Karina left that night and went home alone. She texted her Dad that she’ll sleep at Giselle’s house. Winter, on the other hand, was left devastated and confused. She didn't know if she said something wrong or if she was too forward that she scared off Karina.

Honestly, this is all new to Winter and she was scared. The moment she realized that she probably likes Karina, it scares her to death. Liking her means she has to tell her father about being biual. And that is terrifying. She’s an only daughter, of course, and her father is expecting her to have a ‘normal’ family. But she doesn’t want that. She wants Karina.

“You look like ,” Pansin sa kanya ni Ryujin. Unang subject pa lang pero mukhang wala na agad gana ito at masama ang timpla.

“Thanks,” Sabi ni Winter.

“Ano? Akala ko ba okay ka lang sa nangyaring break-up niyo? Narealize mo na bang hindi ka pala okay?” Tanong ni Ningning. Hindi naman nakasagot si Winter.

It was her fault kaya hindi siya pinapansin ni Karina ngayon. She knows that. But she thought they were okay that night because the latter was starting to again.

Is it because I confessed? Winter thought. Karina always told her she wasn’t her type.

Was it true? Did I really scare her off with my confession?

“Maybe I did. It was so sudden.” She whispered to herself and sighed.

Nag ayos siya ng upo nang dumating na ang professor nila.

All throughout the class, Winter was not in her usual self. Hindi niya nga nasagot ang tanong ng professor nila para sa recitation dahil unang-una, hindi naman siya nakikinig. Very unusual. Para din itong lantang gulay ay bigla bigla na lang bubulong kaya naman nawe-weirdo’han na si Ryujin at Ningning sa ginagawa nito.

Nauna din itong lumabas ng room nang matapos ang pangalawa nila na klase dahil lunch break na nila. She didn’t even wait for her friends and went straight to Karina’s classroom. But to her dismay, there’s no Karina Yu inside the classroom. Nauna daw ito na lumabas at sinundo ni Chaehyun.

Hindi na naman alam ni Winter ang nararamdaman niya. Para siyang galit, nalulungkot at naguguluhan. Lahat ito ay sabay-sabay. Mag isa tuloy siyang pumunta sa cafeteria at hinanap ang mga kaibigan niya. She saw Ningning wave her hand. Agad naman siyang pumunta sa table nila at umupo sa usual seat niya.

“Ang gloomy mo talaga today. Dahil ba kay Karina?”

Oo. Sa maraming dahilan, si Karina ang pinipiling isipin ng utak ko. At hindi lang yon, pati na rin ang puso ko.

“Anong kakainin mo? Ako na ang o-order.” Sabi ni Ryujin.

“Wala akong gana, just get me some warm water.” Sabi ni Winter.

“Sira ka ba? Mamaya pang hapon ang labas natin tapos hindi ka kakain ng lunch?”

“Winter, kumain ka. Don’t be such a loser,” Ningning said.

“Wala nga sabi akong gana,” Medyo mataas ang boses niya kaya napunta sa kanila ang atensyon ng mga estudyanteng nasa cafeteria.

“S-sorry. Please, just let me be this time.” Winter said in her low voice while looking at her best friends. Ningning and Ryujin just sigh and leave Winter to order their food.

Inilabas niya na lang ang earphone niya at nakinig sa music. Trying to calm herself by listening to IU’s voice. She even took the tissue paper and draw random things in it para lang malibang ang utak niya na ayaw tantanan si Karina.

Couldn’t she reject me so I could move on? Not like this.

Pero oo nga pala, siya ang may kasalanan kung bakit nagkaganito sila ni Karina.

“Ryujin, ayoko nga kumain—” Naiinis niyang sabi at nag angat ng tingin sa naglagay ng pagkain sa table. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa gulat nang makita niya si Karina. Ilang beses pa siyang napakurap dahil baka imagination niya lang ito.

“Totoo ka ba?” Halos wala sa wisyo niyang tanong.

“Eat. Don’t be such a stubborn kid, Winter.” Karina said. Umalis din ito agad at hindi na hinintay pa ang sasabihin ni Winter.

“Kid? You’re only one year older than me.” Bakas ang sama ng loob sa boses niya. “You should’ve called me baby instead like you always do… before,” Winter murmurs.

Nagulat na lang ang dalawa niyang kaibigan nang makita niyang kumakain na habang sila ay hawak pa rin ang tray at papalapit pa lang sa table nila. Kapag si Karina ang nagsabi at bumili, wala pagtanggi na kakainin niya ito—yung pagkain.

Hindi niya alam ay pinagmamasdan lang siya ni Karina sa isang sulok at pinanonood siyang kumain. Napangiti ito nang maubos ni Winter ang binigay niya.

Four days have passed since Karina was ‘ignoring’ her. Pero parang hindi naman dahil siya palagi ang bumibili ng lunch ni Winter. The news about Jeno broke out within the campus when he got arrested on the same day that he came back from Japan. Ryujin and Ningning were celebrating when they found out that Jeno was put on trial because of multiple SA cases against him. Karina got the CCTV footage from Chaehyun and the rest of the complaint against the guy came to light when Karina filed the case. Lahat ng biktima ng binata kasama ang iba nitong kaibigan ay nagsumbong sa awtoridad.

And for the past few days that Karina was ignoring her, Chaehyun never left Karina's side. Para na siyang naging buntot nito and it actually irritates the hell out of Winter. Parang gusto niya na lang tusukin ang mata niya tuwing nakikita niya na magkasama ang dalawa. It should’ve been her if she didn’t mess up.

Little did she know, Karina was scared too. Gaya ng iba, alam ni Karina na straight si Winter. When they started the deal, she knew the latter wouldn't budge or feel anything about her. She was the safest choice for her to execute her plan of getting rid of that guy.

And Winter’s confession that night felt so sudden. Karina thought, what if Winter is just confusing happiness and liking someone? Baka nagkamali lang ito at masaya lang na nagkabati na sila kaya ganun na lamang ang naging reaksyon ng dalaga. It's been days since Winter confessed and she's giving her time to think everything through. She wants Winter to be sure of what she feels.

Because she's sure of what she felt. A long time ago.

Karina actually met her multiple times but Winter isn't aware of it. It started when Winter tried to pick a fight with her because she wanted to get revenge on Juhyun. And the second time they met was when her family watched and supported Winter's first fencing match. She represented her