Karina

---

 

I got startled when I woke up kanina, I thought may classes ngayon since it's monday but naalala ko na we're in a holiday break.

 

Few days na lang tapos Christmas na and New Year.

 

Speaking of New Year, birthday na din ni Winter. I don't know her plans for her birthday but I'm not planning anything din naman.

 

When we talked about birthday celabrations, she said na simple lang lagi yung celebration nila since it's New Year din naman.

 

She liked it that way lang in daw, she said what's important is icecelebrate nya yung day nya with her loved ones.

 

How could you not like her diba? She's sweet and thoughtful.

 

Oh! We finished the PE assessment na pala! It's funny kasi mas nastress pa siya sakin.

 

It was due the day after nung event sa school, we agreed na sa condo niya na lang namin gawin para mapasa namin agad since malapit lang sa school yung condo niya.




"Sisimulan na ba natin agad?" She asked me when we settled on her couch.

 

"Maybe later? I want to watch something pa eh." I told her, I suddenly got interested sa kpop kasi.

 

Last night when I'm browsing something na pampatulog sa youtube, I came across this kpop group. Aespa is their group name, super cool nung mga songs so ayun, I got interested.

 

It's still early, we will compile na lang naman the papers then done na. Mamayang 4 pa naman yung deadline, it's only 12. We had lunch na din kanina.

 

I'm watching another video of them when I realized that it's too silent.

 

I paused what I'm watching and glanced beside me, napangiti ako bigla.

 

Kaya pala tahimik, Winter looks calm and peaceful when sleeping, she really looks like a kid.

 

Although it's embarassing, I'll admit na kahit tulog lang siya kinikilig pa rin ako. I don't know why, basta super kinikilig ako knowing that I caught her attention.


 

Imagine, super hard and cold niya outside pero when it comes to me, she's soft and really attentive.

 

Feeling ko ang ganda ganda ko. Char.

 

Tinignan ko yung time sa phone, 30 mins na din pala akong nanonood ng videos nila.

 

I decided to start compiling na, I won't bother her sleep kasi she need that. So dedicated and hardworking kaya nitong grumpy captain na 'to, she deserves this rest.

 

Ilang papers din pala 'to, medyo marami din pala. I smiled when I remembered the fact na even when we're not talking, she's helping me in my project.

 

I don't even know kung saan siya nakakuha nung template for her daily schedule, nagulat na lang ako when she handed me the papers the other day.  

 

So yon, to cut the story short, kahit di kami nagpapansinan, here I am, compiling the papers and will pass later na lang.

 

It doesn't take long for me to get finished sa ginagawa ko, wala na rin naman na kasing irerevise since parang personal experience ad data yung laman ng papers.

 

Winter moved kaya napahinto ako sa pag-aayos ng papers, I watched her na lang ulit. Ang soft niya talaga tignan when she's sleeping.

 

Hindi mo aakalaing she's a beast inside the court.

 

Siguro lagpas 10 mins ko lang siya pinapanood matulog when she woke up.

 

She rubbed her eyes like a kid! Ang cute cute!

 

"Nakatulog pala ako, I'm sorry." She said, yung voice niya oh my god.

 

"It' fine, you need that rest din naman." I said then I got back sa pagliligpit nung papers.

 

"Tapos ka na sa papers? Di na kita natulungan." She scrunched her nose.

 

So this is Winter kapag bagong gising? Cute and adorable? Kasi if yes, baka di na lang ako uuwi samin.. Joke!

 

"Kulit, it's fine nga lang. Do you want to sleep pa ba?" I asked her.

 

"Di na, sasamahan kita ipasa 'to diba." She said while reaching for the folder where I compiled the papers.

 

I smiled at what I heard, wala lang. Parang everything na gawin and sabihin niya nakakakilig. Hay.

 

"Ito lang? I mean, di mo lalagyan design?" She asked after niya makita yung folder.

 

"What design? Ano ako highschool?" Natatawa kong sabi.

 

"Bakit? Highschool lang ba pwede magdesign ng project? Tara, ayusin natin!" She enthusiastically said.
 

Natatawa pa rin ako when I remember that day. Medyo nag-enjoy kasi kami magdesign.

We almost got late sa pagsubmit because tuwang tuwa si Winter sa mga pinaglalagay niya dun sa folder.

Mas nagpapanic pa siya sakin nung nagmamadali na kami, it's too funny.

Right now nasa house lang ako, I'm making the most out of the break na binigay samin. Parang ramdam ko pa din kasi yung pagod from the event na organized by the council.

 

"Rina, sweetie, come here." I'm about to go to my room when mom called me. 

 

She pats the space beside her and umupo naman ako dun. 

 

"How was your day?" She asked while looking st me attentively. 

 

Minsan may times talagang ganito si mom, this way daw kasi nakakabawi siya from their lack of presence ni dad. She doesn't want me to hate them daw pero honestly, naiintindihan ko naman sila. 

 

Whenever they get a chance, lagi naman silang bumabawi to make me feel loved, na parang araw-araw ko sila kasama kahit it's not often na magkasama kami. 

 

"It's great mom, bumabawi ako ng sleep. I feel like nadrain ako from the past activities that I did sa school and all." I honestly told her. She touches my cheek affectionately and I closed my eyes at the contact. 

 

"Ikaw mom? How was the studio?" I asked her pabalik, she's my hair naman. I smiled, I really love it kapag ganito si mom, yung naglalambing.

 

"Great too, nothing that I couldn't handle." I slightly laughed, ang yabang pakinggan ni mom right now. 

 

But she's right, she's a very very strong woman. I always tell her that I admire her for being independent. Dad told me na I got most of my personality kay mom, I have a strong personality daw kasi. 

 

Well, I can agree naman. Yung pagkakulit kk lang sometimes yung namana ko kay Dad eh. 

 

"Anak, I have a question." She said while still playing with my hair. 

 

"Yes po? Go ahead, mom." I encouraged her. 

 

"Do you have someone special na?" I quickly opened my eyes. 

 

"Why do you ask po?" I asked her back, I'm trying to calm my self kahit na I'm starting to get nervous. 

 

"I'm just curious, it's possible kasi na you have special someone na. You're entering college, Rina." She casually said. Okay???

 

"How.. are you.. so calm talking about this?" Bakit hindi siya galit, am I seeing things??

 

"Anak, you have my genes.. just kidding. I was once a teenager, Rina. That's normal, you're in a legal age naman na." She smiled at me. 

 

Okay, so she won't be mad if I'll get in a relationship naman pala. Noted, okay. 

 

"Alright. But I don't have someone pa right now, mom. You'll be the first one to know if meron na." I smiled at her. My god! 

 

Winter, I'm sorry that I lied. I'm not just ready to tell the—

 

"Eh what about Winter?" 

 

Oh my god. 

 

"What about her?" I tried to sound like I don't have any idea on what she means.

 

Tinawanan niya ko.. tinawanan LANG ako ni mom!!

 

"Nako anak.. but I approve. Good choice, mana ka talaga sakin." She teased. 

 

"Mom!! Its.. it's not like that naman!" I told her, mamaya she'll get the wrong idea eh. 

 

"I know, sweetie. She's courting you, right?" She asked me whild smiling. 

 

Wait.. what? How did she know? 

 

"Nagpaalam siya sakin not so long ago. She's a great person, kind and respectful." She said while smiling.

 

You and your ways, Cael. 

 

"How about dad? He knows na din?" I asked her again. 

 

"Not yet, I was waiting for you to properly introduce her sa amin ng dad mo." She answered. 

 

I bit my lip and played with my fingers, I'm not yet ready pa kasi talaga. Natatakit din ako sa reaction ni dad, if ever na ipakilala ko na si Winter. 

 

I felt my mom caressing my hand. 

 

"Hey, hey. No pressure, if the two of you are still not ready, it's okay. Alright?" She comforting me told me. 

 

I exhaled as a relief, napigil ko na pala yung paghinga ko because I'm too tensed. 

 

We decided to eat breakfast na, I'm wondering kung bakit there's no text from Winter. Madalas kasi na she's up earlier than me then I'll receive a good morning text.

 

Light breakfast lang naman yung kinain namin so mabilis din kami natapos kumain. No text pa rin? Okay, I'll be the one to text first naman ngayon. 

 

Message

grumpy cael

To grumpy cael: hey grumpy, good morning. are you okay? 

 

I went back to my room, I'll watch more of aespa's performance, I'm genuinely invested sa kanila and hindi ko rin alam bakit. 

 

I opened my laptop and placed it on my lap, when I got to youtube there's are recommendation videos about them naman na, I clicked it to start.

 

 

******

 

 

I didn't noticed na nakatulog na pala ako. When i woke up, there's Ningning, I think, sa screen. She's singing and they're in a variety show ata? 

 

I checked my phone, there are multiple notifications but Winter replied to me kaya I'll open it first.

 

Message

grumpy cael

From grumpy cael: hello, boss! good morning :D

From grumpy cael: kamusta tulog mo? nagbreakfast ka na ba? 

From grumpy cael: parang busy dyan sa inyo hahahaha message mo na lang ako hehe enjoy your day!! :D

 

Oh noooo, baka nagwo-worry na siya. I quickly replied.

 

Message

grumpy cael

To grumpy cael: hey, i fell asleep kanina :(( 

To grumpy cael: have you eaten lunch na? 

 

I fixed my things, I'm suddenly craving for pizza. Magpapadeliver na lang ako, I'll ask mom if she wants din.

 

When I opened the door of my room, naririnig ko yung voice ni mom, do we have a visitor? 

 

"Mom?" I called out while bumababa sa stairs.

 

"In the kitchen!" She responds kaya dumiretso ako sa kitchen.

 

"Mom, what are you do.." 

 

No waaay.. Winter's here!

 

"We have a bisita pala, she's teaching me her recipe of carbonara." Mom said, she's smiling so wide, grabe. 

 

"Hi." Winter said, she's smiling din. 

 

Nahawa na ako, I smiled na din while walking towards them. 

 

"Hi, I thought umuwi ka sa inyo?" I asked her when I'm beside the both of them.

 

"Nag-alala na ako eh, tagal mo kasi sumagot hehe." She shyly said, I saw mom glanced at us while still smiling. 

 

"Silly. I'm sorry for making you feel that way, I guess too tired lang talaga ako from the past events." Sumbong ko sa kanya. 

 

"Kawawa naman ang pugo na yan." I glared at her but I heard my mom's laugh. Seryoso? They're close already? 

 

"Mom! You're supposed to be on my side, bakit ka tumatawa?" I whined at my mom.

 

"O siya, dun muna kayo sa living room or sa room mo, Rina. I'll finish this lang." Mom said. 

 

"Sure po ba, tita?" Winter asked her, she's wearing an apron pa.

 

I'll take a picture nga so I can have something na pangblackmail sa kanya. I quickly snapped a photo of her and tinago yung phone ko, inalis niya na din yung apron.

 

"Come on. Mom, I'll order pizza, you have any flavor on mind?" I asked her.

 

"Whatever na gusto mo, that's fine by me." She replied, still focusing on what she is cooking.

 

We went sa living room, hinila ko siya sa tabi ko para umupo. Parang tanga kasi, she won't sit down pa ata unless hilain ko siya. 

 

"I'll order lang, you want a specific flavor ba?" I asked her.

 

"Wala naman, basta walang pineapple yung pizza." I raise my hands to high five and umapir naman siya. 

 

I'm not really a fan of pineapples on pizza, I don't get it lang talaga, I'm sorry.

 

I ordered two pizzas lang, all cheese and the other is pepperoni. Malapit na din naman daw matapos si mom sa carbonara, this could be our late lunch.

 

 

******

 

 

We just finished our lunch and my heart is beaming. 

 

Mom and Winter are so cute to watch!! The last time I saw Mom like these was when she met Ning and Yeji, super close din nila even kay Dad. But it's different from Winter syempre, ang cute lang talaga nila panoorin, especially kanina when we're eating. 

 

I got shy bigla because super maasikaso si mom, parang nawalan ng kamay si Winter kanina. 

 

Now we're in the living room ulit, Mom went to her home office kasi she needs to edit some photos ata. So naiwan nanaman kami ni Winter here, ayaw pa nga ayusin ni Mom at first kaso Winter insisted na baka important siya, grabe sumunod talaga si Mom sa kanya, I'm really amused. 

 

I introduced her sa aespa! Curious daw kasi siya on what got me hooked, so after Mom decided to work hinila ko na si Winter dito sa living room to watch aespa on youtube.

 

She joked earlier na I look like Jimin, the leader of the group, syempre I didn't believe her, inaasar lang ako nito eh. 

 

"Rina.." I was about to click play for another video but Winter called me so, pinabayaan ko muna yung video.

 

"Hmm? What is it?" I held her hand to tell her that I'm ready to listen.

 

"Di ka ba curious kung bakit di ako nakareply kanina?" She asked me.

 

"Hindi naman, but now that you mention it, may problem ba?" I started playing with her fingers na, I'm really comfortable around her. 

 

"Pinatawag kasi ako ni coach kaninang umaga," she told me, napaayos ako ng upo kasi it seems like a serious matter, "sabi niya may kinausap daw silang sponsor tapos magkakaroon kami nung parang team building and training at the same time." 

 

"That's great! You need that para mas strong yung bond nyo as a team. Kailan daw?" I asked her while smiling, I'm so proud of them kahit na they're not competing pa, after holidays pa kasi daw ulit.

 

"Ayun nga eh, sa January agad, 1 week before magpasukan ulit." She said not looking at me. 

 

"Oh, what's the problem?" I asked her, this time I'm caressing her hand na. She looks like she doesn't like it?

 

She looked at me while pouting, "Eh, mamimiss kita eh, pagkatapos nung training na yun tournament na." 

 

Winter naman, parang tanga eh! My god, look at her pout, ang cute cute! 

 

"We'll see each other naman sa school? I'll watch your games din naman." I told her, natatawa na ako sa itsura niya but she's still cute.

 

She frowned na, "Eh gusto ko nga kasama kita bago kami maging busy sa tournament." She complains. 

 

I pinched her cheeks, nakakagigil kasi eh.

 

"But you need that, it's for your team naman." I said.

 

"Eh kasi naman.." 

 

"Shh.. we'll celebrate your birthday naman, right?" I cut her off, she's cute when she's whining kaso baka maging permanent na yung pagfrown niya. 

 

She sighed and nodded, she leaned back sa couch, Honestly? I'm just cointaining my kilig, she's setting the standard so high.

 

Imagine, she's juggling her time for acads, basketball, and friends but she wants to make time with me pa din. It's just that.. she never fails to make me feel so special, sobrang nakakakilig talaga.

 

"Kaso ang layo pa din kasi eh, di ko alam trip nitong mga sponsors namin." She said looking at the ceiling while still holding my hand. 

 

"Why? Saan daw ba?" I asked her again, lalayo pala sila? I thought it's around the metro lang? 

 

"Sa Subic pa, 1 week din kami dun. Haaaay." She sighed again, I felt kinda sad din, ang layo niya nga.

 

"Hey, hey, don't be sad na. Who knows? Baka when you come back all of you are stronger na diba." I tried cheering her up. 

 

We stayed silent, she's really upset, I can tell. She's not really like this but I guess she'll realize din na it's for their team naman talaga, she just needs time. 

 

I got back sa reality when I felt a sting in my forehead, pinitik niya yung noo ko.

 

"What was that for?" I jokingly glared at her pero tinawanan niya lang ako. 

 

"Wala lang, ang lalim ng iniisip mo eh, baka malunod ako." She said while still laughing. 

 

"Whatever, Cael." I said.

 

"Need ko na pala umalis, sasamahan ko pa si Nanay eh. San si tita? Magpapaalam na ko para makauwi." She's soothing a part of my forehead using her thumb, yung pinitik niya. 

 

"Hindi na masakit, come on, puntahan natin sa office niya." I said, then tumayo na ako. We walk towards Mom's office and she's just follwing me. 

 

I knocked at the door then I heard Mom said na pumasok so I opened the door na. Mom is behind the pc, she lifts her attention towards us.

 

"Oh, what's the matter?" She asked the two of us.

 

"Tita, may lakad po kasi kami ni Nanay, magpapaalam lang po ako na uuwi na." Wnter said. 

 

"Ay okay, come here. Ingat ka pag-uwi mo, alright?" Mom said while opening her arms for a hug. 

 

Winter complied and hugged my mother, there's this feeling again, I'm really happy to see them like this.

 

"Thank you po ulit, Tita. Uwi na po ako." Winter said and smiled at Mom.

 

"You're so welcome, honey. Balik ka ha?" Mom smiled back at her and told me na ihatid ko na si Winter palabas.

 

 

When we're outside na, I saw her motorcycle, ang tigas tigas ng ulo. May car naman siya eh, I told her to use that na lang since it's dangerous pa rin to use her motorcylce. 

 

Kinuha niya yung jacket niya from the compartment and she wears it, nilapitan ko siya and I hugged her. I feel her arms returning the gesture, she hugged me tightly din. 

 

"Ang clingy ng bossing natin ah." She teased me.

 

"Shut up!" I pinched her side and she flinched, buti nga! 

 

She just laughed at me. After a few seconds, I decided to break our hug na, she might be late na sa lakad nila ni Nanay. 

 

"Alis na ako, boss." She said while smiling cheekily. I can still see her because her helmet visor is still up.

 

"Ingat, drive safely, ha? Text me when you get home, okay?" I told her and put down her helmet visor. 

 

She just nodded then umalis na, I just watch her na makaalis. 

 

 

After almost an hour I got a text from her.

 

Message

grumpy cael

From grumpy cael: nakauwi na po, boss

From grumpy cael: pahinga lang saglit then alis na din kami ni nanay

To grumpy cael: alright, ingat kayo later ha

To: grumpy cael: you'll use motorcycle ba ulit?

From grumpy cael: nako, baka mapatay ako ni nanay hahahahaha magkotse daw kami eh :<

To grumpy cael: deserve! hahaha buti ngaaa :P

From grumpy cael: basta after nung training sa subic, sayo ako uuwi

 

Nooooooo! Rina, don't smile, masiyado ka ng kinikilig! 

 

To grumpy cael: whateveeer, just drive safely mamaya 

 

 

Winter, naiinis na ako. Why are you so good with words?!