"Ning! Ang tagal mo," sabi ni Winter na nakakunot na ang noo. Nasa mall siya dahil makikipagkita siya kay Ningning na sobrang late na.

"Sorry ha? For the busy kasi ang person," sabi ni Ningning at ngumiti. She raised her two thumbs up. Si Ningning lang kasi ang may alam ng totoong nangyari kay Winter. Others assumed she's a germophobe or suffering from OCD. She lets them be. Ano ba namang mababago kung malalaman nila ang totoong sakit niya?

"Hindi mo sinabi sakin na nagttrabaho si Karina sa Academy," Winter muttered. Naglalakad na sila papunta sa restaurant na kakainan nila ng dinner. 

"I forgot!" Ningning exclaimed. Umirap naman si Winter. Sobrang ingay pa rin pala ng kaibigan niya hanggang ngayon. 

"So, how's your work?" Winter asked. Pumasok sila sa restaurant at umupo sa table na pinareserve pa ni Winter. 

"Just you know, making sure if people really got into such accidents before giving out money." Ningning works as an insurance investigator. Kahit naman dati ay may lahing imbestigador na si Ningning. She figured out Winter all by herself. 

"Eh ikaw? How are things?" Ningning asked. They ordered food. Tumingin sakanya si Winter at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"All's well, I think. I'm working with Karina," nakangiting sabi niya. After all those years, she still likes the older girl. 

"Karina, yes! Hindi pa rin ba niya alam ang tungkol sa sakit mo?" Tanong ni Ningning at uminom ng wine. Winter shook her head.

"Hindi naman kami sobrang close para malaman niya," Ningning snickered. 

"Really? Naging partners kayo para sa egg project natin dati, there's also the graduation thing." Winter kept shut. 

"So? Tsaka baka mailang siya sakin, Ning. Palagi ko pa naman siyang iniiwasan dati pa," sabi ni Winter at tumingin sa waiter na papalapit sakanila. She slightly jerked on her seat when the waitress suddenly invaded her personal space. 

"Hey, come here." Tawag ni Ningning sa waitress. She sensed that the older girl is anxious and scared for her dear life. 

"What can I get you?" Tanong ng waitress at umayos nang pagkakatayo. 

"Get us your finest wine, please. And please, distance yourself, woman. Girlfriend ko yan," the Chinese girl glared. This is normal. Her pretending to be Winter's girlfriend. So if anyone comes too close to Winter's space, she would have a reasonable reason. 

Hindi naman agad pumayag si Winter sa naisip ni Ningning. She was okay of being labeled weirdo. Pero Ningning is her best friend. And handa siyang magsakripisyo para sa ikakakumportable ni Winter. 

"You don't have to do that," sabi ni Winter at hiniwa ang steak na nasa harapan niya. She handed it to the girl across her after slicing it into tiny bite-size pieces. 

"Well, I kinda miss doing that, to be honest. I really miss you, Winter." The slightly younger girl smiled sadly. 

"I'm here now, ain't I?" Dumating ang waitress at isinerve ang wine. 

"To new beginnings," itinaas ni Ningning ang wine glass niya para sa toast. 

"To new beginnings," their glasses  clanked. 

They spent the night catching up. Nag-grab na lamang pauwi si Winter. She lay on her bed and she stared at her ceiling. Is a person like her capable of love? 

Maagang nagising si Winter para pumasok sa Academy. She's going to go against the tennis players one by one.  

Dinala na lang niya ang Mustang niya papunta sa school. She's wearing a plain white shirt and track pants. Nagsunglasses din siya, para pamysterious. Malay mo naman makaraating kay Karina na cool siya. 

"Good morning, Coach!" Yujin greeted and smiled. Winter did the same.

"Morning, Yujin." She waited until everyone was in line. She cleared . 

"I am going up against the regulars. One versus one. Sino gusto mauna?" She asked. Kazuha raised her hand. She plays Singles 3 for the team. 

"You serve first, Kazuha." Napatingin si Winter sa gilid nang mapansin na may dumaan na naka-lab coat. Hindi naman niya ineexpect na makita na nannonood sa training nila si Karina. She cleared . It feels like high school all over again. 

"Serve faster!" She yelled so that the student could hear her well. 

May weights ang suot niyang wrist band sa magkabilang kamay at mayroon din sa parehas niyang paa. It helps her train her body to move faster. Biglang natapilok si Winter sa bato. She did not even know how that ing rock got there. Nagmamadaling pumasok si Karina sa court. 

"Winter! Are you okay?" Hahawakan na sana siya ni Karina pero bigla siyang tumalon paalis. Thank her parents for the athletic genes. 

"I-I am fi-fine," nauutal niyang sabi. She winced internally when she felt a sudden pang on her ankle. Tinanggal niya muna ang wrist bands bago tanggalin ang weights sa paa niya. Ngumiwi siya nang makita ang namumulang ankle niya. Kung sinuswerte ka nga naman.

"Let me help you, Winter." Bulong ni Karina. Nakaluod siya malapit kay Winter. Although she kept her hands on herself. 

"I am fine, Karina. Really, I am." Sagot ni Winter at ngumiti. Karina scoffed.

"I am here, so let me help. Kagaya dati." 

[jbsjsjssdjs writer's block is a sndjsjsd, instead of having ideas how to continue my ongoing works, I just have plenty of new story ideas]