Giselle POV

I'm certain I wasn't that drunk last night.

But, it's the first time I've seen Karina behave differently, that I’m unsure as to whether what I saw actually happened or if it was all in my head.

Anong ginagawa nila sa taxi?

Did they kiss?

Goodness. Gracious. NO. Giselle.

Maybe it was cold, they simply drew too close?

Pero iba nga ang kinikilos ni Karina lately, especially when Winter’s around…

Paano ko ba idedescribe? 

Too touchy? A bit flirty?

I can’t put my finger on it.

It didn't help that I saw how she stared at Winter's lips while Winter was holding her face.

And that!

Winter.

What exactly is she doing? Her hands are too busy! All over Karina!

Ok, Gi. I’m exaggerating. Over-thinking.

Ano ba kasi talaga ang nakita ko?

Is it good that Winter was too quiet on our way back home?

Or does her silence mean something else? Come to think of it…

Ano ba yung palitan namin ng tingin sa rear view mirror ng taxi? 

I didn’t hear anything from her when I decided that we should drop her off first.

No complaints, no comments, nothing!

Is it just me or she’s in a hurry to get out of the car, and rushing to get inside their boarding house?

“Ingat ka”. That’s all I got from her! Ingat ka?!

Stupid hangover.

This is giving me a splitting headache.

I-cancel ko kaya ang Wencha date with Ning to spy on them? But then, it’s kinda icky to go sa DV at maulan pa.

And, I’m really exhausted right now. I definitely need a massage.

Finally it’s over at nakauwi na sila Ryujin. Now I just have to help Ningie to move in.

“Here Aeri, hangover soup, dinagdagan ko for Ningning.”

Gosh, another problem…I really need to take Tylenol.

“Ate Yuri, can you keep this from mom and dad? It’s just a sleepover, hindi kami dito nag-party.”

“Oi Aeri, wala akong sinusumbong na kahit ano kila tita a, maybe nadulas yung other cousins mo.”

“Ate Krystal and Ate Jessica?”

“Oo? And Aeri, kunsintidor ako. Baka naman si Aling Marisol ang nag-rereport sa’yo kila tita?”

Hmm… Possibly. Maybe I should tell mom I can manage on my own, magpapa laundry service and food delivery na lang ako, or Ate Yuri could also teach me how to cook. Gotta tell mom, I’m a changed woman.

Anyway, Ate Yuri’s my cousin on my dad’s side while the Jung sisters are on my mom’s.

We’re neighbors here sa town house.

I’m an only child, but because I have them, para na din akong nagkaroon ng mga ate, plus a kuya — Kuya Ji-yong, Ate Yuri’s brother.

“Thanks for the soup Ate, and for helping us carry things upstairs. By the way, I’ll skip gym today, gusto mo ba sumama sa Wencha date namin ni Ning?”

“Passsss, may lakad din kami ni Jessica. Cheat day muna natin. Have fun!”

“Okay~ You too Ate!”

“Onga pala Aeri… Next time magawi ka kila Karina, i-kamusta mo ko sa sisters n’ya.”

“Sure Ate Yuri~”

“K-thanks-bye!”

Originally, kami ni Ate Yuri ang magkasama dito, but since Kuya Ji-yong left the town house to live near his workplace, lumipat si Ate Yuri. She said I should experience and enjoy my privacy, freedom, the wild and crazy college life. I miss her presence though, kahit na she’s just next door.

But now, at least I have Ningie!! I get to experience having a younger sister this time.

“Ningie~ take a break, nagdala ng soup si Ate Yuri, let’s eat downstairs.”

“Done nako Gi~ ayos ba? Sure ka okay lang tong piano dito sa room?”

Ning is very talented, and artistic. She displayed some of her art works sa room, now it feels cozier. Maybe I should gift her something vintage since she likes those. I think mas dig ko na nga ang bed and study corner n’ya.

“I love how you decorated the room, and I told you anything’s fine Ning…” I replied as we went down the stairs.

“Kahit i-uwi ko dito si Ddongi???”

“Having a gecko is way better Ning, and they eat insects diba, that’s a plus! If you knew kung anong pets ang type ni Karina.”

“Anetch ba?”

“I don’t understand why she likes wild animals. Tiger, crocodile, sharks…do you?.”

Iba talaga pag may kasama at nakakausap about random things sa bahay.

I’m glad Ning feels at home and comfortable with me. She’s even offering to do the cooking, oh my, is there anything na hindi n’ya kayang gawin?

Aling Marisol would be found shaking. Jobless. Joke. Mababawasan lang, means extra care for my cousins that live next door.

“Ba’t kaya di nag-overnight dito si bading?” Ning blurted.

“Same question I was about to ask you.”

“Ito lang ang ni-reply n’ya. Blinock pa yata ako kagabi kasi tinatawagan ko.”

Ning showed me her phone.

↩️ Reply

D kmi m22log gang wala ka 😭

❄️Winterbading❄️: Edi don’t. 🫠 G’night Ning~ 😴😪

Seeing how Winter’s name on her phone was, I remembered something.

I know a few things about Winter dahil sa mga kwento ni Ning. But the thing I’m most curious of is…

“Is Winter gay?”

“Ahhh itong Winterbading??? At pagtawag ko sa kanya ng Bads??”

“Sorry I suddenly asked, but is she into girls?” 

Ning just laughed, then pinaliwanag n’ya kung bakit ganon ang tawag n’ya kay Winter.

“Straight si Winter beshie~ Puro gwapo boylet non.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure Ning. You heard what Ryujin said last night… Most girls are like spaghetti…”

“Straight until it gets wet? Kaloka mga quotes n’yo friends~ pati revelations last night! So ikaw nabasa ka?”

“Uhm… Well… basta, I swing both ways.”

“At umamin ka… si Winter ba?”

“Winter what?”

“Yung never have I ever fancied someone in this room mo?”

I could just deny, but I started telling Ning the truth. I hope she’ll be true to her words na hindi n’ya ko ilalaglag to our friends and especially kay Winter.

I believe it's because Winter bears so much resemblance to my first girl crush.

The face, smile, and her cute dimple.

My first crush though is a tsundere, while Winter is more of a kuudere, but who knows?

Winter might be taciturn now since di pa naman kami that close.

Still, I can tell that she’s definitely got a warm and caring side.

“Ningie please~ this is just between you and me.” I begged.

“Giselle, peksman…” 

“Pek-peksman? Pekpek what??”

“Cross my heart eto naman! Bastuuus.”

“It’s just a crush, nothing serious!”

“Gi, kahit naman kasi buhusan n’yo ng tubig si Winter, seryosong straight yung tao baka maging bloke ng yelo.”

“You, ikaw ang straight Ningie. Kaya wala kang gaydar. Mine sense Winter has a tendency. Want us to make a bet?”

“Sige, anong pusta?”

There’s so much conviction on her face, it made me think for a moment.

Sorry Ning but my intuition is always right.

“Karina, okay lang talaga kahit di tayo tumuloy.” pasakali ko pa. Dito pa lang sa Dapitan ang putik na, sa Divisoria pa kaya?

“Minjeong, I’m really fine, wala akong hangover.”

Akala ni Karina yun ang concern ko. Putik at itong panahon ang issue ko. Nahihiya naman ako dahil ginagawan n’ya kami ng pabor ni Ning kaya diko masabi. Makapara na nga bago pako magbago ng isip.

“Karina, kahit wag moko payungan. Di ako mahilig magdala ng payong. Water resistant naman tong cap at jacket, paambun-ambon lang din naman… okay lang ako.” paliwanag ko.

Swerteng nakapara ako ng jeep na walang sakay sa harap, ito nag papatagal sakin kapag naghihintay ng jeep. Ayoko kasing may kaharap. Mas okay din dito kasi mas nakapirmi, tapos driver at isang pasahero lang ang papakisamahan. Di katulad kapag don sa likod, maya’t maya may inaabot, o kaya kailangan umusog.

Si Karina ang may payong sa aming dalawa, kaya kahit ayoko sanang pumagitan sa kanila ni manong, nauna akong sumakay. Mas magandang ready ang payong para di kami mabasa kung biglang bumuhos ang ulan.

“Bayad po, dalawa pong Divisoria.” pag-abot agad n’ya ng pamasahe.

Ang bilis at sakto, bumubunot pa lang ako ng pamasahe.

Hinawakan naman n’ya ang kamay ko at umiling.

“Ako na. You’re welcome~”  bulong n’ya.

“Sige, tapos ako na mamaya pauwi.”

Naramdaman kong hindi ako physically and mentally prepared dito sa lakad namin.

Ang dami kong gustong i-reklamo.

Ang init ng singaw ng jeep, ang bagal ng trapiko, ang lagkit dahil medyo umuulan, ang usok, ang layo, ang gulo at sikip ng daan, samantalang kay Karina wala lang. Mukhang inaantok pa nga s’ya. Ayoko naman makipag bulungan para lang magkaintindihan kami dahil ang ingay ng makina nitong sasakyan.

Naisip ko…dapat nag shorts at slippers na lang ako kagaya ni Karina, kahit papano napreskuhan sana ako. Hati ang loob ko bago ako umalis kung ano bang mas magandang maputikan, ang paa o sapatos, binti ko o damit? Sa huli pinili ko ang maglaba. Magtatagal lang kami kung magpapalit pako ng suot.

Mauubos na yata ang outerwear ko kay Karina, bakit naman kasi naka-tank top lang s’ya?

Nagtali pa nga ng buhok, gusto ko tuloy isuot na tong jacket ko sa kanya.

Bilhan ko kaya s’ya ng tapis mamaya at ng matakpan ang leeg at—

“You seem mad, tumatama ba sa’yo buhok ko? Sorry.” bulong n’ya ng mahuli n’ya kong nakatingin.

“Ah hindi…humapdi lang ang mata ko sa hangin. Ang init.” lusot ko. Tinitigan naman n’yang maigi ang mga mata ko. “Okay na, di naman ako napuwing.”

Hay salamat nakababa rin.

Tinago ni Karina ang wallet at cellphone ko sa body bag n’ya bago kami bumaba. Sumunod na lang ako para di ako masaktan. Hahaha. E kasi nga black belter s’ya, mas safe ang gamit namin sa kanya.

Nahalata n’ya siguro ang pagka-overwhelm ko kaya s’ya huminto, nabunggo ko s’ya dahil nakayuko ako at sinusundan ko lang ang kanyang nilalakaran.

“I forgot about the crowd, seriously konti pato compared pag walang ulan.”

Inayos at binaba ko pang maigi ang cap ko, kumapit na narin ako sa braso n’ya.

“A-ako na dito sa payong, ikaw nang bahala sa daan.”

Hindi ko na maipaliwanag ang mood ko. Gusto kong umiyak kasi tingin ko hindi kami makakarating sa pupuntahan.

Magalit kasi, ano ba?! Wala bang mga mata yung bumundol sakin? Di manlang nag-sorry!

At the same time, di ko rin mapigilang humanga kay Karina, proud at thankful bigla ako ng taong sinamahan.

Napansin ko naman ang pagtawa ni n’y