Everything feels unreal. 

Karina has her suspicions. Palaging late umuuwi si Winter, at kung paminsan ay ngumingiti pa. 

"Winter, may babae ka ba?" Tanong ni Karina. They were currently eating their dinner when she finally spoke her mind. Excuse her for confronting Winter. 

Alam niyang maganda siya, pero maganda rin si Winter. Kaya niyang humanap ng ibang mas maganda kay Karina. 

"Ha? Anong babae? Baby naman," Winter crossed her arms and pouted. 

Grabe naman si Karina. Mukha ba siyang may kabit?

The older girl also noticed the change in Winter's whole demeanor. She's cheerful and giddy. 

Para bang she met a whole new Winter. Sabi naman ni Ningning sakanya ay ganito talaga si Winter. 

"Eh bakit late ka na umuwi? Tapos palagi ka lang nakangiti?" Nakataas na kilay na tanong ni Karina. 

It has been a month since Adam barged into Winter's life again. And it has been exactly 27 days since Winter started going home late.

"Are you fighting po?" Tanong ni Darcy. Her lips quivered. Agad napatingin sakanya ang dalawa. Darcy is a crybaby. Mana siguro kay Karina, but who knows? Baka anak talaga ni Darcy noong past life nila. 

"Oh no, baby. Mommy and I are just talking. Tell you what, if you sleep early, I'm going to buy you that bicycle you want." Sabi ni Karina at ngumiti. 

Darcy nodded her head before kissing both of her mommies' cheeks. 

"Don't fight po ha? I love the both of you," sabi ng anak nila bago umakyat. Winter looked at Karina and smiled. 

"Look babe, I love you. Ikaw lang naman ang babae ko, tsaka si Darcy. Mukha ba akong nangangabit?" Tanong ni Winter. Karina rolled her eyes. 

Alam naman niyang hindi kaya ni Winter humanap ng iba. Kasi hello? Ang ganda ganda ni Karina tapos ipagpapalit lang siya ni Winter? Is she nuts?

"Eh bakit ka laging late umuwi? Hindi ka pa nga nakakasabay minsan ng dinner. Tapos bigla kang ganyan. You're happier," sabi ni Karina. Nanginginig ang boses niya. 

She's crying. Winter smiled comfortingly. It's supposed to be a surprise. But how could she go on when the love of her life is bawling her eyes out in front of her?

"What's the matter? I'm happier because of you." 

Karina shook her head. 

"Doesn't really make the late arrivals and missed dinners." Pinunasan ni Karina ang mga luha na pumatak sa mata niya. 

She became a crybaby. Dala na rin siguro ng stress sa pagrereview para sa NMAT. Kahit naman na naging jowa niya na si Winter, gusto niya pa rin mag-Doctor. 

"Baby, I am not cheating on you. I would have not, baby." Seryosong sabi ni Winter.

"Then tell me, Winter. Anong nangyayari?"

"I started going to therapy. I know that you want to hug or sometimes, hold hands, and I was sorry that I cannot do those things to you." Tumigil sa pagsasalita si Winter. Dahan-dahan niyang hinawakan ang kamay ni Karina.

It was a brief moment. A little under a minute. 

"I realized a lot of things. I love you more than I thought I did. It's empowering to know what I could do. And look oh, nagawa na kitang hawakan. Tsaka more sessions pa, and I am very confident that I can hold you for a very long time." Karina sobbed.

She feels terrible. Paano niya naisipan na magagawa ni Winter mambabae?

"Ca-can I-I hug you?" Tanong ni Karina kay Winter

Winter hummed and hugged her girlfriend tightly. Kung dati, home is wherever her mother is, now, home is Karina's arms. 

But it was for a short while. Humiwalay rin agad si Winter.

"I hope you could be more patient with me, Rina. Kasi kaya ko naman pumunta sa therapies, kaya ko naman magrisk. Just please, baby. Wait for me," hinawakan ni Winter ang mukha ni Karina. She kissed the girl's lips fully. 

Bakit walang nagsabi sa kanya na mas masayang halikan ang taong mahal niya kapag nakahawak din siya? 

"Why can't you touch me though? You touched Darcy without therapy. You don't need to answer ha? Gusto ko lang malaman." 

"Well, you knew what Dad did to my mother. Alam ko naman na you are not my father, but it's still scaring me. Everytime kasi na nakikita kong malapit na yung kamay sakin, naaalala ko yung mga nawitness ko noong bata ako. And sometimes I can't help but think that you could do it too. Because my father loved my mother so much, but that didn't stop him from violating her." Winter explained. Karina nodded her head. She understands.

Kung toxic siguro siya at hindi nakakaintindi, she'll take offense on everything Winter said. If she's a different person, she'll most likely leave Winter.

But she is not. She is Karina Yu. Winter's future wife, and Darcy's other mother. Wala sa vocabulary niya ang sumuko. 

"Well, I am willing to wait, because as I have told you before, you got me for our whole lifetime." 

[MGA BEH WAG NAMAN KAYO KABAHAN! FLUFF LANG TAU DITO OH! GOOD MORNING! NAG-OOVERTHINK LANG NAMAN SILA, WAG TAU SUMALI, EME, PERO 22O NA FLUFF LANG TAU]