December 2022 — 15:00

"Girl ang init!" Reklamo ni Liz. They're currently on the shore, picking teams.

"WInwin, dito ka na sa team namin," sabi ni Yunjin at ngumiti.

"Winter, come here. We have been teammates forever." Sabi naman ni Karina at hinila si Winter. Their friends are looking at them amusedly. 

"Uhm, you know what? I am gonna sit this one out! Medyo pagod pa rin ako sa tour," Winter said and sat under a tree. Napairap naman si Karina.

"You should have let her come in my team," bulong nya kay Yunjin. 

"Babe, come here na. Don't be so mataray." Sabi ni Yeonjun at hinawakan sa waist ang girlfriend nya. Karina sighed at the touch.

"Okay." They got into their positions. Nagsimula na ang friendly match, or so they thought. Masyadong competitive si Karina, and Yunjin, oh the girl is eating them. 

"Masyado kang maganda, Winnie." Sabi ni Chaewon at umupo sa tabi nya. Winter scoffed.

"Wrong timing ka kasing gago ka!" 

"Excuse me, Madame? Tanga ka ba? Yunjin is a catch and you know that. Kaya lang naman ayaw mo ipursue kasi nakatingin si Karina sainyo," nakangising sabi ni Chaewon. The girl knows Winter so well. One look and she knows what her twin sister needs and wants. It only takes one look, but this time, she was wrong. Way wrong.

"You're wrong, Wonnie. Sure, Yunjin is a catch. Wala pang isang linggo snce nagkakilala kami, pero I already adore her. It's not because of Karina that I don't pursue Yunjin, or any girls at that matter." Tumigil sa pagsasalita si Winter at tumingin sa kapatid nya.

"Then why? I want to know, Winter. Really," Chaewon asked. Seryoso syang nakatingin sa kapatid nya. They are not paying attention to their other friends. They are inside their own bubble. 

"Because how could I love someone else when I am still hang up with that person?" Itinuro ni Winter ang best friend nya at umiling.

"Hindi naman for Karina's sake kaya ayoko magdate. It's for mine and my future partner's." Napangiti si Chaewon sa narinig at hinila nang marahan ang leeg ng kapatid nya. She hugged the younger and chuckled. 

"I am glad na I raised you well." One problem of being in a family of Soldiers is that there is no one to take care of them but themselves. Both of them are just lucky that the were born with a twin. 

"I am glad that I raised you well too, Chaewon. Akala ko habang buhay ka ng papalit palit sa babae," biro ni Winter. Hinampas sya ni Chaewon at inirapan.

"Parang tanga talaga. Nagddrama yung tao dito oh," sabi nya at tumayo.

"GAGO GALINGAN NYO NAMAN YANGYANG!" SIgaw nito. 

"TANGA! IKAW LUMARO DITO! SINO BA NAGDALA KAY YUNJIN?!" Natawa silang lahat, even Winter. Napatigil ang laro nila dahil sa biglaang pagbuhos ng ulan. Tumakbo silang lahat papunta sa loob ng bahay.

"Mga duwag sa ulan, pwe!" Asar ni Jeno at pinatungan ng tuwalya ang ulo ni Jaemin.

"Nangunguna ka kaya tumakbo, Kuya Jen." Sabi ni Wonyoung. Nagtawanan silang lahat sa sinabi ng nililigawan ni Yujin.

"Play na lang tayo. Mukhang hindi pa titigil yung ulan e." Hyunjin said.

"Anong laro naman? Truth or dare na naman?" Tanong ni Yujin at umirap pa. 

"I know a game!" Heejin exclaimed. They all sat on their desired places. Kumuha na rin ng beer si Minju at Liz. 

"Oh explain."

"How about we call someone that hurts us deeply? One point kapag tumawag, one point kapag sumagot, two points if nasabi natin yung name natin, and a bonus of 6 points kapag sinabi natin sa tao na yun how they hrut us. A total of 10 points!" Mahabang paliwanag nito. Winter hummed. A decent game.

"I'm in!" Uminom muna si Winter sa beer nya. She thought back. Who hurt her? 

"Sino muna una?" Tanong ni Yunjin. Yangyang rasied his hand. 

"Let me," seryosong sabii nito. The others did not think of making fun of him. They knew. They always know who cuts deeply into their friend's heart. 

Iniabot sakanya ang telepono. He dialed a number and they listened attentively. It rung. And is still ringing. 

"Who is this?" They heard a man's voice from the other side.

"It's me." Silence. No one talked for a while. 

"Yangyang?" 

"Hey, Renjun. How are things?" They saw Yangyang's eyes become watery. He is on the verge of crying. 

"Things are going.....great. Why did you call?" Yangyang sniffed. He stayed there, sitting on a chair, the phone on his ear. 

"Just," napatingin sya sa mga kaibigan nya. They have the same look. It is like telling him to go ahead and tell him how hurt he left him. And Yangyang wanted to. He wanted to but he can't.

"Nothing. Goodbye again, Renjun." Ibinaba ni Yangyang ang telopono at tumawa. He masked his pain from laughing his off.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Winter asked. Yangyang shrugged and smiled, of course it is fake. He is still hurt. After all those years, akala nya he had moved on, pero no, hindi pa rin.

"Wala na rin naman kasi, Winter e. We're done na rin naman." Hindi na nila pinilit si Yangyang. Renjun was a friend. He was always with them, until he became distant. He pushed them all away, including his boyfriend, Yangyang. He left without bidding goodbye. That's why it hurts. Because how could he expect Yangyang to not wait for him? He was in pain, but he still loves him. 

WInter feared that she would experience that thing too. And maybe, it is not only her, but everybody.