It's been a week since Winter and Minju met. Halos every other day silang nagkikita para uminom ng kape. Doon lang naman kasi malapit ang talyer. Besides, Minju does not want Winter to see her in her workplace or University. 

"Kumusta kayo ni Minju?" Tanong ni Yujin at inakbayan si Winter. The latter scoffed.

"Okay lang. Ang ganda nya pa rin. Ang bait bait pa. Sa tingin mo ba masyadong mabilis kung ipapakilala ko na siya sa iba?" Tanong ni Winter. Yujin hummed and raised a brow.

"I think hindi naman, Boss. Magtatampo panigurado si RJ kapag di ka kaagad nagsabi," sabi ni Yujin.

Nakita ni Winter na nasa labas na ng cafe si Minju. She looked at the clock by the wall. Medyo maaga pa para sa typical meet up nila.

"Aga naman niya," bulong ni Winter. Tinapik ni Yujin ang likod ng nakakatanda.

"Go, Boss! Landi well," natatawang sabi niya at umalis. Napaka-supportive ng kaibigan niya sa kabaklaan na gagawin niya. 

Winter wore her favorite plaid shirt before crossing the street. She smiled and waved at the slightly taller girl.

"Hi! You're early, ata?" Sabi ni Winter. Binuksan nya ang pintuan ng cafe. The bells chimed in when they walked in. 

Umupo sila sa usual table nila. 

"Nadismiss kasi ako ng maaga," sabi ni Minju at ngumiti. Minju has already graduated, but she is taking her Masteral classes. 

"Oh really? Buti naman pinuntahan mo ako." Nakangiting sabi ni Winter. Kinikilig siya. Siya kasi palagi ang pumupunta sa place ng mga kalandian niya. Ganito pala ang feeling kapag siya ang pinupuntahan. 

"Bakit hindi? Sayang naman ang oras kung hindi ko rin makikita ang pinakacute na car mechanic, hindi ba?" Winter covered her face with both of her hands. Tangina. Nakakabakla talaga. 

"How's the University?" Winter asked. Iniba na lang niya ang topic kasi baka mas lalong rumupok ang marupok niyang puso. 

"Ganoon pa rin naman! How about the Talyer? Business is good?" Umorder si Winter ng usual orders nila at tumingin kay Minju. She rested her chin on her palm while looking at the girl. 

"Doing fine pa rin naman. You know, you look so pretty." Winter flirted. Sabi nga ng iba, two can play the game. 

"And you do too! Stop flattering me, Winter." Sabi ni Minju at umiling. They looked at the door when the bells chimed. A tall girl wearing a pencil skirt and white button down shirt entered the cafe. Napansin ni Winter ang kulay purple na buhok ng babae. Parang gusto niya tuloy magkulay rin ng buhok. 

Ibinalik ni Winter ang tingin kay Minju. 

"What do you think about grabbing dinner sometimes?" Tanong ni Winter.

"I would love to, of course. I'll text or call you na lang if I am available. Is it okay?" Tanong ni Minju kay Winter. The latter shrugged to act nonchalant. Dapat act cool muna sa una. Nobody likes to date someone eager and easily excited.  

"Sure, sure. Ikaw bahala." Ngumiti si Winter at kinain ang cheesecake na nasa harapan niya. 

"I need to go home. See you when I see you, Winter?" Tumayo si Winter at inihatid si Minju sa kotse niya. 

That was days ago. Hindi man lang nagparamdam si Minju kay Winter. Not even once. 

Hindi siya tinext ni Winter dahil ayaw niyang magmukhang clingy. Naglalandian pa lang naman sila, hindi pa sila mag-syota. 

"Ichat mo na kasi! Kaysa naman magmukmok ka dito!" Sigaw ni Yujin at tinapat sa mukha ni Winter ang cellphone niya. She rolled her eyes.

"Ayoko nga! Baka magmukha akong clingy! Ang bata mo pa kasi para maintindihan," naiiritang sabi ni Winter. She cleaned her denim jumper before walking into her office.

"Boss Win." Inakbayan ni Yujin ang boss niya. She hummed and smirked at the older girl. Her hand is full of grease from the cars that she has been fixing since earlier in the morning.

"Anong magagawa mo kung clingy ka talaga?" Yujin asked. Siniko ni Winter ang sikmura ng mas bata.

"Tumahimik ka nga! Itetext ko na nga! Ito na! Parang tanga, Yujin." 

Nagtype ng sasabihin niya si Winter. Paano ba magsimula ng text? Minju is always the one to initiate the conversation.

"Yujin, lapit ka nga dito," tawag niya sa kaibigan. Yujin is currently talking with the other employees. Agad namang tumakbo papunta sakanya si Yujin.

"What? Ano?" 

"Paano ba magsimula ng convo?" Tanong niya at iniabot ang cellphone kay Yujin. 

"Maghello ka? I love you ba dapat agad?" Iniikot niya ang sarili niya sa swivel chair habang nakatingala. I love you does not seem bad at the moment, though she does not feel that deep. 

"Bakit hindi?" She asked.

"Ayan nagsend ako ng hello." She said and chuckled. 

"Nagreply na ba?" Excited na tanong ni Winter. 

"Ha? Hindi pa, pero nakaseen na, Boss." The younger girl handed the phone to her Boss before going back to her station. Tinitigan ni Winter ang phone niya. Nakaseen pa rin si Minju. 

She chewed on her thumb as she waited for the girl's reply. One minute becomes an hour, then two. Sumakit na at lahat ang ulo at mata niya ay hindi pa rin nagrereply si Minju. Wala naman siyang ginawang mali noong huli silang nagkita at nag-usap. 

"Girl? Bakit ka nakasimangot?" Pumasok sa office niya si Ningning at ipinatong ang bag sa isang upuan. She crossed her arms. Ningning is one of her closest friends. She's the group's compass.

"Ang tagal kasi magreply nung new friend ko." Sagot ni Winter. Nakatingin pa rin siya sa phone niya. Nakita nya na may nag-appear na tatlong tuldok sa screen. Finally! Nagttype na si Minju.

"New friend nga ba?" Tanong ni Ningning. She sat on the chair in front of Winter's wooden table. 

"Shush! She's typing!" Winter excitedly muttered. She tapped her right foot on the ground.

Winter's shoulders dropped.

"Anong nangyari sayo?" Tanong ng kaibigan niya. Winter ignored her and pouted.

Sino ba namang hindi malulungkot sa reply ni Minju na I'm busy?

Parang nakulong sa freezer si Winter. Ang cold.