Winter Kim [8:07 p.m.]: alam ko ako nag-umpisa nito pero wag ka nantritrip sis huhu emz

 

Ilang beses ko ba kailangan sabihin kay Winter na seryoso ako bago siya maniwala?

 

Karina Yu [8:07 p.m.]: i told you walang halong eme

Karina Yu [8:07 p.m.]: i’m alr interested

Karina Yu [8:08 p.m.]: so panagutan mo ko HAHAHAHAHA

 

I remember Winter Kim so well. Classmates kami before sa Philo 1, at sa tingin ko, it’s safe to say na naaalala siya ng buong section namin like who wouldn’t?

 

Siya lang naman kasi ‘yung nag-walk out sa class ng nag-iisang ma’am Villanueva. The very same prof na pinalabas ‘yung isa naming kaklaseng hindi nagbasa ng readings. Binigyan niya pa talaga ng pera, at sinabihan na kumuha ng kopya sa photocopier sa lobby ng AS. Wag daw siyang babalik sa klase hangga’t di niya natatapos basahin.

 

That’s how terror of a professor ma’am Villanueva is.

 

That’s why Winter is quite unforgettable. Aside from the fact na cute siya pag bagong gising.

 

We were watching The Matrix, and as Winter’s seatmate that day, ako ‘yung inutusan na gisingin siya. She got scolded, and sinabihan siyang lumabas na lang if she’s not gonna take the class seriously. Nobody expected her next move. 

 

She did as she was told. She walked out of class.

 

Tinapos lang namin panoorin ‘yung movie as if walang nangyari. I really thought I’d never see Winter in that class again, but she’s so full of surprises.

 

Pumasok siya sa next class, at natapos niya ‘yung subject without dropping, even though lagi siyang napag-iinitan after that incident. She always came to class prepared, and that made me admire her. Along with her guts na pumasok pa rin.

 

The following sem, I always saw her sa Math building dahil nag-take ako ng Math 21. Madalas kaming magkatinginan, pero hindi namin binabati ‘yung isa’t isa. Kumbaga parang silent acknowledgment lang na classmates kami dati. Hindi naman kasi kami nag-uusap.

 

If I am not mistaken, ‘yun na ‘yung last time na nagkita kami ni Winter sa campus. First year, second sem.

 

Kaya na-surprise talaga ako sa antics niya nung org fair last week.

 

Akala ko magpapalista siya like her friend. Nung sinabi niya na ayaw niya, I felt a little disappointed, because frankly, I wanted to be her friend since naging classmates kami. She’s interesting.

 

And then, bigla niyang sinabi na ayaw niya mag-jowa ng orgmate while looking directly at me. I was puzzled, and then nag-sink in sakin.

 

Is she hitting on me?

 

It took me a while bago ko na-process ‘yung sinabi niya, at hindi ako agad nakasagot sa friends kong nagtatanong if jowa ko ba si Winter. Her answer confirmed it.

 

“Hindi… Hindi pa. Pero kung gusto niya, pwede naman.”

 

She is definitely hitting on me.

 

Hindi ko nga lang alam kung seryoso, or she’s just fooling around. But I am not going to lie, that made me feel something.

 

If ibang tao siguro ‘yung gumawa or nagsabi nun, hindi magiging same ‘yung reaction ko. Baka isipin ko pa na creepy, but I don’t know. There’s just something charming about Winter.

 

Also, akala ko mukha lang siyang amoy baby powder, pero when we stood next to each other para sa photo, mabango pala talaga siya.

 

Pretty, cute, matalino, mabango, funny.

 

She literally has it all. Hindi lang ako sure if seryoso ba ‘yung pag-flirt niya or joke lang.

 

I was waiting for her to add me sa FB after ma-post ‘yung photo naming dalawa, but she did not. Dinelete niya pa ‘yung comment niya dun sa post.

 

Then kanina, meron akong STS 1, and it felt like fate, or maybe it’s just the hopeless romantic in me speaking. We’re classmates once again.

 

She took the seat beside me, and I felt a little upset nung nag-sorry siya about daw sa mga ginawa at sinabi niya. Wag ko na lang daw seryosohin.

 

Kaya hindi ko alam bakit in-add ko siya sa FB ngayon. I mean wala naman sigurong masama. Dalawang beses na kami naging classmates, so why not?

 

I don’t know what came over me tonight at naging extra brave yata ako. Naging mas forward ako, at tinanong ko na si Winter directly. Now, I’m still not sure if serious ba siya dahil hindi pa yata siya naniniwala na interested ako. Though it seems like she is, o baka umaasa lang talaga akong seryoso siya.

 

Winter Kim [8:08 p.m.]: teka wait lang wait lang talaga

Winter Kim [8:09 p.m.]: totoo ba talaga

Winter Kim [8:09 p.m.]: emz bawal ka na mag-iba ng sagot. walang bawian 😳

 

She’s so cute.

 

Karina Yu [8:10 p.m.]: don’t worry. di naman ako tulad mo na binabawi mga banat 😂

Winter Kim [8:10 p.m.]: ito na nga eh hindi ko na nga babawiin. sir use din ako, sis

Karina Yu [8:10 p.m.]: sis?

Winter Kim [8:11 p.m.]: ay ano bang gusto mo

Winter Kim [8:11 p.m.]: sige di na sis. baby na lang

Winter Kim [8:11 p.m.]: HAHAHAHAHA baby sino ka naman dyan winter HAHAHAHA

Winter Kim [8:12 p.m.]: masyadong advance mag-isip

Winter Kim [8:12 p.m.]: huy eme lang

 

Hay, Winter Kim. Why are you so endearing?

 

Karina Yu [8:13 p.m.]: bakit ang funny mo? 😭

Karina Yu [8:13 p.m.]: but you’re right. masyadong advanced yung baby

Karina Yu [8:13 p.m.]: you can call me rina muna 😆

Winter Kim [8:14 p.m.]: sakin win na lang

Winter Kim [8:14 p.m.]: future WINner sa puso mo

Winter Kim [8:15 p.m.]: EME ANG CORNY HAHAHAHAHHA ONE LIKE ILULUBLOB KO NA SA BALDE NG TUBIG YUNG SELPON KO

 

I swear, there must be something wrong with me because why am I giggling at something like this?

 

Winter Kim [8:15 p.m.]: so hindi ako interesado mag-apply sa org niyo

Winter Kim [8:15 p.m.]: apply na lang ako as jowa mo. pwede ba mag-special orientation bukas? 🤧

Karina Yu [8:16 p.m.]: what a creative way to ask someone out 😂

Karina Yu [8:16 p.m.]: but my classes end at 5pm. cba. 😳 

Winter Kim [8:17 p.m.]: noted po. sunduin kita

Winter Kim [8:17 p.m.]: redi ka na ba sa kamandag ko?

Winter Kim [8:17 p.m.]: eme HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

She just amuses me so much.

 

“Parang extra happy ka today,” Giselle eyed me suspiciously habang naglalakad kami papunta sa last class namin. “Did something happen?”

 

“Something’s about to happen,” I said with a beam. “May date ako mamaya.”

 

“Oh my god?” Hinawakan ako ni Giselle sa braso para pigilan akong maglakad. “Totoo ba?”

 

“Yeah… Remember the girl sa picture sa Babaylan? ‘Yung laude before landi pero kayang pagsabayin?” Giselle nodded excitedly. “Siya. To summarize, classmates kami sa STS, we became FB friends, nag-chat kami kagabi, and she asked me out.”

 

“She’s cute. I’m happy for you.” Naka-recover na si Giselle sa initial shock niya, at naglakad na kami ulit. “Tell me about it mamaya. Ay wag na pala, baka ma-jinx.”

 

I just laughed, pero naniniwala rin ako sa jinx na ‘yan. This is my third year sa UP, at hindi naman talaga si Winter ‘yung first na makaka-date ko. I’ve had my fair share of naka-”talking stage,” but none of them got really serious. I even got ghosted once by someone from Arki, pero no hard feelings. Dry rin naman niyang kausap, so good riddance. 

 

Bottomline is napansin ko na every time nag-shashare ako ng details sa friends ko, things suddenly end. But I’ve got a really good feeling this time, which is weird, because wala naman talaga akong alam tungkol kay Winter aside from her name, what she did sa Philo 1 class, and ‘yung fact na medyo maharot siya.

 

Natapos naman class ko as scheduled, at nagmadali na akong mag-ayos ng gamit.

 

“Excited much?” Pang-aasar ni Giselle.

 

“Hmm,” I just hummed. There’s no point lying. Aware naman akong mukha talaga akong excited.

 

Nakita agad namin ni Winter ang isa’t isa habang palabas ako ng building. She hurriedly hid her other hand behind her. Hindi ko na tuloy napansin kung ano ‘yung hawak niya.

 

She’s already pretty on normal days, but she's so much prettier today. She’s wearing a white cropped polo paired with denim pants. It’s simple, but it suits her.

 

“Enjoy your date,” Giselle teasingly winked at me bago kami naghiwalay.

 

Naglakad na ako papunta kay Winter who is smiling widely at me.

 

“Hi,” I greeted her first.

 

“Hi.” Unlike noong org fair na umaapaw ‘yung confidence niya, may hint ng hiya sa boses niya ngayon. “Nakalimutan ko itanong kagabi, pero may allergy ka ba sa flowers?”

 

“Wala naman?”

 

“Okay, good. Buti naman,” she sighed out of relief. “For you.” Nilabas niya na ‘yung tinatago niyang sunflower sa likod niya para ibigay sakin.

 

First of all, wow. Like I said, I’ve dated numerous people since I entered UP, but I’ve never received flowers before. So this is what it feels like.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Para akong sunflower tapos ikaw parang sun kaya yata tingin ako nang tingin sayo nung freshie pa tayo,” bigla niyang sabi. “Shet. Inulit ko sa utak ko ang corny pala.”

 

Tumawa siya nang malakas, and she unintentionally hit my arm.

 

“Hala! Sorry! Sorry! Force of habit lang,” she rubbed the part na pinalo niya, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

 

“It’s okay,” I assured her. Hindi naman kasi masakit. Sobrang light lang naman nung palo. “You’re so silly,” I told her with a giggle.

 

“Sili talaga ako kaya hot ako eh.” Napairap ako dahil sa “joke” niya while trying to hold back my laughter.

 

Winter needs to be studied. Normally, hindi ko tatawanan ‘yung ganyan ka-corny na lines, but something about her just automatically brings a smile to your face.

 

Hearing her corny banats and jokes makes me roll my eyes but laugh right after.

 

Nag-agree kami ni Winter na dito na lang sa UPTC kumain. Anong oras na rin kasi at alanganin kung mag-travel pa kami. Oras na ng uwian. Mahirap mag-commute, mahirap mag-book ng Grab, at ma-traffic na rin for sure.

 

We’re here sa Ramen Nagi.

 

“So