Karina walked in the mall quietly. Her friends offered to go with her, but she wants alone time. Tsaka ayaw niyang makaabala pa. Hindi naman malayo ang mall sa condo unit niya. 

Pupunta siya sa salon para magpakulay ng dark. Maybe, she'll add bangs too. She hummed to herself. Napapansin niya na pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao. 

"Good afternoon, Miss Yu! How can we help?" Tanong ng isang hairdresser pagpasok niya sa loob. She's a regular customer here, kaya naman kilala na siya ng employees. 

Iniikot ni Karina ang tingin sa buong salon. She has this crazy idea of letting a stranger style her hair. She's indecisive, hindi siya proud, but it is the truth. 

Why not make her dilemma other people's?

"Uhm, can you go back to me after 10 minutes? I am still thinking," she asked. The hairdresser nodded her head politely before accommodating the other customers. 

After a minute of browsing, she saw a girl sitting on a couch. Naghahanap siya ng hair color sa brochure. Mahaba ang buhok niya at kulay brown. 

Karina walks towards the girl. Wala namang mawawala sakanya. It's now or never. 

"Blonde suits you, I think." She said and offered a small smile. Hindi siya magaling sa pakikipagsocialize. Hindi rin naman siya magaling sa love, pero look what show she's hosting next week. 

"Re-really?" The girl looked up. Karina saw her plump lips and chubby cheeks. The woman is pretty and cute. She kinda looks like a Maltese. 

"Hmm, now that I see your face, I am a hundred percent sure." Sabi ni Karina. The girl blushed with the compliment. 

Karina is not flirting. And as a journalist, she vowed to only tell the truth. And the girl being pretty is the truth. But beauty is subjective. Everyone is pretty in their own ways. 

"Just a hundred?" Tanong ng babae at ngumiti. 

"That's the maximum, isn't it?" The girl shrugged, her face still blushing.

"Do you want to sit beside me, Miss?" She trailed off. Hinihintay niya na magpakilala si Karina. 

"Karina. You can call me Karina. How about you?" The taller girl sat beside the stranger. She maintained great distance. Para naman hindi sila magka-ilangan. They're strangers, they don't know each other. Ang off naman kung uupo siya malapit sa babae. 

"Winter. Bakit ka pala nandito, Ka-karina?" Napaubo si Winter nang mautal siya sa dulo. Kaiisip niya lang na she's doing a great job maintaining composure. 

Karina is pretty and familiar. Maybe she became a customer in Winter's shop, or maybe a stranger who happened to pass by. But Winter is pretty sure that she won't miss a face like Karina's. 

"I was thinking of changing my hairstyle, but I don't know to what style. I was hoping you could help me." Karina explained. Nakatingin lang siya kay Winter. Isn't it the polite thing to do? To look at someone you're conversing with? 

Napakunot ang noo ni Karina nang mapansin na hindi tumitingin sakanya si Winter. Is she that ugly? Nakakadiri ba ang itsura na hindi na makatingin nang deretso sakanya si Winter?

"Uhm," the shorter girl glanced at her before looking away again. Ang ganda ni Karina. Kung wala lang sigurong something sakanila ni Minju ay hinaharot na niya si Karina. Speaking of Minju, hindi na ulit siya nagparamdam pagkatapos ng text niya na busy siya.

"Dark blue hair. That'll look good on y-you." Karina smiled. At least she thinks the same. 

'Really? I think so too!" Karina exclaimed. It's out of character but she got excited. 

"Can I suggest one more?" Nahihiyang tanong ni Winter. God, please be good to her poor heart. But she needed to say it.

"I guess it won't hurt." 

"Palagay ka na rin ng bangs." Nakangiting sabi ni Winter. Tumayo naman si Karina at ngumiti rin. It's not as big as Winter's, but it is big enough for Karina.

"I might as well do that. I'll see you around, Miss Winter." Bago pa makasagot si Winter ay lumayo na si Karina.

Who would have thought that someone is thinking the same way as her? Maybe people aren't always bad. Or maybe, Karina is just lucky to meet Winter. 

Sinabi niya sa hairdresser ang suggestion ni Winter. 

It took hours. But it's done now. Tiningnan nya ang sarili sa salamin. She winced. Damn. She looks so good. 

"Okay lang po ba sainyo, Miss?" Tanong ng hairdresser. Karina cleared before nodding her head.

"Yes. Thank you." Iniikot niya ulit ang tingin para hanapin si Winter. The girl suggested the hairstyle, she might as well show her. 

Nakita niya si Winter na katatapos lang din. She cut her hair? 

"Miss Winter." The shorter girl jerked in surprise and looks at Karina with slightly open. The girl is so gorgeous. Hindi nya rin akalain na gagawin talaga ng babae ang sinuggest nya. 

"J-just Wi-winter, please." Nauutal na sabi ni Winter. Kailangan nya na siguro magpacheck-up. Palagi siyang nauutal kapag may kausap na maganda. 

"Blonde really suits you, Just Winter." The taller said. Her eyes disappeared as her smile gets bigger. 

"Bagay rin sayo yung new look mo, Karina." Nahihiyang sabi ni Winter. Sabay silang nagbayad sa counter at lumabas ng salon. Inabot na sila ng gabi. 

"It's all thanks to you, kind stranger." The shorter girl shrugged.

"You're naturally pretty, nosy stranger." Nagulat si Karina sa tinawag ni Winter sakanya. After a while, she smiled. 

"Gusto mo bang magdinner? Libre kita." Karina looked at her watch. 

"That is very kind of you, Winter. But I have to go. I still need to write my script." Winter pouted.

"Next time na lang! But it's your treat. I'll see you, Karina." Hinintay ni Winter na makalayo si Karina bago pumunta sa Jollibee. 

Pumunta na si Karina sa parking lot at sumakay sa Jimny niya. She remembered Winter. 

She regrets not telling the shorter girl how pretty she is. 

Sobrang malawak ang siyudad. But Karina, the pessimistic woman, hopes to see Winter again. And she'll make sure that she got to tell her how beautiful she looks.