan lang talaga kami hanggang sa makatulog."

"You didn't invite us? We could've hung out together." As a friend 'yan, Minjeong. Bawal tayo umasa. Tama na ang potassium.

"Hindi ba sabi mo buong araw tayo magkasama kahapon kaya dapat maghiwalay muna tayo?" She pouted and she's so cute.

"Ang tagal namin kayong hinahanap. Wala rin nag-checheck ng messages namin. We were a little worried." Messages? I checked my phone kasi hindi ko pa nabubuksan mula no'ng nagpunta kami sa rooftop.

thesaurus
Today 6:05 PM winter? where are you?
gigi and yeji wanna hangout with you three
magkakasama kayo? thesaurus (7:09 PM)
hi winter
we checked our rooms pero wala kayo
message me asap thesaurus (7:40 PM)
minjeong :(
where are we gonna find u three
we're close to giving up
i miss you

That last message

Seryoso ba s'ya?

"I miss you?" I asked her pero sakto rin na tinawag s'ya ni Giselle kaya hindi n'ya narinig. Someone was singing na pala for the open mic.

I miss you... Paano ako hindi aasa?

We adjusted our circle since marami pang dumagdag na students. I sat right next to her dahil sa tabi n'ya lang naman may space. Performances continued throughout the hour. May sumayaw, kumanta, roleplay, stand-up, impersonations, mostly si Ate Seulgi ang ginagaya or mga teachers.

Ang saya ng buhay kaso bigla kaming tinawag ni Ryujin.

"Ryu! Ano 'to?" Tinulungan ako ni Ryujin na tumayo.

"Nalimutan mo bang nagpalista tayo?" Shet, oo nga pala.

"Gago?"

"Oo, gago ka. Tara na." I looked behind me as Ryujin pulled me onto their arranged stage. She was looking at me, then she mouthed, 'good luck.'

Ito na ata ang chance na binigay ni Lord para i-express ko ang sarili ko. Sige, Lord. Salamat.

"Anong kakantahin natin?" Halatang nagpa-