Karina

Naiirita ako.

Ususally, I'm not bothered with their stares and whispers but right now? Sobra.

It's Monday today, the first time they saw me after that tweet and I'm not loving the way they look at me. Pasalamat sila kasi member ako ng student council, if not, baka naglash out na ko sa kanila. They're just so nosy, always minding other people's business. Wala ba silang ibang magawa?

I am on my way towards my first class for today, I'm just glad na I have ning with me throughout this day. Sometimes, good thing na she's my classmate. When I am near the lockers, I heard some students.

"Sayang si karina, magkakagusto na nga lang, kay winter pa."

By the time na narinig ko lahat, I'm getting my things from my locker. I slammed the locker door and glared at them. I guess, they got what I mean kaya they hurriedly walk away. I'm not mad kasi I was getting involved with winter. I'm mad kasi they talk about winter like that, she don't deserve that. 

When I arrived at our room, I immediately walked towards my seat, beside ning who looked at me.

"Sis, ang aga niyan ha. What's with the mood?" she asked me.

"Nothing. Some people are just too hard to understand." sabi ko sa kanya, after that hindi na niya ako kinulit. 

After three subjects, we have a short break. I'm not in the mood to eat so I told ning and yeji na I'll spend my time sa sc office. 

We have different working space kasi sa sc office so, medyo may privacy talaga. I don't want to see other people, kasi I've calmed down na pero baka bumalik yung bad mood if pupunta ako sa cafeteria.

I settled on my space here sa sc office then nagscroll ako sa social media accounts ko. While scrolling, an article caught my attention, it's about zodiac signs. I don't really believe in such dati pero now, I realized that other traits and charactersistics are accurate naman so I got interested na din. 

I looked for my sign, the article talks about energies, career path, financial aspect and relationships. So far, I don't have any objection naman, after all, hindi ko naman talaga directly dinedepend yung nangyayare sakin sa sign ko. When I read about the relationship part sa article, I don't know if maniniwala ako or not, I haven't been in a relationship kasi. 

Aries is a direct and forthright lover.

Aries typically do best with an equally feisty and confident lover.

In a relationship Aries may become jealous fairly easily.

Hold on, wait.

I haven't been in a relationship pero I think this is not true, out of all the things that I read, dito lang ako magdi-disagree.

I finished reading the article and pagkacheck ko ng time, 8 minutes na lang then tapos na yung break namin. When I got up from the office chair, someone knocked on my space, si chaeryeong pala. 

"Rina, nasa labas si winter, hanap ka." she said, parang nang-aasar pa. 

"Sira ka. Thanks, chae." sabi ko sa kanya.

When I completely got out of the sc office, I saw winter leaning against the wall, holding a brown paper bag on her right hand and drinking chocolate drink on her left hand. 

"Hey.." I called her, she looked at me tapos umayos yung pagtayo niya.

"Uy, karina. Ito pala." she handed me the brown paper bag. 

"What's this?" I asked her.

"Jellies, sabi kasi ni ning nakabusangot ka daw buong umaga. Baka makatulong sa mood mo." she said while scratching her nape, she can't look at me din.

I can't help but to smile.

She's really kind and caring, it's her nature na ata. Hindi lang talaga halata kasi she's often seen with expressionless face, and yeah, nakakaintimidate at first, to be honest.

"Thanks, winter. Is it your break na?" I asked her.

"Ah hindi, nagpaalam lang ako na magcr, tinakbo ko na lang para mabilis." sabi niya still not looking at me. 

"Winter, ang pasaway mooo." I and I succeed, namula yung ears nya.

"Binabawi ko na pala yung jelly, aasarin lang naman pala ako dito." she said.

"Nope, akin na 'to. Go back to your class! Baka mahalata ka na ng prof nyo." natatawa ako while pushing her playfully.

"Sabihan mo na lang ako mamaya kung saan kita susunduin ah?" hay nako, minsan super kulit nya rin talaga.

"As if ang layo ng dorm nyo ha. I'll be fine. Bilis, go na! Baka mapagalitan ka." She hurriedly left after ko siya sabihan. 

***
 

When I came back sa class, medyo madami na din yung classmates ko na nasa loob, including ning. Thankfully, I'm not late. 

While walking towards my seat, I saw ning's meaningful smile towards me so, I asked her what is it about.

"Ikaw ha. Jellies plus winter lang pala katapat para ma-uplift yung mood mo kanina." she teasingly whispered. 

"What are you saying? Imbento ka!" I whispered back while warning her with my eyes, then kinurot ko siya sa side.

"Aray naman, sis!" she whisper yelled, nagpipigil sumigaw. 

"Deserved. Ang issue mo kasi." I said. She was about to talk back but our prof came in kaya napaayos kaming dalawa.

The day went by and my mood totally changed. The jellies were really a great help. I hope hindi na-late si winter sa classes niya. 

We were called sa sc office after the classes. Starting next week, we'll prepare for the christmas event na daw. Stress and sleepless nights are already waving, I just hope na agahan ng profs yung pagbibigay ng requirements and other assessments, so we'll not be rushed when hell week and the event comes.

After the meeting I stayed sa office, some of them even invited me na sumama sa dinner but I politely declined. I have another work with winter pa, dapat matapos ko yun since I'm taking up winter's time din. 

Apparently, jeno told his friend na I'm still here sa sc office because I recieved a text from jaehyun nanaman, asking me if he could drive me home since it's not safe daw. I replied to his advances, saying na I have something to do pa but he said na maghihintay daw siya.

I sighed. Bakit ang kulit ng mga tao lately? 

My phone chimed again indicating another text message. This time, it is from winter, asking me where I am. Thank goodness, tapos na yung training nila. I really don't know what to do with jaehyun, baka nga nasa labas na talaga siya waiting for me.

I replied to winter, saying na I'm just in the sc office, then she said na pupuntahan niya daw ako para sabay na kami pumunta sa dorm nila, I didn't object na since I need her help din dahil kinukulit ako ni jaehyun. When I read her reply, nag-ayos na ako ng things ko para we can finished it early since we both need rest. 

***
 

Aaand I wasn't wrong. Jaehyun was really waiting on his car sa tapat ng building namin. When he saw me, lumabas siya sa car with a small bouquet of flowers. 

"Hey, rina. Are you done na sa ginagawa mo?" he asked me, I politely accepted it even if I don't know what kind of flower 'to. 

"Karina." 

Before I could answer, someone called me so napalingon kami both ni jaehyun from where it came. 

It's winter. 

One hand inside her short's pocket and the other hand was holding her duffel bag na nakasabit sa shoulder niya. Her gaze fell on the bouquet of flowers I was holding, then bumalik sa amin ni jaehyun. 

"Kanina ka pa?" I asked her, she shakes her head with a small smile. 

"Uy, winter." jaehyun greeted her, she returned the favor with a small smile again. 

"Let's go? I'm sorry, jaehyun. I told you naman kasi na don't wait for me." I guiltily told him.

"It's fine. See you around, rina. Ingat kayo." he said while smiling. He went back sa car niya and nagdrive paalis. 

When I looked at winter, she's just patiently waiting for me. She's surpringsingly quiet right now, usually kasi she'll tease me agad. Maybe she's tired from their training. Based on her kwentos lately, their training was getting intense na daw kasi. From our building, their dorm is 3-5 mins walking distance pa so we started walking na. 

While walking, nagshiver ako ng slight. It's novermber already, maybe that's why malamig na yung hangin. 

"Wait lang." winter said, then she stopped walking so I followed and stopped too.

"What is it?" I asked her.

She puts her duffel bag on the ground then she removed her plaid jacket. 

"Balik mo na lang mamaya." she said while placing her jacket on my shoulders. 

Oh my god. 

No, no, no. Bawal kiligin.

Bawal kiligin. Bawal kiligin. 

Nakakainis ka, winter! Why are you like this?!