"I'm really sorry, I have no idea that they will be back in Manila, akala ko talaga one month sila mag stay sa Beijing."

"Karina andito na we cannot do anything about it, andyan na yung mga ate mo sa baba."

"I didn't know na pupunta sila dito I'm sorry! , if I didn't initiate the no social media rule, nakita ko sana and nakaalis na tayo kagad. This is all my fault."

"Wag mo na sisihin sarili mo. Pero ano gagawin natin babe? dalawa pa silang dumating dito natatakot tuloy ako."

"No, don't be. Wala silang pwedeng gawin sayo. They're gonna lose me, I'm serious about it and alam nila yun."

"What if they force us to break up?"

"That is not going to happen. Sinabi ko na sakanila, hindi ako papayag."

"Pinapababa na tayo. Ano na mangyayari after this?"

"If that's what they want, we'll give it to them. Kausapin natin sila, we will do it together."

"Hindi lang si ate Irene yung nandyan, pati yung isang ate mo. Kaya mas nagiging doble yung kaba ko."

"Wag ka matakot Pup kahit dalawa pa sila. This time I will not let them decide for me. I am not going to lose you."

Nung una akala ko panaginip lang nung sinabi ni manang na andito yung mga ate ni Karina. Nagkagulo kaming dalawa nung pagka sara niya ng pinto dahil hindi namin alam kung ano pa ang dapat namin gawin. Parang gusto namin tumakas pero paano and saan. Nahuli and na-trap na kami kaya wala kaming choice kung hindi harapin sila.

Hindi ko itatanggi pero natatakot talaga ako, pano kung hanggang dito nalang pala kami tapos pag hiwalayin kami on the spot ni Karina, anong gagawin ko, parang wala na kaming choice.

"Pup let's go. Just hold my hand and kakausapin lang natin sila. Don't be afraid" Hawak hawak na ni Rina yung kamay ko at sabay kaming bababa para harapin yung mga ate niya.

"Okay."

"Wait, what are you holding, what's that in your hand?"

"I brought my pepper spray."kabadong sagot ko.

"Ano ba Pup, we don't need that."

"Eh baka pag tulungan ako ng ate mo!"

"No, ako bahala sayo."

"Babe wait." 

"Yeah?"

"Pano pag dead end na to?"

"Please don't say that, nasa start palang tayo. You have to trust me."

"I trust you, pero yung mga ate mo hindi."

"I'm not gonna let them do anything to you. They can't break us up."

Hinila ako ni Rina palapit sakanya at hinalikan niya ako sa noo. Alam ko pinipilit niya lang magmukang matapang sa harap ko pero kita ko sa mata niya na natatakot din siya. Akala ko magiging okay na, may naka abang palang delubyo para sa amin.

Nang naka baba na kami sa hagdan kitang kita ko kagad yung ate Irene niya, naka upo siya sa living room. Seryoso lang siyang naka tingin na para bang pinapanood niya yung bawat kilos namin.

Lumapit kami ni Rina kung nasaan siya at umupo kami sa couch sa tapat niya.

"We're here. What do you need from us?" tanong ni Rina sa ate niya pagkaupo namin dito sa sofa.

Tumingin sakin ang ate niya at inilapag yung phone sa tabi niya. "What a rude way to greet your sister Rina."

"What brings you here ate?" hindi inaalis ni Rina ang tingin niya sa ate niya at naka pormal lang siya. "Why? Am I not allowed to visit our house?"

Umagang umaga ang taas na kagad ng tensyon sakanilang dalawa. Tumitingin sa akin yung ate niya habang nagsasagutan silang magkapatid, mabilis din akong nag iiwas ng tingin dahil napaka akward. Nakakapit lang ako sa braso ni Rina at hindi ako nagsasalita. Aga aga pa, hindi pa ako handa sa ganitong eksena.

"What you are saying is impossible ate, I know you and I know how you do things."

"Well if you don't believe me, why don't you wait for ate Tiffany and ask her yourself?" sabay ngisi ng nakakaloko kay Rina.

"With all the things you put Winter through, you think I will believe na nagpunta lang kayo dito for nothing? oh please."

Pansin ko na namumula na yung tenga ni Rina at mainit na talaga yung ulo niya kaya hinaplos ko yung likod niya at sinusubukan ko siyang kalmahin. Kinuha naman niya yung kamay ko at hinawakan niya.

 "Ask your other sister then, go and talk to her she's right there. Why don't you ask her?" Pang inis na sabi ng ate niya.

"Do you still expect me to trust you ate Irene? What you have done to Winter is too much and we all know that."

Lumingon ako para tignan kung saan naroon yung ate nila Karina. Nung sumilip ako sa pool area, may nakita akong babae na naka sunglasses at may kausap sa phone. Mahaba ang buhok, payat, maputi at maganda. Ito na malamang yung ate nila dahil napaka sophisticated at intimidating ng dating niya. Yung tindig, kilos at pananamit niya unang kita mo palang talagang kakabahan ka na. Parang totoo nga yung sinabi dati ni Rina, mas malupit pa itong isang ate niya compared sa ate Irene niya.

"I am sure ate Tiff is looking forward to meet your beloved girlfriend here. You have to introduce them."

Bumalik na sa pag pphone yung ate Irene niya, sandali naman silang tumigil sa pag uusap ni Karina. Hinawakan pa din ng mahigpit ni Rina yung kamay ko at inilapit niya pa ako lalo sakanya. Binulungan ko siya dahil kita ko na ang pula na ng tenga at leeg niya sa sobrang tensyon.

"Baby, relax ka lang namumula ka na." bulong ko kay Rina habang hinahaplos ko pa din yung likod niya.

"I'm fine Pup, don't worry about me."

"Gusto mo ba ikuha kita ng water?"

"No, I'm okay. Let's just wait for ate Tiff tapos aalis na din tayo."

Nakaupo lang kami dito sa living room na napaka awkward ng atmosphere, yung ate Irene niya abala sa phone niya at parang may ginagawang importante, baka related sa trabaho. Si Rina, kahit kinakalma niya ako halata ko pa din na kinakabahan siya, yung isang ate niya nasa labas pa at mukang abala pa din makipag usap sa phone.

"Babe, yung parents niyo bakit wala pa?"

"They told me last night na uuwi sila this morning and sabay dapat tayo mag bbreakfast. Now there's a change of plan because we've got some uninvited visitors here. Parating na din siguro sila dad, let's just wait."

"Okay."

Tangina, ngayon araw nandito silang lahat, feeling ko tuloy para akong intruder. Ang tagal pumasok dito ng ate niya, gustong gusto ko na umuwi. Kinakabahan na ako sobra, I just wanna get this day over with.

Naka tingin lang ako sa view habang magkahawak pa din kami ni Rina nung narinig nalang namin na may nag salita mula sa likod kung saan kami nakaupo. Nung lumingon ako para tignan, ayan na nga. Ang isa pang ate ni Karina.

"Karina, stay with Irene and you." Tinuro niya ako at nag senyas na sumunod ako sakanya. "You have to come with me outside." 

Nung tumayo ako, humarang kagad si Karina sa harap ko. "No ate Tiff, I'm not gonna leave Winter with you." 

"You are not to decide here Karina, I want to talk to her alone." 

Nag salita na ako para kumalma si Karina at pumayag ng makausap ko ang ate niya. "Babe tawag ako, dito ka nalang muna sa loob, I'll be okay."

"No Pup, I'll go with you. Baka kung ano ano nanaman panglalait yung sabihin nila sayo." akmang tatayo si Rina, pero pinigilan ko na siya. "No, baka magalit pa lalo. Kakausapin ko nalang para matapos na to."

Pinigilan muna ako ni Rina bago ako tumayo. "Winter, if you need me tawagin mo lang ako, I'll be here. Aalis kagad tayo."

"Yeah, dont worry I will let you know pag may problema." tumayo na din ako kagad para sundan yung ate niya na naunang lumabas ng living room.

Nagtungo ako sa viewing deck kung saan ako pinapasunod ng ate nila Karina, nakita ko na naka harap lang siya sa view habang nag hihintay sakin. Nung malapit na ako sakanya, mas naririnig ko na din yung kabog ng puso ko sa sobrang kaba. Pinipilit ko nalang kalmahin ang sarili ko dahil andito na at wala na din kaming magagawa kung hindi harapin ito.

Nilapitan ko na siya. Nakatalikod siya sakin at nakaharap lang sa view. "I'm here po."mahinang sabi ko.

"What do you get from my sister Winter?" biglang tanong ng ate nila ng hindi manlang lumilingon sakin. 

"Ano po?"

"I'm asking you, what do you get from her?"

"uhhmm, wala naman po."

"Nothing? are you sure? so it means what the two of you have is pointless."

"No it's not po. Because Karina makes me really happy."

"and what do you like about her?" 

Tangina may pa-interview kagad ang aga aga hindi pa ako kumakain pano ko naman kaya sasagutin to.

"I like everything about Karina po." sagot ko sakanya.

"Apparently you are trying to play safe with me."

"Hindi naman po sa ganu-"    "Then what?"

"If you want me to say the things I like about her, baka abutin po kasi tayo ng ilan oras dito." 

"Then why not give me at least three things about my sister that got you into this situation."

.

Ibang iba nga tong ate niya na to kesa kay ate Irene. Mas nakaka kaba siyang kausap. Parang pag may nasabi akong hindi niya gusto, ekis na kaagad. Ganito siguro feeling ng board exam. Bahala na nga, sasagutin ko nalang hanggang kaya ko pa.

"Ugh Your sister is a wonderful person, she is fun and outgoing yet she is very considerate. I don't have to pretend because I can be myself around her. I love her attitude kahit mainitin ang ulo niya at madalas siyang napipikon sakin. She is smart, respectful and selfless. I like everything about her even the smallest details. Honestly, bonus nalang po yung maganda siya."

Hindi siya nag react at may follow up question na kagad. " What does my sister see in you? Do you have any idea?"

"Hindi ko po kasi masasagot yan. Si Rina po yung makakapag sabi."

"If that's the case then your relationship is not that deep. Isn't it? "

"Ahhh bago palang po kasi yung relationship namin, turning four months palang kami, but I can attest that we are serious about this and I love her."

"You love her to the point that you have considered her future or it's just a word that the two of you throw around so easily?"

"Opo, napag uusapan po namin yung future, even our careers and sinasabi ko naman po sakanya yun that I will support her. One hundred percent sure po ako that I love Rina."

"How much do you love her?"

"Hindi ko din po kasi masasabi yan eh."

"Lahat hindi mo masabi and lahat hindi mo kagad masagot. Are you even serious with Karina or you just see her as another partner in a casual relationship?"

"Hindi po kami ganun. We even gave enough time so we could get to know each other before we entered a relationship. I never saw her as the casual dating type. The first time I've seen her, I already knew that she is more than that."

"But that doesn't answer my question."

"I love her so much that I cannot even put it into words. Also, there are things that I have done these past few months that I'm willing to do all over again for Rina."

"You think that's enough?"

"I'm not gonna say it's enough, but I can definitely consider it as proof."

"If you continue this relationship with her up until you are both working, what can Rina get from it? Ano kaya mo ibigay?"

Putangina ang haba at ang advanced ng mga tinatanong. Hindi ako handa para dito, mas madami pang tanong yung ate niya kesa sa entrance interview sa schools tsaka daig pa niya yung mga consul pag nag aapply ng tourist visa. 

"I can give Rina my full support and I will take care of her po, I can promise you that."

"If she happened to be preoccupied with her career, what are you gonna do?"

"As I've said, I'm going to support her and I'm not gonna hinder sa mga kung anong gusto niya gawin."

"and if she dumps you?"

"Masyado po maaga para dyan, wag nalang natin pangunahan."