"Can we hold hands again?"

I was stunned for a second sa tanong ni Winter, but somehow my body instantly knew what to do.

I put out my left hand and she quickly grabbed it exactly as she did earlier when I asked her the same question.

Medyo nagulat talaga ako nung bigla niya akong inakbayan sa taxi kanina.

Inabot kami ng traffic halfway bago makarating dito. Kuya driver started talking to us to pass the time and eventually, naging mas personal yung mga questions niya, particularly sa akin. 

He assumed na meron akong manliligaw because I looked like a model daw.

“If only he knew...” I thought to myself.

In a matter of seconds, Winter’s arm is wrapped around me at sinabi niya kay kuya na siya raw ang manliligaw ko.

And soon after, she moved her face close to my ear at nag sorry siya sa akin. Chismoso daw kasi si kuya driver.

Did she really have to?

I understood why she did that, pero I just got lost in thought at that moment. She was a little too close for my comfort, and I kinda liked every second of it.

Ako ba talaga ang nanliligaw?

As far as I know, I should be the one leading her...pero she's been initiating things more often than I could.

Not that I'm complaining. Actually, grateful pa nga ako sa pag initiate niya because I simply have no idea what to do most of the time.

I just feel like I need to step up my game.

Galaw-galaw K!!

Coming back to my senses, I decided na yayain siyang maglakad ulit sa further north ng bayside.

Our hands parted nung tumayo at bumaba kami, but I gathered the courage to hold hers again once we started walking.

She was so quiet and her eyes kept darting away as I gently tugged her towards the right side of the walkway.

Bukas na yung ilaw sa mga lamp posts at stalls, and the breeze was a tad bit colder trying to keep up with the nightfall.

We passed by a seating area with fake grass at may ilang mga tao ang nakaupo sa paligid. 

On its far-right is the carousel that's hard to miss.

I noticed na kanina pa siya tumitingin sa mga rides. From how she turned ecstatic when I asked her about it, she must really enjoy riding them.

Kung ganito na siya ka-excited dito, what more kung nasa actual amusement park na kami?

I was overjoyed when I pictured her reaction.

"We can go there, sa Sunday," I said on a whim.

"Hm?"

"Pwede tayo mag amusement park on our date if you want," I clarified.

"I thought takot ka sa mga rides?" She recalled looking confused.

"I can ride the carousel," I confidently said, pointing at the ride.

Bigla siyang humagikgik at parang nagpipigil ng tawa.

I faked a pout at her reaction. Semi-guilty dahil hanggang carousel lang ang kaya kong sakyan.

"Sorry, sorry." 

She tightened her grip while trying to keep a straight face.

"Okay lang sa akin mag amusement park, marami pa naman ibang rides dun." She added. "Basta okay sa 'yo, Karina."

"Actually, yung unang naisip ko for our date is to visit the National Museum. I've never been there kasi, pero I would really love to see the Spoliarium in person. Have you been there na ba?"

"Ohh, hindi pa rin ako nakapunta dun." Sagot niya. 

Yung last daw na museum na napuntahan ni Winter is Museong Pambata. They went there for a field trip when they were in fourth grade.

I suddenly imagined fourth-grader Winter. Sobrang cute rin siguro niya noon. May pictures kaya siya? I hope I could see it one day...

"Hmm... Museum..." She murmured and contemplated.

"We can do that another time," I suggested, as if already planning our future dates. Besides, tingin ko mas mag eenjoy din siya if sa amusement park kami pumunta.

"I think pwede naman natin gawin both," sabi niya.

"Sa may CCP lang yung Star City, diba? For sure late pa magbubukas yun, so pwede tayo mag museum muna sa umaga. Tapos saka tayo mag rides sa hapon!" She happily proposed. 

"Would that be okay? I mean, we don't have to do it all at once naman."

"Oo naman! Naisip ko lang na mas okay kung pareho tayong mag enjoy sa first date natin, so why not both?"

A smug look appeared on her face and her hand started to sway along with mine.

"As long as okay sa 'yo, Karina."

I smiled, softened by her remark. 

"Okay."

Could Winter be any sweeter? 

To be honest, kahit saan naman kami magpunta I wouldn't mind. 

In fact, this thing that we're doing right now - just strolling around hand-in-hand - already feels like a date.

I would be more than happy to just hang out with her. Kahit nga sa condo lang niya. 

“Just the two of us..” I swallowed hard, blinking away the thought.

At around 6:30, naka-receive na kami ng message kay Jaemin na malapit na daw sila sa area, so Winter and I immediately walked back pabalik sa restaurant.

I spotted our friends from afar habang tumatawid sila papunta sa seaside. The two celebrants walked towards the restaurant at kasama nila yung boys, except Mark. Maybe he's still trying to park his car.

We were a few meters away from them nung ma-realize ko na magkahawak pa rin kami ng kamay ni Winter. 

I carefully pulled my hand from hers, and she looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa friends namin. She spotted them na din and immediately understood, letting go of my hand.

Even if Giselle already knew, I felt self-conscious sa iba naming friends. Hindi rin ako sure kung nasabi na ni Winter kay Ning, so it's probably better if we discuss it together before telling them. 

Lumingon-lingon si Ning around the restaurant as if searching for us. Mabilis niya kaming sinalubong at nilapitan after finally recognizing our faces.

I immediately called her and waved. “Hey, Ning!” 

"Hi mga pre!" She greeted us back, holding us from meeting the rest of the group. Busy pa sila sa pag tingin ng menu near the entrance.

“Saan kayo galing? Akala namin nandun kayo sa waiting area." Tanong ni Ning.

"Nag ikot-ikot lang dun sa may mga rides, pre." Winter answered. "Aga namin nakarating eh.."

“Ohh okay,” Ning nodded. She gave me a careful smile before turning to Winter to whisper something.

"Bes, ba't di mo sinabing kasama yung si Chenle? Alam mo namang di ko siya ka-vibes!" I overheard Ning and the other just gave her a weird look.

"Luh? As if naman ang lalim ng galit mo sa kanya,” Winter said, dismissing her complaint. “Tropa din siya ni Giselle at ng mga boys kaya wala namang problema kung kasama siya."

I just stood there, confused sa conversation nila. Napansin ata ni Ning and she moved to let me in on their secret talk.

"Kainis kasi yun!" She grumbled, crossing her arms. "Lagi niya akong nire-raid sa Clash of Clans eh di naman kami close! In-add ko lang siya dati sa fb kasi nakita kong ka-batch natin at half-Chinese din siya."

I couldn’t help but laugh sa narinig ko. Akala ko naman merong deeper reason why Ning dislikes Chenle. Clash of Clans lang pala…

"Gagi ka talaga, Ning! Eh di i-raid mo din siya?!" Natatawang suggestion ni Winter. “Or, pwede na kayo maging close ngayon!”

"Ugh! Ayoko nga. Mas mataas din level niya sa akin kaya di ko siya kayang i-raid. Bwiset!"

Giselle heard the commotion and she finally saw us. "Oh hey! You two are here na pala!" 

"What were you three laughing about?" She asked, intrigued.

“Wala naman pareng Giselle.” Paiwas na sagot ni Ning. “Di pa ba tayo pwedeng pumasok?”

“May something kasi sila ni Chenle,” Winter jokingly revealed.

“Imbento ka Winter!” Hampas ni Ning sa kanya. “Wag niyo pansinin yan, walang masabi yang si Winter.”

"Oooh," Giselle raised her brows and glanced at Chenle. She then grinned and gave Ning a nod of approval.

Nagpipigil lang kami ng tawa ni Winter sa reaction ni Ning. Sa asar niya, she pulled Giselle papunta sa side niya at inulit yung kwento niya kanina about her dislike for Chenle.

“Ahh, so it’s the opposite pala…” sabi ni Giselle after hearing the full story.

“Well, you never know, Ning. Malay mo Chenle likes you pala that’s why he’s doing that,” she egged on, joining Winter sa pang aasar sa friend niya.

Ning instantly faked a vomit sound at di na namin napigilang tumawa na tatlo. "Grabe kayo, akala ko ba kampi-kampi tayo dito!"

"Of course we are!" Giselle exclaimed. "Akong bahala sa 'yo, Ning. Kausapin natin siya later tungkol sa Clash of Clans na yan." 

"Guys tara!" Biglang sigaw ni Jaemin. "Pwede na daw tayo pumasok!"

The four of us walked together and joined the rest of the group in entering the restaurant.

"Thanks pala for getting here early para ma-reserve yung seats na