"Because it's you? What does that supposed to mean? Dahil ba ako ang kapartner niya dati noong fourth year high school tayo? Or dahil sikat ako at acoomplished sa sport ko?" Tanong ni Winter at umupo sa upuan sa harap nila Ningning at Giselle. 

Both of her friends did not utter a word. They watch her amusedly with drinks in their hands. 

"Then what? She adopted Darcy without telling a word? Hindi ko nga alam na possible pala yun. Hindi naman dahil mayaman siya ifoforge noya na ang pirma ko. I mean, yeah, I love my baby. But at least tell me that I would be her real mother, right?" Winter ranted and took a sip of her rum. She hummed when the alcohol took contact with . It burns but in a good way. 

"Tapos she acted so friendly around me! Hindi ba niya alam na matagal ko na siyang crush? Respeto naman sana sa hindi makamove on sakanya!" 

"Uh, for starters, no, she did not know that you have a huge crush on her." Sabi ni Ningning at ngumisi. Winter groaned. 

"Bakit ba kasi pinakilala mo pa sakin si Karina? Ikaw talaga may kasalanan ng lahat e!" Sabi ni Winter. Ningning raised a brow. Nasisi pa siya sa kalandian ng dalawa. Nasaan ba ang hustisya?

"Ano bang problema mo kay Karina, Win? Friends naman kayo," tanong ni Giselle at tumayo. Kinuha niya ang chips na nasa may ref bago bumalik sa pwesto. 

Winter looked confused.

Ano ba ang problema nya kay Karina? Parang wala naman, pero at the same time, parang ang rami. Hindi na niya alam kung saan siya lulugar.

"She's just so perfect for me! Hindi niya man lang kinukwestyon kapag ayokong magpahawak! Sinusunod niya lahat ng gusto ko. Heck, she even bought me my favorite bread and milk. She knows how to make me laugh, how to make me blush. Hindi na nga ako magugulat kapag nahalata niyang crush ko siya." Winter said and crossed her arms. Her friends looked at her like she grew another head. 

"Bakit ganiyan kayo makatingin? A little help would be nice!" Kumuha ng chips si Ningning at isinubo. Nakatitig pa rin sila ni Giselle kay Winter. The latter frowned. 

"Hello? Okay lang ba kayo?" She asked. 

"Akala ba namin crush lang? Bakit parang hindi naman?" Ningning asked. 

"Paanong hindi naman? Sobrang crush ko si Karina! Kung hindi lang ako ganito, matagal ko na siyang nilandi!" Sigaw ni Winter. Buti na lamang at nasa bahay lang sila ni Winter. Walang makakarinig o magchichismis. 

"Alam mo, ikaw lang yung kilala ko na kesa ideny, mas pinapahiya pa yung sarili." Sabi ni Giselle at itinuro si Winter. 

Winter rolled her eyes and pouted. Bakit naman niya idedeny na may crush siya kay Karina? The taller girl does not deserve that.

"So what? Eh sobrang nakakabakla naman talaga siya. Si Ningning nga nagkacrush sakanya noong bata pa lamang sila, tapos ikaw, naging crush mo rin siya noong high school diba?" Tinaas niya ng kilay ang mga kaibigan. Ang yayabang kasi. Kung makapang-asar akala mo mga hindi nagkacrush kay Karina. 

"And look what we are now. We're engaged, and you're still pining over your high school crush." Ningning said smugly. God, please give Winter the patience that she needs. 

"And? Share mo lang? Akala ko ba nandito kayo parra tulungan ako? Bakit parang nang-aasar lang kayo?" She asked. 

Giselle huffed and shrugged. 

"Mas masaya kayang asarin ka." She said and smirked. Parehas talaga sila ng ugali ng fiancee niya na walang ibang ginawa kundi ang asarin si Winter. 

"For real though, wala bang naging jowa or fling si Karina simula noong umalis ako?" She asked. She's curious. Bukod kasi sa maganda si Karina, sobrang bait pa. Hindi naman malabo na nagkaroon siya ng girlfriend o boyfriend. Straight ba si Karina? Hindi nya rin alam.

"Wala naman. Pero maraming nanligaw sakanya noong college." Lumapit si Winter nang konti kay Ningning. She tilted her head. 

"And?" She asked, her voice and face full of hope. 

"May asawa at anak na raw siya." Sagot ni Giselle. They started laughing, except Winter. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya. May asawa at anak na si Karina? Bakit sabi niya noong nakaraang araw, wala naman daw? 

"Meron?" Nagkatinginan si Ningning at Giselle. Naalog ba ang utak ni Winter tuwing naglalaro siya ng tennis? Bakit ganito ang kaibigan nila? 

"Ewan ko sayo, Winter. Ano nga palang balita kay Darcy?" Ningning asked and took a sip of her cola. Tumayo si Winter at iniabot ang phone niya kay Ningning. Her lock screen and wallpaper are their family picture. They took a picture after the school play. 

Karina invited her to dinner. Siya ang nagluto ng pagkain nilang tatlo, just like old times. 

"We decided that she'll stay with me every weekday. Since mas maluwag ang schedule ko kay Karina. And she's still studying for the NMAT." Winter explained.

"Can we borrow her next time? We wanted to bring her to an amusement park. Kung okay lang sayo," tanong ni Giselle. Close din sila kay Darcy since palagi silang kasama nila Karina sa bahay. 

"You can. May retreat lahat ng faculty and staffs ng Academy next week. So, please take care of my daughter."