Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.

 

Winter just asked me out.

 

On a date.

 

"What. The. ?!" Ningning exclaimed.

 

We're at Lia's condo. Ngayon natuloy ang sleepover namin na kinakatakutan ko. Wala akong choice kung hindi sabihin sa kanila ang lahat, wala na akong takas. Kinuwento ko sakanila simula sa umpisa.

 

"So, what did you say?!" Tanong ni Lia at niyugyog ako, "Oh my God! Rina! Ito na ang first ever jowa mo!" She excitedly said.

 

I sighed, "I haven't...replied yet."

 

Yeji looked at me ridiculously, "Well, you should!"

 

Lia and Ning agreed.

 

"As far as I know," I started, "...I don't swing t—"

 

Ning rolled her eyes, "Gusto mo ba makipag-date?"

 

"Hindi nga ak—"

 

"Yes or no? Gusto mo ba?" Pag-ulit niya sa tanong.

 

I sighed, "Y-yes..."

 

"There! That's your answer!" Pumalakpak pa siya at tumili.

 

It's been hours since she sent me the playlist. Umaga palang niya sinend sa akin 'yon. Alas diyes na ng gabi.

 

"Just tell her how you feel!" Sabi pa ni Lia, "Sabi na nga ba! Just by looking at you guys yesterday, may na fe-feel na 'kong kakaiba eh." She smirked, and wiggled her brows.

 

Ning nodded, "Sa true lang! Kaya nga 'di ako naniwala na 'friends' lang kayo eh." She rolled her eyes on me, "Akala ko nga mag-ex kayo."

 

"Yung subtle landian niyo kagabi, akala niyo ha!" Lia said, "You ain't slick." She shook her head.

 

L-landian...?

 

I blushed.

 

"I can't believe na makikita kong kinikilig si Rina!" Sabi ni Yeji sa akin, "The last time na kinilig si Rina ay yung naging DL siya." Tumawa silang tatlo.

 

I snorted.

 

"Kausapin mo muna si 'Winter' mo." Sabi ni Yej, "Oh! Text na, bilis! Potential lovelife na." Excited na sabi niya.

 

Inirapan ko siya. Alam kong aasarin niya ako.

 

Parang dati lang, sinabi ko sa kaniyang wala akong balak.

 

Tapos ngayon?!

 

Si Winter kasi...

 

Hmm.

 

"Grabeng ngiti naman ata 'yan?!" OA na sabi ni Ning at tinuro pa ako, "Go get your girl!" She said at tinulak pa ako.

 

Tumayo ako and went to the balcony. Sinarado ko ang pintuan. Now that I'm here, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko.

 

"Should I call...?" Tanong ko sa sarili.

 

Alas diyes na nang gabi, she must be sleeping. She sleeps early eh. Ayaw niyang mag-puyat, except siguro kapag may gig sila.

 

Winter

 

Karina: Hey.

 

Umayos ako nang tayo nung nag-reply siya.

 

Winter: Hey.

 

Karina: It's ten. You're still awake?

 

Winter: Yeah.

 

Winter: Waiting for you.

 

I bit my lip.

 

Karina: Okay.

 

Karina: Let's talk?

 

Five minutes have passed at hindi pa din siya sumasagot. Naka-tulog siguro siya.

 

Karina: Bukas nalang.

 

Karina: You fell asleep na siguro.

 

Karina: Goodnight.

 

Nagulat ako nang biglang natumba ang tatlo pag-bukas ko ng pintuan ng balcony ni Lia.

 

"Chismosa kayo!" Sabi ko sa kanila at tumawa lang naman sila at tumayo para takbuhan ako.

 

"Ano nangyari?" Pag-lapit sakin ni Lia.

 

I shook my head, "She fell asleep." I said, "Hindi 'yon nagpupuyat." I chuckled.

 

I can recall how many times she fell asleep while talking to me. Ang dahilan pa niya sakin ay nakaka-tempt daw ang kama niya.

 

"Ay alam na alam?" Si Ning.

 

Yeji grinned, "Siyempre! Magka-late night talks sila eh."

 

I rolled my eyes.

 

"Kampante ka?"

 

Ning nodded, "Oo nga! What if may kausap palang iba?"

 

I shook my head.

 

"Paano mo nasabi?" Si Yeji.

 

I pursed my lips, "I just know..."

 

Ning and Lia squeeled, while Yeji just nodded at pumalakpak nang malakas. Nag-thumbs up pa siya sa akin.

 

"The confidence!" Proud na sabi ni Lia.

 

We stayed up late. Nanonood kami ng isang series, na hindi na namin matigilan dahil nakakabitin. Ning fell asleep on my shoulder, napansin lang namin 'yon nung napa-sigaw kaming tatlo bukod sa kaniya.

 

"Let's sleep na?" Yej said as she checked her phone, "Malapit na mag-five." Nagka-ayaan na kaming matulog dahil may pasok pa kami bukas.

 

Hindi ko na ginising si Ning at nag-tulungan kami na buhatin siya.

 

Yeji grinned, "Lia! Ayusin mo naman, mahuhulog na si Ning oh!" Inis na sabi niya kay Lia na naka-hawak sa likod nito.

 

I'm holding Ning's upper body, Yeji's holding her lower body, and si Lia ang nasa gitna. Binuksan ni Lia ang pintuan ng guest room, pati na din ang ilaw. Binaba namin si Ning na wala talagang pakiramdam.

 

"San ka, Rina?" Yeji asked, "Dito na 'ko kay Ning, don ka na kay Julia."

 

I rolled my eyes, "Nag tanong ka pa."

 

Tinawanan lang ako ni Lia at hinila na ako papunta sa room niya. Nag-charge muna ako bago humiga nang maayos.

 

"Can't sleep?" Tanong ni Lia nung nakita niya 'kong nakatulala lang sa ceiling, "Dahil ba 'yan kay MJ?" She giggled.

 

I sighed. A part of it was because of her, and a part of it...ay dahil sakin.

 

"You can tell me anything." Lia said.

 

I faced her, "Lia..." I started, "How do you know if you really like a person?"

 

"You must be really confused ano?"

 

I nodded.

 

She caressed my shoulder, "Naiintindihan kita, first time mo ba?" Tumango ulit ako, "May ex ka diba?"

 

"We never dated..." I said, "Just flirted."

 

"Oh! Ayon naman pala," She said, "Anong problema?"

 

I pursed my lips, "Winter's a girl."

 

Tumango tango siya, "Ah. Okay..." She grimaced, "You dated a guy dati?" Nandidiri niyang sabi.

 

"Hindi nga naging kami." Pag-ulit ko.

 

She rolled her eyes, "Edi you flirted with a guy before!" She said.

 

"That was before." I told her.

 

"Bakit 'di ko alam 'to?"

 

I sighed, "I never told anyone."

 

"Bakit?!"

 

"Because he's an ." I said dismissively, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

 

Na-gets naman niya agad ang tono ko. "Alright, I won't ask anymore." She chuckled, "Pero back to your Winter, so what if she's a girl?"

 

My Winter.

 

"Kinikilig ka?!" Natatawang sabi niya, "Grabeng ngitian 'yan! Tas confuse ka pa niyan?" Tinuro-turo niya pa 'ko.

 

"Matulog ka na nga!" Sabi ko at tumalikod, "You're just teasing me."

 

Agad niya akong niyakap at pinabalik sa pwesto ko kanina.

 

"Hindi na!" Natatawang sabi niya at kumapit sa akin, "Ito na! Aayos na nga eh."

 

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, "Wag na. Ayoko na." Sabi ko, kunware nagtatampo.

 

"Come on, Rina!"

 

I sighed, "It's just that...I'm not attracted to girls, you know that..." I trailed off, "But, I feel like Winter's different."

 

She smirked, "Sige, tuloy mo lang."

 

I rolled my eyes, "Never pumasok sa isip ko na I'd be attracted to girls, or more so, date a girl." I said while Lia covered , "But when it comes to Winter, it just feels so natural."

 

She raised her brow, "Hmm."

 

"Like...you know," I continued, "Parang way before she asked me out, way before you guys told me, parang may something na. Pero hindi ko lang pinansin." I said, "...Because I kept denying, I kept telling myself na...I'm not into girls."

 

Lia kept shut, but she has a big smile.

 

"But I think, I only like Winter."

 

Lia squeeled, "Kinikilig ako!"

 

Inirapan ko siya.

 

"But the thing is, Rina," She started, bigla siyang naging seryoso. "Just go with the flow. You know the answer already naman na." She said, "You like Winter! So what if she's a girl, diba?" Maarte niyang dagdag.

 

Hmm.

 

Lia fell asleep after minutes of talking. Naka-tulog siya habang nagke-kwento tungkol sa first girl crush niya.

 

I opened my phone, para tignan kung nagising ba siya. It's already 6:00 AM, hindi na ako natulog. She'll probably wake up by 6:30 dahil may morning class siya. Kami naman ay mamaya pang 12:00.

 

My phone chimed. Agad kong kinuha 'yon. It's Winter! I sat on the edge of the bed, at dahan dahang gumalaw para hindi magising si Julia.

 

Winter

 

Winter: Yes! We can talk!

 

Winter: Rina! I just woke up.

 

Winter: Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhu.

 

Winter: Naiiyak ako.

 

Winter: I'm seriously crying rn.

 

I chuckled as I make my tea. I scooped a tea spoon of honey citron and ginger tea, at nilagay yon sa mug ko. Nag-init din ako ng tubig.

 

Winter: I'm really sorry!!

 

Winter: Hindi ko sinasadya.

 

Winte