“Any questions regarding sa mga policies ko so far? May gusto ba kayong itanong mga anak?” Our prof asked us in a calm tone.

I’ve been listening to him since we entered our second class for this morning. It’s kind of different nga sa feeling kasi, we are seeing our faces sa screens nalang and not in person.

“Okay, so let’s continue. Since we are in an online class set up, I am sure na alam niyo na kung ano rin yung pinaghihigpitan, hindi ba? Ang pagch-cheat-“

“Ah sir, excuse me po, hindi na raw po makapasok si Winter Kim sa class kasi may pumutok daw po ng transformer sakanila.”

Our prof silenced when he heard one of my classmates speak up. Nakatingin lang ako sa screen, sa camera niya to be specific para hindi mawala ang focus ko. He asked us a while ago to turn on our cameras as well but, hindi ko ginawa.

Hindi pa ako nakakapaglinis ng kwarto at medyo makalat.

I can see him look over sa list of names namin probably at bumalik rin ang tingin sa camera saka tumango.

“Winter…..Kim?? Okay wait, let me check my list. I’ll note that later.”

The discussion continued as our professor oriented us about sa mga syllabus and sa subject na ite-take namin sakanya.

Arts Appreciation. Obviously, we will need a lot of effort to pass this class. Iu-unleash ang creative side ng mga students as our prof said earlier rin na,

“Kahit sa ayaw at sa gusto niyo mga anak, ilalabas natin ang mga talento ninyo. Kaya mag-practice na kayo ng tiktok ha.” He chuckled pa right after banggitin nung huling sinabi niya.

I have no problems naman kung ganyan nga ang case. Besides, I am just doing it for the grades.

He ended the meeting ng matiwasay and answered the questions that were asked sakanya ng malinaw.

So far, wala pa kaming teacher na boomer. Magmula kaninang first subject, it has been really good sa feeling knowing our professors for this sem ay mababait at considerate.

We are about to enter our third class. No breaks, straight hanggang 12:30pm ang sched for this day.

 

 

Third subject na. And here I thought we will never have a prof na terror. Akala ko lang pala yun. I expected it rin naman na but the fact na we will be dealing with her for the whole first semester, it’s kind of draining kung iisipin niyo.

Not to mention, it’s our first meeting palang.

Oh God, I could already see myself practicing so much patience para lang hindi mawala ang focus ko sa pag-aaral at sa subject niya.

Kasi kung affected ka sa prof niyo, sasabay yung pagiging apektado mo rin on how you handle the subject.

Our names are being called since she’s doing the roll call already.

“Winter Kim?”

No one answered.

“I repeat, Ms. Winter Kim?” There’s a hint of pagkamataray na sa boses niya the moment she repeated my classmate’s name.

“Okay, absent. Chaeryeong Lee?” she proceeded na sa next name and napalunok nalang ako on how strict she is.

Hindi ba pwedeng maging mabait muna sa first meeting? Absent agad?

“Ah, ma’am, Winter couldn’t join the meeting raw po kasi may sumabog na transformer sakanila.” Ryujin, one of our classmates explained when she opened her mic.

“May ibang paraan para makapag-attend. Hindi pwedeng magpaload?” Prof asked in her strict tone as she focused herself on looking straight at the camera.

“Ma’am, sarado daw po lahat ng nagloload sakanila ngayon eh.”

“Absent pa rin. She should be ready at all times.”

I can’t help it but to scoff and napalunok ng mariin this time. I could also feel my brows meeting sa gitna at kumukunot na ang noo ko dahil sa attitude ng prof ko ngayon.

How inconsiderate.

Not all of us are THAT privilege.

Natahimik ulit ang klase as our prof continued to call our names and nagche-check ng attendance.

I’m still bothered by the misdemeanor of our prof kanina.

 

[ang kaganapan sa group chat habang nagr-roll call]

BSED SS 2-B

Ryujin Shin: Guys nakakakaba naman si ma’am

                      Parang gusto ko nalang magdrop 2loy

                      Charot. Not charot. HAHAHAHAHSSAH

Yeji Hwang: Sinabi mo pa

Chaeryeong Lee: Akala ko nga ako rin pagbubuntungan ng galit

                      Eh kasunod ko pa naman si Winter

Chaewon Kim: Oo nga ehhh. Grabe absent agad?

Minju Kim: Uy guys, baka mahuli tayo ni ma’am at magpa-open cam yan

Chaewon Kim: Ryu, nasabihan mo na si Winter?

Ryujin Shin: Oo

                       Kaso di nags-seen

                       Baka wala talaga siya kahit pan-data lang

 

 

Karina Yu: May number ba kayo ni Winter?

 

 

 

I know what I did.

I asked my classmates if they happen to know Winter’s number at since may tindahan naman kami saka nagl-load, I can load her naman.

Because in our block section, hindi pwedeng may napagiiwanan.

Luckily, Ryujin gave me her friend’s number.

We’ve been blockmates since 1st year naman kaya kakilala ko na rin ang mga blockmates ko ngayon.

Akala ko wala ng mas ico-considerate pa ang prof namin this day at orientation lang kami. Mukhang sinipag si ma’am at excited na talaga to teach us some lessons kaya naman, after she called our names, she straight up flashed the powerpoint sa screen and continued to discuss na.

My phone’s been vibrating na rin kanina pa sa side ng laptop ko at nagn-notif yung messenger.

For sure, my classmates are doing their business rin habang nagdi-discuss ang prof namin.

In the middle of our discussion, someone called our prof.

“Ma’am excuse me po? Ma’am? I’m sorry po kung late na akong nakapasok sa klase niyo. May technical difficulties po kasi sa bahay at ngayon lang po nagkaroon ng load,” Winter sincerely said when our prof stopped what she’s discussing.

“Yes, Ms. Kim? Na-absent na kita kanina pa. And you being almost 30 minutes late in my class doesn’t justify what has been done.”

I swear, napapikit ako sa frustration na bumibuild up ngayon sa sistema ko.

“I’m sorry po, ma’am….” I’m sure all of our classmates can clearly hear how apologetic Winter’s voice is right now.

“Now keep up. Baka mabawi mo sa recitation mamaya kung bibigyan kita.”

“Yes ma’am, I’m sorry po ulit...”

And so, the discussion continued. The class fell in complete silence.

The kind of silence na mararamdaman mo yung tension and pagka-terror ng prof ninyo.

Good Lord, give me patience.

 

 

[kaganapan after mag-dismiss ni Prof Terror]

BSED SS 2-B

Jaemin Na: Di ko ata kakayanin yung subject na to haha

Haechan Lee: Drop ka na inamo

Chaewon Kim: Winteeerr

                            Nags-seen ka na. Ayos ka lang? Kamusta ka??

Winter Kim: GUYS

                       Kung sino man yung nag-load sakin, sana masarap ang ulam mo

                        Sorry rin sa abala! Babayaran kita kapag nag-F2F na!

Ryujin Shin: Huy Winter

                       Ayos ka lang ba

                       G na g si prof sayo, eh kaka-meet palang natin sakanya

Winter Kim: Hahahahaha oo nga e

                       Thank you talaga dun sa nag-load.

Yeji Hwang: Thank you daw @Karina Yu

Heejin Jeon: Hi president @Karina Yu

Winter Kim: Luh

                       Seryoso ba yan hahahaha

                       Thank you, president. Bayaran ko nalang ha. 😊

Karina Yu: Welcome.

 

 

[sa text]

 

‘From: 0999xxxxxxx

Hi, maraming salamat dun sa load mo.

Malaking bagay na to, magagamit ko na hanggang mamayang hapon.”

‘To: 0999xxxxxxx

Who’s this?’

‘From: 0999xxxxxxx

Oh shoot, I’m sorry! This is Winter by the way.’

‘To: 0999xxxxxxx

Haha it’s okay. You’re welcome.’

‘From: Winter

Thank you ulit, pres. Sana masarap ang ulam mo mamayang gabi. :)’

 

 

 

“We will be having a group report for the upcoming lessons. You will be using our time to discuss every time we meet.”

I listened to Prof Terror na i-discuss kung paano yung gagawin naming reporting sa mga susunod na araw. She mentioned it last time na may reporting nga raw na magaganap. At bilang president of the class, ako yung in-assign niyang mag-distribute ng groups.

“May I have the list of groups, Ms. Yu?”

“Hello po, yes Ma’am, I sent it na po sainyo kanina sa chat box po.” I opened my mic and answered our prof na who was waiting for the list.

“Saan banda, iha? Wala man akong na-receive. Kindly send it to me directly.”

“Okay po, saglit lang po ma’am.”

Hinanap ko na yung file sa laptop ko and madali ko naman siyang na-pm kay ma’am.

She quickly read it naman at sinimulan na ang pag-announce ng topics to be discussed at magkaka-groupmates.

Our prof instructed us na magsisimula ng agad agaran ang reporting sa next meeting, which is sa Friday na. I could see my blockmates na nagtatanungan na ng ka-group ulit sa gc dahil iilan sakanila kanina ay hindi nakinig.

It’s been two weeks since this semester started pero feel ko na ang stress at pagod. Dagdag pa tong reporting na nung isang araw lang akong sinabihan na mag-distribute ng groups. Sumingit pa sa pagrereview ko sa mga quizzes namin sa ibang subject.

 

 

GROUP 3

Karina Yu: Hello guys. If you have concerns, sabihan niyo lang ako.

                    Mamaya na tayo mag-distribute ng parts? Or gusto niyo na ngayon?

Hyunjin Hwang: sige pres

Heejin Jeon: Sure preees. Ako nang bahala sa ppt.

                        Mamayang konti nalang siguro hahaha pahinga muna tayo lods hahahaha

Karina Yu: Okay sige, thank you Heejin.

Chaewon Kim: Rinaa?? I’ll help you with distributing the topics.

Karina Yu: Okay sige

Haechan Lee: Ako nalang yung taga-lipat ng slide hehe

 

 

We only have what, less than a day to prepare the power point since kailangan rin siyang i-submit bukas before 12 noon. Binigyan rin ng deadline ni Prof Terror yung pagpapasahan ng power point na yan.

Katatapos lang rin namin mag-usap usap ng mga kagrupo ko regarding sa reporting and mamayang gabi nalang raw magbigayan ng topic. Mas maganda sana ngayon para agad nang masimulan. Pero I guess, we should take a rest muna.

Time check, it’s 4pm in the afternoon.

Good thing prof Terror was our last subj for this day. We still have some things to do pa sa ibang subjects na aabalahain ko na rin maya maya.

 

‘From: Winter

Pres?’

 

I looked over my phone as Winter’s message flashed through the screen. I paused saglit sa pags-scan ng mga topics na ididistribute ko mamaya sa mga kagrupo ko and held my phone.

 

‘To: Winter

Hello.’

 

‘From: Winter

May pinapatanong sina Yeji regarding dun sa chapter na napunta samin hehe’

 

Tinignan ko muna yung message ni Winter saka yung inaasikaso kong libro na nakapatong sa study table ko.

 

‘To: Winter

Hmm? Yeah, sure. Anong problema?’

 

‘From: Winter

There’s this one topic kasi na hindi talaga namin magets. It’s about micro-economics.’

 

 ‘To: Winter

Okay wait. I’ll help you with that.’

 

‘From: Winter

Thank you so much, president! I’ll send this convo kina Yeji hehehe’

 

‘From: Winter

No problem! Glad I can help. Good luck on your reporting rin.’

 

‘From: Winter

Maraming maraming salamat talaga. Ililibre na kitang siomai at gulaman pag F2F na talaga.’

 

 

I didn’t reply na sa last message niya dahil bahagya rin akong natawa dito at wala ng alam ireply.

She really has an interesting personality if I may say.

 

 

It’s our day para mag-report na ang grupo ko kaya nag-uusap rin kami sa gc bago mag-start ng meeting si Ma’am Terror.

Of course, we’re all nervous. But I keep on telling them we got this since we really studied our topics very well.

For sure, masasagot rin naman namin yung mga questions na ibabato samin ni ma’am right after our discussion.

I’m in the middle of reading the messages from our group chat when Winter’s message notified me sa taas na bahagi ng phone ko.

 

 

‘From: Winter

President!’

 

‘To: Winter

Oh, hello Winter. How may I help you?’

 

‘From: Winter

Hahahaha nothing, pres. Good luck sa presentation ninyo later!’

 

‘To: Winter

Thank you. :)’

 

 

Minutes passed, the meeting has started, and we immediately flashed our power point sa screen.

With Haechan being the operator.

We have good one hour and 30 minutes sa subject na to and by looking at our topic na madidiscuss ngayon, baka maconsume namin ng sakto ang allotted time of the meeting.

Chaewon led the flow of our presentation. Siya yung naunang mag-explain ng topic tapos sunod naman si Heejin. Medyo napatagal pa kay Hyunjin dahil sa nagka-technical deficulties pa siya kaya sa huli, ako rin ang sumalo sa part niya.

“And that concludes our presentation. I hope you guys learned something. Are there any clarifications?” I asked my classmates over the screen and walang sumagot sakanila.

I don’t know tuloy if nakinig ba talaga sila or what.

“Are there no questions for group 3? Anyone??” Paghahabol ni Ma’am terror at in-off ko muna yung mic ko saka huminga ng napakaluwang.

That was nerve-racking infairness.

We were presenting lang naman kasi in front of our most TERROR teacher. Afraid that one of us get asked by our instructor in the middle of reporting.

“Well, I love your presentation Ms. Yu and Ms. Kim. You did great. I was impressed by how you tackled them very carefully yet concise.” Impressed na sagot ni ma’am.

I could feel my heart racing being complimented by her.

Parang ang laking achievement as a student.

“Props to your co-members also as they delivered their part neatly.” She commended us again kaya yung cellphone ko naman, tunog nang tunog. Probably from our group chat and our class group chat.

“Kahit sumabit si Mr. Hwang because of technical difficulties, your group handled it professionally. I’ll give you exemption for the next quiz.”

“Thank you po, ma’am!”

“Hala, maraming salamat po ma’am!”

“Thank you so much po,”

We all thanked our professor and gladly, yung mga kaklase namin were happy for us also.

I should consider myself lucky because they are my blockmates.

And lucky because, yung sobrang strikto at mahigpit na prof namin, kinommend kami as a whole group.

I could say it really is fulfilling sa pakiramdam kapag nasasatisfy mo yung terror niyo na teacher.

My phone vibrated and as I looked over it, I didn’t know I could smile even more just by reading the sender and the message.

 

‘From: Winter

Congrats sa grupo ninyo! You guys really did well kanina. Lalo ka na, pres!”

 

‘From: Winter

You really pulled that off. As expected from our very smart president!’

 

‘To: Winter

Haha thank you. But for real, I couldn’t have done it that well without them.’ 

 

‘From: Winter

But still, you were the one who outstood in the presentation pres. Ang galing galing mo lang.’

 

‘From: Winter

Ililibre na talaga kita ng siomai at gulaman hahahahaha’

 

I chuckled. Winter and her bubbly personality at it again.

 

‘To: Winter

Hmmm? Okay, sure. When?’

 

 

And yet, she didn’t send me a reply when I was patiently waiting for one.

 

 

a few days later

 

‘From: Winter

Presi! Presi! Gets mo ba yung napagusapan kanina sa Rizal?’

 

‘To: Winter

Yeah. Nakuha ko naman lahat. You?’ 

 

‘From: Winter

Yeahhh. Malinaw sakin yung naging discussion kanina’

 

‘To: Winter

That’s good to hear naman, Winter. :)’

 

After she told me how she liked the discussion kanina sa Rizal na subject, I just found myself na nakikinig rin sakanya.

Or reading her text messages rather.

I thought of it nga rin why does she keep on using text message when she can talk to me naman sa messenger?

 

‘From: Winter

Wala lang, presi. Malay ko bang baka pinapatay mo pala ang wifi mo sa phone hehe’

 

‘To: Winter

And what’s with that naman? Haha sayang ang battery ng phone.’

 

‘From: Winter

E kasi president, hindi kita naman makakausap kung nakapatay man ang wifi mo.’

 

‘From: Winter

Hahaha you know, chika sa mga subjs hahahaha’

 

It took 3 minutes to send her the last message. Probably double texted me kasi hindi ako nakapagreply dun sa una niyang sinend.

I don’t get it but, does that mean she likes talking to me?

 

 

“Guys, I will just send it sa gc natin yung magiging practicum niyo for the midterms ha.” Our P.E instructor said sa klase.

“Yung deadline, as usual, matagal tagal pa. I’ll give you ‘til the end of the month para naman hindi mag-overlap yung mga ginagawa ninyo sa ibang subjects sa mga practicum natin.” Habol pa niya after looking at the calendar sa shared screen niya.

Nakita na rin namin yung magiging mga practicum namin and all in all, 4 practicums and 4 videos ang isusubmit namin kay Sir P.E

“Sir, kailangan po ba with partner talaga and costume??” Yeji asked and we saw our prof na parang nag-isip pa before sumagot ulit.

“Kayo ang bahala. Mas mabuti kung may kasama kayo pero, okay lang din naman yung wala. Alam niyo naman ang set up natin, maselan. Kaya kung nagbabalak pa kayong puntahin mga jowa niyo to be your partner, sorry kayo, lockdown tayo.”

I listened to my classmates as they playfully whined kay Sir upon mentioning their jowas and all.

But he has a point though. We need to be very careful in times like this.

Lalo na’t wala namang nagagawang matinong action ang government natin.

Screw them to death.

“Maka-react naman kayo, class. You have your siblings na kasama ninyo sa bahay.” He joked pa.

“Eh ser, hindi naman po nakikisama yung mga kasama namin sa bahay. Mga busy busy rin.” Haechan blurted out kaya natawa nalang din ang prof namin.

“As what I’ve said nga, it’s fine kung mag-isa lang. No deduction of points naman.”

After bantering about having a partner or even wear a costume for our practicums, our prof let us to be ourselves in the end.

Of course, they decided to work with one another since they’ve been really wanting to see their classmates in person.

Ako na president ay wala na ring nagawa since full force na rin silang nagpumilit kay sir kanina.

Syempre, I reminded them to follow all the safety protocols before going out and hanging out with each other na.

Mahirap na. I want all of us to graduate all together.

 

 

‘From: Winter

Hiiiii pres! :D’

 

‘To: Winter

Helloo. :)’

 

‘From: Winter

May partner ka na ba for the practicum??’

 

‘From: Winter

Kung wala pa, pwede tayong mag-partner :DD’

 

‘To: Winter

Hmmm? I was planning on doing it alone since ayaw ko ring lumabas ng house.’

 

‘From: Winter

Ay, sayang naman presi :(( Sure ka na ba talaga diyan??

Magaling akong sumayaw dagdag grades yun!’

 

‘To: Winter

Hahaha yeah, why? Do you really want us to be partners?’

 

‘From: Winter

Yes, I do. Sino ba namang hindi, pres??’

 

‘From: Winter

Kahit habang buhay pa nga yan e.’

 

After reading her last message, I suddenly felt my stomach na parang bumaliktad at parang nakikiliti rin ako at the same time.

Parang may butterflies?

I don’t know how to explain.

 

‘From: Winter

Hahaha joke lang yun, pres hehe pero okay lang sakin kung mags-solo ka talaga.

I respect that, don’t worry :))’

 

‘To: Winter

Okay, I’ll be your partner then.’

 

 

I see no harm naman sa pagpayag ko for being her partner sa practicum namin.

Besides, no to be denial, I want to meet her too.

 

‘From: Winter

For life o for practicum?’

 

Again.

I swear, I felt it again upon reading her message.

The thing they call ‘butterflies in the stomach’ that I’m having right now?

Yes. That’s what I felt.

 

‘From: Winter

JK presi hehe, I’ll see you in person soon!

Ps: I’m excited to meet you rin!!’

 

‘To: Winter

Yeah, haha see you soon, Winter. :)’

 

 

 

 

Aeri’s Angels

Giselle: Rina, how long have you been ditching us na?

Grabe ha, nakakatampo na

Ningning: Baka naman kasi she’s too busy lang sa studies niya.

                   Eh, kilala mo naman yang si ate Rina eh.

Giselle: Ning, we’ve been planning this for a while now and she even agreed satin!

               Haynako, I should’ve gone with you sa university mo kung masyado ka na ring nilalamon ng mga subject mo

Karina: I’ll make it up to you, girls. I promise! I’m sorry

               I just need this practicum to finish kasi

Giselle: But you said the deadline is still matagal pa naman so why hurry?

Karina: As much as I want to, I can’t. I’m doing it with someone kasi.

               Nakakahiya naman if I’ll cancel it ngayon when she’s on her way na

Giselle: So, you really forgot about it? Hayy

               Ning, kausapin mo nga yang ate mo. Nakakatampo na talaga

Ningning: Ates calm down lang kasi. Kinakabahan tuloy ako lalo mag-college sainyo

                   Sobrang busy pala talaga hahahahaha

Karina: Yeah, but that depends on the person naman, Ning.

               I’ll even treat you the next time we hang out. Sorry na kasi, Aeri.

Giselle: That won’t even make me less tampo sayo

               Miss ka na namin kasi ni Ning oh.

Karina: I know. I just can’t ditch her nalang, Aeri

Giselle: So you’re ditching us for her?

Ningning: HUUUUYYY

                   Kalma lang naman kayo ano ba

                   Ate why don’t we go nalang with ate Rina para wala nang away??

                   :DDD

Giselle: What?  

Karina: Okay

 

 

I didn’t know Ning and Giselle were serious.

I’m with them, here, sa backyard namin while waiting for Winter to arrive.

Of course, I told them na I was gonna focus sa pagtatapos muna ng practicum namin para di rin gabihin yung kaklase ko.

And they were fine with it. Not to mention Giselle was still half sulking kasi nagtatampo pa rin sakin.

“Okay lang ba talaga kayo diyan?” I asked them nung nilapag ko yung meryenda namin sa may table. Ning nodded at me and gave me thumbs up while Giselle started to eat na ng mga cookies na binake ko kanina.

Mahaba habang suyuan with Aeri Uchinaga.

I felt my phone vibrated kaya chineck ko to kahit alam kong si Winter na ang nag-text.

She’s like the only one who is texting me kasi.

 

‘From: Winter

Hi, presi! Nasa tapat na pala ako ng gate ninyo.’

 

‘To: Winter

Okay, wait. I’ll be there.’

 

 

After I texted her, pumunta naman ako sa garden and I saw a standing figure sa labas ng gate. Nakayuko saka naka-baseball cap pa kaya hindi ko pa kita ang mukha niya.

“Winter?” I called out her name and she turned her direction sakin.

I can’t clearly see her face. But I clearly saw how she stiffened and parang nanigas sa kinatatayuan niya.

Do I look so casual to the point na mukha akong di naligo?

“P-president?”

“Yes? Winter??”

I assured because I keep on looking at her eyes. I’ve seen her face already kaya I know these eyes ay siyang siya nga.

“President…”

“Yeahh? Ikaw ba talaga to, Winter??” I asked her surely kasi baka mamaya pala, ka-mata mata niya lang yung blockmate ko.

I saw her chuckle.

“I’m sorry. Yes, ako to si Winter, na mahal na mahal ka.” She quietly said and natawa naman ako ng bahagya sa reference niyang meme.

May humor rin ako kahit mukha akong seryosong tao.

Parang natahimik ang paligid nung inalis na niya ang mask niya saka yung suot niyang baseball cap.

I swear to all the Gods, I thought I was in heaven na.

I saw an angel for a split second.

I didn’t know she was THIS beautiful.

She shyly smiled at me and scratched her forearm saka umiwas rin ng tingin sakin.

“President?” She called my name making me go back to my senses.

Muntik na akong mahulog sa ngiti niya kasi kanina.

“Oh, sorry. Let’s go?” I smiled at her naman and she immediately avoided my eyes as they were about to meet once again.

“Y-yeah…”

 

 

“Presi, ayaw mo bang magpahinga muna?”

We’ve been dancing for two hours already, practicing the video our prof sent to us. So far, nakukuha naman na namin.

She didn’t lie when she said she’s really good at dancing.

Her skills na panoorin lang yung video for about 4-5 times, nakukuha na niya agad yung steps.

God, this person is a crush material.

“O sige, let’s take a break muna. Then we’ll take a video of it na?” She nodded and tumuloy na kami sa table na kung saan naroroon yung dalawa kong bestfriend.

“Winter! Winter, right??” Ningning exclaimed when we comfortably sat ourselves in front of them. Winter only nodded and paid attention to Ningning, “Ang galing mong sumayaw! Huhuhu”

Winter chuckled habang nagpupunas siya ng pawis sa noo niya.

“Hindi naman. Ano lang, nakasanayan lang.” Nahihiya niya pang sagot sa kaibigan kong very like si Winter.

I could see their faces while we were practicing. Their eyes fixed sa kasama kong ibang klase kung sumayaw.

“Sus! Pa-humble naman. Crush na kita talaga.” May pagka-prangkang salita ni Ningning and I could only laugh at her saka sa katabi kong natatawa na rin.

“President Karina’s good rin naman. She’ll be a good partner indeed,” Winter commented and sandali naman akong natigilan.

Naalala ko kasi yung text message namin nung isang araw.

She’ll be my partner.

“But you know, what’s good?? Both of you, together!!” Kinikilig pang exclaim ni Ningning at may paghampas rin siya sa katabi niyang si Giselle na kanina pang tahimik but nakikitawa rin sa mga sinasabi ni Ning.

I shook my head and my eyes landed kay Winter na nasa tabi ko.

Nakayuko pero halatang halata yung pagpipigil niya ng ngiti.

Her ears are turning red.

Wow, didn’t know she’d be this cute too.

“Ning, stop it. Baka ma-awkward si Winter.” Sabi ko but nag-belat lang naman sakin si Ning at patuloy pa rin sa pagkilig kilig.

“Uhh, President, makikibanyo sana ako. Asan yung cr dito?”  

“Oh it’s inside. Halika, samahan na kita.”

Before we left our seats, yung tingin nung dalawa parang nang-aasar.

Natawa nalang ako sa best friends ko at sinundan na si Winter na pumasok sa loob.

 

 

Hinihintay ko lang matapos si Winter dito sa labas ng banyo.

She’s still inside. Probably patapos na rin niyan since kaninang konti pa kami naririto.

Minutes passed, bumukas na yung pintuan and there I saw Winter. Basa ang mukha, probably washed her face rin to refreshen up.

“President, may twalya ba kayo? Nawala sa isip kong wala pala akong dalang bimpo o kahit na anong pamunas,” nahihiya niya pang sabi sakin.

“Sige wait, I’ll bring you one.”

After I bought her towel, we proceeded to go outside ulit then pahinga at nakichika sa mga kaibigan ko.

More like, they were intrigued kay Winter kasi, ngayon lang naman nila siya nakita at nakilala.

“Pero kung mamimili ka saming tatlo, sinong mas bet mo?”

I looked at Ningning saka ko siya pinanlakihan ng mata. Magmula kanina, pinupush niya talaga kami ni Winter sa isa’t isa. I was worried nan ga baka Winter might find it awkward or even baka maoffend namin siya kasi sa mga tinatanong netong kaibigan ko.

“Hmmm? Kailangan pang mamili talaga?” pagsakay naman ni Winter sa tanong ni Ning.

I swear, ako na yung nahihiya sa bibig ng kaibigan ko.

“Oo naman noh. Ano yun, pagsasabay sabayin mo kami? Wag ganun noh.”

Natawa nalang si Winter sa sinabi ni Ning at nag-isip pa.

“Since I’ve known President for a long time now, siya yung pipiliin ko.”

Ningning’s face? Ayun. Ngiting tagumpay. All smiles and even Giselle who starting to get hyped up na rin.

“Why? Don’t you want us to get to know rin?” This time Giselle was the one who asked.

And I swear baka itakwil ko na sila at this very moment.

“Pwede naman. Kaso, nauna siya ehh.”

Naghampasan naman tong mga nasa harapan namin sa sagot ni Winter.

“She agreed to be my partner na nga eh, diba President?” and sumilip pa sakin si Winter saka rin ako nginitian.

Oh God, not now.

I could literally feel my cheeks burning up!!

Sana hindi niya makita!

“Oh, didn’t know you had blush on pala, Rina? Anong brand yan at parang hindi na naalis yan sa face mo since kanina na sumasayaw kayo?” Kantyaw pa ni Giselle at hindi nakatulong to kaya mas namula nalang ako lalo.

Nagtawanan naman yung dalawa at etong katabi ko, I felt her soft hand patted my head.

“Aww, what a cutie president you are, Karina.” Saka pa ako kinindatan ni Winter.

Is she really trying to flirt with me kanina pa?!

I can’t keep up!

“Let’s practice na ulit para hindi ka magabihan.”

And again, nairnig ko ulit ang pagtawa nilang tatlo pero hinayaan ko nalang kasi,

Wala naman akong magagawa, diba?

Besides, I don’t plan on stopping Winter, who is clearly flirting with me.

 

We successfully finished three practicum videos.

Giselle and Ningning were still here, enjoying whatever the hell we were doing. Of course, they never let us dance peacefully dahil panay ang kantyaw samin nung dalawa.

Until Winter asked them to stop muna since baka mapagod na raw ang partner niya. Ako.

And that’s how we managed to finish those three practicums.

Halos maghapon na rin kaming nagsasayaw ni Winter pero parang wala lang din samin ang pagod.

Surprisingly, her stamina is way better than I expected.

My first impression kasi sakanya, tamad and not active. But all of that changed ngayong nakasama ko siya.

She can literally do hard dances and even folk, which was one of our practicums.

“President, kaya mo pa ba? Or ituloy nalang natin yung last bukas?” she asked while we were taking a break muna after finishing all of those three practicums.

“I can still do it pa naman. Kaya lang I’m worried kasi pa-gabi na at uuwi ka pa,” I said saka uminom sa water bottle ko.

“If you want, we can just practice it ngayon para bukas recording nalang.” She suggested.

“Is it okay with you tho? I mean, babyahe ka na naman. Pwede naman sa other day nalang.”

“President, kung hindi rin natin gagawin bukas, I swear tatamarin na ako.” She chuckled at nagpunas ng pawis niya sa noo saka mukha.

I stopped whatever I was doing and stared at her for a moment.

She’s so attractive whenever she brushes her hair back.

Parang, ang gwapo niyang tignan?

“Yes, Ms. President Yu? May problema ba sa mukha ko?”

I immediately took off my eyes sakanya at umiling, “No. I was just…”

“Hmmmm?”

“You’re just too good to be true,” I honestly said nang humarap ako muli sakanya at tumingin ng direkta sa mga mata niya.

Her eyes met mine.

And her lips slowly curling up into a smile.

“Me?” she asked, I nodded. “And so are you, Karina.”

We’ve been staring at each other for a moment now. Eyes not leaving one another.

Naramdaman ko na rin ang kamay niyang inaayos ang hibla ng buhok ko saka dinala yun sa likod ng tenga ko.

“Now that I’ve been with you personally, I’ve been thinking…” Her hand stayed at my right cheek and caressed it with her thumb gently, “…I’ve been thinking about making you my partner permanently, Karina...”

I blushed.

I felt butterflies in my stomach.

And I couldn’t help but to smile genuinely at her.

“Then, make me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“HUY AKALA KO BA MAGSASAYAW KAYO??? BAKIT MAY BIGLANG K-DRAMA DITO??? NAGPABILI LANG NAMAN NG GULAMAN AT SIOMAI SI WINTER AH!!!”

 

 

'From: My Partner <3

Jgh, president. Thank you for today <33'

 

'To: My Partner <3

Alright. Let's take a rest na, thank you rin, Winter. :)' 

 

'From: My Partner <3

Walang good night kiss?? :(' 

 

'To: My Partner <3

You already had three kanina, right?  

Go sleep na. Hahaha' 

 

'From: My Partner <3 

Damot >;( I'll see you tomorrow.

Good night, my best president <3 :*'

 

'To: My Partner <3

Good night, my best partner. :) <333'