"I called you both here because of the situation," Ani ng ama ni Winter.

Kasalukuyang nasa opisina sila ng pinunong-abala ng kanilang kumpanya. It wasn't unusual for her dad na magpatawag ng meeting sa Mancom ng sabado, pero what made this meeting different ay dahil hindi mga direktor at Department VPs ang kasama nila ngayon.

"And I really hope you will open your mind sa sasabihin ko sa inyo, sa pagmamakaawa, even."

Kita ni Winter sa body movements ng ama ang pagkabalisa. Ang paghinga ng malalim, ang hindi pagtingin sa kanya ng diretso.

Her mom by his side, with eyes telling her apology, and already Winter's mind was thinking of scenarios how much of a favor they were going to ask.

"Mga anak..."

Just say it already, dad!

God, the suspense was killing her.

Parang gusto niyang sabunutan ang sarili niya.

"Tito, there's no need for anyone to beg. You can tell us anything, it's alright," Karina who was sitting beside her assured her dad.

Galing ito sa katatapos lang na taping nila ng Running Man, and yesterday's taping stress was evident on her face. Ang laki ng eyebags, may gasgas sa left cheek. May pasa sa may left collarbone. Ano ba 'to? Sigurado ba siyang pag-aartista ang ginagawa niya at hindi pagiging boksingera? 

Ano bang magandang ointment para sa gasgas? 

She made a mental note to buy it later. Or ipasuyo sa PA nito. 

"Well..okay. Here it goes. You know that we're in the middle of a..an entanglement. The board and I, we talked and consulted this with Legal. Winter," sulyap sa kanila ng ama, "Karina, I am asking for a very huge favor from you that you two get married. I also talked to your parents, Karina. They also think this is a great opportunity for our families. Hindi lang ito makabubuti sa negosyo but also you two would get closer, our families would be closer ..."

Tuloy-tuloy lang ang entrada ng kanyang ama ngunit unti-unting siyang nabibingi. Parang pinipiga ang ulo niya. Her sight was slowly turning into some sort of a blurrred TV channel.

Nabalot ng nakalulunod na katahimikan ang kwarto. And only Karina's heavy breathing was keeping her anchored at bay. Why did this happen? 

Paano - 

Bakit kailangang humantong sa ganitong kasinungalingan. 

Her dad mentioned that there was the influence of the board.

Who the were they to decide for her life? Ganoon na lang ba talaga kabahag ang mga buntot nila para magtago sa likod ng isang babae? Sa pagkakatanda niya, she wasn't the one who got into the devil's lair. Hindi siya yung tanga at gagong nakipag-kamay sa mga Maranzano sa States so why should she and Karina shoulder the burden?

Why did they have to include Karina in all of this? It was so hard to take this all in. Gaano na ba kawalang-hiya ang pamilya nila para mandamay ng ibang tao just to get out of the hellhole Kai put them in. Kung pwede lang siyang sumabog sa hiya, kanina pa siguro naging explosion site ang opisina ng tatay niya. 

"Winter, hey" Marahang pag-yugyog ni Karina sa balikat niya. Kung ano man ang drama na sinabi ng kanyang ama, hindi na nito nasundan, "Are you okay? We've been calling you for a few times but hindi ka sumasagot" 

She tried to regain her normal breathing at pumikit saglit before she spoke her piece. 

"No." There was a clear defiance on her tone. 

"Anak - "

"I said no! Sino sila para pangunahan kami with our own lives, dad?! Why would you agree on this? So you're going to make someone's life's miserable just to save all your asses - "

"Language!"

" - and pretend it's going to be alright? Nasan ba yang magaling na Kai na yan! Ilabas niyo at ako ang haharap sa gagong yun-"

"Winter!" 

"What? Bakit ka galit sa akin dad? Karina doesn't even - she's not part of this whole mess. She's an actress for God's sake, naisip niyo ba ang magiging repercussions sa career niya sa gusto niyong mangyari? Have we got no shame left?!"

"bakit... why is it always me that needs to do the cleaning every single damn time at nandamay pa ng ibang tao?"

"This is the most viable solution that we're seeing right now, Winter. Please try to