“So, paano… I have to go na guys,” wika ni Giselle nang mailagay na namin sa van ang lahat ng mga gamit niya. Karina wasn’t around dahil she’s still filming and medyo malayo ang location nila ngayon kaya kaming dalawa lang ni Ning ang last na makakasama niya. 

Ning sighed loudly kaya napatingin kaming dalawa ni Giselle sakanya. She’s carrying Tabi in her arms while looking everywhere but at Giselle. The latter chuckled and walked towards Ning.

“Ning, magkikita naman tayo everyday. Stop frowning.”

Sinamaan naman ni Ning ng tingin si Giselle, “Bibisita ka dito everyday ha!”

“Of course,” she answered, smiling. “Sayang wala si Karina. She’s busy na naman but nagsend na siya ng long message sa akin kanina,” Giselle added then giggled.

“Nag long message sa’yo si Karina?” curious kong tanong. 

Giselle nodded in response. “She said it’s a bummer daw na she’s not here to send me off but she’s going to visit me when she’s available daw and some other sweet things na kami lang ang makakaalam.”

I pouted, “Edi kayo na.”

“Shuta ka, Win. Don’t tell me magmamaktol ka pa today? Moment ko ngayon para malungkot,” Ning remarked kaya naman hinampas ko ang braso niya pero bigla naman akong tinahulan ni Tabi. Napansin ko lang na ayaw talaga niya ng may hinahampas sa kahit anong parte ng katawan dahil nagagalit siya. Minsan nga, pinagtitripan siya namin ni Ning. Kunyare hahampasin namin ang isa’t-isa dahil sobrang funny ng reaction ni Tabi.

“For the love of God, ’wag naman kayo mag-away today,” Giselle whined but soon her expression changed. Her gaze softens as she looks at us with so much adoration. “But to be honest, I’m gonna miss that. I’m gonna miss witnessing your bickering. I’m gonna miss you guys…”

I pursed my lips, trying my best not to pout. Mahigit isang taon na naming kasama si Gigi kaya nasanay na talaga ako sa presence niya. Dati kasi, kaming dalawa lang naman ni Ning ang laging magkasama pero when they entered out lives, they became my closest friends and our second family. It’s nice to have someone like Giselle in our lives. Siya yung nagiging balance ng bahay. Siya lang ‘yung may lakas ng loob na sigawan at pagalitan kami ni Ning when we’re too much dahil si Karina ay hinahayaan lang kami. Siya rin yung maaasahan sa chores lalong lalo na ‘yung mga panahon na wala pang mag-aalaga dati kay Kat. Umuuwi siya agad from work para lang bantayan ang pamangkin ko. 

Giselle’s an amazing woman and I’m gonna miss her so much.

“Group hug!” Ning screamed and pulled the two of us papunta sakanya as we enveloped ourselves into a group hug.

This is my family.

“Tita Win, when will Tita Wina take me to my ballet class? I miss her.” Napatigil ako sa paglalakad and crouch down to meet my niece at her eye level.

“Baby, Tita Rina is busy right now because she’s working to buy you your favorite toys. You have me naman diba? I always take you to school,” sagot ko as I caressed both of her arms.

“But I miss Tita Wina…” 

I sighed. Ever since kasi na nag ballet class si Kat, hindi pa siya naihahatid ni Karina gaya ng prinomise niya sa bata. Noong sinundo niya kami dati dito sa studio was her first and last kaya gets ko naman kung bakit ganito ang inaakto ng pamangkin ko.

“I know and I miss her too but she’s doing her passion, Kat. Diba you want to be a ballet dancer? Well, Tita Rina dreamed to be a director and now she’s one. She loves directing as much as you love dancing so we should support her because it makes her happy. Okay?”

Sasagot pa sana ang pamangkin ko nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng dance studio, revealing Teacher Kazuha. Napatayo agad ako and smiled warmly at her.

“Good morning po.”

“Oh, you’re here na pala,” she walked towards us. “Good morning, Miss Kim. Good morning, my favorite,” she chuckled as soon as Kat hugged her waist. 

“Are you gonna watch today?” tanong ni Teacher Kazuha sa akin habang pinagmamasdan ko silang dalawa. Favorite niya talaga si Kazuha. Feeling ko magseselos na neto si Karina kapag nakita niya ‘to. 

“Ay, no po. I have to meet someone po eh. Sunduin ko nalang po siya after her class,” sagot ko naman at ibinigay kay Kazuha ang maliit na bag ni Kat.

“Oh, okay… Well then, Katrina, say bye na to your Tita,” Kazuha motioned my niece na lumapit sa akin which she did.

Kat cutely waved her hand, “Bye, Tita Win. Please bring Tita Wina with you later.”

I chuckled saka niyakap ang pamangkin ko then have her a kiss on her cheek. “We’ll call Tita Wina nalang after your class, okay? I love you, my love.”

“I love you, too, Tita Win.”

Bumalik na si Kat sa teacher niya pero nagulat ako sa sumunod na sinabi ni Kazuha. 

“I’ve seen the interview.”

“Sorry?”

Napatingin siya sa pendant ng necklace ko which has Karina’s initials. “The one where Direk Yu admitted na you guys are a thing?” nahihiyang sagot niya. Ah, ‘yun pala. My God, nakakalimutan ko talagang sikat na nga pala yung girlfriend ko. Basically, nakita na ata ng four million people ang mukha ko dahil sa pinost ni Karina. “Congratulations, Winter. You two look good, Bagay kayo.”

Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi ni Kazuha at nodded slowly, “Thank you.”

Nagpaalam na ako at dumiretso sa totoong agenda ko today— which is ang kausapin si Jeno. I know it’s long overdue pero ngayon lang siya naging available. Simula naman noong nag message siya sa akin, I keep asking him kung kailan siya pwede makausap personally. Siya lang naman kasi yung hinihintay ko and now, thankfully, he’s available na.

When I arrived at Melo's Steakhouse, my eyes immediately looked for Jeno and when I saw him sitting in the very corner of the restaurant, I immediately walked towards him. I'm still a little nervous even though I know only two scenarios can happen here: It's either he's gonna make a scene which is less possible since he's a celebrity or two, he's gonna kill me and tell me how could I do that to hi—-

“Hey,” he said as he beckoned for me to take a seat across from him. I have no idea what he's thinking because he's keeping a straight face. The atmosphere was awkward and thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Hey, Jeno…” I greeted back as I put my handbag on the chair beside me. He’s wearing a disguise para hindi maka-gain ng attention pero ramdam na ramdam pa rin ang aura niya kahit na halos balot na balit na siya. Mayroon na ring varieties of food sa ibabaw ng mesa.

Ang awkward!

It's worth noticing that Jeno has shed some weight, but he's still quite gorgeous. He has dark circles under his eyes and has already cropped his hair. What happened to him? He has been out of the spotlight for several months. I also didn't see any of his endorsements or interviews kaya medyo nagwoworry ako because he’s still my friend. Kahit naman mas close niya si Jaemin, he’s been with us throughout the years.

“I ordered na pala if you don’t mind,” saad niya nang walang nagsalita sa aming dalawa. I'm not sure what's going to happen because he's unusually calm.

“Not at all, thank you…” I answered. “Should we eat?”

He nodded saka nagsimula na kaming kumain. Hindi ko masyado ma-enjoy ang pagkain dahil nga sa kaba na nararamdaman ko. It didn’t help din na hindi nagsasalita si Jeno. He just kept… eating.  Paano naman kami mag-uusap kung ganito kami pareho?

“Jeno.”

“Winter.”

“Oh, you go first.”

“You go first.”

Jusko.

I chuckled dryly and wiped the corner of my cheeks with the table napkin. “It’s been a while since the last time I saw you. Kamusta?”

Really, Winter? Kamusta? 

“Well, I’ve been all over the place,” sagot niya and chuckled humorlessly. “But I’m getting there, I guess. Ikaw, Win? How are you?” he added as he knowingly glanced over at my pendant. Bakit ba tingin sila ng tingin sa pendant ko. K for Karina na nga!

“I’m good, great eve—”

“Buti ka pa.”

“Hmmm?”

“Winter, dati pa lang alam mo naman na gusto ko si Karina diba?”

Oh wow, I didn’t know na ganito kabilis ang shifting ng topic namin but I guess hindi niya na rin gusto magpaligoy-ligoy pa.

“Yes, I know.”

“And yet, pinatulan mo siya? I thought you were straight. Dahil ba naghiwalay kayo ni Jaemin kaya sa babae ka naman pumat—”

“Watch your mouth, Jeno. Hindi ko gusto yang tabas ng dila mo,” I g