Winter feels like she’s in heaven right now.

 

Ang ganda ng umpisa ng umaga niya and she didn’t regret going out with Karina na sila lang dalawa. Nagkaroon ulit siya ng sense of normalcy and she just loved every single moment na kasama ang assistant manager.

 

Akala niya pa nung una, magiging dismissive at pala-bara nanaman si Karina sa kanya, pero the opposite happened.

 

The girl was super soft and nice to her this morning. Sumusunod din sa mga suggestions ni Winter na mag-take sila ng photos, o kaya kumain ng ice cream kahit busog na busog pa sila.

 

“Uwi na tayo?” Karina asked her habang naglalakad-lakad sila. They finished their ice cream sa may part ng mall na wala masyadong tao. Mahirap na, baka may maka-recognize pa sa kanya.

 

“Do we have to?” She pouted.

 

“Oo. Aalis pa tayo mamaya. Tsaka gusto ko talagang umidlip, Winter! Sirang-sira ang beauty rest ko sa mga demands mo! I deserve a raise!”

 

‘Yun nga lang, wala na siyang magagawa sa pagiging extra at exaggerated ni Karina.

 

Winter pulled her again, hindi niya talaga binibitawan si Karina. Nilulubos na niya ‘yung time na pumapayag ito sa mga demands at pagiging touchy niya, “Okay, let’s go home. Mag-sleep ka sa room ni Giselle if you like. ‘Wag ka na rin magluto, magpa-take out na lang tayo.”

 

“Really?”

 

Tumango siya, “Yeah. Gala and break day mo na lang ngayon. Natin, to be honest.” She felt Karina squeeze her hand as a way to say thank you.

 

They went back to Mary Grace para magpa-take out ng food. Nagustuhan ni Winter ang pagkain dito kaya gusto niyang i-try ‘yung ibang dishes. They also bought food for Jackson.

 

On the way home, bino-browse nila ni Karina ang photos nila from earlier. She’s happy that Karina is very enthusiastic as well sa pamimili kung ano ‘yung magagandang photos nila.

 

“You should keep this one,” she gave the assistant manager the polaroid photo of them kung saan nakatingin si Winter sa kanya. “Or we can just place these sa living room where I keep all my treasured pictures.”

 

It took a moment for Karina to respond. “Okay, sige. Ikaw bahala. It’s yours naman.”

 

“It’s ours,” she countered. She felt Karina stiffen. “I mean, it’s our photos, so technically satin siya..” Nginitian na lang siya nito at hindi na sumagot. Mukhang antok na antok nga si Karina.

 

When they got back sa house, mabilis na dumerecho ang assistang manager sa living room, plopping down the soft sofa, “Idlip lang ako ha.. Kain na kayo ni Jack, mamaya na ako.”

 

Lumapit siya dito, crouching down para makatapat niya ang mukha ni Karina, “You should sleep sa room. Gusto mo sa room ko? Para mas comfortable ka,” she brushed Karina’s hair up instinctively.

 

Nagmulat ito ng mata dahil sa ginawa ni Winter. She thought the girl was going to tell her off at magagalit, but Karina only gave her a smile, “Ang relaxing. Patuloy mo lang yan. Okay na ako dito.” Pumikit na siya ulit.

 

Winter can’t really say she’s falling for Karina.

 

She can’t say that, kung hindi naman siya na-fall out of love dito in the first place, katulad nga ng sabi niya before.

 

Ang dami-daming feelings ang bumabalik na matagal na niyang sinabi sa sarili niya na hindi niya na mararamdaman ulit. Pero si Karina ito, and she can’t seem to forget anything about this beautiful girl.

 

She doesn’t know what to do with her resurfacing feelings yet, but she intends to explore kung saan siya dadalhin nito. She can think about the consequences next time.  

 

“Miss Winter, you’re back,” she heard Jackson from the kitchen. He must have come from the backyard.

 

“Hey, Jack. Let’s eat.”

 

Dahan-dahan niyang binitawan ang buhok ni Karina para hindi ito magising. If she had a choice, she’d do this every day. She would love to watch Karina sleep and brush her hair para lagi siyang relaxed.

 

“You’re different with Miss Karina..” Jackson said habang kumakain sila. Nalito si Winter sa sinabi ng bodyguard niya. “I’ve been with you since the start of your career, Miss Winter. I can tell when you look someone differently,” he chuckled.

 

“And how do I look Karina? Since you know me so well,” she answered teasingly.

 

“You tell me,” palaban na sagot ng kanyang bodyguard.

 

Umiling na lang si Winter, hindi na maalis ang ngiti niya habang kumakain. She’s feeling hopeful all of a sudden.

 

Maghapong tulog si Karina sa sofa. Winter didn’t dare make that much noise para hindi magising ang private chef. She needs a good-mood Karina mamaya sa paskuhan, and a good sleep might help.

 

It was almost 5pm nang magising na ito. Ang haba ng tulog niya.

 

“Morning,” Winter greeted.

 

Nakatambay lang din siya sa sofa habang hinihintay magising si Karina. Since wala naman siyang magawa, nanood na lang siya sa phone ng concert clips niya to check kung saan siya may mga kailangan i-improve for the next show.

 

She also asked Jackson to help her set the Christmas tree na binili ni Giselle for the house. It beats her how Karina slept through all of that.  

 

“Anong oras na?” Her raspy voice did so much sa mga paro-paro na lumilipad-lipad sa tiyan ni Winter. “Huy. May muta ba ako? Makatitig ka diyan.”

 

“Oh, uhm, wala kang muta. And it’s past 5 na.. You might want to get up. Aalis na tayo maya-maya papunta sa UST.. Papunta na rin daw don sina Chae, though I don’t think magkikita-kita tayo.”

 

Nag-unat si Karina habang humihikab, her shirt riding up her belly kaya hindi naiwasan ni Winter na hindi mapatingin. Ang y niya. Para siyang hihikain kahit wala siyang hika.

 

“Wala akong pampalit ng damit.. Ikaw ba, hindi ka magpapalit? Ang dami natin ginawa kaninag umaga, ang baho mo na,” Karina raised a brow at her. “Anong tinitignan mo ha?”

 

Winter abruptly got up from her seat, “Wala! Oo magpapalit ako.. Sweater na lang din na parang ganito. I have a lot of clothes upstairs, you can borrow na lang muna.”

 

Karina didn’t protest, “Okay. Ipapa-auction ko yon after kong gamitin.”

 

“Whatever you like. Let’s go upstairs,” she took another chance to reach over Karina’s hand to test the waters. Tinignan muna siya nito before taking her it with a bit of hesitation.

 

Is she realizing things too? Bakit iba siya today?

 

Kung kanina si Karina ang namili ng damit para sa kanya, this time, Winter chose kung anong isusuot ng kanyang private chef.

 

“I think bagay sayo ‘to..” Inabot niya kay Karina ‘yung baggy sweater na may letter ‘W’ sa gitna. She wore it sa isang music video shoot before. “Sukat mo. I think it fits.”

 

“Talagang letter ‘W’ ha. Wala bang iba?!” Karina whined, pero inabot din naman ‘yung binigay ni Winter. “Parang nabili mo ‘to sa Shopee. Gusto ko sana Gucci o Chanel. Wala bang ganon? Talagang final answer na ‘tong ‘W’?!

 

“Wala. Okay na yan,” mala-demonyo ang ngiti ni Winter.

 

She turned around to let Karina wear the sweatshirt. Plano niyang isuot naman ‘yung isa pa niyang oversized din na sweater, tapos may embroidered letter ‘K’ naman sa may left side.

 

She found what she was looking for at nagbihis naman siya sa banyo.

 

Nang magkaharap ulit sila, pinanliitan siya ng mata ni Karina, “Ano ‘to, may collection ka ba ng sweater from A to Z? Bakit letter ‘K’ yan? Ayusin mo lang, Winter!”

 

“K for Kim yan!”

 

Hindi na umangal si Karina.

 

Habang nag-aayos sila sa kwarto ni Winter, humahanap siya ng tyempo para masabi niya ‘yung gusto niyang sabihin. She feels embarrassed, but she’s willing to give it a try.

 

“Uhm, Karina?”

 

Nilingon siya nito from the vanity, “Mmh?”

 

Nilapitan niya ang private chef at umupo sa tabi nito. She can’t stop chewing her bottom lip. “I feel like tonight is gonna bring a lot of.. memories, for the both of us..”

 

Natigil si Karina sa paglalagay ng blush on.

 

Winter continued, “Can.. uhm.. Do you think we can enjoy the night like we did kanina sa mall? Let’s enjoy the night with each other and not think of anything from the past? I just want us to have fun..”

 

For a song writer, Winter isn’t great at expressing her feelings. She finds herself getting flustered and all over the place, katulad ngayon.

 

Hindi niya sigurado kung na-explain ba niya nang tama kay Karina ang gusto niyang sabihin. Pero ang gusto kasi sana ni Winter, kahit for today lang, walang maging tension and awkwardness between them.

 

Like there was no depressing past sa kanilang dalawa.

 

“Okay, Winter. Yeah, let’s do that.”

 

They smiled at each other.

 

Gustong magtatalon ni Winter sa saya.

 

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

 

España Boulevard. UST. Lover’s lane.

 

It’s been a while since the last time na nakapunta dito si Karina. Lalo namang it has been a while since nandito siya na kasama si Winter.

 

Surprisingly, Karina feels fine. Parang college student lang ulit siya. Parang hindi celebrity si Winter.

 

Parang...

 

Normal couple lang sila na nandito.

 

Except they’re not, of course.

 

She’s someone who got ghosted seven years ago by the person she loved. Winter is a successful celebrity who has a good future ahead of her. And they’re here because she got hired by the said ghoster.

 

Pero hindi muna magde-dwell si Karina diyan. Dahil tonight, she’s going to pretend na parang walang mali sa kanila. Tonight, eenjoyin niya ang bawat minutong kasama si Winter.

 

Kahit ngayon lang, gusto niyang maramdaman ulit ‘yung happiness that only Minjeong can give.

 

“Ang daming tao..” She heard the anxiousness in Winter’s voice. Feeling kasi ng singer, mare-recognize siya anytime at hindi nila maeenjoy ang gabi.

 

Karina put her arm protectively around Winter’s shoulder, “Wala namang nakakakilala sayo. Look, wala ngang tumitingin satin. Relax and enjoy lang, okay?”

 

Winter nodded, encircling her arm around Karina’s waist in return.

 

Kung may naramdaman mang butterflies si Karina sa tiyan niya, hinayaan na lang niya. Again, just for today.  

 

She felt Winter slowly relax in her hold. Magana na ulit na nagtututuro ito ng mga maraming ilaw na nakapalibot sa lugar. “Ang ganda nung fountain! Selfie tayo!”

 

Karina is just letting herself be guided kung saan gustong pumunta ni Winter, katulad lang din kaninang umaga nung nasa mall sila. She’s letting their hands touch every chance they get.

 

“Gusto mo ng food?” Bulong niya kay Winter habang nakaakbay siya dito. “Anong gusto mo? Ako magbabayad.”

 

Rinig nila from where they are ‘yung kaganapan sa stage. Wala pang nagpe-perform na band kaya marami pa silang time to roam around and buy food.

 

“Gusto ko nung Jollibee. ‘Yung spaghetti, tsaka yum burger. Nag-crave ako bigla..” Jollibee talaga?

 

Ayaw niyang sirain ang trip ni Winter kaya tumango na lang siya, “Sige. Medyo maraming tao.. Are you okay?”

 

“Yeah. Ikaw?” They looked at each other, and kahit naka-mask sila, they both saw the smile through their eyes. “Sorry pinag-sweater kita.”

 

“Okay lang. Cute naman, na-realize ko.” Actually, para silang naka-couple sweater.

 

Since marami ngang attendies at halos magbanggaan ang mga tao sa sikip, inalis niya na ang pagkakaakbay kay Winter at hinawakan na lang niya ang kamay nito. Medyo nagulat siya nang i-intertwine ni Winter ang mga daliri nila.

 

May ov