Gulong-gulo talaga si Wendy. She’s torn between giving up and taking that chance Joy was giving her. Feeling niya naaawa lang sa kanya ito dahil sa pagkakataon. Maybe Joy said that because she’s staying here, for god knows how long. She hates this feeling.

Paikot-ikot siya sa kama ng guest room kung saan siya naka-room. She checked her phone at nakitang alas tres na pala ng umaga. It’s a good thing na cancelled ang classes. Imagine, kakastart lang nila ng sem pero wala agad pasok.

Now, the virus n-cov already has a new name, COVID-19. Medyo panicked na rin ang lahat dahil sa surge ng virus. Kahit sa university nila, marami na rin ang positive. For a university like SMU na nakapa-rk ng mga estudyante na ginagawang weekend trip ang Singapore o di kaya’y Indonesia, marami sa kanila ang naka-quarantine. Just like what Seulgi is doing.

Napascroll na lang si Wendy sa timeline niya sa Facebook. It seems like the pandemic is hitting the Philippines quickly. Yung parents niya naman sa Canada, they seem to be okay, at hindi kasing lala dito sa Pilipinas ang situation nila. Medyo natakot lang din siya dahil hindi na nga niya kasama yung parents niya, wala pa si Seulgi sa tabi niya. She just hopes that her cousin didn’t get the virus.

Wendy decided to go downstairs dahil uhaw na uhaw din siya. She took her phone with her as a flashlight. It’s not the first time she has gone here. Maraming beses na actually, minsan kapag ihahatid niya si Joy, dito rin siya tumatambay.

Wendy was on her way to get a glass of water sa dispenser ng ref nang magulat siya dahil sa kalabit sa kanya.

“Wendy?” Gulat ding tawag ni Joy. She cannot sleep, kaya naman nagpainit siya ng tubig para uminom ng tea. Sabi kasi ng ate niya, drinking tea always helps in calming the nerves. Pinili niya pa yung Chamomile flavor from Ate Irene’s stash.

Tinapat ni Wendy yung flash light ng phone niya kay Joy. “Oh, can’t sleep?” Binaba niya na yung phone niya nang makitang umiwas si Joy sa ilaw. She’s thankful for the lack of light. Tanging yung orange na ilaw lang na nanggagaling sa heater yung naaaninag niya.

“Gusto mo ng tea?” Tanong sa kanya ni Joy.

Tumango lang si Wendy at sumandal sa counter, keeping her distance. She cannot bring herself closer, not after what happened. Nakita niyang gumalaw si Joy at mukhang kumuha ito ng isa pang cup at tea bag.

Parang ang haba ng two minutes sa sobrang katahimikan, tanging ang tunog lang ng nag-off na timer ng heater ang nakabasag nito. Wendy feels more awkward as she sees Joy filling the cups with hot water. Nilapag ni Joy yung isang cup malapit sa counter kung nasaan siya.

“Thanks.” Tipid na sagot ni Wendy. She sees Joy na nakasandal sa kabilang side ng counter at katapat niya. It’s getting harder to endure the silence dahil iniisip niya pa rin kung anong dapat niyang gawin. Kinuha niya yung cup niya at magpapa-alam na sana nang…

“Wendy,” tawag ni Joy.

“Yeah?” Wendy asked as she sipped from her cup instead. The smell of the tea is really nice. The taste is really soothing her anxiety a bit.

“Kailan mo pa alam?” Parang nilalaro na lang ni Joy yung tea sa baso niya. All the time she’s been having feelings for Seulgi, it’s the first time she’d talk about it with someone. Paniwalang-paniwala nga siya na sobrang galing niyang umarte. Because pretending for years, since high school when it first started, was s