"Nagbaon ka talaga ng snacks?"

"I get snacky."

"Brooklyn 99. Nice." Bilib na komento sakin ni Karina.

Kakapasok pa lang namin ng NLEX.

Grabe, ang dami na nagbago.

Ang crowded na ng lugar.

Yung balintawak dati pang babaan pero ang daming stalls, ang daming tao, ang daming bus. Bawat generation ata ng mga sumikat na bus nakita ko na.

Yung bukana sa NLEX, walang puregold dati dun.

Pansin ko rin na parang umuurong na residential area ng maynila. Mga subdivision ata yung nadaanan namin.

Ang nostalgic ng feeling.

Every summer, Dad would sometimes bring us with him kapag pinatawag siya sa HQ nila na based sa manila. Iiwan niya kami sa mcdonalds then maglalaro kami nila Ning sa playplace. They had other plans for the day para samin, Luneta or sa Circle pero madalas we'd stay lang sa mcdo. Walang ganun sa probinsya!

Yung cage na puno ng bola!

Si ate Taeyeon mag-iinarte na matanda na daw siya for those kind of things pero makikilaro din saming tatlo nila kuya Leng. Siya pa nga magiging kontrabida eh!

Wala kayang humihindi sa playplace!

Ahh.

Good old days.

Pwede ba maging bata na lang ulit?

Nakakapagod maging adult.

"Hindi tayo magtatagal ha? May work ka pa bukas." Paalala ko ulit kay Karina.

I know it's her turn to watch the cafe. I asked Giselle nung hindi pa kami okay. Akala ko kasi nung una ginagawa lang niyang excuse para makapagtagal sa labas.

Ang feeling ko, my god. Akala lang naman eh.

Umakyat siya kanina para hiramin sasakyan ni ate Irene. Yup, that car na ginamit niyang pangsundo samin before. Pina-full gas namin bago makalabas ng manila.

"Can we stay for at least two hours para sulit yung drive?" She bargained. "Two-hour drive tapos we'll stay ng 30 minutes lang?"

Two hour -

"Dadalhin mo ata talaga ako sa inyo eh!" Pagmaktol ko sa kanya, natawa siya. "Alam kong dalawang oras byahe sa Pampanga!"

Batang NLEX ako, hashtag We The North.

"Hindi tayo aabot sa amin. We're going to Mexico, sa Magalang pa kami." Dahilan niya. "Unless, you want to say hi to dad?"

Nang-aasar pa eh.

Don't get me wrong, I like Tito.

He's charming, he's funny, although mahilig din siya sa dad jokes. Loves his wife and children dearly. Nakasundo ko rin siya sa ibang bagay like music, among other things.

Pero natatakot pa rin ako sa kanya.

Tatay pa rin kaya yun!

I need at least a month bago makayang harapin siya ulit.

"They like you." Sumilip siya bago bumalik sa daan. "Sila dad."

Nakokonsensya na ako.

I know she means well, para hindi na ako matakot sa tatay niya. Nahihiya lang ako kasi ang pangit ng first meeting namin.

My god, the horror.

"I'm sorry." Nahihiyang sabi ko.

"For what?" Confused niyang tanong.

"I like your parents, okay?"

"Takot ka kay dad?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

"It's okay, everyone is." Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Just so you know, that's his cool side." Pakaswal niyang sabi.

Yun na yon?

Pero kasi..

Nakakatakot kaya resting face ni tito!

Ngayon lang nagsink-in sakin lahat.

Kinikilabutan ako just thinking about it. While si tita, laging nakangiti yung mata saka ang angelic ng face, ang aliwalas. Not that mukhang ano si tito, basta yun. Hindi ganun face niya!

"I feel like your dad's lawyer side would jump on me anytime." Comment ko.

She chuckled. "He wouldn't dare. Tatlo kaming aaway sa kanya."

"I'm touched, thank you."

"Mom was very impressed on how you handled dad."

My ears perked up. "She was? But all I did was answer his questions, had to remind myself na huminga. Hirap kaya magmulti-task!"

She laughed.

Nag-signal siya ng left bago lumipat sa inner lane. "Pinagchismisan ka namin during dinner."

Ay.

Family time featuring me. Sana sumama na lang pala ako para hindi ako ang topic. Should I feel flattered or worried?

"Kaya pala ilang beses ko nakagat dila ko during dinner."

"Yup," she said, giggling. "prolly our fault. Nakalimutan raw itanong ni mom kung single ka."

Oo nga.

Inantay kong tanungin ako ni tito niyan but she never brought it up. Nakahanda na nga yung isasagot ko eh

"Sinagot mo?" Curious kong tanong.

Nag-smirk siya. "I said not available."

"Uy, Karina, imbento ka!"

Yakap yakap ko anak niya tapos may karelasyon akong iba? Hala, baka kung ano isipin nila tito sakin!

Hindi po ako ganun, tito!

Bad po yun!

Dinedma ni Karina yung sinabi ko.

"Can you play some music?" Tinuro niya yung phone ko na nasa dashboard.

"Inaantok ka?"

"Not really. I want to tune out the internal whining. Naririnig kita eh." Pang-aasar niya sakin.

"May problema ka ba sa thoughts ko?" I unlocked my phone and went straight sa spotify. "What music would you like, mademoiselle?"

"Wala naman. I'm curious though how your mind works." Her smile widened. "Surprise me."

"It works alright, nothing special. Laking tiki-tiki." Nagbrowse na ako. "The pressure is on!"

Acoustic? Aantukin 'to.

Alternative? Alin naman?

Indie?

"I grew up with flintstones." She chuckled. "Take your best shot, Winter."

Ano bang pwede?

Seseryosohin ko ba 'to?

Bakit ba kapag walang nagre-request ang daling mag-isip ng kanta? Kapag meron, mental blocked.

"Ayoko talagang nalalasahan yung gamot kahit chewables pa." Ngumiti na ako when I found the best one. "Taking my shot in 3.. 2.." tumingin muna ako sa kanya bago i-play.

Tumahimik ang sasakyan.

"Hold your breath.. make a wish.. now count to three.." sinabayan ko yung intro, nilaliman ko pa boses ko.

Come with me and you'll be

In a world of pure imagination

Take a look and you'll see

Into your imagination

Based on how she looks, inaalala niya yung kanta.

I played a different version of the song. Marami na rin nag-cover until I found this one na swak sa panlasa ko.

Nagsalubong kilay niya. "Willy Wonka sunday afternoon radio version?"

"Very specific but, yes. Lou Rawls! I like this one." I danced while sitting when the drums started playing. Tamang sway at head bop lang.

Naalala ko kasi usapan namin ni tito kanina about music.

There are times na you won't focus sa lyrics, minsan sa vibe lang talaga ng kanta. If it feels good then the song is good, period.

"Winter, I like it pero hindi pa sunday. Bukas pa."

"I can play old songs tuwing Sunday lang?" Nag-drama ako.

She looked briefly sakin. "No pouting!"

Umayos ako ng upo at humarap sa kanya.

"Foul kasi yan."

"It's my strongest suit." Proud ko pang sabi.

"Oo na. Kahit gawin mo pang lolo vibes yung unit everyday."

"Wait." tinigil ko yung kanta. "I need receipt so.." I opened my camera app and pointed it at her. Video.

Nakakunot ang noo niya. "Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Ulitin mo yung sinabi mo."

"This is against my will, I'm driving!" Natatawa niyang sabi.

"If you complain sa jams ko, papanood ko 'to sayo." I narrowed my eyes sa phone. "Actually, maririnig mo lang. Medyo madilim yung video eh."

She bit her lower lip nang lumingon sa side mirror. Nagka-momentary spotlight siya nang madaanan kami ng ilaw galing sa mga poste.

Kumabog yung puso ko.

I wanted to look away but my eyes were stuck on her.

Parang nakita ko na 'to?

"Winter," sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha, her eyes focused on the road. "I'll listen to whatever song you like at any time or any day. Kahit gawin mo pang lolo vibes yung unit everyday."

Napakurap ako.

I stopped recording at humarap na ulit sa daan.

Huminga ka, Minjeong.

Nagshuffle play na lang ako.

I was scared of dentists and the dark

I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations

Oh, all my friends are turning green

You're the magician's assistant in their dream

"And while you're at it, pwede ka rin kumanta."

Marahan kong nilingon ang ulo sa kanya. "My voice is only for the bathroom theater with shampoo, conditioner, and body soap as my audience."

I have my reasons bakit sa bathroom lang ako kumakanta.

Aside from walang nanonood, sabi nga ni Gina sa Brooklyn 99, the acoustics are amazing!

Lady, running down to the riptide

Taken away to the dark side

I wanna be your left hand man

I love you when you're singing that song

And I got a lump in my throat

'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

"I'm a better audience." She said, continuing our banter.

Napataas kilay ko sa kanya. "Anong lamang mo sa audience ko?"

"I can clap, I can sing, and I can dance." She argued, her fingers tapping the wheel.

There's this movie that I think you'll like

This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City

This cowboy's running from himself

And she's been living on the highest shelf

Dance?

Tinutukoy ba niya yung kinwento ng dad niya about him dancing with her mom?

"Are you about to pull a Tito Ice move on me?"

"Anong sinasabi mo?" Nalilito niyang tanong, nanlaki ang mga mata nang maalala. "Asa ka! Sabi ni dad ikaw gumawa nun, not me. So, woman up!"

"Hindi pa Sunday eh." I countered.

Kunwaring na-disappoint yung mukha niya. "Tuwing sunday lang pwede?"

I just wanna, I just wanna know

If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay

I just gotta, I just gotta know

I can't have it, I can't have it any other way

"Gaya-gaya ka." I playfully answered and looked outside.

"Gaya-gaya, puto maya -"

"Paglaki crocodile ni Karina." Natatawa kong pagsingit sa sinabi niya.

Tinusok niya yung tagiliran ko.

Napaharap yung katawan ko sa kanya. "Oy, foul! Hands on the wheel!"

Nag-okay okay lang siya habang sinesenyas yung kamay niya sakin to relax.

Tumingin na ulit ako sa labas.

May pagka-isip bata din 'tong si Karina eh.

Yeah, she carries herself well, parang sisiw lang sa kanya adulting life. Pero nung lunch, sino yon?! Joke lang. Maybe because kasama namin parents niya? Parang nakawalang bata eh.

I lost it nang biruin siya ni tito na baka raw next surprise visit nila, iba na ang maabutan.

Imagine a full grown woman stomping her feet like a kid.

Should have caught that on tape.

May nadaanan kaming road sign -- light bulb.

Ngumisi ako. "I have an idea."

"Winter, natatakot ako sa ideas mo."

I acted like nasaktan sa sinabi. "I am offended, I have great ideas."

"Riiight." Sarcastic niyang sagot, prolonging yung I for emphasis. "Gardening? Lia?"

Kumunot noo ko. "Lia?"

"Yes, Lia." Diin niya.

Nalilito na ako.

Anong meron kay Lia?

"You made her dance?" Unsure niyang sagot and her face lost na din.

I, what?

"I didn't?"

"Genie? SNSD?"

Natawa na ako. "Kaya pala putlang putla siya pagbalik samin tapos binatukan ako! I only said mag-ala genie siya."

"May video kaya galing kay Japeth!"

Kaya pala sumasayaw sila ni Chaeryeong that day!

After kasi nung "talk" namin ni Karina, napansin nila Ning yung pagka-down ko. Nakutuban siguro nila kasi hindi ako pinansin ni Karina at all nung kumakain, hindi pa umuwi sa unit pagbalik namin ng manila.

That night, dinumog ako nung tatlo.

Mga chismosang kapitbahay lang.

Actually, they didn't ask what happened, sinamahan lang nila ako. I really had no plan na magpatulong, I wanted to apologize on my own kaso nung nakita ko na ulit si Karina, hindi ko alam gagawin or sasabihin tapos parang ayaw pa niya ak