Chapter Two

 

"How come no one noticed her when she's THAT pretty?"

 

"So the rumors are true? They're dating and Winter is biual?"

 

“Hala, bading nga si idol, good for her,”

 

Winter heard those murmurs from other students. Sabay silang pumasok ni Karina. They met at the school parking lot. Naglalakad silang dalawa ni Karina habang magkahawak ang kamay. Isang linggo pa lang ang nakalipas nung pumayag si Winter sa gusto ni Karina.

 

Hindi parin niya makalimutan na muntik na siya mawalan ng first kiss nung araw na ‘yon.

 

Bakit siya pumayag? She's guilty. Dahil alam niyang mali niya kung bakit nadamay pa si Karina sa kumakalat na rumor tungkol sa kanya at sa baseball player. At para mawala yung guilt na nararamdaman niya, pumayag na lang siyang tulungan si Karina. It's a win-win situation—well, sort of. Nawala nga ang rumor niya tungkol sa lalaking 'yon, may kapalit naman agad at iyon ang kumakalat na biual siya. She's not homophobic, hell, she even supports her best friend's relationship with a woman. She's straight, but at least, she's an ally.

 

At hindi pa alam ng mga kaibigan niya ang tungkol sa set up nilang dalawa ni Karina. Lihim lang siyang kinakausap ng dalaga sa loob ng student council room bago mag uwian ang lahat ng estudyante. Doon sila nag uusap ng kung anong plano nila. Kasama doon ang pagpapanggap nilang nag d-date sila at wala dapat makaalam nito. Ngayon lamang sila lantaran na nagpakita sa lahat na magkahawak ang kamay. They act like a real couple and it’s because Jeno doesn’t believe the fact that Karina is a lesbian.

 

Jeno and Karina went out on a date once almost a year ago and it was because of her father’s favor. Their father was golf buddies, and it happened that the two talked about their offspring during the game. Hindi pa alam ng tatay ni Karina na isa siyang lesbian noong mga oras na yon kaya pumayag ito dahil wala namang naipapakilala si Karina sa kanila. Nang gabing matapos ang date nila ni Jeno, agad na umamin si Karina sa magulang niya at nakahanda na ang gamit niya sakaling palayasin siya nito. Pero hindi ito nangyari at suporta pa ang nakuha niya.

 

“Are you uncomfortable, Winter?” Karina asked when she noticed uneasiness in Winter.

 

“Hindi lang ako sanay, I don’t like skinship,” Winter said.

 

“Really? Bakit ka pumayag na pumasok tayong school na magka-holding hands?”

 

“Isn’t this part of the deal?”

 

“Yeah, pero ayoko naman kung uncomfortable ka,”

 

“Hindi ko naman sinabing uncomfortable ako, ang sabi ko hindi ako sanay,”

 

“And we’re both girls, I’ll just think I’m holding my mom’s hand,”

 

“Amputa,” Hindi makapaniwala na sabi ni Karina at siya na ang bumitaw sa kamay ni Winter. Tiningnan lang siya nito na parang nagtatanong gamit ang mga mata niya.

 

“That’s your room na, see you around, baby. Sabay tayo lunch, hm?” Karina said and smiled at her. Winter noticed how Karina’s mole on the side of her lips suits her.

 

“Y-yeah, bye.” Sagot ni Winter at mabilis na tumalikod kay Karina. Pagpasok niya ng room ay tumambad agad sa kanya ang dalawang kaibigan na naka-crossarms pa. They’re five minutes early at wala pang teacher.

 

“Anong kabaklaan yon, Kim Minjeong?”

 

“Care to explain, Winter?” Nagtataray na tanong ni Ningning.

 

“Sabi ko na nga ba phase lang sa buhay natin ang pagiging straight. Ning, kabahan ka na.”

 

“Why kakabahan? It seems fun, right, Winter? Holding hands while walking? Eh sa pagkakatanda ko hindi ko pa nahahawakan ang kamay mo ng ganon katagal.” Intriga ni Ningning.

 

“B-Bakit? Girlfriend ba kita?” Winter asked. She’s thinking about the deal she had with Karina. Go with the flow.

 

“HAHAHAHAHAHA”

 

“I’ve never expect this to happen. Tangina, nakakakilabot pala.” Sabi ni Ryujin. Matagal na kasi siyang sumuko at tanggap niya nang siya lang ang bakla sa kanilang tatlo.

 

“Epal ka kamo,” Winter rolled her eyes at Ryujin.

 

“Nye nye, pareho tayong bading,”

 

“So, magkukwento ka o gigripuhan kita?” Tanong ni Ningning.

 

“Grabe ka naman,” Tinaasan lang siya ng kilay ni Ningning.

 

“Fine,”

 

Winter sighed and told them the story that Karina composed.

 

Apparently, the story goes like this; katulad lang ng ibang estudyante si Karina na kilala kung sino si Winter. She had a crush on her at nung nalaman ni Karina na may gusto si Winter sa kanya, she asked her out. Kinakabahan pa si Winter habang nagkukwento dahil hindi naman madaling utuin ang mga kaibigan niya.

 

“Eh hindi ba’t hindi mo naman siya gusto?” Ningning asked almost in a whisper because she doesn’t want anyone else to hear it. “You don’t even know her,”

 

“I’m giving us a chance, she looks nice.” Winter reasoned.

 

“Tama ka naman. Karina is too pretty for you pa nga,” Ryujin said.

 

Tinaasan naman siya ng kilay ni Winter, “Excuse me?”

 

Hindi na nakapag salita si Ryujin dahil dumating na ang teacher nila.

 

_

 

“Hi, baby,” Karina greeted as soon as Winter got out of their room.

 

“Ang aga mo naman. Kanina ka pa naghihintay?” Tanong nito.

 

“Nope, kakarating ko lang.”

 

“Uhm, Karina, best friends ko nga pala. Si Ryujin at Ningning.” Pakilala ni Winter sa mga kaibigan niya.

 

“Anong nakita mo kay Winter at bakit mo siya naging crush?”

 

Winter almost panic because they haven’t talk about that. Hindi niya alam ang isasagot ni Karina.

 

“Ryujin! Tigilan mo nga si Karina.” Winter said, pulling her.

 

“Why did you pull me away from them? I want to answer her question,”

 

“I don’t want you to. It’s gonna be insincere because you don’t really like me that way,” Winter said without looking at her. Sa daan lang ito nakatingin, she’s still holding Karina by her waist as they walk together. Kasunod naman nila ang dalawa pang kaibigan ni Winter na palihim pa silang kinuhanan ng picture.

 

“I thought you don’t like skinship?” Karina said. Winter looked at her, confused.

 

“Your arm is in my waist for about five minutes now, baby,” Karina chuckled and touched Winter’s nose. Inilayo niya naman agad ang mukha niya dito at inalis ang kamay niya sa bewang ni Karina. Pero agad na hinawakan ni Karina ang kamay ni Winter at sabay silang pumasok sa cafeteria.

 

Nae-enjoy ni Karina ang mga reaksyon ni Winter dahil sa ginagawa niya; she’s starting to like teasing Winter.

 

As usual, some students are talking about them as they enter the cafeteria.

 

Nagulat nalang si Winter nang biglang may kinawayan si Karina at agad na pinuntahan ng dalaga.

 

“Hi, Gi. Kanina ka pa?”

 

“I think twenty minutes? Maaga nag dismiss si sir eh,” Sagot nito.

 

“Hey, si Winter nga pala. Winter si Giselle, cousin ko.” Pakilala ni Karina sa kanilang dalawa.

 

“Oh, your friends are here na pala. Ningning, Ryujin, this is my cousin, Giselle.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Giselle.”

 

“Let’s eat na?”

 

“Anong food gusto mo?" Tanong ni Karina kay Winter.

 

"Huh? Ako na lang bibili ng food ko,"

 

"Just sit there, ako na ang bibili." Sabi ni Karina at pinaupo si Winter.

 

"A-ah, sige, chicken sandwich lang and iced tea," Sabi nito. Si Ryujin at Karina lang ang umalis para umorder ng food.

 

"Karina, what's the real deal with you and Winter?" Ryujin asked as they walked side by side towards the food stalls inside the cafeteria. "I didn't mean to pry, but I don't think Winter would date a woman,"

 

"Maybe you don't know her," Karina said and ordered her food. "And why would anyone refuse to date me?"

 

"Hey, I didn't mean to offend you. Nabigla lang talaga ako na biglang nag dadate na kayo, eh, hindi nga nagpapaligaw yan si Winter."

 

"Really?” Gulat na tanong ni Karina. Oo, wala pa siyang naririnig tungkol sa relasyon ni Winter, pero nakakagulat parin dahil maraming nagakagusto sa kanya pero wala pala siyang pinapansin sa mga ‘to?

 

“That's interesting," Sabi ni Karina.

 

 

"Hoy, baka matunaw," Sita ni Ningning kay Winter na nakatingin lang kay Ryujin at Karina na ngayon ay nagtatawanan habang hinihintay ang order nila.

 

"May girlfriend si Ryujin, huwag kang mag selos dyan," Sabi nito at natawa naman si Giselle.

 

"Hindi ako nagseselos, para kang tanga." Winter said. Inalis niya na ang tingin niya sa dalawa at tumingin sa paligid. No one is looking at her unlike before and all of them are talking about Karina. She even heard some students planning about how they can get close to her.

 

That irritates something inside Winter but she couldn't figure out why. Unang una, she doesn't mind being overshadowed by Karina. Kaya naman hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit siya naiinis.

 

Sa isang linggong magkasama si Winter at Karina, lagi siya nitong hinihintay sa parking lot para lihim na makip