Winter scrunched her nose when she saw the crowd. 

"What's wrong Mom? Hindi po ba kayo comfy?" Tanong ni Darcy habang nakahawak sa kamay ni Winter. 

"I'm fine, baby. Hintayin muna natin si Mama dito, yes?" Umupo sila sa isang bench at ngumiti. Darcy nodded and chuckled cutely. 

Family day nila ngayon. The Academy values family. Kaya rin dito siguro pinapasok ni Karina si Darcy. 

"Tara na ba?" Tanong ni Karina. Nakasuot silang lahat ng blue na shirt. 

"Ma, ikaw na po ba sasama sakin dun sa dance off?" Tanong ni Darcy. Natigilan naman si Winter. Anong sayaw, sayaw? Bakit hindi siya aware? 

Sumasayaw pala si Karina?

"Si Winter na lang, Darcy. Dancer kaya Mommy mo," nakangising sabi ni Karina. Winter raised a brow. She pinched the older girl's arm and rolled her eyes. 

"Ang fake news mo! Hindi ako marunong magsayaw," Winter denied. Darcy hummed.

"Eh, what if both of you na lang po?" Darcy crossed her arms while looking up at both of her mothers. 

"Isa lang pwede, uy. Huwag kang pahamak, anak." Sabi ni Winter at umiling. Karina chuckled. 

"Tara na nga. Ako na sasama sayo, Darcy." Karina said and started walking. Sumunod naman sakanya si Winter at Darcy. 

Winter looked around and saw the families around them, smiling, and happy. She hummed sadly. She never experienced that. 

Huli niya sigurong naranasan ang normal na pamilya ay noong 13 years old siya. And that was a little over a decade ago. 

And they never had the chance to attend events like this one. 

Ang aga sinira ng tatay niya ang buhay ni Winter. 

"Ano ba unang game?" Winter asked. 

"Sack race daw, love." Sabi ni Karina at tumingin sakanya. Winter nodded her head and smirked smugly. 

"Ako na bahala. Easy lang yan, easy." Mayabang na sabi ni Winter. Karina looked at her like she's grown two heads. But Karina is Karina. 

And Karina loves Winter so much that she can't burst the younger's bubble. 

"Suit yourself, baby. Basta I love you kahit na mapahiya ka," natatawang sabi ni Karina. 

"At bakit mo naman nasabing mapapahiya ako?" Winter asked. Darcy chuckled. 

"Because you're so clumsy, Mommy!" Sabi ng anak nila. Winter blinked many times.

Did her girlfriend and daughter gang up on her?

"Excuse me, kapag ako nanalo, who you kayo sakin parehas!" Sabi ni Winter at itinuro pa ang dalawa. 

She grew up competitive. Kaya naman humanda sakanya si Darcy at Karina kapag nanalo siya. 

She positioned herself on the starting line. 

She's an athlete, this is nothing to her. Nakakahiya naman kung hindi man lang siya mananalo. Besides, she wants to prove her family wrong. Hindi siya clumsy.

Inilagay niya sa loob ng sako ang kalahati ng katawan niya. She squat while glaring at Karina who has a -eating grin on her face. 

"Three! Two! Go!" Sigaw ng coordinator. Agad namang tumalon si Winter papunta sa iikutan nilang point. She jumped, and jumped, and jumped. Lumingon siya kay Karina nang malapit na siya sa finish line. 

Napaupo siya sa pagod. Lumapit naman si Darcy at niyakap ang leeg ni Winter. 

"Are you tired, Mom?" She asked. Winter nodded her head while catching her breath. 

"Ang galing mo naman, mahal. Kiss kita," sabi bigla ni Karina at umupo sa tabi ni Winter. She planted a small peck on the younger's lips. 

"You both taunted me on purpose, didn't you?" Hinihingal na tanong ni Winter. Karina shrugged.

"Hindi ah," sabi ni Karina. Pero everyone knows she's lying. 

Napailing na lang si Winter. Kung competitive siya, mas competitive ang mag-ina niya. 

"Water po," Winter said and pouted. Nauhaw siya sa kakatalon. Siguro ay nagmukhang rabbit siya.

Piangbuksan siya ni Karina ng water bottle at iniabot sakanya. She took a sip. 

"Mom, you look like a kangaroo po kanina," napatigil sa pag-inom ng tubig si Winter. She looked over at her daughter. 

Natawa naman si Karina. 

"Kangaroo! Oh my gosh!" The taller girl exclaimed. Napapikit naman si Winter. Akala niya naman mukha siyang cute na rabbit, naging kangaroo pa.

"Tigilan niyo nga ako! Ako na naman trip nyo," sabi ni Winter at sinamaan ng tingin ang dalawa. 

They continued laughing. Hindi naman magagalit si Winter. 

"BLUE TEAM WINS!" Sigaw ng coordinator. Darcy clapped her hands happily. 

"Mom, we won! Dapat sa susunod na mga games, manalo rin po tayo ha?" Their daughter said. Winter nodded her head. 

"Leave it to me, baby! Easy lang yan sakin." Winter said. 

Ang yabang. 

Karina smiled at the sight. This Winter is a different Winter. And Karina loves this Winter. 

She loves every version of Winter, malungkot, o masaya man. 

"Tara na, mahal?" Tanong ni Winter kay Karina at inilahad ang kamay niya. 

They can hold hands, pero hindi matagal. But it is enough for Karina. More than enough for her. 

Besides, Winter is still seeing the shrink.  And every time she comes back, she's a better person. She's become better, her mental health becomes better. 

And Karina got to know Winter before the trauma. 

"Sure mahal. Anyway, ikaw pala sasama kay Darcy sa dance off. I saw your Tiktok videos last night," nakangising sabi ni Karina at hinila na paalis si Winter.

[last two to three chapters n lng tau mga beh]