Winter

 

“Sige na, Gi! Tulungan din kita sa math mo!” I practically begged as I held onto her hoodie, following her to the teacher’s office.

 

“Okay na nga ako sa partner ko ngayon, Win. Hanap ka na lang ng ibang pwede makipag partner sayo,” Sabi niya at tinignan ako saglit. “Tutulungan na rin kita maghanap.”

 

I pouted in defeat. 

 

“Hindi mo naman talaga kailangan ng bagong partner sa Biology eh, hindi ka lang talaga interested sa naging partner mo. I mean, ang picky mo lang talaga sa partner, Win!”

 

“Kaya nga ako humahanap ng iba! Baka ganahan ako kapag hindi na si ano ‘yung partner ko.. Ang tamad niya rin kasi!” Sabi ko at binitawan ‘yung damit niya.

 

“Maybe ask our adviser? Baka may ma-suggest siya,” She said, kaya napa-isip ako rito. She went inside the teacher’s office for a minute, handing the papers na pinadala sa kanya.

 

Noong pagkalabas niya, umakbay siya agad sa akin at naglakad na kami pabalik sa classroom.  “Baka pwedeng ireto mo sa akin ‘yung bagong partner mo kapag maganda?”

 

She jokingly smirked at me noong sinabi niya sa akin ‘yon kaya naman napasimangot ako sa kanya at hinampas siya.

 

“As if! Hindi ka nga maka move on sa crush mo!”

 

Mabilis niyang tinakpan ‘yung bibig ko at lumingon sa paligid, tinitignan kung may nakarinig ba sa amin. Noong nakita niyang wala namang nakarinig, mabilis niya naman akong sinimangutan at tinaggal ‘yung kamay sa bibig ko.

 

“Ang ingay ingay mo naman!” Reklamo niya at binatukan ako na ikinatawa ko naman.

 

Pagkapasok namin sa classroom, it was unexpectedly quiet. I found out the reason why when I looked at the teacher’s desk.

 

There sat our class president, who is also the student council president, Karina Yoo. It looked like she noticed our presence as her eyes drifted away from the book she’s holding.

 

“Sorry ngayon lang dumating, pres! May dinala lang sa teacher’s office, sinamahan din ako ni Winter.” Giselle answered for the both of us. Tumango lang dito si Karina at binalik ang mata sa libro.

 

I walked to my seat na nasa pinaka likod, sitting down. Sa harap ko naman si Giselle. Inabot ko ‘yung Chuckie na hawak ko sa seatmate ko, si Chaewon.

 

“Uy salamat! Bayaran kita mamaya, Win,” She said quietly, putting the chocolate drink inside her backpack. Sinabi niya kasi kanina gusto niya raw ng Chuckie bigla, and me being the best pinsan, binilhan ko na siya noong sinamahan ko si Giselle.

 

“‘Wag na, Chae. Okay lang,” I said and shot her a smile. “Bakit nga pala wala pa si Sir Suho?”

 

“Ah, sabi niya kasi may aasikasuhin muna raw siya kasama si Sir Xiumin, kaya pinabantay muna tayo kay pres,” Sabi niya kaya tumango na lang ako rito. “Babalik din daw bago uwian,”

 

I pulled out my phone and my Airpods, connecting the earphones to my phone para hindi mag-ingay. I put one on and went on Youtube para manood ng kpop videos to keep me entertained.

 

“Is everybody here?” I heard a voice speak, making my head shoot up. Nakita ko si Karina na nakatingin sa amin, eyes roaming around the room.

 

“Yes, pres.” The whole class said in unison, halata na bored dahil sa mga boses.

 

“I’ll take the attendance now, kindly say ‘present’ when I say your name.” She said, getting her notebook and pen. “You can do anything after I take the attendance.”

 

Tinuloy ko ang panonood ko habang hindi pa ako tinatawag, keeping my laughs in kapag may nakakatawang pangyayari. Baka isipin ni Karina siya tinatawanan ko.

 

“Winter, Kim?” My head automatically shot up at the call of my name, my eyes locking with hers.

 

“Present, pres.” I answered, not breaking our eye contact.

 

Parang napatagal ata ‘yung staring contest namin dahil naramdaman kong siniko ako ni Chaewon, making me break the eye contact. Tinuloy niya na ulit ang pagkuha ng attendance ng para bang walang nangyari.

 

I looked around the classroom, tinitignan kung may nakakita ba sa amin. Noong tinignan ko si Chaewon, nakangisi pa siya sa akin.

 

“Ano?” Nakakunot na noo kong tanong.

 

“Napatitig mo pa si pres ah,” Sabi niya at nagpigil ng tawa. Hinampas ko siya sa braso at bumalik na lang sa pinapanood ko, trying to push the view of her staring at me at the back of my head.

 

“Sir Suho!” I called our teacher, naglalakad papunta sa desk niya.

 

“Yes, Winter? Ano ang kailangan natin today?” Sagot niya at binigyan ako ng ngiti. I gripped on my backpack's straps at tumayo sa harap ng desk niya.

 

Kakatapos lang ng klase at nakalabas na lahat ng students except me and si pres na nag-aayos pa ng gamit niya.

 

“Ano po sir.. Baka po kasi pwedeng mag request ng bagong partner for Bio. Medyo nag s-struggle po kasi ako roon dahil uncooperative rin po kasi siya, I was thinking if meron po kayo someone in mind na pwede?” I asked, fiddling with my fingers.

 

“Hmm, maybe pwede naman. Sino ulit partner mo sa Bio?,”

 

“Si Shotaro po,”

 

“Ah, hindi naman ‘yan uncooperative, nahihiya lang ‘yan sayo.” He said at tumayo, parang nag-iisip. “Pero siguro pwede rin naman palitan partner mo,”

 

His eyes drifted to Karina na palabas na sana ng classroom. “Karina!”

 

Napalingon dito si pres, turning around as she shot a small smile kay Sir. “Yes po?”

 

“Sino ulit partner mo sa Bio? ‘Yung sa project niyo,”

 

“Uhm, si Sungchan po,”

 

“How about you and Winter become each other’s partner?” 

 

My eyes widened at what Sir Suho said. Napatingin ako kay pres and her expression mirrored mine, halatang hindi rin ineexpect ‘yung sinabi ng teacher namin.

 

Another thing that I didn’t expect is her agreeing to Sir Suho’s suggestion. Tumango siya at binigyan ng ngiti ang teacher namin. “Sure po,”

 

I was stunned by her answer, hindi ko naman ineexpect na papayag siya sa sinabi ni Sir!

 

“Okay, that’s settled then! Good job for today, girls! Ingat kayo pauwi!” Sir Suho said, grabbing his things at binuksan ‘yung pinto para sa aming dalawa ni Karina.

 

Lumabas na si Karina at sinundan ko naman siya, tailing behind her.

 

“Psst, Pres,” I called, walking faster to catch up with her. I stood beside her kaya lumingon siya sa akin, not expecting me to still be walking with her. “Pauwi ka na ba?”

 

“Not yet, may mga kailangan pa ako gawin sa Student Council office,” Sagot niya kaya naman tumango ako rito. “Why’d you ask?”

 

“Gusto mo ba samahan kita?” I impulsively asked. Okay lang din naman na samahan ko siya, wala naman akong curfew sa bahay, basta makauwi ako ng buo.

 

She looked surprised at my offer. “Accompany me? Don’t you have anything to do?”

 

Umiling naman ako rito, “Nope! Pwede rin ‘to as 1st day as being partners para sa project!”

 

“1st day of being partners and you’ll watch me do paperwork?” She said, looking at me as if I just said something ridiculous.

 

“Why not? Pwede rin naman kitang tulungan, I’m helpful kaya!” I enthusiastically said, wala rin namang nagawa si Karina at tumango na lang.

 

“Ate Karina!” A running girl called, sinasalubong kami. Bumagal naman ang lakad ni Karina kaya bumagal din ang paglalakad ko.

 

The girl handed a folded paper to Karina, may nakalagay pa na mga drawing. Tinitigan naman ito ng katabi ko bago kuhanin. “Pinapabigay po ni Jungwon ‘yan, ate,”

 

“Thank you, Wonyoung.” Karina gave the Grade 10 Representative a smile before putting the paper inside her pocket. “Did you pass your classmates’ feedbacks to Ma’am Taeyeon?”

 

“Opo, ate! Kakapasa ko lang po kanina,” Ngumiti ng malawak dito si Wonyoung. Tumango naman dito si Karina.

 

"Okay, good. We'll have a quick meeting on Monday morning before class, please do inform your ate Yeji to tell the others." 

 

"Okay po! Bye po, ingat po sa pag-uwi mamaya!" Pag-paalam ni Wonyoung at umalis na rin.

 

Pag pasok namin sa student council office, nakita namin si Jay, 'yung Treasurer, at si Chaeryeong, 'yung Secretary, na naka upo sa monoblock chair sa long table. Narinig ata nila 'yung pag bukas ng pinto kaya naalis ang tingin nila sa ginagawa nila, looking at us.

 

"Ate Karina! Are you here to finish your paperworks po?" Tanong ni Jay.

 

"Yeah, are you checking the funds?" Tanong din ni Karina at umupo sa harap nito. She looked at me, signing me to sit down beside her.

 

Sinunod ko naman ito at umupo sa tabi niya, placing my bag on the chair beside me. Nginitian ko si Chaeryeong na nasa harapan ko, her returning the smile too.

 

I pulled out a book from my bag, reading it as I let the three discuss some things about the next upcoming school event. For the SMIS Week ata, the foundation week of our school.

 

"Jail booth, marriage booth, and horror booth are the most suggested na booths based on sa survey na binigay ng teachers from the students, anong booths pa po ba ang pwede?" Chaeryeong listed down the things na sinasabi ni Karina as she spoke.

 

"Dedication booth? Para sa mga taong gusto mag dedicate ng songs, then the songs can be played around the school." I suggested, closing my book.

 

Pumayag naman dito 'yung dalawang nasa harapan namin, Chaeryeong looking at Karina for confirmation. Tumango rito si Karina kaya nilista na rin ito ng secretary.

 

I placed my book back sa bag ko, finding it boring already. Tinignan ko ang ginagawa ng katabi ko, observing how she's hesitating on whether she'll write something or not.

 

She then wrote seven words on her paper. "Singing Contest or Battle of the Bands?" I read.

 

She hummed as an answer. "I was thinking of contests for the SMIS Week, 'yung maraming sasali."

 

"How about you write down everything you can think of muna? Dadaan din muna 'yan kay Ma'am Taeyeon for confirmation diba?

 

"But what if the majority of them gets rejected?" She asked, her lips turning into a pout. 

 

"'Wag ka mag alala, ako bahala," I answered, giving her a smile.

 

"Mga ate, uuwi na po kami ni Jay," Chaeryeong spoke, grabbing her back and swinging it to her shoulder.

 

“Hatid ko na kayo sa gate,” I offered, standing up. Karina’s gaze followed me kaya tinignan ko siya. “Wait ka lang dito, babalik din ako.”

 

She nodded at me before continuing her paperworks. 

 

Chaeryeong stood sa gitna naming tatlo as we walked to the gate, si Jay busy sa phone niya.

 

“Magkaibigan po ba talaga kayo ni Ate Karina, Ate Winter?” Chaeryeong asked, holding onto her bag’s straps.

 

“You could say that,” I answered. “Our parents are friends kaya siguro pwede na rin sabihin na magkaibigan kami?” I continued, kinda joking pero parang sineryoso ata nila.

 

“Magkaibigan po? How?” Jay asked, seemingly interested in the topic. 

 

“My parents said na magkakaibigan daw sila before noong high school days nila, isang tropa raw.” I said, explaining.

 

“Pero bakit parang hindi po kayo close ni ate Karina?” Chaeryeong asked as we neared the gate, kung saan madalas tumitigil ang mga jeep.

 

“Para lang kaming hindi close kasi madalang kami mag-interact sa school grounds but we’re actually good friends,” I said as I smiled. “Oh, sige na, iwan ko na kayo rito,”

 

“Thank you po, Ate Winter! Ingat po kayo sa pag-uwi mamaya!” Pagpaalam nila Chaeryeong at Jay sa akin at sumakay sa jeep na kakatigil sa harapan namin. Kumaway ako sa kanila bago maglakad pabalik sa SC Office.

 

When I entered, Karina’s head was rested on her arm, facing the door. There was a small pout on her lips, her eyebrows almost touching.

 

“Inaantok ka, pres?” I asked as I took a seat beside her.

 

“You can drop the ‘pres’ now that we’re already alone, Winter,” She said, sitting up straight.

 

I chuckled a bit, finding this sulky side of her amusing. “Ano nakakatawa?” Masungit niyang tanong sa akin.

 

I shook my head, “Wala, pres.” Another glare. “Karina,” I corrected myself.

 

“Why do you even call me ‘pres’?” Sumandal siya sa monoblock chair at tinignan ako. “We’re friends naman diba?”

 

“Nasanay lang ako,” I said, putting my things back in my backpack. “And ‘pres’ suits you.”

 

Tumango na lang siya at tinuloy ang ginagawa niya kanina. I took my phone out, opening the camera app. I took a picture of her, making sure to silence my phone first before doing so.

 

“Matagal pa ba ‘yan?” I asked, putting the things na hindi niya na ginagamit sa loob ng bag niya para hindi niya na itabi mamaya. 

 

“I’m almost done,” She said, writing on the paper. I nodded at this. “Have you heard?”

 

“Ano?”

“Na our parents and the other titos and titas are planning a hang out tomorrow since it’s a weekend,” Pinag patong-patong niya na ‘yung mga papel at binalik ang ginamit na pen sa bag.

 

“Kasama ba tayo?”

 

“Probably, kailan ba tayo hindi sinama?”

 

“Sabagay. Did they say where we’re going?”

 

“SM Pampanga? That’s what I heard from daddy last night,” She said, standing up and grabbing her bag. Tumayo na rin ako at kinuha bag ko. “Do we wait for ate Taeyeon pa?”

 

“Patapos na rin siguro siya, bakit?” I asked as I opened the door, holding it open for her.

 

“Sabay ako pauwi, I think ate Tiffany’s busy pa.” She said, tumango na lang ako rito. Naglakad kaming dalawa papunta sa Teacher’s Office, the comfortable silence surrounding us both.

 

I knocked at the door when we arrived, turning the doorknob after. 

 

Ate Taeyeon was with Sir Baekhyun and Ma’am Seohyun. “Ate,” I called. Hindi na kami pumasok ni Karina at naghintay na lang sa labas.

 

Nagpaalam na si ate sa co-teachers niya at lumabas na ng office, closing the door behind her.

 

“Oh, Karina! Sasabay ka pauwi?” Ate Taeyeon asked as we walked to the school’s parking lot, kung saan nakapark ang mga sasakyan ng school staff.

 

“Yes po, eto po pala ‘yung suggestions for SMIS Week.” Sabi ni Karina at inabot ‘yung mga papel na hawak niya kay ate Taeyeon.

 

“Thank you, Karina. Titignan ko na lang mamaya then I’ll send the feedback to your email,” Ate Taeyeon said at nginitian si Karina.

 

The ride home was quiet, the songs from the radio were the only things that can be heard inside the car.

 

Pagkadating sa amin, inutusan ako ni ate Taeyeon na ihatid si Karina sa kanila. Hindi na ako umangal dahil katabi lang naman ng bahay namin ‘yung bahay niya.

 

Sakto lang din ang dating ni ate Tiffany sa paghatid ko kay Karina, nagpasalamat pa siya dahil sinabay namin si Karina pauwi.

 

I did my usual routine pagka pasok ko sa kwarto ko, medyo late na rin kasi kami nakauwi dahil sa traffic. Ininform din ako ni mama na aalis daw kami bukas, sa SM Pampanga nga katulad ng sinabi ni Karina kanina.

 

I wore my hoodie and sat down on my bed, my guitar beside me. 

 

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko sa gulat nang bigla pumasok si Chaewon sa kwarto ko, hindi man lang kumatok!

 

“Ano ginagawa mo rito?” I asked, eyes wide as I looked at the duffle bag she was carrying.

 

“Anong ‘ano ginagawa ko rito’? I’m sleeping over ngayon diba?” She said as she placed her bag down on my coffee table sa tabi ng kama ko, sitting down beside me.

 

Oo nga pala, sabi niya nga pala kagabi mag s-sleepover siya rito sa amin ngayon. 

 

“Ah, oo nga pala. Sorry, nakalimutan ko.” I apologized.

 

“Okay, cut the chase, what’s the chismis?” She asked, facing me.

 

“Chismis?”

 

“Magkasabay daw kayo umuwi ni Karina?”

 

“Saan mo narinig ‘yan?”

 

“Yeji told me, nakita niya raw kayo kanina kasabay si ate Taeyeon. So what’s the chismis nga?”

 

Si Yeji nga naman, ang dakilang source ng chika sa circle namin.

 

“Wala namang chika,” I said, grabbing my guitar and putting it on my lap. “Sumabay lang siya sa amin ni ate Taeyeon pauwi.”

 

“Eh bakit sabi ni Giselle nakita niya raw kayo lumabas ng SC Office ng magkasama? Hindi ka naman SC Officer!” Pangungulit niya sa akin.

 

“Sinamahan ko siya kasi wala naman na akong ibang mapupuntahan, busy pa si ate Taeyeon eh,”

 

“Ayun lang talaga? Walang aminan na naganap?”

 

“Ano ba, Chaewon!” Halos magdikit na ang mga kilay ko noong tinignan ko siya, tinatawanan lang ako! Although, medyo may halo ng kaba at asar ang nararamdaman ko. “Anong aminan?!”

 

“Chill ka lang! Nagbibiro lang ako eh!” Tumatawa pa rin na sabi niya. “Oh? Bakit parang asar na asar ka naman?”

 

“Para ka kasing ewan,” I rolled my eyes as I leaned on the headboard, plucking the strings of my guitar. “Wala naman akong crush kay Karina,”

 

Okay, maybe that was a slight lie.

 

“Sinabi ko bang ikaw ‘yung aamin?” She asked, leaning on the headboard too. This is just one of those nights na me and my cousin would have late night talks whenever she sleeps over.

 

“I wouldn’t mind it if I were the one to confess first,” Wala sa sarili kong sabi. I don’t mind it though, it’s about time my cousin knows as well.

 

When I didn’t get a response from her, I got confused kaya tinignan ko siya, only to see her looking at me too.

 

“Hindi ka ba gulat or something?” Nagtataka kong tanong.

 

She chuckled and shook her head. “Bakit pa ako magugulat kung lagi kitang nahuhuli na nakatitig kay Karina tuwing umaalis tayo kasama parents natin?”

 

I was shocked by this. I didn’t think na mahuhuli niya ako. “So you knew?”

 

“For the past year? Yeah, matagal ko nang alam na may gusto ka kay Karina,”

 

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?” I asked, putting my guitar back on its stand beside my bed as I found it boring already at umusog papalapit kay Chaewon.

 

“Baka kasi mahilig ka lang na tumitig kay Karina, edi ngayon na-confirm ko na nga na may crush ka sa kanya.”

 

“Chaewonnn,” Pa-cute kong sabi at niyakap siya habang naka dapa ako. “‘Wag mo sasabihin kay Karina, please?”

 

“Ikaw ba talaga si Winter? Bakit ka nagpapa-cute sa akin?” She looked at me weirdly pero hindi naman ako tinulak palayo.

 

“Is it working?”

 

“Oo,” Sabi niya kaya naman natawa kaming dalawa. Humiga na ako ng maayos pero naka harap pa rin sa kanya.

 

“‘Wag ka mag-alala, hindi ko naman sasabihin kay Karina.” Pag-reassure niya sa akin. “Pero dapat umamin ka! Sabi pa naman ni Yeji na may gusto raw si Ryujin kay Karina,”

 

“Huh?! Si Ryujin may gusto kay Karina?!”

 

“Kinabahan ka naman,” Tumawa ulit si Chaewon at pinitik ang noo ko. “Syempre biro lang! Lowkey hulog kaya ‘yon kay Yeji!”

 

I let out a breath na I didn’t even know I was holding in. “Buti naman, kung hindi baka may friendship na masira pa,” Pagbibiro ko na ikinatawa naman naming dalawa.

 

“Since alam mo na kung sino crush ko, sino sa’yo? Imposible naman na wala,”

 

“Si Yena,”

 

“Ah..”

 

Silence.

 

“Ano?! Si Yena?!” Gulat kong tanong.

 

“Ang tagal naman mag sink in sa’yo,” Tumatawa siya ulit. “Oo, si Yena. ‘Wag kang maingay bukas kung ayaw mong ibuking din kita kay Karina,” Pagbabanta niya sa akin.

 

“Copy! Tulog na tayo, medyo late na rin pala,” I said at umusog sa gilid para mabigyan siya ng space. Humiga na rin siya at pinatay ‘yung night lamp, ‘yung glow in the dark stars na nakadikit sa bubong na lang ang nagpapailaw sa kwarto ko.

 

I thought about the girl I was with earlier.

 

Karina.. She’s not your typical SC President. Hindi siya ‘yung shy type na cold ang image. She’s actually very warm to the people around her, which makes her easy to approach. She’s very friendly to people too. Sadyang strikto lang talaga siya kapag inutusan siya ng teachers na may gawin.

 

Sumasali rin siya sa mga school competitions, like ‘yung pageants or talent shows. She doesn’t volunteer, the teachers and our classmates recommend her pero hindi rin niya dine-decline. The SC President position was also just recommended to her dahil siya ang classroom president namin, nanalo rin siya for the position because of her popularity around the campus.

 

She’s also very kind too. Talented pa. Ask her to do anything and she’ll do her best to satisfy your expectations. She’s also very pretty. Like very pretty, every week ata may nagpap-aabot ng letters sa mga officers ng SC para ibigay kay Karina.

 

If you ask me kung sino pinaka closest sa ideal type ko from my circle of friends, Karina’s for sure is the closest. Hindi dahil sa crush ko siya ah! There’s just this different vibe that she gives off which makes me attracted to her.

 

I shook off the thoughts from my mind, readying