It is a week before the contest. Nauna sa Student Council's Room sila Winter at Karina. 

"Should we ask each other questions?" Winter asked. Magkaharap sila ni Karina. And they acted civil. Pero a second after their review, mag-aaway na agad sila. It's like may dalawa o tatlong oras sa isang araw na mag-kaibigan sila. 

"Yeah, guess so. Malelate daw sila Jaemin," sabi ni Karina at itinago ang phone nya. She opened the folder to look for a difficult question. 

"Which flat picture may also be shown in three dimensions?" Winter raised a brow. 

"Is that the best you could do, vanilla?" Karina felt her heart start beating for a second.  Winter and her ing pet name for her.

"Stop stalling and answer, Kim." Sabi ni Karina. The younger chuckled before leaning on the table.

"It's a hologram. Grabe, that was too easy." 

Taunting Karina might be Winter's favorite hobby. 

"Ask me," sabi ni Karina. If Winter got it right, she must too. Hindi sya pwedeng matalo ni Winter sa pagrereview. She needs to hear the younger ones call her smart or good. She needs her to praise her.

"Ang excited mo naman, Yu." Winter flipped through the pages. She hummed.

"What is the only number that has letters in alphabetical order?" Karina snorted.

"It's forty, Kim. Forty." Sagot ni Karina. 

"You know I went easy on you, right?" Winter asked while looking deeply into the older girl's eyes. 

"I know. And you also know that I did too, no?" Karina stared back with the same intensity. Winter's cheeks look so fluffy. Parang ang sarap kurutin. She also noticed the girl's cute pointed nose. 

Everything about Winter's face is pleasing to her. Sobrang ganda. She almost forgot what they are.

"I won't be too easy sa contest." 

"I know," sabi ni Karina. They are in a trance. Their breaths and movements are synchronized. 

"We will win this thing, Yu." Winter is still staring at her eyes, sometimes glancing over Karina's lips. She misses the feeling of those lips against her. She craves vanilla and mint, and she tried eating ice cream flavored ones, but nothing beats the taller girl's lips. 

"I know," Karina said.

"You're aware that we are just classmates who happen to be on the same team, right?" Their faces inched closer. They are breathing in the same space, foreheads almost touching. 

"Yes."

"And you are aware of my love for experiments, right?" Their foreheads touched. Karina nodded her head gently to avoid colliding their heads and hurting themselves.

"I need words, Karina." The latter felt like a zoo has opened inside her stomach. Her heart still racing hard, a good kind of hard.

"I-I uhm, yes, I am aware." Bulong ni Karina. 

"If I kiss you right now, you wouldn't mind, right?" Their nose touched. Nakatingin pa rin sakanya si Winter. Suddenly, the younger's hand found its way to Karina's cheek. 

The older girl whimpered. Gosh, why does Winter have this effect on her? Why does being this close to Winter feel like a rainy day on her bed, watching TV with hot cocoa? 

"Consent, Karina. I need to hear your consent," bulong ni Winter. She planted a small kiss on the area below Karina's ear. 

"Just kiss me already, strawberry," Karina whispered. They closed their eyes when their lips made contact. 

Winter smiled subconsciously in the kiss. She likes the feeling of Karina's lips on hers. She wanted to be sure, so, she kissed her again. Tilting her head to deepen the kiss with her rival. 

"MGA BOBO! Bakit kayo naghahalikan dito?!" Jaemin asked. Nakahawak pa rin sya sa doorknob. Ibinato nya sa ulo ni Winter ang bag nya, buti na lang at hindi tumama. 

Binatukan nya si Winter at Karina na namumula na sa kahihiyan. They slipped. Nakalimutan nilang may mga teammates pa silang inaabangan. Nakapamewang sa harapan nila si Jaemin.

"Oh ano? Bakit kayo naghahalikan dito?" Mataray na tanong nya. Sasagot na sana si Karina pero itinaas ni Jaemin ang kamay nya.

"Oh? Sasagot ka na ngayon?" Sabi ni Jaemin. 

"Parang tanga ka Jaem. Hindi ka namin nanay ha," napahawak sa dibdib nya si Jaemin at tumingin kay Winter. Para bang sobrang naoffend sya sa sinabi ni Winter.

"Excuse me? Gusto nyo ipaalam ko kila Tita?" Pananakot nya. Biglang pumasok si Chaewon kasama ang matangkad na babae.

"Kapag nalaman yan ni Mommy at Tita Mommy baka ipakasal na agad kayo." Sabi nya at tinulak paupo si Jaemin.

"Gago ka, Jaemin! Ikinalat mo na agad?" Karina asked.

"Pwede naman nating ideny," nakangising sabi ni Winter. Napakunot ang noo ni Karina. That statement didn't sit well in her. Ikinakahiya ba ni Winter na naghahalikan sila?

"Actually hindi. May attached picture yung chinika ng lalaking yan." Sabi ulit ni Chaewon at inihagis ang phone nya. They saw Jaemin's text message sa group chat nilang magkakaibigan. That's a problem for next time. Tumingin muna sila sa babaeng kasama ni Chaewon. They have seen her around, but they are not sure where.

"So, by the way, this is Wonyoung. Papalitan nya si Sunghoon." Sabi ni Chaewon.

"What happened with the kid?" Karina asked. 

"Just something." Bulong ni Wonyoung. 

"Let me make a phone call," sabi ni Winter at lumabas. She dialed their Family Doctor. 

"Winter, napatawag ka?" The doctor asked. They are close naman since cousin nya lang din.

"Ate Wendy, can you come home later? I've been feeling weird kasi for the past few weeks." Sabi ni Winter at tiningnan ang relo nya. Siguro naman ay hindi busy si Wendy.

"Sige, bata. Baka naman mamaya kinilig ka lang ulit sa kapatid ng ex ko ha," natatawang sabi ni Wendy.

"Ate naman! Akala ko ba napag-usapan na nating secret lang yun," Winter whined.

"Oo na. Pero sabihin mo sa Headmistress nyo pakasaya sya sa piling ng pinsan natin."