Not sure if tama ba.. pero maglalagay na lang ako just in case.

TW.

-----

Giselle huffs frustratingly as she looks at her best friend sitting on the grass, in front of a tombstone, for the nth time.

“I know I’ll find you here,”

Karina nodded. “What do you want?”

“Your mom is looking for you,”

Giselle saw how Karina’s face faltered. “I’ll be back. I just need some time,”

Giselle sighed deeply. "Karina.. you need to move on.. It’s been years,"

"I can't, and I won't," Karina’s expression steeled.

"This isn't what Winter wants. She would want you to live, and live your life to the fullest. Do you want her to be sad seeing you like this?"

Karina looked at Giselle, fat tears evident in her eyes.

"I hope she's not seeing me like this, pero kung oo, sana mapagtanto niyang it’s much sadder for me na iniwan niya ako, not even letting me say my proper goodbyes,"

Giselle looked at her best friend with sympathy.

"Fine, I.. I-ll come back tomorrow, okay? Better fix yourself by then. I'm gonna drag you out. You need some fresh air,"

Karina remained silent and didn't argue anymore.

She just can’t.

She can’t let her go.

Not yet.

Present time.

"Hey.."

Inangat ni Karina ang paningin at nakita ang matalik na kaibigan sa may pintuan.

"Gi,"

Lumapit si Giselle at dahan-dahang naupo sa bakanteng upuan sa gilid ng kama ni Karina.

"I'm sorry ngayon lang ako nakadalaw.. I kinda need to force my children payagan akong pumunta dito,"

Karina chuckled. "Sabi ko naman kasi sayo, there's no need to travel all the way here, saka matanda na tayo, hindi na tayo tulad noon na nakakarecover agad sa jetlag,"

"Ugh, I know. Pero I want to be with you, you know? I want to take care of you, I'm your best friend,"

"Ganito ba talaga kapag tumandang dalaga?"

Giselle laughed. "I guess. Lucky you, you have me."

"Edi thank you. You sure it's okay for your family to be here with me?"

Giselle's expression softened. "Of course. Bibisita pa nga sila kapag nakauwi na rin dito, nauna lang ako since they still need to give some heads up sa work."

"Thank you for doing this, Gi.."

Hinawakan ni Giselle ang kamay ng kaibigan.

"Kahit naman hindi ako binilinan ni Winter.. I would still do this."

Lumamlam ang mata ni Karina. "Gi.. do you think I would finally meet her again?"

Giselle's eyes glistened. "Karina.."

"I'm so tired, you know? All my life.. para akong walang laman na lata na sumasabay lang sa agos ng buhay.. I.. all I ever want is to see her again, para akong nawala na din nung nawala siya sa'kin,"

Hindi na napigilan ni Giselle ang luhang pumatak sa pisngi niya.

"If.. if it's really hard for you to stay, okay lang naman magpahinga na, Rina.. but, don't forget na nandito lang ako, kami," Hinigpitan nito ang kapit sa kamay ng kaibigan. "We're also your family.."

Tumango si Karina. "And I will be forever grateful for that, Gi, so, so thankful," Matamis ang ngiti ni Karina.

"Don't worry.. it's just a passing thought, akalain mo, mamuhay pa ako for another 20 years.. diba? You're kinda stuck of taking care of me, unfortunately,"

Tumawa si Giselle, hindi alintana ang tuloy-tuloy na daloy ng luha sa pisngi.

"I will never say no to that. Growing old together as besties? Count me in,"

Sabay silang tumawa, hindi alintana ang madilim na kalangitan sa labas, hudyat ng paparating na ulan.

--

"Gi, Gi! Gising!"

Mabilis na napabalikwas si Giselle, naalimpungatan.

"Ning..? Bakit?"

Nang maimulat ng husto ang mga mata, saka lang niya napagtanto ang walang tigil na pagbuhos ng luha ni Ningning, ang nanginginig nitong kamay sa mga braso niya.

"Ning..?"

"Si— si K-Karina.."

May parang kung anong bumagsak sa loob ni Giselle, at hindi na niya napigilan ang bara sa lalamunan.

Hot tears cascaded down her face, as she tried to keep her strong facade and console her crying wife instead.

"L—Let's go?"

Tumango si Ningning, hindi na inangat ang mukha mula sa dibdib ng asawa.

Sabay silang lumabas ng kwarto, mabagal at mabigat ang bawat hakbang, na tila ba mapipigilan nito ang kung anong nangyari na.

Tahimik nilang tinahak ang pasilyo patungo sa kwarto ni Karina.

Pagbukas nila ng pinto ay tumambad sa kanila ang nurse at doktor.

The nurse gave them a forlorn nod, before tapping the doctor to let her know of their presence.

Nilingon sila ng doktor at nilapitan, a folder in hand.

"I'm sorry. She— she died in her sleep. We are still looking for possible reasons why this happened all of a sudden, but the patient's refusal sa medications might be one of the main cause,"

Giselle bit her lip. "Hindi naman siya nahirapan umalis, diba..?"

The doctor shook her head. "She went peacefully."

Giselle tightened her hug kay Ningning.

It's for the better.

This is what Karina wants, after all.

Leave.

And finally meet her beloved, once again.

Winter.

Her Winter.

----

"Ah.. I guess I'm dead.. huh?" Karina said as she studied herself.

Nawala na ang parang kulubot sa balat niya.

The deep wrinkle decorating her skin before was gone, and once again it is smooth, almost translucent white, just like how it is in her younger years.

She held her face, feeling the smooth skin, confirming that the wrinkles adorning her face all over the years are gone.

She's young once again.

If she can remember it right, she was around this age, nang makilala niya si Winter.

That snob new student sa klase nila.

She's the council president at that time.

She can say it was love at first sight, at least on her side.

Winter was attracted t