"Baba na kayo." Utos ng teacher nila. Karina and Winter stayed in their seats, waiting for their classmates to get off the bus.

"How many children do you want, Winter? Hindi ba dapat pinag-uusapan ito ng mag-asawa?" Karina asked and wiggled her eyebrows at the shorter girl. At this point of life, Winter has given up. Kung gusto ni Karina ng family roleplay, edi ibibigay niya. Win-win situation. Karina got to enjoy this bubble of hers, while Winter? Well, dream come true sakanya na maging asawa ang crush niya. Kahit pretend wife lang. 

"Gusto ko boy muna bago girl. Two, pwede rin namang three. Ilan ba gusto mo?" Tanong ni Winter. Kasi kung hindi rin naman si Karina ang magiging mommy ng mga magiging anak niya, huwag na lang. 

"Two it is!" Sabay silang pumasok sa pinto ng orphanage. Nakapila sila sa harap ng mga bata. Ang jujudgemental ng mga tingin. Parang kinikilatis talaga sila. 

"You'll take care of that girl over there," sabi ng Class President nila at itnuro ang isang batang babae na nasa isang sulok lang. 

Tumango na lamang si Karina at Wiinter. They walked towards the girl. 

Winter is holding the hem of Karina's uniform. She's scared of strangers. Buti na lamang at nginitian lamang siya ni Karina nang maramdaman ang mahigpit niyang hawak. 

"Hey, kid. How are you?" Umupo si Karina sa tabi niya. Winter remained standing in front of the two.  

"O-okay la-lang po." Nauutal na sabi ng bata. She played with her doll while trying to look away from the girls in front of her. 

"My name's Karina, and the girl standing is Winter. We'll be your parents for a week, I think. Okay, lang ba sayo?" The taller asked while brushing the kid's hair with her fingers. Winter waved with a small smile. Nahihiya siya sa bata, mostly because the kid is a stranger.

"One week lang po?" The kid asked disappointedly. Karina chuckled. Kahit si Winter ay natawa. 

"After a week, palagi ka naming bibisitahin dito, hindi ba Win?" Tumingin si Karina kay Winter. 

"Of course! Ano name mo?" Winter asked. She sat on the floor in front of the kid and Karina. Nakatingin lang sakanila si Karina habang nakangiti nang malawak. Kung hindi lang siya kilala ni Winter ay aakalain na niyang crush siya ni Karina. 

But she knew better than that. Karina is naturally sweet and thoughtful, not just with her, but with everyone. She's not special, she's just like everyone else. Besides, why would Karina settle on a sick girl? 

"I am Darcy po," the kid smiled, showing the dimples on her cheeks. Winter cooed at the sight. She wants to adopt the kid right at this moment! Pero, she's only 16. Maybe, in the future, Karina would agree of being Darcy's other mother. Kahit walang strings attached. Basta gusto ni Winter, si Karina ang isa pang ina ni Darcy when she adopted her. 

"Do you want to be our daughter, Darcy?" Karina asked and offered the kid a hand. Winter wanted to do the same. But she cannot. Kaya naman ay inilagay niya sa likod niya ang mga kamay niya at ngumiti na lamang kay Darcy. 

"Yes po!" Darcy yelled cheerfully. 

Kinuha ni Winter ang gamit ni Darcy at isinakbit sa likod niya. 

"Are you two married po?" She asked while looking innocently at them. Namula ang mga pisngi at tenga ni Winter. Mga pauso kasi ni Karina. Pati tuloy bata naniniwala. Susunugin ni Winter ang bahay nila Karina kapag hindi siya pinanagutan nito. 

"No, we're not. Bata pa rin kasi kami, but soon.  Malay mo magpakasal kami sa future, right?" Natatawang tanong ni Karina. Nauna na maglakad si Winter. Marupok ang puso niya. Baka mamaya tuluyan nang mahulog kay Karina na pafall. 

Pumunta na sila sa bus. They sat on their seats. Pauwi na sila sa bahay nila ng isang linggo. 

Karina mde Darcy sit on her lap. Hindi naman nagseselos si Winter. Marami pa namang oras para itry ano feeling umupo sa lap ni Karina. 

"Take a picture!" Sabi ni Karina at pumalakapak pa. Inilabas naman ni Winter ang phone niya at itinapat ang camera sa dalawa. She smiled to herself. She can trade anything for this moment to be her future. 

"Sama ka po sa picture, Mommy Win." Bulong ng bata. They decided that for this to work, and for Darcy to actually feel that she has a family, she must call them Mommy or Mama. 

Winter chuckled and nodded her head. Nagpose sila habang nakangiti. 

"Pasa mo 'yan sakin ha? I'm going to make our first family picture my wallpaper for the rest of my life." Proud na sabi ni Karina. Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Winter. Nagbibiro ba siya? 

"Paano kapag nagkapamilya ka sa future?" She asked. Karina shrugged and hugged Darcy.

"If you and Darcy ain't it in the future, then I don't want a family." 

Akala naman ni Winter project ito sa school. Bakit parang naging totoo ata?