Since mabilis lang ang lunch break nila, nag-decide sila Karina, Yeji at Ryujin na sa Area 2 na lang kumain. Nag-ikot muna sila para maghanap ng gusto nilang kainin bago sila nag-settle sa Crazy Chicken.

 

"Grabe. Ilang weeks lang naman tayo hindi pumasok pero na-miss ko agad pagkain dito sa univ," sabi ni Ryujin habang kumakain sila.

 

"Yeah. During Christmas break, iniisip ko pa rin mga food dito sa school. Nakaka-miss din palang kumain ng puro pancit canton at kwek-kwek lang," sagot naman ni Yeji, at natawa lang si Karina sa kasama niyang mag-jowa.

 

Sa UP lang nagkakilala sila Ryujin at Yeji pero mabilis silang nagkasundo at eventually na-fall sa isa't isa. Karina is acquainted with Ryujin dahil pinsan nito si Yuna. Before Yeji transferred to their school, naging student council officers sila Karina and Giselle, and that's where they met Yuna. Minsan nakikita nila si Ryujin sa bahay nila Yuna kapag may ginagawa silang paperwork, and that's how Karina became friends with Ryujin.

 

Bilang mutual friend nila Yeji and Ryujin, Karina helped them get together. Ang kwento kasi niyan, noong first day nila sa UP, hinatid ni Ryujin si Winter sa class niya. Kinakabahan kasi si Winter dahil ang laki ng campus, at ayaw niyang maligaw. Pinilit niya si Ryujin na ihatid siya, at sinabihan niyang ililibre niya ito ng lunch for 1 week, kaya naman pumayag na si Ryujin.

 

"Ayan na, Tot. Dito na yata klase mo," sabi ni Ryujin sa pinsan niyang hinatid niya sa classroom.

 

"Sure ka ba, RJ? Dito na kaya talaga 'yun? Baka mamaya may kapangalan pa 'to na building ah."

 

"Oo, sure na yan. Nagtanong na nga tayo kay manong guard 'di ba? Baka ma-late pa ako sa klase ko. Iwan na kita ah."

 

"Huy wait lang. Tanong mo nga doon kay ate kung dito na ba talaga yung Palma Hall," hila ni Winter sa pinsan niyang paalis na dapat.

 

Para naman mabigyan na ng peace of mind ang pinsan niya, nilapitan at kinalabit na lang ni Ryujin yung isang babae na nakatalikod sa kanila. "Hi po. Sorry po sa abala, pero dito na po yung Palma Hall, 'di ba?"

 

"Ah yes. You're in the right place naman na," sagot ng babae kay Ryujin.

 

"Thank you po." Naglakad na si Ryujin pabalik kay Winter. "Oo sabi ni ate dito na 'yun. Sige na pumasok ka na, at punta na ako sa building ko."

 

"YEJI!!!" May narinig ang dalawa na sumigaw kaya naman napatingin sila. Yeji pala yung pangalan ng pinagtanungan ni Ryujin, at nagulat siya noong nakita niya kung sino tumawag.

 

"Oy, Tot. Wait mo ko. Kakilala ko 'yang isa. Batiin ko lang," sabi ni Ryujin at agad siyang lumapit sa dalawang babae.

 

"Karina!" Bati ni Ryujin sa tumawag kay Yeji.

 

"Hey, Ryujin! UP ka din pala papasok?" Tanong sa kanya ni Karina at tumango naman si Ryujin. "Dito ka rin ba sa Palma Hall? Papunta kaming Kas 1 class ng friend kong si Yeji pero magkaiba kami ng room," sabi ni Karina habang tinuro ang kasama. "Baka gusto mong sumabay na lang?"

 

"Oh actually sa CAL ang klase ko. Hinatid ko lang yung pinsan ko," tinuro ni Ryujin si Winter na bigla namang yumuko noong tinignan siya nila Karina at Yeji. "Pero Kas 1 din class niya baka may classmate siya sa inyo. Baka siya na lang pwede sumabay? Natatakot daw siyang maligaw eh," natatawang dagdag ni Ryujin.

 

"Yeah. Sure. Wala naman problema," si Yeji naman ang sumagot this time.

 

"Sige tawagin ko lang siya. Thank you!"

 

After that encounter, madalas pa silang nagkita ni Ryujin dahil kapag maaga natatapos ang class ni Ryujin, pumupunta siya sa class ni Winter. Karina does not know kung kailan nagkaroon ng constant communication si Ryujin at Yeji, but they just grew closer.

 

One time, nag-confide na lang si Ryujin sa kanya at sinabi nito na may gusto siya kay Yeji. Karina knew that Yeji has a slight crush on Ryujin too, kaya naman tinulungan niya si Ryujin by listing Yeji's likes and dislikes, and she became their bridge.

 

What Karina did not know was that Winter also liked Yeji. Until now, hindi aware si Karina na may gusto si Winter kay Yeji.

 

"Nice fit, Rina," Giselle said as soon as she arrived sa table nila. "Hi, Yeji. Hi, Ryujin." The two other girls waved at her. "Is that flannel a Christmas gift? It's my first time seeing you wear that."

 

"Ah no. Long story but I just borrowed it from a classmate," Karina answered her friend, at napataas naman ng kilay si Giselle. "It's nothing. Dinatnan kasi ako, and I needed something to cover my blood-stained pants." Napa-oh lang naman si Giselle as she recalled na nag-try kanina manghiram ng jacket si Karina sa kanya.

 

"Oh Ryujin, can you ask Winter pala if I can return her flannel next week na lang? Papa-laundry ko pa pala kasi," Karina told Ryujin.

 

"Baka mas mabuti na kayong dalawa na lang directly mag-usap," sagot naman ni Ryujin. "We're not exactly in good terms kasi ngayon. Hindi kami nag-uusap."

 

Oh kaya pala they don't greet each other anymore tuwing sinusundo ni Ryujin si Yeji from our classes, Karina thought to herself.

 

Sobrang close ng dalawang magpinsan kaya nagtataka siya na last sem, tumigil na lang 'yung dalawa mag-usap. Hindi naman siya sobrang close with either of them, so hindi niya alam. May pagka-chismosa rin naman si Karina, but it's none of her business kaya she never bothered to ask Yeji about it.

 

"Sorry to hear that," Karina said to Ryujin who just shrugged. "Sige ako na lang magsasabi sa kanya. Thank you." Facebook friends naman sila ni Winter, and classmates naman sila so madali lang niya mari-reach si Winter.

 

The four friends parted ways after nila kumain ng lunch, since iba-iba sila ng classes, except for Karina and Yeji. Their classes were still in the same building, pero iba nga lang yung room and prof ni Yeji.

 

Karina arrived in their classroom and saw a notice was posted on their door about her class, "No class today. First day will be next week. See you, and wait for my email."

 

This class is supposed to be Karina's last class today, and since wala namang pasok, she decided to go back to her condo na lang para makapagpalit na din siya ng pants, and makapag-freshen up. She took her phone, and sent a message to her best friend.

 

rina [1:03 p.m.]: hey gigi. coffee later? wala pa akong prof sa last class ko. i'm going back to my condo muna. just text me if g ka.

 

gigi [1:10 p.m]: how lucky!!!! i thought free cut na din ako but my prof still arrived. i'll text you after my classes. i'm g

 

rina [1:11 p.m.]: see u and good luck <3

 

Hindi na nag-reply si Giselle dahil na-busy na sa class. Karina went straight to her condo, and picked a new outfit for her coffee run mamaya with Giselle. When she took off the flannel shirt around her waist, naalala niya na naman 'yung nangyari kanina.

 

I didn't expect Winter to do that. Hindi naman kami close but it's so kind of her to lend me her shirt. Kahit madalas nagiging classmate ni Karina si Winter, hindi pa rin sila naging close friends dahil may ibang circle si Winter. Winter joined UP Music Circle kasi together with their other batchmates, Sieun and Isa. Sila yung madalas na kasama ni Winter, if not Ryujin, and Karina was always with Yeji and Giselle.

 

Karina took a quick shower, and naglaro na lang muna siya ng Gardenscapes sa phone niya while waiting for Giselle. Her friends are always making fun of her, and sometimes, they call her "tita" dahil adik na adik siya sa Gardenscapes. Karina does not mind the teasing naman. Nasisiyahan lang talaga siya maglaro ng Gardenscapes dahil naging stress reliever niya na ito.

 

 

 

 

 

"Sige na, Ning. Punta ka na dito," pakiusap ni Winter sa kausap niya sa phone.

 

"Ayoko nga. Ang layo. Ang init init pa," sagot ni Ningning sa kabilang linya.

 

"Hoy what are friends are for?" Natatawang sabi ni Winter. N