a/n:  Hello, hello! 

This entry is part of the v-day special of our social media AU serye (by @bemvisstories). We wanted to give our readers something for this special day and we thought of releasing the special ganaps through our personal writing accounts in AFF. I will paste the link of the AU in case you'll be interested! 

 

Here are a few reminders for this entry: 

- WinRina entry

- We are using code names for the characters for a reason explained in the AU 

- The entry is set in the future and is not, in any way affecting the current timeline of the SocMed au. 

- Finally, please enjoy reading! 

 

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Tumingala ako at napangiti dahil sa sinag ng araw na humaplos sa balat ko. Nilanghap ko ang sariwang hangin — for the first time after years. A woman leaning on her car awaits me meters away from the gate. The woman was dressed formally, halatang galing sa trabaho kahit may espesyal na okasyon ngayong araw. 

 

She has become a really busy person because of the things that she was just forced to do, and I feel guilty because of that. The life that she's living right now is far from the life she grew up with. Binigla siya ng mga impormasyong nalaman niya, and she can't do anything but act through it. Because she was born for it. She was born for this life. 

 

Naglakad ako papunta sa kaniya at may inabot na plastic sa akin, bago ako tumawa. 

 

“Wala naman tayo sa Korea?” 

 

“I wanted to try doing this, so..” the black plastic bag has raw tofu in it. 

 

Kakanuod ni Ate ng Korean dramas na-adapt niya na ang mga bagay na hindi naman dapat. Pinakita ko sa kaniya kung paano ako kumagat ng malaki, tapos ay nagsmirk lang siya sa akin. 

 

My Ate Arges.. I’m glad that she’s doing well. 

 

“Are we going home? Or do you want to go somewhere else?” 

 

“I want to go to that place, Ate.” 

 

Ngumisi si Ate Arges at nagsimula na agad mag-drive. Alam niya kung saan ko gustong pumunta. 

 

Five years of being away and there is not a day where I didn't think about her. Why it had to happen, why we had to separate, and why I had to hurt her. 

 

Simula pa lang, I was warned by my parents to be careful with the people I am dealing with. Our life is far from normal.

 

I am a Vander. We do things for the greater good. I have long believed our family motto for years -- but only realized recently that what we're really doing is not for the greater good. Our family name's meaning is different from who we really are. 

 

And just like any other people who made mistakes, we paid for ours. 

 

I looked at the window as Ate drives. I have been away for 5 years, pero wala namang masyado nagbago sa city. It’s nice seeing people this happy, not minding the problems they once faced, and the troubles they went through years ago. Problems, caused by the people they trusted most; problems caused by the people whom they have given authority and power among them. 

 

Pero at the end of the day, tama din naman. 

 

We should learn how to forgive, and move forward. Life is all about that. Hindi tayo dapat magdwell masyado sa nangyari sa past. 

 

Dumaan kami ni Ate sa flower shop because I wanted to buy flowers for my person, and Ate is also buying one for Mnemosyne — her wife. 

 

It’s amazing, how Ate and Mnemosyne embraced this life. My life — now ours. The life Ate Arges was born to live, and the life far from Ate Mnemosyne’s world. These two are my role models for unconditional love, one that I also found in Winter. 

 

Kinakabahan ako nang makapasok kami sa gate ng NFS. Parang gusto kong maihi, manginig, at umuwi na lang. But I’m already here. And I waited so long for this, so bakit ako kakabahan? 

 

“Should I come with you?” tanong ni Ate Arges when I unbuckled my seat belt. 

 

“No, ate. Your wife is probably waiting for you at home.” 

 

Ate Arges chuckled. “Right. You’ll be home for dinner, diba? She’s going to cook for us.” 

 

“Sure, ate. I’ll be home by then.” 

 

Nakalabas na ako ng sasakyan when Ate called me from her window, 

 

“When I said us, I meant all four of us. That includes her, Rina.” 

 

Ngumiti ako, “I’ll invite her, yes.” 

 

With the bouquet of flowers on my hand, naglakad ako papunta sa office niya. Five years and I still know which way to go. Sana lang ay hindi nagbago ang office. 

 

 

Dr. Winter Prietos - Forensic Examiner 

 

 

That title really looks y before her name. And if I actually change that to Mrs? 

 

Huminga ako ng malalim at kumatok ng dalawang beses. 

 

Parang slow-motion scene from a movie. Kasabay ng dahan dahang pagbukas ko ng pinto ay ang dahan dahang pagkakita ko sa mukha niyang walang pinag-bago. Nginitian ko siya, halatang gulat at hindi inaasahan na makita ako. 

 

Dahan dahan din lang ang paglapit ko sa kaniya. Tinitigan niya lang ako hanggang sa tumigil ako sa harap niya, nakangiti at pinanuod siya as she hesitantly holds my hand to make sure that I’m here. 

 

“I’m real. Sarhan mo yang bibig mo, baka may pumasok na langaw.” 

 

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin sabay hampas sa braso. Inabot ko sa kaniya ang dala kong flowers. 

 

A bouquet of daffodil — a symbol of new beginnings. Because I am willing to start anew with this person. 

 

“Kailan pa?” 

 

“Ngayon lang. Dito nga ako pumunta agad..” 

 

“Kikiligin na ba ako dyan?” 

 

Tumawa ako at naupo sa tapat niya. “I am giving you a permission, yes.” 

 

She extended her arms sa akin, and I willingly gave in for a warm embrace. Hinagod ko ang likod niya at pinakiramdaman ang hinginga sa leeg ko, sniffing it, na nakapag-papikit sa akin. 

 

“I missed you..” she softly whispered, making me free myself from the hug. 

 

“I missed you too. And it’s so good to be back home.” inayos ko ang takas na buhok niya, pagkatapos ay pinisil ko ang kamay niya. “Are you willing to take me back in, baby?” 

 

“You never left home, love..” 

 

Napangiti ako at niyakap ulit siya ng mahigpit. 

 

I have disappointed this person five years ago. I hurt her, I betrayed her, and I left her. But this person never left my side. She trusted me, she believed in me, and she never stopped loving me. 

 

Kaya’t sino ba naman ako para maghanap pa ng iba, kung nandito naman na si Winter na magmamahal sa akin ng buo? 

 

“Are you done for the day?” 

 

“Hmm.. yes. I have nothing on my schedule na. Why?” 

 

“Can I take you out for a date, Dr. Prietos?” 

 

She removed her lab gown and hung it on the rack. 

 

“Of course, Master Eris.” 

 

I bursted out laughing dahil sa tinawag niyang iyon sa akin. 

 

What? Master Eris???? 

 

“Kyle.” 

 

“Hmm?” 

 

“Call me Kyle.” 

 

Sabi ko at nauna nang lumabas ng office niya. 

 

Eris?! Bakit niya ako tinawag na Eris!

 

Sinusungitan ko lang si Winter nang makalabas siya ng office niya. I remembered that I didnt bring my car with me, kaya't buti na lang at dala niya ang kaniya. I insisted that I would drive, pero hindi siya pumayag for the reason na ang tagal ko daw nawala, baka daw hindi na ako sanay magdrive. 

 

Masyado niya ba akong na-miss kaya nakakailang panloloko na siya sa akin? 

 

 

"Sino sumundo sa'yo?" 

 

"Yeji.." 

 

 

Napahawak ako sa seatbelt ko nang bigla siyang prumeno. Natawa na lang ako sa biglang pagpikit niya at paghipan sa bangs na medyo tumakip sa mata niya dahil sa ginawang pagpreno ng sasakyan.

 

"Bakit?" 

 

"Get out of the car, Karina Kyline." 

 

"Baby, what did I do?" tatawa-tawang tanong ko kahit alam ko naman ang sagot. 

 

 

Five years and she's still jealous? 

 

 

Hindi naalis ang pagseselos niya sa ex ko from way back college na naikwento kong paulit ulit kong binabalikan even with being ghostest several times. Laging mainit ang dugo niya kapag mine-mention ko ang pangalan ni Yeji. 

 

"Just get out of the car." suminghap siya. "Sana pala doon ka na lang sa ex mo nakipag-date diba?" 

 

 

Tinitigan ko lang siya. Napaka-cute niya talagang magselos. 

 

 

I took advantage of her car's tinted windows and stole a quick peck from her lips, na agad ikinapula ng mukha niya. Ngumiti naman siya pagkatapos, akala ko hahampasin ako, eh. 

 

 

"Cute mo.." mahinang sabi niya habang nakatitig sa mata ko. Pinitik ko nga sa ilong. 
 

 

"Mas cute ka." 

 

"Hindi. Mas cute ka, wag kang papatalo." 

 

 

"Tama na harot, we're causing traffic." 

 

 

 

Napatingin siya sa side mirror at nakita ang mga sasakyan sa likod na bumubusina. She only realized that she stopped in the middle of a busy road! 

 

Siyempre, na-miss ko naman siya at tinted naman ang sasakyan niya kaya ayos lang ang ginawa ko.

 

"My car is not tinted." lumaki ang mata ko at natawa siya. 

 

"Winter naman, eh!" 

 

Hindi namin alam kung saan pupunta. She just drove until we were already outside of the city. Nasa labas kami ngayon ng bahay ng pamilya ko sa Bulacan. I'm surprised that Winter still remember the way here, kahit dalawang beses pa lang naman siyang nakakapunta dito. 

 

"May tao kaya?" 

 

"Our helpers are already relocated somewhere else bago magkagulo five years ago. I'm not sure if Ate Arges brought them back here, though."

 

"Pwede naman tayo pumasok, diba?" 

 

I chuckled. "Of course. This is still my family's property anyway."

 

The first time we came here, kasama namin ang mga lawyer at agents na naging kaibigan na din namin. That was the first time I felt the warmth of friends, and family. Wala naman kasi ako masyadong mga kaibigan - dahil nga sa family ko na masyadong complicated. 

 

She parked her car at pumasok na kami sa bahay. Dumiretso kami agad sa garden where Mom's flowers are. She personally planted everything in this garden because of her love for plants. She's a plantita, after all. 

 

"How're your parents?" 

 

Malungkot akong ngumiti. "They are okay.. they have long accepted their fate. Alam naman nila na they can't do anything about it." 

 

"Nat?" nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ko dahil sa tanong niya na iyon. 

 

Thanatos.. the person I treated like my own sister.. 

 

"She's doing great, as well." 

 

"Are. you?" 

 

"Us?" tumango siya. "It has been five years, love. I forgave her." 

 

Tumahimik na lamang si Winter at nilapitan ang mga bulaklak na nasa garden. Nakangiti ako habang tinititigan siya and I could not stop myself from taking good pictures of her. 

 

Ang dami kong gustong tanungin sa kaniya. 

 

Kung ano ang nangyari sa loob ng limang taon na nawala ako, kung kamusta siya, kung nami-miss niya ba ako sa mga araw na nangungulila din ako sa kaniya, at kung hinintay niya ba ako. 

 

Pero sa ngayon, sapat na para sa akin na makita siyang masaya at makasama siya. 

 

I couldnt find anything in the refrigerator, kaya I decided na mag-padeliver ng snacks dahil pahapon na din. Papalubog na ang araw at kailangan pa namin bumalik ng Manila for the dinner sa bahay nila Ate Arges. 

 

As much as gusto kong solohin muna si Winter, naka-oo na ako kay ate at baka magtampo pa si Mnemosyne kapag hindi kami tumuloy doon. Besides, I have this whole lifetime with Winter anyway, so what's with the rush, hindi ba?

 

"Did you miss me?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang nasa veranda kami, pinapanuod ang paglubog ng araw habang dinarama ang simoy ng hangin. 

 

"There wasn't a single day na I didn't." 

 

Ngumiti ako at pumwesto sa likod niya, our height difference is enough for this position. Ipinatong ko ang baba ko sa balikat niya habang hawak hawak niya ang kamay ko na nakayakap sa kaniya mula sa likod. 

 

"I kept my promise, Winter." 

 

Sa dami nang mga gabi na wala ako sa tabi niya, palagi kong iniisip na sana, walang mangyaring masama sa kaniya. Maraming kaaway ang pamilya ko and I realized that just being acquainted with Winter could put her life at risk. But what could I do? I love this person so much that I'm willing to do anything -- everything just so I could be with her. 

 

Limang taon akong nawala. Sa loob ng limang taon na iyon, I never saw her, not even once. She tried visiting me but I always refused to see her. I wanted to fix myself first before facing her again, and that's just what I did. 

 

I did it for us, not for myself. 

 

At gusto kong malaman niya na kahit lumipas ang maraming taon, my love for her never changed. Kung mayroon man, mas tumindi lang ito. 

 

For years, I have been living in the dark. It was because she wasn't beside me and because I had to pay for the wrong things that I have done.  And today, I am finally back home with my light, marking the end of the darkness.

 

Winter is the most beautiful woman I've ever known. She is both the light.. and maybe.. the dark. 

 

If this means darkness, then darkness had never been this beautiful. 

 

My arms s around her waist. I kissed her neck as she continued telling stories -- from that five years that I was away. 

 

"Winter?" 

 

"Hmm?" 

 

"Five years gone and you're still the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.." dahan dahan kong kinalas ang pagkakayakap ko sa kaniya at kinuha mula sa bulsa ko ang kanina ko pa tinatago. 

 

The easterly wind breezed as I quietly kneeled in front of her. 

 

There is nothing fancy in this scene. We had better scenes, better places but if there's one scene I want to freeze, this is it. 

 

"I'm done wasting time, Winter.. So before the sun sets again, let me put this ring on your finger." she smiled at me, "Will you marry me, Dra. Prietos?" 

 

"Yes!" 

 

Tumayo na ako and she smiled as she watch me nervously slide the ring on her finger. Tinitigan niya iyon, with her eyes all stuffy and wet, bago ako hinigit para sa isang mahigpit na yakap. 

 

"When did you even find the time to buy this?" I smirked na tinawanan niya lang naman. 

 

I am a Vander. I have my ways.. 

 

Pabalik balik ang tingin ko mula sa singsing na nasa kamay niya, at sa kaniya, siyempre. I want to stop the sands of time just so I could cherish this moment for all I want. 

 

"Kyline?" 

 

"Hmm?" 

 

"Did I tell you that your eyes are the most beautiful darkness that I have ever seen?" ngumiti ako at umiling. "If loving you meant loving blindly in the dark, then I'll do all of that and more.. all over again." 

 

"You have this whole lifetime and the next, for that, baby." 

 

Dahan dahan niyang hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko habang pinupunasan ko ang mga takas na luha sa mukha niya. Napapikit ako when her lips slowly touched mine, giving me the feeling of home. 

 

This person.. I love her so much. 

 

I have lived in the dark. I found the end of it in her. 

 

And I realized that everything can fade into black and white -- but never the way I love her.