Late na nagising si Winter. She only has half an hour to get ready and hopefully, arrive at the Academy. Nakalimutan pa niyang mag-pack ng mga damit niya dahil hinatid niya si Darcy sa bahay nila Ningning. Syempre kasama si Karina. Eh halos mag-asawa naman sila. Mag-asawa na nagtataguan ng feelings. 

Nagmamadali niyang inihagis sa passenger seat ng Mustang niya ang duffel bag na dadalhin niya. She's not even sure if she packed enough undergarments for the trip. She sighed as she step on the accelerator harder. Wala naman masyadong sasakyan dahil sobrang aga pa. 

And as expected, she barely made it. 

"Sorry, I'm late." Winter said. Pumasok siya sa bus. Wala ng tirang vacant seats sa bandang unahan, kaya sa likod na lamang siya umupo. Mag-isa lang siya. She decided to put her bag on the seat beside the window and sat on the chair by the aisle. 

Nakita nga niya sa bandang unahan si Karina na natutulog katabi ang bag niya. Winter sighed and closed her eyes. They have a long way to go. 

She stood up and carefully went to Karina's seat. The other people are already sleeping. She placed her jacket on Karina's body. Kanina kasi noong dumaan siya ay nakita niyang nanginginig sa lamig si  Karina. 

She returned to her seat and relaxed. She needs sleep, so she decided to just close her eyes and let her body rest against the cheap material of the bus seats. Sana naman walang manggigising sakanya. Malayo pa naman ang byahe papunta sa bundok na paggaganapan ng retreat nila. 

Nagising si Winter nang biglang gumalaw ang bus. Kanina pa ba sila nakaalis sa Academy? She looked around. Nawawala ata si Karina sa upuan niya? Nagulat si Winter nang makita si Karina sa tabi niya. 

Magkatulad sila ni Karina ng posisyon. Nakaupo rin siya sa upuan sa aisle, at ang bag niya sa may upuan sa tabi ng window. 

They look like they are sitting together. Except for the fact that the aisle is between them. Winter smiled to herself. Karina is sleeping. And unlike kanina, suot na niya ang jacket ni Winter. Winter blushed. Mukha silang magjowa.

Karina is doing it again. Trying to keep her hopes up. And it's such a bummer. Because as much as hope makes someone push through in life, it's also the cause of depression, sadness, and unhappiness.

She can easily ask the taller girl what are they? But then, it does not work like that. It's more complicated. And sometimes, she hates Karina's easy-going personality. Because life is more than that. Life is complicated. 

"He-hey. Kanina ka pa ba gising?" Tanong ni Karina at umayos nang upo. She wiped her face with her hand and smiled at Winter. 

"No. Kagigising ko lang. Bakit ka pala lumipat ng upuan?" Winter asked. 

"You're alone. There's a seat next to yours, so, yeah." Sabi ni Karina. 

"Does my jacket fit you just fine?" Winter worriedly asked and looked over at Karina. 

"It does! Sobrang comfy pa nga e." Karina giggled and hugged herself. 

"May kasama ka na ba pala sa tent?" Winter asked. Wala pa kasi siyang kasama sa tent. Busy siya sa training ng team para maghanap. Tapos nakalimutan naman niyang bumili kasi nga busy.

"Uhm, wala naman. Pero baka kasi hindi kasya since madami akong dalang gamit." Karina answered. May kinukuha siya sa bag niya pero hindi na lamang pinansin ni Winter. 

Ayaw ba siyang kasama ni Karina sa tent? Hindi naman siya nangyayakap, or naninipa. May pasabi-sabi pa na maraming dalang gamit. 

Iniabot niya kay Winter ang binalot niya na sandwich. Winter raised a brow before taking the sandwich.

"What's this for?" Tanong niya at itinaas nang bahagya ang sandwich. Karina shrugged and got another one for herself. 

"I just think that you'll get up late, and not have any time to grab breakfast. Napadami rin naman yung gawa ko, so binalot ko na rin para sayo." The taller girl explained. Binuksan naman agad ni Winter ang sandwich at kumagat. She hummed in delight.

"Pwede ka na talaga mag-asawa." Sabi niya at tumango-tango. Karina scoffed.

"May asawa at anak na ako, Winter. Ikaw talaga." Tumawa si Karina at umiling pa. 

"Sabi mo wala kang asawa. Are you lying to me, Dr. Yu?" Karina blushed when Winter called her Dr. Yu.

"I am not yet a Doctor, Win. Dami mo talagamg alam." Sabi ni Karina at inihagis nang mahina ang hot choco na inilagay niya sa Hydroflask. 

"You like chocolate better than coffee, ano? Baka mali yung pagkaka-alala ko," sabi ni Karina. She scratch her eyebrows and smiled shyly. It has been a long time since she prepared and cooked for Winter. She always enjoys looking at the shorter's reaction

"Pwede ka na talaga mag-asawa!" Winter exclaimed and clapped her hands happily. She took a sip of the hot choco and hummed. Bagay rin siguro kay Karina ang maging Chef. Or siguro maging asawa niya. 

"Kailan mo ba gusto magpakasal?"