Sa Totoo lang yung getaways namin nung college instead na vacation can release stress, it was more of a vacation can badly traumatize you. After napalayas ni Giselle yung mga multo sa bahay nila at napalitan ni mommy yung Dyson ni ate na naisama sa mga na-hauling na gamit sa ancestral house, naging tahimik at tranquil ang buhay namin lahat, well for a second. May naging slight problema pa kasi kami days after nung sa Ilocos at days before kami nag punta sa Cebu.

Isusulat ko din pala dito sa journal, the time that Karina and I tried a mock "living together" set up in my first condo. It was memorable for us, akala namin talaga we cannot cohabit, pero nung nangyari na yung sa totoo at dumating na kami sa time that we got our own place, it was actually easier, maybe because we jive and I can say na effective nga talaga yung communication and pag compromise.

Three weeks nalang at third year archi students na kami, pero siyempre before going back to school may isang trip pa na inayos nanaman si Queen Gi. I am looking forward to it actually dahil ayaw ko pang mag training sa football, nagpaalam kaming tatlo kay coach kasi matagal ng naka book yung incoming trip namin, buti nalang pumayag siya kaso kailangan namin bawiin sa ibang araw kaya yun ang dahilan kung bakit more than a week na kaming hindi nagkikita ni Karina.

Nung nag start na kami sa practice, sa condo na ulit ako umuuwi. Pero later, since it's friday pupunta siya at sasamahan daw niya ako til Monday. Buti nalang pumayag yung parents niya and at the moment out of the country yung mga ate niya.

Tamad na tamad kaming tatlo nila Heejin and Ry dahil ayan nanaman, puro drills. Madalas pa na umuulan ngayon, gloomy weather but it's a good thing na din kasi hindi sobrang init. Sumasali pa din samin si cap Chae kahit nag quit na siya this school year, she still supports us and we haven't got used to it na hindi na siya active lalo pag nag pplano and namimili kami ng sched for training and practice games.

"Did you receive the invitation?" Habang nag fifteen minutes jog kami, nag start ng conversation si Heejin. "which invitation Heej?" tanong ko sakanya. "Your best friend Winter ano ka ba, did you even subscribe sakanila ni Yuna?"

"Ano ba meron Heejin, sinasabi din ni Yeji check ko daw email eh. Ano ba yun?"

"Check your email kasi, there's a viewing party, read it later." 

"Who sent it?"

"Queen Gi."

"Tangina installment ka mag kwento Heejin tungkol saan ba?!"

"You're not even updated Winter anong klase kang best friend? Sasabihin ko pero you have to check the invite sent to you, you also Ry."

"Go ikwento mo na kasi ang dami mo intro eh."

"Giselle organized a viewing party for Ning and Yuna's second travel vlog."

"Ohh the Ilocos vlog ba?! Nice cool siguro nun ,ang ganda ng cam na gamit nila eh, tapos yung content for sure chef's kiss. Pero bakit sa email pa siya nag send? that's weird."

"Gagi Winter after nung mga nangyari and mga pinagdaanan natin sa Ilocos hindi lang chef's kiss content nun, it's more like a chef's torrid!"

"Something's definitely wrong with you Ryujin, naiisip mo ba minsan yun?"

" Chill, I'm joking ano ba kayo. Pero grabe si Ning ha talented talaga yun kahit napaka daldal, pati nung nag pole dance siya nakaka proud yung performance tapos ngayon I think she found her niche, hindi ako magugulat kung maaabot nila ni Yuna si Ryan's World."

"Ryan's World? what's that naman?"

"Bakit hindi mo alam yun Winter? Di ka updated? kilala kaya si Ryan, panoorin mo yun gagi okay youtube channel nun kung gusto mo matuto sa finance lalo crypto."

"Okay check ko nga. Sabagay okay din yun dagdag knowledge, pwede ko pa iopen up with ate Tiffany and ate Irene, kasi pag nakakasama ko sila sa bahay nila nag eend up puro ganun pinag uusapan namin and natuturuan nila kami ni Rina with investment. Message ko later sabihin ko check nila sa youtube."

"Maghiwalay na nga kayong tatlo!! Kakadaldal niyo you didn't even notice na naglalakad nalang kayo kanina pa!! Hindi namin kailangan ng mga marites soccer players on the field ha!! Move!!"

"Grabe naman maka utos cap Chae parang hindi nag quit ah!"

Giant Baby:   hi my snail puppy i'm here at the lobby na

Winter Kim:   see you!

Giant Baby:   going inside the elevator na

Winter Kim:   okay babe

Giant Baby:   got outside the elevator na

Giant Baby:   walking up to your door na   

Winter Kim:   babe ano ba yan why u have to report everything?

Giant Baby:   keying in the code na

Winter Kim:   ah talaga ba

Winter Kim:  okay I'm locking myself in the room na

Winter Kim:  bahala ka dyan sa sala mag isa

Giant Baby:   Winter you are epal

Narinig ko na nag open na yung lock at sinalubong ko na si Rina. Ngayon nalang kami nagkita ulit after nine days, nammiss ko siya pero wala naman kaming choice, we have to balance our being clingy or else baka madamay pa yung kanya kanyang school obligations namin.

Pagkakita ko sakanya nag hug kami kagad at siyempre we kissed. "I miss you my snail pup! Did you miss me?"

"Sakto lang Karina hindi kita masyado iniisip eh."

"Wow, are you being serious right now?!"

"Haha I'm kidding, I miss you, I even miss your scent, I miss everything that's Rina related." sagot ko.

"Aww sweet. I miss you too, I haven't seen you for nine days."

"Grabe baby we won't survive ldr." 

"Who said we will ever be in that setting? Never pup."

Umalis na kami sa foyer at tinulungan ko siya dalin yung duffle bags and mga paper bags na dala niya. "What are these baby bakit ang dami mo ata dalang gamit and you went to the grocery pa?"

"Of course, we will be here for four days we can cook and do things."

"We didn't plan anything but if you wanna go somewhere else, we can also do that."

"Let's see. We're about spontaneity Pup. Although you have agreed that we will clean your place especially your pantry."

Isa to sa dati pa namin napag planuhan, she's gonna help me organize my pantry or more like Ning, Ry and Rina's food stash, nagagawa naman namin to before, she's helping me clean nung times na maluwag sched namin, pero yung ngayon mukang balak niya ata mag declutter ng Marie Kondo level.

"Babe do you realize this is the first time that we will be together ng matagal tapos hindi vacation or trip, we're gonna be staying here in the condo just the two of us, no one's gonna help us make food and no one's gonna clean after us."

"Yes that's why I'm excited, it's like a trial of us living together."

Within four days siyempre hindi naman malalaman kagad kung okay ba or magwwork kami if we cohabit. Pero at least magkakaron kami ng parang one percent na patikim kung paano. Is it gonna work, or magkakapikunan lang kami ni Karina pag nasa iisang place na kami.

"I cleared one of the drawers for you, check the walk in closet second from left or I'll be the one to put your clothes in there na?"

"Okay Pup I'll just organize the groceries, makikialam na ako sa kitchen and fridge alright? 

"Bakit parang you're asking permission from me pa. Yeah sige lang, alam din ni mom yung gagawin natin dito, she knows that you'll help me organize."

"Wait, parang ang tagal niyo na hindi nag uusap ni ate Taeyeon."

"Yeah and it was my fault. Pero si mommy na umayos, she bought a replacement. Ang mahal kasi eh akala ko yung around forty lang malay ko ba yun pala latest na air cooler. Hindi niya pa din ako pinapansin."

"Give her time, wag mo siya kukulitin."

"Hindi talaga noh, baka hindi niya pa ako payagan sumama sa Cebu. I'll fix your clothes na ha." Kinuha ko na yung bags ni Rina at dumiretso na ako sa bedroom.   

Nilapag ko muna sa floor yung dalawang bags. Ang usapan namin mag stay siya dito til Monday,which is kulang kulang four days lang naman yun. Yung dami ng dala niya parang may roommate ako na nag move in.

Una kong binuksan yung Nike x Off-White na duffle bag niya na parang pumuputok na dahil sa mga gamit sa loob. Pagka bukas ko ng zipper ang first thing na nasa ibabaw ay picture frame. Nakita ko yung picture namin dalawa taken when we were in the beach sa Batangas. 

May isa pa, picture frame containing our photo from the championship game na natalo kami, hawak ko yung karatula niya, ako lang ang naka smile tapos siya naka simangot.

Ready na akong ilabas yung mga damit niya para ayusin lahat sa drawer, kaso nung tinignan ko may nakuha nanaman akong picture frame, photo namin dalawa nung nakasakay kami sa truck sa Ilocos. Nakasandal ako sa kanya tapos naka back hug siya sakin. Ang cute and sobrang nakakatuwa yung mga photos namin together, pero ang pinaka tanong ko ngayon ay bakit may mga dala siyang ganito sa bag niya.

Pinuntahan ko siya sa kitchen because medyo unusual yung dala niya na gamit for a four day sleepover. "Baby are you done or matagal ka pa?" Nakita ko siyang naka crouch sa tapat ng fridge at mukang may inaayos. "Almost Pup, vegetables nalang."

Lumapit na ako at tinulungan ko na siya ilagay yung last bag of groceries. After namin maayos and maitabi yung mga kalat. Inaya ko na siya ulit sa bedroom. "Tara, hindi ko kasi makita yung clothes mo, branch ata ng Ikea yung bag mo baby."

"Oh hahaha did you see it?!"

Bumalik na kami dito sa walk in closet at binuksan na din niya yung isa pang bag. "Rina, tanong ko lang ano gagawin mo sa tatlong picture frames na yan? Ang laki tapos nag kasya sa bag mo."

"We will put it here in your room pup."

"Oh okay, pero saan natin ilalagay babe?

"here on your bedside table, we can also hang them it's up to you, this is your room."

"Okay sige tignan nalang natin mamaya, ayusin muna natin clothes mo, natatabunan dyan sa bag mo eh. Ano ano ba laman niyan?"

"Okay let me show you, I'm really excited for this."

Natatawa and medyo nabibigla ako sa mga inilalabas na gamit ni Karina from her bag, mukang nag shopping pa ata siya sa home decor store before the sleepover. "Pup look!! I bought us new sheets, these are washed na so we can use it when we sleep tonight."

"What's the design? Gusto mo ba ilagay na natin after? muka naman it's the perfect fit."

"Yeah, let's do that later. Okay moving on to the next item, if we have sheets, meron din drapes!"

"So bumili ka din ng curtains, what for?! Why is everything in your bag pala bakit wala sa box or packaging?"

"So it will be easier to carry. How do you find the color?"

"Yeah, it's nice babe allowed naman yan sa standard color ng condo."

"Moving onto the next item, you gotta help me assemble this pup you will like this one. Wait I think the legs are in the other bag."

Tinitignan ko yung nilabas niya na parang lantern na naka flat pa, sunod na kinuha niya yung naka box na parang mahabang stand."Rina is that the, oh my god are you kidding me, are you serious right now?! You bought this?"

"Yeah we're gonna put it here in your room."

"Baby I know it's really nice but this one is quite expensive for a lamp and why did you buy this pala I have a lamp here naman. Tsaka ilalagay and gagamitin mo ba yan dito sa four days na mag sleepover ka?"

"What? No. It's for here na, we both own it. It's ours. Meron pa pup, you have to check this out."

Naglabas siya ng three rectangular wood from her bag, they look like pieces of furnitures. "Baby are those shelves, saan mo naman ilalagay yan?"

"In the bathroom pup. It's for our skincare, one shelf for me, one for you and yung sa middle share tayo."

"Bathroom?! how can we install it wala naman tayong tools, we're not gonna be able to attach it to the wall."

"Don't worry, we're not yet done. I brought a portable hand drill, I got this from the tool storage at home."

"Babe you know naman that the design of my bathroom is minimalist ayaw ko makakita ng nakalabas na gamit. Kaya concealed lahat, hindi ko kailangan ng shelves dun, you can put your stuff in there may full height cabinet na ang dami pa space nun, there's no need for that."

"What? Okay, I just thought you're gonna like the idea."

 "I'm sorry babe we cannot put that in there."

"Okay then. Here I have one last item to show you." 

Pinapanood ko si Rina habang may hinahanap siya sa bag niya ano kaya itong last na ilalabas niya, mukang kailangan namin mag usap after this.

"This we can install it in your bedroom!"

"Oh my god Karina no! Hell no! My design taste is seriously against that, there's no way I'm gonna put that in here."

"Pup sayang naman I bought this for us and we can have a wall na puro photos natin."

"There's no ing chance that I'm going to allow it babe I'm sorry. I'm not gonna ruin my room with that, hatest piece of decoration ko yung fairly lights na yan. I don't want my place to look like a tucky teenage girl bedroom that you see everywhere. Photos and fairy lights, really? Ang sakit sa mata niyan it's gonna look horrible."

"You don't have to react that way naman Winter kung ayaw mo, you can say it to me ng maayos."

"I don't get what's happening akala ko magstay ka lang dito for four days bakit ba biglang nag rrefurnish ka kasi ng bedroom ko? I mean, it's my place bakit iibahin mo yung itsura? Hindi ka manlang nagsabi sakin you just arrived here tapos may mga ilalagay ka dito na kung ano ano."

Nakatingin lang ako sakanya hindi siya nag sasalita, napansin ko na kinagat niya yung lower lip niya and parang she's welling up. Hindi pala parang, umiiyak nga siya. Oh my god, napaiyak ko si Karina.  

. I forgot for a second na siya yung kausap ko, . Lagot.

"Baby, I'm really sorry Karina."

**sobbing**

**sobbing**

". Rina I am really sorry. I didn't mean to be rude like that." Hinawakan ko siya and inalalayan ko papunta sa bed. Tangina bigla akong nag snap, hindi ko talaga intention yun. Maling mali yung way ng pakikipag usap ko sakanya.

[sobbing] "I'm just gonna go home Winter." Niyakap ko siya and tuloy lang siya sa pag iyak. "No don't leave, dito ka lang. I'm really sorry Karina I didn't mean to talk to you that way."

Pumunta muna ako sa kitchen para kumuha ng bottled water sa fridge. Nagguilty ako, I made her cry because nag snap ako ng dahil lang sa fairy lights and home decoration.

"Here, drink this." Pinainom ko muna siya ng water and pinunasan ko ng tissue yung luha niya. "Oh my god baby I'm really sorry, I was rude to you. Let's talk pag gusto mo na."

[sobbing] "I just want to go home Winter. Look, it's not my intention to ruin or invade your place, I thought you're gonna like the things I bought."

"Enough na baby, stay here wag ka umuwi, kakarating mo lang tapos aalis ka na. Let's talk pag okay ka na, I'm really sorry Karina, nag snap lang talaga ako, hindi ko sinasadya."

Hindi siya sumagot, niyakap ko siya and humiga nalang siya sakin. Grabe, hindi ko talaga sinasadya yun, big deal kasi talaga sakin yung ayos ng place ko, sobrang nagiging meticulous ako pag dating sa ganun. Lalo na dito sa condo nung bare unit palang I already knew what I wanted kaya pinabayaan lang ako nila mommy makipag coordinate dun sa designer. Pero mali talaga yung pagkasabi ko kay Rina kanina, medyo ang bastos instead na kinausap ko siya ng maayos.

 It's already 8pm, nakatulog si Karina nung umiiyak siya kanina. Naka hug pa din siya sakin hanggang ngayon habang natutulog siya, pero kailangan na niyang gumising dahil mag ddinner kami. Buti nalang hindi na siya nag pumilit umuwi and hindi na lumaki yung conflict. Kailangan namin mag usap about this para din hindi na maulit next time.

"Rina, wake up." Tinatapik ko ng mahina yung muka niya, around 4pm nung nakatulog siya kanina, sumama loob niya sakin dahil dun sa nasabi ko, sana lang wag niya maisipan umuwi."Gising ka na baby. Bababa lang ako for the delivery." Iniwan ko muna siya sa room dahil dumating na sa lobby yung pina deliver ko.

Naka upo lang si Karina sa living room habang inaayos ko na yung food sa dining table. I know that I made her feel bad kaya kailangan ko bumawi, naisip ko na bilan siya ng favorite niya, ang tagal ko pa nag hahanap ng donkatsu with good food reviews, buti nalang may na-suggest si Ning, at medyo matagal nakatulog si Karina kaya sakto lang yung naging delivery time.

Sinundo ko na siya sa living room,inabot ko yung kamay niya and sabay kami nag punta sa dining, as expected hindi niya ako kinakausap.

"You can start eating na." I kissed her temple bago ako umupo, tinabihan ko muna siya ngayon kahit magkaharap yung usual pwesto namin pag kumakain kaming dalawa. "Do you want soda or water lang?"

"I'll have water."

Ang tahimik namin kahit pa magkatabi kami. Nakikita ko na nagustuhan niya yung food, thanks talaga kay Ning dahil useful yung pagbbrowse niya sa Zomato and When In Manila blog pag nasa class siya.

"What do you want to do after this?" Tanong ko sakanya habang cncaress ko yung likod niya. "I'm going home."

"What? Wag ka na umuwi babe, let's talk after dinner. Finish your meal nalang muna."

After ko iligpit yung mga pinag kainan namin sinundan ko na kagad si Rina sa living room. Kailangan namin mag usap dahil gusto na daw niya umuwi. I need to explain my side and gusto ko din malaman kung bakit naisipan niya bumili ng mga home decor and mag ayos dito sa condo. 

"Baby, I'm really sorry for how I acted earlier, ngayon na nga lang tayo nagkita naging rude pa ako sayo."

Nakaupo kami sa magkabilang dulo ng couch, tntry ko siya lapitan pero umiiwas siya. "It's done. I just wanna go home Winter."

"What? Wag ka naman na umuwi babe. Gusto ko sana pagusapan natin, may gusto ako itanong sayo. Mag stay ka nalang dito until monday sabay nalang tayo uuwi nun."

"What do you want to know?"

"I wanna ask you this pero wag ka magagalit ha. Bakit ba kasi naisipan mo bumili and maglagay ng decorations? Hindi ko maexplain, pero do you want to leave a piece of your identity in my room, or are we gradually starting our "together" home? I think I deserve to know that babe para hindi ako nagugulat."

"I became too excited with the idea of us living together for four days. I was so thrilled to be able to try it out with you and we haven't seen each other na kasi for days, I sort of got carried away that I've failed to inform you before I bought some things for us, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, let me know nalang next time. I'm so sorry for being rude to you Karina, nag snap lang talaga ako babe, you know naman how I become conscientious when it comes to my space lalo sa design. I'm really sorry."

"It's okay pup, it's my bad I forgot how meticulous you are pag ganyan especially with your space, kaya ka nga pala ganun sa plates mo. I didn't mean to intrude like that, it's also my mistake, hindi ako nagpaalam sayo."

"Wala yun, okay na yun. So what do you want to do, I actually have an idea. We can use all the items you bought but let's meet halfway."

"What do you mean?"

"Promise me muna na hindi ka na uuwi."

"Yeah I'll stay, I was just bluffing you." Nag smile na si Karina kaya tumabi na ako sakanya and niyakap ko siya." I thought seryoso ka, I'm really sorry Karina."

"I think this is the first time na nagalit ka sakin Pup, usually it's me who gets mad at you." 

"That's true seldom ako nagagalit sayo, but it's normal to get mad, it's part of it. Okay here's my idea, let's compromise nalang, the design of my room is wabi sabi minimalist, so yung mga gusto mo gamitin kanina I'll just find a way to blend them in. Okay sayo yun?"

Ang laki na ng smile niya at hindi na niya matago. "More than okay, I'm really excited!"

"Ang ganda kaya nung lamp mo babe, when did you order it?!"

"Like two months ago, I bought it so we can use it in your bedroom. Are you sure Pup you are allowing it na?"

"Yeah let's do it, we just need to talk and compromise bago tayo mag decide next time, I thi