Karina

---

Winter and I talked last night before sleeping. Di naman kami inabot ng midnight because she still needs to rest. 

I was smiling all throughout our talk last night. 

Now, I'm in class and I can't help but to smile again kapag naaalala ko yung talk namin.

"Sis, ngumingiti ka na mag-isa. Delikado na yan." 

Ning whispered and nudge my side.

Sinaway ko lang siya kasi we might get caught by the prof, first subject pa lang, that would be embarassing.

I'm having a good mood so I won't let anything ruin it. I just focused on the lesson and taking notes. 

I'm just happy, I guess? 

 

Second subject came and ning is still pestering me about the reason why I'm in this sudden mood. 

"I won't stop bugging you. Wala kang choice, ichichika mo din yan." 

I rolled my eyes at her threat. 

 

We're currently answering a seatwork when I felt my phone vibrated from my bag. I'll look at it later since malapit na din naman ako matapos. 

The seatwork was pretty easy lang naman since parang review lang siya nung past lessons, it helped pa na favorite namin yung subject and prof, si Prof Wendy. 

"Alright class, since most of you are done, you're dismissed na. Those who are not yet finished, please stay at tapusin nyo muna." 

We both got up ni ning, break na kasi after this. She informed us na sasabay daw ulit si giselle and we agreed.

Not to be clingy or whatever pero, okay, inaamin ko, I'm kinda hoping that winter will tag along. 

We barely see each other kaya sa school, we're in the same campus naman pero I can't really see her. Except the other day na binigyan niya ako ng jellies. 

Actually, kahit before, I've never seen her like yung makasalubong man lang or ano. 

When we reached the caf, we immediately saw hyunjin at some table with yeji and giselle. I almost forgot that the three of them are classmates. 

Ning and I walked towards them and sat down beside yeji, I'm in the middle, sa left ko si ning then katapat namin si hyunjin and giselle. 

The vibe was pretty chill, hindi rin masyadong makulit si hyunjin. It was giselle who went to buy our food, leaving us four dito sa table. My two bestfriends are talking about something and naglalaro naman si hyunjin in his phone. 

I'm planning to scan my notes for the next subjects kaya nilabas ko yung binder notebook kaso nagulat ako when hyunjin shouted.

"Namatay tuloy! Sino ba kasi 'tong tawag-tawag. Badtrip naman." 

Hindi ko na siya pinansin and nagfocus na lang sa pagscan ng notes.

"Oo, sige na. Naglalaro ako eh, bilis na. Oo nga! Sasabihin ko, sige." 

I quickly glanced up to him, bumalik naman siya agad into playing so I got back with my notes na din.

"Ay karina, sabi pala ni winter may tinext siya about dun sa project niyo." 

I quickly looked at him but his eyes are just focused on the game that he's playing so, I said a short 'thanks' sa kanya.

When I checked my phone, there's really a message from winter. She's the one who messaged me pala kanina while I'm in class.

 

Messages

Winter Kim

From Winter Kim: sobrang focused mo naman, miss

From Winter Kim: kasama mo ba sila gi? 

From Winter Kim: bawi ako mamayang lunch, okay lang ba? 

To Winter Kim: last time I checked, lunch isn't about our project

To Winter Kim: are you asking me out on a date?

From Winter Kim: last time I checked, a date isn't about our project

From Winter Kim: pero sure, sooo? lunch date, mamaya? :))

 

Bwiset.. bwiset ka, Winter Kim.

Thankfully, dumating na si hyunjin with our foods. I've put back my notes sa bag before eating para less hassle later kapag babalik na kami sa class. 

 

******
 

"Settle down, class. Get one and pass, this is our questionnaire. Answers must be written on a one whole sheet of paper." 

Don't get me wrong, I love studying and excelling academically but this quiz was way out of timing, especially if it's math. 

I have stable grades on math but I can't help but to despise the subject. It's too complicated, parang titignan mo pa lang siya mapapagod ka na magsolve. 

Right now that's what I'm feeling. Di pa nakakarating yung questionnaire sakin pero napapagod na ako. I glanced at ning at she's looking at me na din. We both hate math kasi. 

It wasn't long until our prof instructed us to answer the quiz. I'm prepared naman, I reviewed the lessons last night. Gets ko naman yung topics but I'm worried because some problems may be situational, I don't like that kind of stuffs.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. 40 minutes. There's plenty of time pa, I can manage naman siguro. 

I can't imagine what I did last night. I don't kung anong sumapi sakin but it really urged me to hold winter's hand. 

It's so hard to hide my smiles last night, I don't know. I guess, kinikilig ako?

The way her hand fits in mine? It's like measured, super sakto. Hers are bigger than mine even if I'm taller than her.

It's smooth and soft but you'll recognize right away na she's a basketball player, pero I like the feeling naman. 

"Sis, anuna? Time is running, anong number ka pa lang?" 

I didn't realize that I'm zoning out, if di pa bumulong si ning siguro I'm still distracted about winter. 

I looked at the clock, my eyes went wide. 

20 minutes na lang! 

My eyes went back to my paper, I still have to answer the last portion of the paper pala! 

Get yourself together, Rina! 

I looked at ning and she sensed siguro na may nakatingin sa kanya so, she looked at me. 

"Last 2 problems na lang, kopya ka?" 

I shook my head as a 'no.' How did she got good at math? Last time I checked, siya yung kumokopya sakin. 

I managed to answer the last part of the questionnaire but yung ibang problem rushed na, I don't know if tama yung ginawa ko but as long as I finished, okay na yun. I'll just make sure na I'll ace the next quiz. 

When all of us are finished, our prof quickly went out of the classroom. Kaso our last prof immediately came in and I heard my classmates sighs and groans. Probably pagod na din from the quiz. 

I just want this to be over.. bakit ang tagal maglunch? 

 

******
 

The last class before lunch break was boring as hell and I know na it's not just me who have the same sentiments. It was a long discussion and our minds were not able to fully comprehend what he was teaching. 

Sa sobrang boring, he didn't even notice ning who was sleeping beside me earlier. Focused lang siya sa pagdiscuss. 

I told my friends that I'll not join them this lunch because winter asked me to have lunch with her and as usual, they teased me nanaman.

There's no point in hiding naman na because eventually, malalaman din nila. They're teasing us lang naman then okay na. Unlike before na parang sobrang big deal sa kanila na magkasama kami ni winter.

I settled on a bench near the study hall of our building then I heard my phone chimed, indicating a text message. 

 

Messages

Winter Kim

From Winter Kim: bakit ikaw lang nandyan?

 

I turned around. 

Okay, I may have a little crush on winter kim.

Ang pogi-pogi kasi, bakit naman po ganito! 

"Di mo sinama sila ning?" 

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"I thought.." 

"Sa paghihintay kasi, bakit mo naman sila isasama sa date natin?" 

I looked away, bwiset ka talaga, winter.

"Ngumiti ka na, mas bagay naman sayo." 

"Winter, you talk too much. Let's eat na lang, bilis, I'm hungry na."

"Sabi ko nga, madam. Okay ka ba sa japanese food?" 

"Yeah, actually I'm kinda craving for tonkatsu." 

"Sakto pala eh, lunch out tayo. May alam akong place." 

We walked towards the parking lot. 

She handed me a helmet and I just stared at it.

"First time mo bang sasakay sa motor?" 

"U-uhm.. yeah." 

"Uncomfortable ka ba? Pwede ko naman hiramin yung kotse ni gi."

"No, wag na. Baka makabother pa tayo sa kanya. I'm just nervous pero okay lang." 

"Sure? Pwede namang ibang way para hindi ka kinakabahan." 

"It's alright, go slow na lang siguro?" 

She smiled at me. She placed the helmet on my head and adjust it a little bit para sakto sakin. 

"Good?" 

I smiled at her then she wears her helmet na din. 

She hopped on the motorcycle and placed the sidestand back on its place, she started the engine and revved it a little bit.

"Tara na? Hawak ka sa balikat ko." 

She instructed, I followed her and hold on her shoulders as I stepped on the foot peg. 

When I'm all set, I felt her hands on top of mine. Guiding my hands from her shoulders, to her tummy. 

"Yan, para mas safe." 

She revved the engine so napahigpit yung hawak ko sa damit niya.

I blushed when I realized that I just felt her abs. 

Oh my god! Buti hindi niya ako nakikita right now. 

We're on our way to the japanese resto na alam niya. She's really going slow, ang cute lang. I mean, I'm sure na hindi siya ganito magpatakbo. It means, she's really minding her actions by staying attentive. 

Maybe it's an advantage to have a motorcylce, di hassle sa parking eh. 

Winter turned off the engine and released the sidestand, she hopped off and turned to me, lending her hand. Bumaba na din ako habang nakahawak sa kamay niya.

"Let's get your tonkatsu, madam." 

I hit her shoulder.

"Don't make it look like ako lang yung may gusto dito!" 

"Joke lang eh! Tara na, namumula ka nanaman."

She laughed at me then we got inside the resto. It's not that packed with customers but there are a few people eating inside. 

We settled on the table beside the window, the sky's so clear. Ang ganda lang ng interior and ambiance nung resto. 

The server approached us and lend us their menu, I ordered tonkatsu since I'm craving for it nga, then winter ordered a beef dish that I'm not really familiar with tapos she suggested that we should try their ramen so we ordered a bowl for 2 persons. 

"How did you found this place?" 

"Si ryujin nagsuggest nito samin eh. Nakapagdate na siguro sila ng mga babae niya dito dati."

"Does that make me one of your girls na din?" 

I narrowed my eyes at her while asking.

"Huy karina! Di ako kagaya ni ryujin ah! Tsaka bagong buhay na yun ngayon." 

I laughed at her reaction, parang sobrang offended siya that I labeled her as "babaero." 

"Weh? I'm sure you have kwento about girls din." 

I again, her reactions are really funny. 

"Never pa nga ako nagkapartner romantically..."

I was about to laugh at her, but instead, napatingin ako agad sa kanya. 

That face? Never pa nagkagirlfriend? 

What the heck? 

"Seriously? Baka naman you're joking lang." 

"Yup, seriously. Kahit tanungin mo pa sila gi." 

I was about to ask her again but our food came. We thanked the server and my stomach growls on the sight of dishes in front of us so, we started eating na rin. 

 

******
 

I thanked winter for bringing me to this place, we're back at school and we're just on time for our next subjects. 

We talked about many things while eating, I enjoyed the lunch, especially the food! It was great, I swear! 

Buti na lang winter suggested that we order the ramen because it lives up to its hype. Super sarap! I would gladly go back there to eat their ramen. 

Hinintay ko siya mapark ulit yung motor niya. When she's done, I can sense na she's slightly rushing. Mas mauuna kasi sila bumalik sa class.

"Nasaan daw sila gi? Ihahatid na kita sa kanila." 

"Silly, I can handle myself na. Go to class, baka malate ka na." 

She scratched her nape before answering.

"Sure?" 

"Yup. Go na! 7 minutes na lang oh." 

She's still hesistant to go but, I held her hand and squeezed it lightly while smilimg, to let her know that it's really okay. 

"Okay, sige. See you, later, madam." 

I rolled my eyes and push her slightly para umalis na siya. She really know how to be playful at times kaya mapapangiti ka talaga niya. 

I pulled out my phone from my bag and checked the messages. I sent my friends a message, asking them where they are. Yeji answered na nasa caf pa din daw sila so I started walking towards their building. We still have twenty minutes pa naman.

"There she is! Tabi kayo, baka maapakan nyo yung hair." 

This girl, really. Akala mo naman she's not leaning her head in giselle's shoulder right now. 

I just sat beside yeji and nagscroll sa social media accounts. When I opened Instagram, winter's the first one in my story list. I tapped her icon to see what's her story.

I can't help but to smile. 

It was a photo taken earlier. I'm not really on the frame yung hand ko lang. It doesn't have a caption or anything. 

I decided to have a story din, may picture kasi ako kanina but it's a photo of the clouds and sky lang, since ang ganda nung weather. 

 

******
 

I went home after our classes, like the usual. Later na ako babalik sa campus since nasa training pa naman si winter. 

I went to my room and freshen up.

Chaeryeong and I were tasked to be in-charge of the performances that's why I'm making a list right now, kung sino yung pwedeng i-line up. 

Ryujin's band.

Giselle and the dance crew. 

Leejung and Chaeyeon's duo.

Lia's solo. 

Jaehyun and his band.

Speaking of jaehyun.. 

He's still sending me a message everyday, there's no harm naman in his messages but the fact na he likes me makes me uncomfortable, not in a bad way pero naguguilty kasi ako, baka din kasi iniisip niya na there's a chance for us to be together. 

But I was clear naman from the start that all I can offer is friendship. One of these days, kakausapin ko na lang siguro siya, to make everything clear. 

After spending an hour and a half on making a draft list of performance, I took a break. 

I'll watch one of those k-drama na lang sa netflix na nirecommend ni ning. I think the title was Nevertheless? 

 

I just finished the first episode when my phone chimed, indicating notification. 

I sligthly panicked when I saw the time. I was so hooked on the episode, nakalimutan kong I need to do my project pa. In an hour tapos na yung training nila winter, I need to get ready pa. 

Another thing that caught my eye was a notification from twitter. 

Heejin dmed me? Why tho? 

I opened the message and kung kanina I slightly panicked lang, right now, I'm on full panic mode. 

 

Twitter DM

@heejeon

@heejeon: hi karina! busy ka ba? 

@heejeon: itatanong ko lang sana if nacocontact mo sila giselle? 

@heejeon: si winter kasi nasugatan tsaka injured, need macontact yung guardian niya kasi medyo malalim yung sugat eh, sa ulo kasi hehe sorry sa abala :<