“Ano?! Bubuo na kayo?!” Ningning shouted through the video call.

Lia joined the call.

“Anong bubuo?! Sinong bubuohin?!”

“Bubuo na kayo pamilya, Karina?” Giselle asked.

Natawa nalang si Yeji sakanila through the screen habang napakamot nalang si Karina sa ulo n'ya.

“Sa dami ng sinabi ko, 'buo' lang narinig mo Ning? May selective hearing ka ba?” medyo naiinis na sabi ni Karina. 

“Nabasa ko explanation mo sa gc pero gusto ko padin marinig mula sa'yo.” Lia explained herself.

“Andaya naman, naka-ilang interactions na kayo ni Winter habang ako, isa na nga lang, yung pinagsarhan pa 'ko ng pinto.” reklamo naman ni Ningning. “May meet the family ka pa.” 

“Neighbor privilege?” Giselle said while typing something, mukhang nasa office s'ya at may ginagawa, hindi lang talaga nila mapalampas magchismisan kahit sa video call lang.  

“Ano? Kukuha na ba 'ko ng unit d'yan sa floor n'yo?” Ningning asked, her eyes sparkling in her own suggestion.

“Matanong ko lang,” Yeji said, completely ignoring Ningning. “Sa tagal n'yong magkapitbahay, never mo pa nakita mga kapatid ni Winter na bumibisita d'yan?” 

Napaisip naman si Karina, “Yeah, pero come to think of it, these past few years busy ako sa company, nag-click yung nilabas naming collections 'di ba? I had a lot of appointments and I go out early and go home late. Siguro hindi lang kami magtagpo, ngayong year lang ako medyo free dahil nadagdagan manpower sa company.” 

Napatango naman yung mga kaibigan n'ya sa screen. 

“Wait lang ah? And'yan na food delivery ko sa baba.” she excused herself and left her friends on call. 

When she reached the ground floor and meet with the delivery guy, she saw Taeyeon with a guy and they seem to be arguing by the looks of their annoyed faces while talking. 

“Ito po,” inabot ng delivery guy sakan'ya yung sukli.

“Thank you po, ingat!” she said cheerfully and went to the elevator. 

It was about to close when Taeyeon and the guy with her went in, nagulat pa si Taeyeon bago s'ya nginitian at binati.

“Karina, hi!” 

She smiled back, “Hi ate Taeyeon.” 

“Boyfriend ko, si Eunhyuk, and this is my sister's neighbor, Karina.” 

Nagbatian lang silang dalawa bago nag-usap ulit yung magjowa. Karina doesn't want to eavesdrop pero it's not her fault na naririnig n'ya, nasa maliit na space sila eh, and they seems to be talking about their upcoming trip. 

They bid their goodbye to her when they reached their floor. 

• • •

It was 3 in the afternoon when Karina received a call asking for her presence in the company. 

Nagmadali s'yang mag-ayos although hindi naman s'ya nir-rush, ayaw n'ya lang talagang paghintayin ng matagal yung mga employee n'ya.

When she was locking her door, lumbas naman si Winter. 

“Hi Winter!” bati n'ya at tinignan naman s'ya nito. Karina's smile faltered when she saw how solemn the girl looks, medyo naka-pout pa 'to. “Uhm, alis na 'ko. See you around.” she wants to ask what's the matter pero nahihiya s'ya and it might make Winter think of her na nanghihimasok s'ya sa buhay ng may buhay eh hindi naman sila close. 

Nang makalagpas s'ya kay Winter, napahinto s'ya nang magsalita 'to, “Karina, right?” 

She turned to face Winter, “Yes.” the girl was looking at her with this innocent and clueless eyes, ang hirap basahin kung anong iniisip n'ya.

“May record ka ba ng kidnapping?” 

Karina almost choke in the air, ano daw? 

“W-wala?” nagtataka n'yang sagot. 

“Hindi ka sure? So nang-kidnap ka na?” 

“Hindi! I mean, hindi, wala. Hindi pa ako nang-kidnap.” gusto n'yang maiyak, ano bang pinag-uusapan nila? 

“Hindi pa pumasok sa isip mo mang-kidnap ng tao?” 

Gusto nang itanong ni Karina kung bakit n'ya ba tinatanong at para saan 'to pero Winter seems to be so serious about it. 

“Hindi pa, Winter, at wala akong balak.” she said seriously.

“Edi, ano, uhm...” Winter looks away and Karina noticed her fidgeting with her fingers, “Pwede sumama sa'yo?” 

Karina's smile went bac