Here we go again.

Get up, get dressed, get breakfast, and get picked up.

Nakabihis na ako, and handa na para sa mga hamon ng buhay ngayong araw. Just waiting for the best part of the day, I guess. And partly nervous, as anyone could be bago pumasok sa unil.

And as if on cue, she’s arrived. Kasama ang ratrat ni ate Irene.

“Hoy Katarina! Labas na andiyan na si Minjeong. Bilisan mo at baka ma-late pa kayo, anong oras na oh!”

“Ito na, ito na, madam Eneri, I’m on my way down. Late ulit ako makakauwi later at may practice kami. You know how it is.” I say rushing to the kitchen, passing my sister at the dining table. Ang aga-aga pero nasa laptop na agad ‘to.

“Sige lang, Rina. Basta just text me at susunduin ka namin ni Seul. Delikado na lalo kung gagabihin ka mag-isa. If makakasabay mo pa rin si Minjeong, sabay ka na. I just don’t want you to go home alone at night, okay? Sleepover naman kayo ngayong gabi, ‘di ba?” Bilin niya as I grab my water bottle from the fridge.

“Yes ate, baka magpasundo na lang ako kay Min. Nakakahiya naman kasi sa inyo ni ate Seul baka makasagabal pa ako.” At nahampas pa nga ako ng mabutihin kong ate.

“Ito pala, Rina, baunin mo. Donkotsu and rice lang ‘yan, pero luto ko ‘yan kaya masarap.” Sabi ni ate as she hands me a lunch bag. Malaki-laking bag ito para lunch lang ang laman, ano pa kaya ang laman nito?

“May snacks na rin diyan at gatorade, alam ko namang practice niyo ngayon so it’s better to be energized for it. I packed you a spare shirt and some face towels na rin naka-separate lang but it’s still in the bag.”

Kinurot ni ate ang tagiliran ko kaya naman napa-aray rin ako. I don’t understand her sometimes din. She’ll say something nice tapos next thing you know, bayolente na ulit siya. Never let them know your next move, kumbaga.

Ate’s always so caring and yet so violent. I wonder sometimes how ate Seulgi puts up with her, considering that they’ve been together since I was in high school, and now graduating student na ako.

Ate Irene's 4 years older than me, currently, she and ate Seul own a resto, BaeKkang, serving Filipino-Korean fusion dishes. Currently they actually have two branches na. They usually let me do part-time there kapag hindi ako busy para may magawa naman ako.

And I really do love ate Irene, putting aside our childish banters. People think it’s weird how we get along despite not being blood related. Pero we are siblings, step-siblings, and it’s really no different to having a biological sibling. We get along, we fight, we talk about girls (thankfully not boys), and we bond like siblings normally do.

It’s not a complicated situation din naman, per se. My biological father was never in the picture until I was around 12, and nakilala ni mom si dad when I was in preschool at elementary si ate Irene.

Dad was a widower, ate Irene’s mom passed while giving birth to her. They got married noong grade 1 ako and ate Irene was grade 5. We’ve been one big happy family ever since. And recently, me and dad have been trying to talk mom and ate into adopting a cat.

People also think that it’s weird that I call my step-father “dad” when he’s really the only father I’ve ever known. Respeto naman daw sa “tunay” kong ama. I have met my biological father, but I refer to him as “papa” kasi mas gusto niya raw ‘yun. He only reached out noong mas nakaangat na raw siya sa buhay. That , pero I still appreciate na he has made so much effort since to build a relationship with me.

He sends me gifts on my birthday and for Christmas and every year kapag moving up or graduations. I grab a meal with him every once in a while as well. Mom and dad say they don’t mind, and I’m sure totoo naman kasi dad and papa are actually great friends now at madalas ay sila pa ang naghahatid sa akin tuwing kumakain kami ni papa sa labas.

And so far, that’s my family life. It’s not at all complicated, I have two fathers and a mom. Parang si Sophie lang sa Mamma Mia.

As I walk out the door straight to the gate. Paglabas ko ng gate, bungad agad si Minjeong na nakangiti sa akin. She’s leaning on her car today, which was a change because we usually just take her bike to save on gas.

We live in the same village lang din naman kaya usually dinadaanan niya na ako sa house so we can go to school together.

“Good morning! Sorry, I overslept. Okay lang if kotse tayo today, Yooji? Hiniram ni ate ‘yung bike natin.” She says, giving me a peck on the cheek.

I just smiled, more so at the fact na she referred to her own bike as our bike. She reaches for my things na agad ko rin namang ibinigay para mailagay niya sa backseat at nagtungo na sa passenger seat upang sumakay.

“Good morning, Min. What happened today? You’re a bit late and we’re using a car.” I say as I hop onto the passenger seat.

“Oof, you look like a mess as well.” Pahabol ko, keeping in mind that she’s currently only wearing a muscle tee and sweatpants, with her hair stil dripping wet.

“Yeah, and matagal pa kaming nag-away ni ate Taeng dahil sa bike in the end kotse na lang din dinala ko. Oka lang ba if drive-thru lang muna tayo today?” She hands me her phone, already unlocked for me.

I just agree na we should get drive-thru na lang kasi malaking bagay na ‘yung 15 minutes, maaabutan na namin ang malalang traffic. Delikado na at baka ma-late pa kami.

I take her phone and connect it to the car’s bluetooth system para makapag-play ng music. At this point, it was like clockwork to us. Mostly when we leave for trips lang na malayo kami gumagamit ng car, but we go on roadtrips often naman kaya nasanay na rin ako.

Now Playing: Issues - Julia Michaels

“You really love this song, don’t you, Karina?” Tanong ni Minjeong as she takes hold of my hand, placing it on the gear stick with her hand on top.

“Hmm… yeah. I don’t know. Parang nakikiliti utak ko sa sound niya.” Tawa ko. She laughs, as if bago pa ‘to sa kanya.

“Yeah, I get it. Playlist mo ‘yan ‘no?” Para pa siyang nang-aasar, pero technically it is.

“No kaya, it’s on your account.”

“I know, but it’s literally called ‘yooji’s favorites’. So it’s yours,” she said, squeezing my hand.

“Okay, Minter. Whatever you say.”

“Okay, Kat. Ayie, Kat.” pang-aasar niya.

“Oh my God, shut up!” Sabi ko sabay talikod sa kanya, however far away from her I could turn with a seatbelt on.

It felt weird being called Kat. I mean, it made sense kasi Katarina naman pangalan ko, but I just don't like it. It doesn't have a ring to it. Karina sounds prettier anyway.

She sings along to the song as we exit the subdivision.

“'Cause I got issues, but you got 'em too

So give 'em all to me and I'll give mine to you

Bask in the glory of all our problems

'Cause we got the kind of love it takes to solve 'em

Yeah, I got issues

And one of them is how bad I need ya”

I’m so used to this by now, getting in the car, playing my own music, and the both of us singing along to songs while we have our conversations.

She winks at me and looks straight back once again on the road ahead of us. I hit her arm lightly, causing a reaction from her. Kinuha niya naman ulit ang isa kong kamay para maibalik sa dati nitong pwesto.

And that was the problem. Minjeong doing all these things. Kissing my cheeks, holding my hand, even calling me baby, like it wasn't going to make me feel things. Things that are supposed to be wrong, considering that I've known her since we were 6.

I met her noong grade 1 kaming dalawa, we were classmates. Pinagtabi kami ng teacher namin kasi tahimik daw kaming dalawa, we were both very shy kids. Generally, I tend to avoid situations where I have to talk to people I don’t know pero kayang kaya ko namang sumabak sa labanan if wala na akong choice. Winter’s the same as well, but she actually thrives so much more in social situations than me.

I’m grateful for her that way kasi minsan ay kapag nararamdaman niyang nao-overwhelm na ako sa environment, siya na ang gagawa ng paraan to accomodate me. I’m honestly glad that our teacher made us answer “Tell Me About Yourself” worksheets (and that baby Minjeong didn’t know how to read well yet) because that’s how we even started talking in the first place.

“I was just kidding, ito naman. And besides, I have a date tonight.” And yet another problem. If she wasn't my best friend, maybe I'd start to think na problema lang ambag niya sa buhay ko. Joke!

Except it really is a problem naman. Ever since, Friday nights were for the two of us only. We always had sleepovers on Friday nights, and kahit sobrang busy namin with college, we still try.

"It’s Friday though? But it's alright. Just keep yourself safe. I'll just commute pauwi or ask ate Rene, I don't knowi." I say. I don't know, parang nawalan ako ng gana sa sinabi niya.

She's always going out on dates, all with girls who never get a second date naman. I mean, I do too, para masabing I'm actually trying to move on from my best friend, pero not as often as she does!

"Ah, , oo nga pala. Bawi na lang ako. I’m really sorry, Karina, I forgot. Do you have practice ba tonight? I can try to pick you up naman and we can still have our sleepover." And there she goes again, making way for me like there aren’t any more important things in life.

"Yeah, pero until 9:00 p.m. pa kami, you know that. And besides, it’s just a sleepover. Mas importante naman 'yung date mo."

She squeezes my hand three times like she always does when she knows I'm feeling off about something.

“And yet here we are. I know you’re upset, Jimin. Mamaya, nagtatampo ka na naman sa akin. Just so you know, ikaw ang pinaka-importante sa lahat. You're my best friend, sa lahat ng makaka-date ko walang makakalamang sa'yo. Just text me what time so I can pick you up."

I roll my eyes and look at her. She was smiling, eyes straight onto the road. I look at her hand on top of mine. This was good; good enough for me.

The stolen stares, which linger for way too long, the playful touches, the childish ba