a/n: Karina's POV

 

Gising na ang diwa ko nung nagising si Winter. She usually checks her phone when she wakes up and I know she needs to update her parents din bilang hindi naman niya nagamit ang phone niya kagabi when we got home. Gising ang diwa ko pero yung katawang lupa ko ayaw pa talaga gumalaw. Hindi pa din ako dumidilat cause I was hoping na makaidlip pa ng konti.

 

But then I felt her kisses. The one I loved receiving in the morning. It was her way of waking me up. Sinong hindi magigising sa ganun di ba?

 

She told me na nanay sent her a message saying na lumabas daw sila ni tatay. She also told me na someone was calling my phone. Ning Yizhou daw yung name. I told her na college friend ko yun and baka naghahanap ng kausap at baka wala silang lakad ng girlfriend niya.

 

I met her and Yeji nung first year college ako. It was during one of those walwal moments ko and funny enough, she and Yeji had been my classmate pala all along. Hindi ko lang sila napapansin kasi most of the time gusto ko mapagisa. I was a bar that time and had one too many that I was dragging myself out trying to look for a cab. Napagkamalan kong taxi yung kotse ni Yeji nun na kasama si Ningning at sumakay na lang ako and gave my address. Hinatid nila ako then stayed the night na and I just found out the next morning na inalagaan pala nila ako cause I was throwing up everything I consumed. Since then, naging friends kaming tatlo.

 

Winter asked pa if my friend goes by Ningning so I said yes. Then she mentioned her friend by the name of Giselle has a girlfriend who shares the same name only to find out na magjowa pala ang friends namin. Small world nga naman talaga.

 

Bumangon na ako and natawa lang ako sa itsura niya. I wasn't wearing anything din kasi because of the activities from the night before which reminds me, I'm sore all over. Kaya din gusto ko pa sanang makatulog kanina. She even asked kung magiisa pa kaming round. Hinampas ko na lang siya.

 

We went down after doing our morning routine and may food na din sa table pero pangbreakfast pa ito. Kaya naisip ni Winter na magluto na lang. I offered to help pero siya na daw bahala at ipagluluto naman daw niya ako. Siyempre kinilig naman ako dun.

 

I was just watching her do her thing and from time to time lumalapit siya sa akin to give me a kiss. When she was done cooking, ako na ang nagpresentang magset ng table then she followed suit at dala na ang niluto niyang ulam.

 

It was definitely one of the best pork sinigang I ever tasted. There was something in it na hindi ko fully madefine kung ano yung nagpapa stand out sa lasa niya plus, Winter cooked it. We enjoyed eating our lunch hanggang dumating na si Ate Linda and told me na pinapapunta kami sa bahay ng lolo ko.

 

Ayoko sanang pumunta pero may ibibigay daw and ako ang dapat makareceive nito. Wala naman akong ibang naisip kaya pumayag na rin ako. I even asked Winter na sumama sa akin pero sabi niya she'll wait for us na lang. She gave me the car keys at nagbihis na ako.

 

I drove us to my lolo's mansion and I sensed something na hindi maganda. When we got there, I was surprised to see some of my relatives as well. There was no specific special occasion so I found it unusual. Pinaupo na nila kami sa sala then another person arrived and sat down beside Lolo Art.

 

"Karina" pagtawag sa akin ng lolo ko.

 

"Yes po lo?" sagot ko naman.

 

"I don't know how to say it but... your dad's gone"

 

Napasinghap ako sa narinig ko at nangingilid na ang mga luha ko. Agad naman akong hinawakan ni nanay Linda.

 

"He had a heart attack last week and had been in the hospital for a few days until he passed away the other day. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news"

 

Tuluyan ng tumulo ang luha ko.

 

"We're bringing him home to be laid beside your Lola Prim"

 

Hindi ko na masyadong naintindihan yung mga sumunod na nangyari. I can see the person na last na dumating kanina saying something pero wala akong ibang naririnig kundi ang sarili kong paghikbi. I can even feel nanay rubbing my back but I couldn't hear any other sounds. My mind was a mess. Hindi pa agad nag-sink in lahat ng sinabi ng lolo ko.

 

Dad - heart attack - hospital - gone - home - Lola Prim

 

Pinaulit ulit ko ang mga salitang yan sa utak ko. And when it finally made sense, bumigat na lalo ang pakiramdam ko.

 

Inalala ko yung huling beses na nakita ko ang daddy ko. Yun yung araw na nagmigrate sila sa US. He went to my room and told me they're leaving and that's it. I never saw him again and I will never see him again...alive. Inalala ko yung huling beses na he reached out to me. It was a month ago. The call lasted for about a minute cause he just confirmed if I received the money he sent and I quickly said yes. I think I hung up on him pa. And that was it, that was the last time I heard his voice. Ang sakit sakit. Hindi ko maexplain yung sakit na nararamdaman ko. I was too young when my mom left so I didn't really know how to grieve and my dad explained what happened in the simplest way he could for my young mind to understand. But now that I am older and able to understand what's going on, it took me back to where I was before all of this happened. In the dark.

 

When we left lolo's house I was so out of it. I can't even believe I was still able to drive us back home.

 

Winter greeted us but I couldn't even look at her. I went to the back of the car to get the boxes of supplies they gave us and she helped me. Pagbaba namin nung mga dala namin, dumirecho na ako sa old room nila daddy. Alam kong susunod si Winter so I locked the door.

 

Wala na silang gamit dito pero I can still remember how the room smelled sa tuwing papasok ako dito before. Yung musky perfume ng dad ko na gustung gusto ko. I remember sneaking inside just to spray some on my hanky before I went to school. I remember the times na kinakausap niya ako kapag wala sina Karen. Asking me kung anong gusto ko kapag nakakakuha ako ng award sa school dahil hindi niya ipinapaalam sa asawa niya. I remember sitting on the bed at tinuturuan niya akong magdrawing.

 

As I remember all the good times, come the bad times as well.

 

I hated him for leaving me here when they moved out of the country. I hated how he kept on asking for me to understand his wife rather than correcting her with her ways. I hated how he was blind to see that she was hurting me, physically and emotionally. I hated how he never gave me the chance to stand up for myself the night before they left. If he did, my life would've been different. But after everything that happened, I am still thankful that he is my dad. That he didn't let me go to an orphanage and for not denying me of a good life, considering.

 

Now he's gone. And I've never felt so alone.

 

I don't know how long I was crying cause when I went out of the room, I saw Winter by the door. She must've fallen asleep waiting for me. But my mind was still a mess. I went down to the kitchen and grabbed the first liquor I saw, got myself a glass and went back up.

 

I went out to the veranda and filled the glass to its rim and drank it straight up. I poured another but Winter tried to stop me. Tinignan ko lang siya at ininom na ang shot.

 

I asked what she is still doing here when she should be fixing her stuff cause she's leaving na din tomorrow. Umupo lang siya sa tabi ko at inattempt pang hawakan ang kamay ko but I didn't let her.

 

I poured another one at direcho itong ininom. Nahihilo na ako sa totoo lang. I haven't eaten anything since lunch tapos umiinom ako ng alak. Pero I didn't care. Wala na akong pakialam kung ano pang mangyari sa akin. Wala na namang may pakialam.

 

I suddenly snapped at her. Patong patong na lahat ng nararamdaman ko. I told her na wala na naman kami dapat pagusapan. Na kung ano mang meron kami eh hanggang dun na lang iyon. Aalis na rin naman na siya. At maiiwan na naman ako.

 

Pagbitaw ko sa hawak kong bote ay agad naman siyang yumakap at lalo akong nagbreak down. Tnry ko pang ipagtulakan siya pero wala na akong lakas. She didn't let me go and even held me tighter.

 

After sometime, kumalma na ako. She even wiped my tear stained face. I stared at her as if trying to remember every part. Something to add to my mind's limited storage of good memories. But then naisip ko ulit na after tomorrow, hindi ko na din siya makikita. I looked at our entwined hands and realize how it fits perfectly and I just sighed.

 

"I'm going to miss you Winter. Thank you for everything that happened the past few days. Good luck on your recital. I know you'll do well. I wish you could stay but that would be too much to ask"

 

I did not expect the next words she said to me.

 

That she's staying.

 

And it's because of me.

 

I already came in terms with the fact that what Winter and I has a time limit. Isang linggong pagibig. But when she told me that she's staying, it gave me a glimmer of hope once more.

 

 

 

 

 

I was afraid to open my eyes the next day. Aside from the pounding headache, I was afraid na baka panaginip ko lang yung sinabi ni Winter na she'll stay but then I felt her arms around me and I was in a way relieved. I didn't want to move lalo na nung naalala ko kung bakit ako uminom kagabi. I said a silent prayer hoping it reaches my dad and told him to make sure to look for mom. Ngayon na pwede na silang magkasama. I also told him na I'll be okay here.

 

Ramdam ang mabigat na atmosphere sa bahay kaya kinamusta ko din sila nanay at tatay. Okay naman daw sila at mas nag aalala sila para sa akin. Sabi ko naman na tanggap ko na naman na wala na si dad and baka magkasama na sila ni mom. They agreed din naman.

 

Nagluto si nanay ng isa sa mga paboritong pagkaen ni daddy for lunch then we lit up some candles to pray for his soul. Pagdating ng gabi, we had some kind of commemoration by singing his favorite songs.

 

 

 

 

 

When morning came, I received a message from one of my cousins saying that the plane carrying my dad's remains had already landed so we went down to have some breakfast before we went to the mansion where the wake will happen.

 

Punuan na ang driveway when we got there. I saw several men bringing in wreaths from politicians since his wife comes from that family. Pinauna na naming maglakad sina nanay and binagalan ko talagang maglakad. I don't know why pero kinakabahan ako and I think Winter felt that too. Hindi ko alam ang dapat kong i-expect when I see my relatives since hindi naman talaga kami masyadong naging close.

 

The wake was held dun sa separate area kung saan nakadisplay ang mga artworks ni daddy. I remember na pag pumupunta kami dito dati eh papasok ako dun para tignan ito. It was big enough to accommodate most of the guest who came to pay their respects. I saw my grandfather and signaled us na lumapit kami sa kanya. We were never close or at least we didn't get a lot chance para magusap growing up. Kaya kahit hesitant ako, mas naging hesitant si Winter at bumitaw sa kamay ko. Sabi pa niya na ayaw niya lang na may sabihin ang ibang tao. But I told her it's fine kaya hinawakan ko na ulit siya at naglakad na papunta sa harap.

 

"Karina. Thank you for being here. I know we never had the best relationship but you are your father's daughter. And Nickhun... I know he loved your mother very much. And I'm sorry if I never gave them the chance to be happy but I am sure that they are together now" sabi ni Lolo Art and nagulat talaga ako. Siguro kaya na din na hindi ako naging malapit sa kanya cause I know na siya yung may ayaw sa mom ko. But for him to say that right now, I didn't really know how to react kaya napayakap na talaga ako sa kanya.

 

I noticed na nakatingin siya sa mga kamay namin ni Winter after we hugged and she did too kaya bibitaw na ulit dapat siya pero pinigilan siya ni lolo.

 

He was full of surprises. He told her to not to do that cause he was okay with it and even made her promise something. My heart melted at that moment. Cause it meant na kung okay sa kanya then wala ng magagawa ang iba naming kamaganak.

 

After he left to talk to the other guests and since wala pa din yung sumundo sa airport, lumabas muna kami ni Winter at napunta dun sa likod ng bahay kung saan may playground. Umupo ako sa swing at sumunod lang si Winter.

 

I told her about not being able to go here and play with my step cousins when I was younger kaya most of the time, nagpapaiwan ako sa bahay. Dinistract ko ang sarili ko para hindi ako magisip ng masasama. Paminsan minsan akong naaaya ng ibang pinsan ko na lumabas pero pag nahuhuli ako eh kung ano na naman ang sasabihin ni Karen.

 

Naikwento ko din yung time na umalis na sila daddy at ako na nga lang andito. Kung paano ko nameet sila Yeji and Ningning. When I had my first ever relationship na ilang buwan ko ding tinago sa kanila hanggang sa nalaman at pinilit akong makipaghiwalay. The time when I hit my rock bottom talaga to the point na gusto ko na lang talaga tapusin ang buhay ko.

 

Nagulat kami pareho nang biglang may ibang nagsalita at tinawag ang pangalan ko. Pagtingin namin ay yung pinsan ko pala na si Ate Lisa. Isa siya sa mga naging close ko kahit papaano and one of the people na napagsabihan ko about my relationship with Yeji. She was so supportive since she swings that way as well.

 

I was about to introduce Winter when she said something I never expected. Hindi ko na lang pinahalata sa pinsan ko na nagulat din ako. Ate Lisa then introduced us to her wife, whom she met while working in Australia.

 

We caught up a little with what's been going on with our lives bago kami tawagin ulit sa loob at dumating na nga ang remains ni dad.

 

Sa harap kami pinaupo ni lolo and I know na we are to pay respect kay dad but when I saw Karen, I felt irritated again. Kasama din niya sila kuya at ate and yung anak niya kay Roberto. Nagkatinginan kami ni Winter and without even saying anything, I know she was asking kung si Karen nga iyon so I just nodded.

 

When the priest arrived and started the mass, bumalik ang mabigat na pakiramdam sa paligid. I was trying my best not to cry but when he called the immediate family up, hindi ko na talaga napigilan. I was about to see my dad's face again but this time he won't be looking back into my eyes. I let Karen and my step siblings go first as they sprinkled holy water and when it was my turn, I grabbed Winter's hand for support cause I don't think kakayanin ko.

 

Every step we took until we reached the center got heavier. And when we finally got there, I held her hand tighter. I peaked thru my dad's coffin and saw how peaceful he looked. Inisip ko na lang na he really is in a better place already with my mom up there.

 

When we got back to our seats, we heard someone whispering comments and I already know who that person is. After the mass, we were called to eat so we went and got our food and stayed at the very last table along with nanay and tatay and some of my cousins including Ate Lisa and Ate Rosé.

 

When we got home that night, I was drained. But I still wanted to talk to Winter about something she said earlier. She tried to explain that she didn't realize she was thinking out loud when she said I'm her fiancé to my cousin. Wala naman talagang problema at hindi ako aangal pero we never established din kasi kung ano kami.

 

It was fun to watch her explain herself while rambling and there was only one way to shut her up. So I kissed her.

 

I guess I did kind of challenged her pa when I told her to ask me. I was referring to officially asking to be her girlfriend but she went straight to a marriage proposal.

 

Sa sobrang kilig ko nahampas ko siya.

 

That was next next level naman kasi. Pero I don't want to give her an answer yet not because I don't want to. I mean of course I want to marry her. But right now, I just want to go through with my dad's funeral which will happen in a few days. She did say to take my time naman.

 

 

 

 

 

I drove us to the cemetery this time since Winter wasn't familiar with the way. When we got there, only a few people were present. As per my dad's request na din na close family and friends lang. Neither dun si Winter, so she was supposed to really just drive us there but my cousin 'accidentally' slipped it out daw about our engagement kay lolo at pinasama na siya sa service.

 

Sa harap kami umupo at katabi ko nga si Karen. Nagkatinginan na naman kami ni Winter and I already know what she's thinking.

 

Sinong umaattend ng libing ng naka.full on make up? And hindi pa appropriate yung eye shadow. Like red talaga?

 

Music was played pagdating nung staff na may dala sa coffin at nang maipwesto na siya at nagsimula na ang funeral service. Then it came to the part where some people talked about him. Nauna na si Tito Junho tapos sumunod si Tito Taecyeon then si Karen at si lolo.

 

When Lolo Art was talking about dad, hindi na ako nag hold back sa pagiyak ko. Especially when he mentioned my mom.

 

The commentator asked if anyone else wished to say something at hindi na ako nagdalawang isip at tumayo na din. I looked at everyone present bago ako nagsalita. Not a lot of people in the family accepted me at first. Being an illegitimate child and all. Words were said here and there and I was to young to understand everything. As I grew older, I slowly began to question why some of my cousins wouldn't play with me or why some of my titos and titas would come up with stories about where I really came from. Most of it si Karen ang nangchismis at gumawa ng kwento na over time sa kakapasa ng kwento eh naiiba at nagiging malala. Like what I always did, sinubukan kong intindihin na lang lahat ng iyon and there was dad supporting me. Hindi man naging maganda ang relasyon naming dalawa, sobrang pasasalamat pa din ako sa kanya nung hindi niya tinakbuhan ang responsibilidad niya bilang ama sa akin. May mga bagay na pinanghihinayangan ko at mga bagay na hindi ko nasabi sa kanya. Kaya through this eulogy, I wanted to let him know.

 

When the service ended, I stayed lang sa kinatatayuan ko. I watched as the staff covered the hole until napuno na ito. They cleaned the area na din at nung matanggal na ang tarp, tinignan ko lang ang grave ni daddy na katabi nung kay Lola Prim.

 

Lumapit naman si Lolo Art at may sinabing hindi ko ulit inaasahan. Nanghina ang tuhod ko but Winter was there to support me. Hindi ko alam kung paanong may nailalabas pa akong luha sa dami ng beses na umiyak ako the past few days.

 

My dad's love to my mother was so strong na even until his death, he never forgot to include my mom. And now, they can rest peacefully.

 

I don't know who thought of the songs to be played throughout the service but it was so fitting. Cause my mom and dad are now together in heaven, at last.

 

 

 

 

 

We went back to lolo's house and my cousins pulled me away from Winter. They said they wanted us to have a little bonding since we never really got the chance before. Naiwan si Winter sa sala na kasama sina lolo.

 

Pumunta kami sa room ng isa kong pinsan. Kuya Bambam was a few years older sa akin pero like Ate Lisa, he was one of my cousins na medyo naging ka-close ko. The three of used to be active sa school lalo na pag may mga dance performances na kailangan. And that's how we bonded na din. He told us na his boyfriend, Jackson was supposed to be with him as well kaso hindi daw naapprove ang leave nito. Muntik pa nga daw silang magaway because of it pero he said Jackson promised a vacation for them when things are better. Si Ate Lisa naman ang nagkwento kung paano sila nagkakilala ni Ate Rosé. She was involved in a minor complication daw nung nagpunta siya ng Australia na she and her friends were detained. Dahil wala siyang kakilalang lawyer, they were offered one at si Ate Rosé nga daw iyon. Mabilis lang daw naipanalo ang kaso and right after that, she asked her out. And since then, hindi na sila naghiwalay and eventually nga ay nagpropose siya sa kanya. They've been married for a year na. Nagkwento din yung isa sa mga pinakabata naming pinsan na si Ten. He's currently in college taking up Conservatory of Music major in Theater. At dahil napasok na sa ganun topic ay naikwento ko na din sa kanila about Winter. I told them the story of how we met. Pinagmayabang ko din ang galing niyang kumanta at tumugtog ng instruments. And they were all curious about seeing it in action.

 

At that's when we heard someone playing the piano. Bumaba agad kami and saw na it was Winter singing our lola's favorite song. They all gave me a thumbs up while we were listening to her. I found myself just staring at this beautiful work of art serenading us with her lovely voice. Nagrequest pa nga ng iba pang songs yung mga tito ko and she gladly played for them.

 

After her performance, lumapit agad siya at talagang niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit. I guess naginom sila nila lolo cause there was a strong smell of alcohol and namumula na din siya but I didn't mind. We stayed in that position until we heard this irritating cough. And yep, si Karen na naman na gusto atang umeksena.

 

We should be ashamed of ourselves daw then even mentioned not giving respect and all. Then she looked at us from head to toe with a pure disgust on her expression. Hindi ko naman talaga planong patulan siya pero hindi ko rin pinigilan nung nagsalita na si Winter.

 

I guess she wasn't expecting that someone would talk back to her kaya napalakas na ang boses niya causing everyone to stop what they were doing at tumingin na sa commotion.

 

She then started talking down on me specifically at hindi nagpatalo si Winter and said some things. She then turned her attention to Winter. I guess nairita na talaga siya at dinuro duro na ako.

 

As I've said, hindi ko naman talaga balak patulan pa siya pero when she insulted Winter without even knowing her, I had to say something.

 

"Are you done? You really don't know how to even read the room noh? Karen, look around you, everyone's getting along just fine and of course you have to ruin the mood. And wala ka na bang ibang sasabihin? Narinig ko na lahat iyan eh. For the record, wala kang ibinigay sa akin kundi puro pasakit" nag-lean ako ng kaunti para lumapit sa tenga ni Karen. "And you should be the one thanking me for not saying anything...about him"

 

Hinawakan niya agad ang bunsong anak niya at kita ko ang panggigigil niya. Akala namin tatahimik na siya but then inangat niya ang kamay niya at sasampalin pa dapat ako pero hindi ito natuloy ng pigilan siya ni Winter.

 

"You don't have the right to do that to anyone. Especially to her" madiin niyang sabi kay Karen and kinilig ako when she defended me like that.

 

But then all of a sudden, bigla namang sumugod si kuya at tinadyakan si Winter at sinuntok pa pagbagsak nito. Agad namang lumapit si Tito Junho at kinewelyuhan na si kuya at hinila na palabas. Mabilis lang din sumunod sina Karen. I panicked nung nakita ko si Winter sa sahig and when I checked kung anong damage ang nagawa ni kuya, I felt so bad when I saw the deep cut on her lower lip.

 

I tried to get her back to her senses but she was still out of it, probably still in shock. Tinulungan ko siyang tumayo at pinaupo na sa couch. Agad ko din ginamot yung sugat niya. After that, nakatulog na rin siya.

 

Lumabas si lolo at sina Ate Lisa at kinausap si Karen. Rinig ko pa from the inside ang malakas na boses nito na dinedepensahan pa si kuya. Hindi naman naging matagal ang paguusap at eventually umalis na din sila. Nagpaalam na din sina Tita Junho para din makasiguradong hindi babalik sina Karen.

 

When a few of us are left, si nanay Linda na ang nagsumbong kay lolo sa mga ginawa ni Karen sa akin. Hindi ko naman ito itinanggi kaya naman nagoffer si Ate Rosé na tutulungan ako kung sakaling magsampa ako ng kaso. They even told me na pwede din gawin ni Winter iyon but of course it's still up to her. Hindi naman din kasi pwedeng ako magdecide nun.

 

Nang magising si Winter, I asked right away how she was feeling. She told me she was okay now. Nakuha pa niyang magyabang.

 

We let her caught up sa mga nangyari at naikwento nga ni lolo ang mga sinabi niya kay Karen. I know for a fact na malaki ang takot niya sa pamilya niya kaya it was a good thing for lolo to threaten her about what they did.

 

There were a lot of things for me to think about and I can't decide on anything right now so I looked at Winter and she already knows what I wanted to do.

 

Pinagstay kami for the night pero sabi ko na gugustuhin kong sa bahay na kami magstay kaya nagpaalam na din kami after. Si tatay muna ang pinagmaneho ko sa amin pauwi at habang nasa backseat kami ni Winter, tahimik lang ako while caressing her hair.

 

Pagdating namin ng bahay, nagusap usap kaming apat. I listened to nanay and tatay's opinion and of course Winter's. I weighed all the options pero hindi pa din ako makapagdecide on what to do.

 

When we went up to our room after that, nagwash lang ako at mabilis lang ding nakatulog. Ang daming nangyare ng gabing ito. And I just hope na things will get better soon.

 

 

 

 

 

A few days later, nagsabi si Winter na kailangan niyang bumalik ng Manila cause she has to do something daw. And I just let her go. When she left that morning, napagisip isip ako kung anong dapat kong gawin. About the Karen situation and what's going to happen sa amin ni Winter. Looking back on all the options, I went with what Winter said and just let karma do its thing. Naisip ko din na it'll be a waste of time pa if we go through the process of filing a case. Ayoko na din naman talaga sila makita. The odds are in my favor since may restraining order na din na ginawa.

 

Now about Winter, when she said na she'll stay, I was thinking na until after the funeral lang. Alam ko din naman na kailangan na din niyang simulan ang pagprepare for her recital. Pero she never brought it up. So when she said na babalik siya ng Manila kanina, I thought na that was it. Uuwi na nga talaga siya. But then she told me na babalik din daw agad siya. My mind went blank. She had to kiss me para bumalik yung senses kong panandaliang nawala. She said na importante lang daw talaga yung kailangan niyang gawin dun pero dito pa din siya uuwi. I don't know how she does it pero alam na alam niya kung paano ako pakiligin even without meaning to. Yung effect lang talaga ng mga words niya minsan eh iba.

 

I spent the rest of the day cleaning the house, nilabhan ko din yung mga damit naming dalawa and folded it neatly sa cabinet na we share. Takang taka pa sila nanay at ang sipag sipag ko daw at nagpasama pa nga ako mamalengke para bumili ng ingredients para sa balak kong lutuin. Winter mentioned kasi na favorite niya ang Kare-kare and namimiss na niya daw kumaen nun.

 

Gabi na ng makabalik si Winter. Naabutan pa niya akong sumasayaw habang nagluluto. Patapos na din naman ako nun so I told her na magbihis na siya at bumaba para sabay sabay na kaming magdinner.

 

 

 

 

 

Another week passed. Winter and I decided na tanungin ang mga friends namin of they want to go on a vacation here in Zambales. Nakausap ko na sila Ningning and Yeji and confirmed na they can go whenever.

 

She called up one of them, si Ryujin ata at nagusap sila sa labas while I took a bath. Pagkatapos ko ay nakita kong nakahiga sa kama at pinapanuod lang akong magbihis.

 

She asked me kung nakausap ko na ba daw ang friends ko and I told her na they would be arriving in two days. We coordinated with them and napagkasunduan na magmeet na lang sila somewhere tapos sabay sabay na silang pupunta.

 

 

 

 

 

My cousin went to the house the next day para magpaalam at babalik na sila ng Australia. May new case daw kasi na na-assign kay Ate Rosé kaya they had to leave na. Mas flexible kasi ang line of work ng pinsan ko bilang isang photographer / dance choreographer. We were supposed to go to the grocery that day para may stock naman ang bahay pagdating ng mga friends namin pero dahil napatagal din ang kwentuhan namin eh nalimutan na namin.

 

Naisipan naman naming maginom sa veranda. Chill lang since kaming dalawa lang naman. One thing led to another and I found myself pinned on the bed as I clenched the sheets. If Winter had the part to make babies, we would have definitely been expecting already with the way she just pounds into me. And I love every second of it.

 

 

 

 

 

Naramdaman kong bumangon si Winter but I didn't have any strength in me to even open my eyes and check on her kaya natulog na lang ulit ako. Moments later, she was doing her usual kisses to wake me up. I groaned pa kasi I want to sleep more. She was about to say something nang bigla namang bumukas ang pinto at narinig ko ang matinis na boses ng kaibigan kong si Ningning. Napadilat talaga ako and checked if I was covered up. Mabilis din niyang isinara ang pinto at rinig na rinig namin ang kalabog ng pagmamadali nilang bumaba.

 

Winter asked if I still wanted to sleep pa and said na she'll take care of our breakfast na lang kahit ako ang schedules na magayos talaga nun. Sumiksik na lang ako sa kanya and told her na hindi pa ako makagalaw talaga. Natawa na lang siya. We enjoyed the activities naman kasi kagabi.

 

Hindi na ako nakabalik sa pagtulog kaya pinilit ko na lang bumangon para magayos ng sarili. Pagbaba ko sa nakaayos na ang lamesa kaya dahan dahan akong naglakad sa tabi ni Winter.

 

Ningning even asked kung okay lang ako and I told her that I'm not and why. Natawa lang din ako kay Winter kasi nabuga niya pa yung iniinom niya.

 

After we ate, umakyat kami sa veranda. Pinanuod lang namin ang sunrise at bumaba na din ulit nung lumiwanag na talaga sa paligid. I asked them kung gusto ba muna nilang magpahinga before we start the day and they said yes.

 

After I did my morning routine, tinulungan ko na si Winter sa paggawa ng mga light snacks na dadalhin namin later. Ang domestic lang nung feels habang ginagawa namin yun. Para kasi kaming magasawa na naghahanda ng baon para sa mga anak namin. Nung natapos kami at hindi na rin makabalik sa tulog, umupo na lang kami sa sala and tried to find something worthwhile to watch. Kaso naubos lang ang oras namin kakahanap ng mapapanuod.

 

 

 

 

 

Dinala namin sila sa Mt. Pinatubo at tuwang tuwa sila dahil first time din nilang mapuntahan ito except kay Lia. Kwento pa ni Yeji na ang dami nilang natutunan on the way at para daw silang nasa field trip while Lia was giving them some info. Hindi talaga nakakasawang pagmasdan ang ganda nung lake. We took several photos din before we went to our next destination.

 

We also brought them sa farm and although nagpunta na kami ni Winter dito last time, hindi niya masyadong naenjoy ang pagiinteract sa ibang animals because of her injury. Kaya naman tuwang tuwa siya ngayon. Ang cute niya lang panuorin kasi para siyang bata nagtatatakbo with her friends.

 

Napadaan kami dun sa bench na may special na nangyari sa amin. It was there where we both felt the spark between us. Dun din yung unang beses siyang nagtampo sa akin. Kasama din pala namin si Lia na umupo dun ngayon since I think she has a ornithophobia. She asked pa nga if we think na masyadong mabilis yung nangyari sa amin ni Winter. Natawa ako sa sagot niya kasi ang cringe din pakinggan.

 

When our friends got back, nagkaayaan ng kumaen ng lunch. And I think it was Yuna who suggested na magseafood naman since puro animals na din lang yung mga nakita namin. We went to this seafood restaurant nearby pero punuan pa so we had to wait. Lumipat si Yeji sa car at lumipat sina Winter and Giselle sa kabila para naman daw makapagusap usap with our own set of friends.

 

"So kamusta ka naman sis?" tanong ni Ningning.

 

"Okay naman" sagot ko.

 

"Yun na yun? Walang ibang kwento?" dagdag pa niya.

 

Napaka.generic naman kasi nung tanong niya.

 

"I think what she meant was, kamusta kayo ni Winter" sabi naman ni Yeji.

 

"Ah. Be specific kasi Ning. We're good actually... no better pala"

 

"Well that's good to hear. Kamusta pala with the relatives?"

 

So I told them about what happened nung wake and funeral ni daddy. How she never left my side the day I found out about the sad news, during the wake and during the funeral, how my lolo accepted our relationship, how she defended me kay Karen. Their looks of approval meant so much to me din.

 

Naputol ang kwentuhan namin nung tawagin na kami nung isang waitress kaya pumasok na kami sa loob. We went all out with the order, buti na lang walang allergic sa amin sa seafood. I guess we were all hungry na din talaga kasi for the first ten minutes since dumating yung food namin wala talagang nagsasalita.

 

When we were done, tawang tawa na lang ako sa itsura nung mga friends ni Winter kasi sila talaga nagayang kumaen dun only to find out wala silang cash na pambayad. Nakailang sorry din sila pero sabi ko sagot ko na silang lahat since guests naman namin sila. Winter apologized separately at nagpumilit na she'll pay me na lang daw kaya dumaan kami sa bank para magwithdraw.

 

After lunch, they decided not to go to other places at mukhang gusto muna nilang magpahinga. So we took the time para magawa na ang grocery. Sumama na din si Ryujin kasi hindi naman daw siya inaantok.

 

While at the supermarket, nag uusap silang dalawa ni Winter. Hindi ko masyadong naririnig yung buong kwento pero sa mga nakuha ko ay it's about Ryujin taking a liking sa isa pa nilang friend na si Lia. I don't see any problems with that but I think issue sa kanila yung ganun. Kasi Winter mentioned something about a code na meron silang magkakaibigan.

 

Pagdating namin sa counter, Winter offered to pay for everything and didn't give me the chance na tumanggi, so I let her na lang. We placed all the items na sa car then bought dinner before driving home.

 

Nagkaayaan na mag inom ng gabi kaya naman toka toka na pagaayos. Naunang umakyat ang iba sa veranda para i-set up ang mga tables and chairs, yung iba naman ang nagbitbit ng mga alak at pulutan at kami ni Yeji ang gumawa ng chaser. Once everything is ready, we started drinking na.

 

Kung ano ano ng mga topic ang napag usapan at naging hot seat na nga si Ryujin. It was so funny how she turned so red because of embarrassment. Hindi naman nagpatalo si Ningning at nagkwento na din about embarrassing stories about sa amin.