i have always been faithful kay Yooji and everyone knows that

 

but that doesn't mean na hindi na ako marunong mag-appreciate ng kagandahan

 

i didnt notice that ive been staring at my roommate for a long time already until she cleared

 

"you seem tired and out of it, you can go ahead and take a rest, we can do the introductions tomorrow," she said it softly kaya bumalik yung pagod sa katawan ko at antok

 

i just gave her a small smile and nodded tapos kinuha ang phone ko to inform my love na we've arrived safely

 

after hitting send, parang mas bumigat ang eyelids ko

 

✯

 

"love," for some reason, i feel tired as heck tapos ang lamig pa

 

i need the warmth that is in the form of Yooji

 

my eyes are still closed, hindi ko pa kaya imulat

 

i groaned nang maramdaman na wala siya sa tabi ko

 

"good morning, sunshine," napabalikwas ako sa narinig ko

 

an angel

 

what the heck, Winter Kim

 

"how was your sleep?" she asked tapos binaba yung phone niya, mukhang nanonood ng kung anong video sa youtube

 

dumaan pa ang ilang segundo bago nag-function ang utak ko at ma-realize na wala na nga pala ako sa ph

 

i felt a pang in my chest knowing that ill be waking up for a year without Yooji beside me

 

"uh, hi," i paused, thinking kung ano sasabihin ko, it's too early for introductions. "i slept well, i guess? how was yours?"

 

she smiled, and damn, all i can think of is how i miss my Yooji

 

"i slept just fine, by the way, my name is Yun Jin but most people just call me Jinni," she introduced herself as she faced me, giving me all of her attention

 

i sat straight and ran my fingers through my hair, fixing it. "Winter," i said as i gave her a small smile. "Winter Kim-Yu, happily married," mahinang dagdag ko pero enough para marinig ng kasama ko

 

she laughed, "for real?! congrats!"

 

natawa ako dahil ang bilis niya naman naniwala na kasal na ako, i shook my head, "i was kidding about the married part but i am happy with my girl."

 

she froze for a second before letting out a teasing smile, "you're p--"

 

she got interrupted when we heard someone knocking on our door

 

she muttered 'weird' and tilted her head in confusion before siya tumayo, she must not be expecting someone right now

 

"he-," i heard Ryujin pero mukhang natigil siya nang hindi ako ang nakita sa doorstep, "uh, hi, is Win inside?" she asked

 

pumunta ako sa paanan banda ng kama para makita ako ni Ryujin, "morning," bati ko rito

 

"uy, pre, ganda ng kasama mo," bungad ni Ryujin sa akin na ikinatawa naman ng roommate ko

 

"gagi," mahinang sabi ni Ryujin, "naintindihan mo?"

 

bonak talaga

 

my eyes widened when Jinni nodded

 

"what the heck? i thought you..." hindi ko na alam sasabihin ko dahil masyado pang maaga para mag-function utak ko but wth, she's filo rin ba?

 

for some reason, parang nabasa niya ang isip ko dahil "i'm korean but i grew up in manila," she explained

 

"makes sense, anyway, im Yizhuo but you can call me Ningning, whichever is fine," singit ni Yizhuo

 

"Ryujin pero you can call me baby o kaya lo-- aray, Ning!" hindi ko mapigilan matawa nang makita kong binatukan ni Yizhuo si Ryu

 

"kaya ka iniwan eh," ouch, Ning

 

"grabe, parang hindi tropa!" pabirong reklamo ni Ryujin kahit na kita namin sa mata niya ang sakit

 

hindi niya nailaban 'yung sa kanila ni Yeji

 

siguro nga ay masyadong mabilis

 

kulang sila sa panahon para mag-build ng enough na trust

 

with Yeji's past experience, hindi naman na kami nagtaka pero nakapanghihinayang pa rin

 

mapagbiro lang naman kasi ang mokong namin na kaibigan but she loves Yeji and for sure it'll stay that way until our internship ends

 

naglakad na papasok si Jinni, "pasok kayo," alok nito at umupo sa paanan ng kama niya

 

the two of them entered, "akala ko tatayo nalang tayo sa pintuan," biro ni Ryu bago tuluyang humiga sa kama ko

 

Ning sat beside me tapos kinuha niya na ang phone niya para tawagan si Aeri

 

i looked for my phone rin and started typing a message for my love

 

 

Winter

Hi, love. Good evening! I just woke up.

How was your day?

I miss you! :(

I love you!

 

Mrs.

hi baby :(

tiring even tho nag-review lang ako the whole day

i miss you too! :((((( what if sunod nalang ako sayo?

i love you baby baby u'r my sun and moon hahahaha

 

 

i chuckled nang mabasa ko ang reply ni Yooji

 

"Karina kausap mo pre?" tanong ni Ryu kaya naman napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya

 

"malamang, ngingiti ba 'yan ng ganyan kung iba kausap niyan?" sabat naman ni Ning

 

"edi kayo na may textmate," umirap pa ito bago tumingin kay Jinni, "tayo nalang mag-text... ano nga name mo?"

 

we all cracked up when we realized na hindi pala nagpakilala si Jinni sa kanilang dalawa

 

"Yunjin but you can call me Jinni"

 

tumango tango si Ryu, "okay Jin two, ano number mo pala?" binato ni Ning ng unan ang isa naming tropa

 

i couldn't help but shake my head, kaya napagkakamalan na babaero eh

 

 

Mrs.

grabe, seen

did u find someone better na ba sakin?

im hurt

hindi man lang umabot ng week?

:((((

where r u na loveeeee

 

Winter

Love, you're the best for me bakit ako maghahanap ng better lang?

That's such a downgrade.

The girls and I are hanging out lang.

They're here in my room.

Call?

 

 

it didn't take a minute for Yooji to call me

 

"baby," tawag sakin ni Karina sabay pout, aktong nagtatampo pa nga. cute

 

i let out a small laugh, "i love you, wag na galit ang abunjing my love," pagsuyo ko sa kanya

 

for some reason, bigla kami naging vocal and clingy sa text ngayon

maybe it's our way to cope with our current situation? hindi ko rin alam pero gusto ko as much as possible, maipaalam ko sa kanya na siya lang mahal ko at na miss ko siya

siguro ganoon din siya

we got so used to being together and to be honest, ayaw ko na maulit yung panahon na wala kaming communication

baka mabaliw ako ng wala sa oras at lumipad agad pabalik sa pinas

 

she put the phone away from her face para makita ko ang suot niya.

my favorite hoodie, she's wearing it

 

"dapat bumili ka nalang pala ng bagong clothes dyan, i love your hoodies na baby. i think i won't be returning them to you na," biro ni yooji pero kita ko naman ang lungkot sa mata niya dahil parehas kami ng nararamdaman

 

"love, you were the one na nag-pack ng gamit ko kaya"

 

"i shouldnt have felt bad na baka wala ka masuot dyan," umiling iling pa ito sakin

 

grabe, medyo teary eyed ako bigla

napa-angat ako ng tingin sa kisame para hindi ako maiyak

we've only been together for a few months, bumabawi palang sa mga panahon na magkalayo kami tapos

 

ewan ko na, chef kai talaga pa-abangan ko nalang sa kanto eh

 

"Pre, gusto mo ba kumain or mag-tour sa resort?" tanong ni ryujin kaya naalala ko na kasama ko pala sila

 

"baby, you havent eaten yet?" taas kilay na tanong sakin ng aking captain baby

 

i gave her an innocent smile, "kagigising lang love diba, syempre, eto na po, we're going to eat na"

 

she glared at me kaya sinamaan ko rin ng tingin si ryu, pahamak

etong taksil na 'to bumulong pa ng under

 

"ssob rina, kami bahala kay winter. wag ka mag alala. pabantayan nalang din ng bebe ko," singit ni ryu na biglang tumabi sakin at kumaway pa sa cam

 

natawa naman ang bebe ko, "ryu, who's your bebe here ba? meron pa ba?" grabe, ang bait talaga ng captain baby ko. kaiyak

 

"ouch?!" sumigaw si ryu tapos humawak pa sa dibdib, parang tanga

"maganda roommate ni wintot," bigla naman nitong sabi na ikinatawa ni Jinni

 

napailing nalang ako sa bonak ko na tropa

kung may itataas pa ang kilay ng aking doktora bebe, baka panot na ito

babatukan ko talaga si ryujin after ng call

 

"love, meet mo pala roommate ko." hinarap ko ang screen ng phone ko sa pwesto nila Jinni at Ningning

 

kumaway at ngumiti ng malawak si Jinni sa cam, "hi! im yun jin. winter yu's roommate. dont worry, ill just ask them for food in exchange para bantayan ko rin si win for you."

 

i sighed, "im a grown up woman, no need naman na bantayan ako," reklamo ko

 

natawa ng bahagya si yooji, "thanks. need talaga kasi she's kind of oblivious. anyway, im karina yu, winter's girlfriend," pakilala nito na may ngiti na sa labi

 

akala ko unang araw, war agad. ang galing naman ni jinni

 

✯

 

as usual, wala proofread

wholesome lang

ciao