Mas maagang nagising si Winter kay Karina.

She felt the fabric of the sheet over her body na wala naman kagabi, but she figured that the girl by her side must have gotten one last night para may kumot silang dalawa.

Kinikilig siya sa pagiging thoughtful nito.

She checked the time on her phone: 5:00am. She also saw a bunch of notifications from Kazuha as well as bubble and Instagram comments from her fans that she usually reads kapag may time na siya.

This morning, ayaw niya munang pansinin ang mga ito. Even Kazuha’s messages na puno ng “I miss you” at “I wanna go back sa Pinas”. Gusto niya na lang munang mag-focus sa bebe niya. Joke…

“Karina..” Tinapik niya ‘to nang mahina sa hips. “Karina.. Gising na..” Naririnig niya na kasi from upstairs ang konting ingay galing sa kwarto ni Giselle at Jackson. For sure ay gising na rin sila.

Sanay naman na sila sa early call time at ayaw nilang nale-late. It’s a good thing that the company chartered a private plane going to Boracay para sa team.

At least they don’t need to pass through the NAIA Domestic Terminal. Iwas hassle na rin.

“Karina.. Dun ka sa room.. Tara..”

“Hmm.. Wala akong barya.”

Winter snickered. As much as she wants to stay like this for the whole day, kailangan na talaga nilang gumising. Tinapat niya ang bibig kay Karina at malakas na bumulong, “Karina..!”

Bumalikwas ang assistant manager at dali-daling tumayo, “Wala sabi akong barya!”

Winter is just looking at her with amusement. After ng ilang segundo ay parang naka-catch up na si Karina sa totoo buhay. “Ay.. Nanaginip kasi ako na inabutan ako ng sobre sa jeep.”

Tumayo na rin si Winter, feeling the tension sa kanyang mga kamay dahil sa pagpipigil na bigyan si Karina ng “morning hug” ngayong umaga.

But she didn’t have to stress about it nang si Karina na mismo ang lumapit sa kanya at nag-initiate ng yakap, “Morning.”

Winter felt herself blush, “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Surprisingly, oo. Kahit masikip.”

“You slept well kasi katabi mo ako,” feelingerang sabi ni Winter during their hug. She felt empty suddenly nang humiwalay na si Karina... “Come back..”

“Akala ko ba kailangan nang mag-ayos?” The girl just rolled her eyes at her. “Tsaka ‘wag kang feeling, I slept well kasi nanaginip ako ng batang nangangaroling sa jeep.” Naglakad na ‘to papataas.

Winter just smiled, excitedly running towards Karina para sabay silang tumaas ng hagdan, “Sabay tayo.”

“Buhatin mo ko kung talagang hindi ka na ghoster.”

“Okay!” She crouched her body, tapping her back para sumakay dito si Karina, “Hop on. Dali.”

She knows Karina was just probably joking, pero a little fun in the morning won’t kill her. Isa pa, ang cute kaya...

And Karina being... well, Karina, tumalon naman ito agad sa likod niya, “Ang dami mong energy, alas singko pa lang.”

Medyo napalunok siya dahil nahawakan niya ang bare thighs ni Karina habang buhat niya ito. Tapos ‘yung s pa nito... lapat na lapat sa likod ni Winter. She can tell na walang suot na bra ang private chef.

Maraming sinasabi si Karina sa likod niya, but she can’t focus on what the other girl is saying.

Hindi na kinakaya ni Winter kaya biglaan niyang binaba si Karina, halos mahulog ‘to. “Aray! Babalian mo ba ako ng buto?!”

“S-Sorry! Ikaw kasi..”

“Bakit ako?! Sabi mo sumakay ako sa likod mo!”

“O-Oo nga! Malay kong wala kang bra!” She blurted with no filter. Nagkatitigan sila ni Karina, parehong nanlalaki ang mata at biglang hindi sila magkatinginan sa isa’t isa. “Mag-shower na ako!” Dali-dali siyang pumasok ng kwarto.

Iniwan niya si Karina sa labas, telling her to take a shower na rin. Nakangising tumango lang sa kanya ang assistant manager.

Karina is going to be the death of her.

—

Winter almost forgot na kailangan nga pala niyang i-film ang Boracay trip nila at hindi ito solo trip nila ni Karina. May kasama rin siyang cameraman maya’t maya kahit pa may hawak na siyang sarili niyang vlogging cam.

“Hey guys! We just arrived in Caticlan..”

“We’re going to ride a boat to get to Boracay.. Mr. Lee was kind enough to rent a nice boat for us,” she spoke to the camera. May nangalabit sa kanya na fan, asking for a photo.

Hindi suplada si Winter at hindi naman siya maarte, so she posed for a picture. Nagbigay rin siya ng autograph sa ilang fans na nakakilala sa kanya sa airport.

She was starting to get a crowd at marami-rami ang gustong lumapit sa kanya so Jackson and Sooyoung, her other female bodyguard, took over. Binilisan na nilang sumakay ng van.

She started filming again sa sarili niyang camera, “I’m excited to try the activities, but I’m not gonna lie, I’m a bit of a so—”  

Hinampas siya ni Giselle sa likod, she cut the filming. “’No bad words! Ako babardahin ng editor!”

“I’ll see you guys when we get to the hotel!” Kumaway-kaway siya sa camera, giving finger hearts here and there.  

She settled sa loob ng sasakyan. Parang may kulang... Binulungan niya si Giselle, “Where’s Karina?”

“Ayun ‘yung bebe mo, nagfi-feeling bodyguard,” sabay turo nito sa labas. Nakita niyang kasabay maglakad ni Jackson at Sooyoung si Karina na naka-black jacket rin at may earphone kuno for radio.

Natawa na lang si Winter, “Hayaan mo siya. We can’t really...” she sighed, “We can’t have fun as us.. Do you think okay lang sa kanya? I hope she doesn’t think na nahihiya ako or anything. To be seen with her.”

“I don’t know her pero I don’t think iisipin niya ‘yon. She knows you’re a celebrity, hindi naman immature si Karina or anything.. But I think you still need to talk about that topic next time,” Giselle nicely said.

Tumango lang si Winter, “We will.” She’s happy na mukhang nakakaka-bonding ni Karina nang maayos ang team niya. Puro kasi kalokohan ang alam ng bebe niya. Ni-claim na talaga ‘yung bebe, Winter?

Pumasok na sa sariling van nila si Jackson and Sooyoung. She even saw na pinapapasok ng babae niyang bodyguard si Karina sa van nila, but Jackson pointed sa van where Winter is.

Karina happily walked towards the car, Winter opened the door for her. “Dito ka upo sa tabi ko.”

Giselle scoffed sa tabi niya at lumipat ng seat sa likod para makaupo si Karina sa tabi ni Winter. “Tinanong ako nung isa mong fan, sino raw ako,” Karina sneered. “Nataranta ako, sabi ko na lang part ako ng security. Jusko.”

“You’re all sweaty. Bakit ka kasi nakikisali kina Jackson,” kumuha siya ng tissue from her bag at pinunasan ang pawis ni Karina sa mukha all the way down neck. Malapit na siya sa may collarbone, kaya napalunok nanaman siya.

“Oks lang naman. Ayoko rin ma-bored at panoorin ka lang maging vlogger. Tsaka nandito naman ako for work, so don’t worry about me..”

Nasimangot si Winter sa sinabi ni Karina. For work? Naalala niya kasi ‘yung sinabi ng private chef last time.

She got relaxed when Karina caressed her hip, “I didn’t mean it that way. Ibig ko lang sabihin, ‘wag mong ika-worry na hindi ko ako naaasikaso or anything. Of course sumama rin ako dito kasi.. gusto kitang makita.”

Karina is right. Winter knows that this trip is for the show, at nandito naman talaga sila dahil sa trabaho at hindi para enjoyin ang sarili nila.

But still, she wishes she could do this in the future with Karina. ‘Yung mag vacation na sila lang dalawa at pwede niyang hawakan ang assistant manager anytime she wants.

Though mahihirapan silang ma-achieve ‘yung ganon dahil celebrity nga si Winter, it’s still nice to dream about it.

Maybe in the future… kapag naging okay sila, at kapag napagdesisyonan ni Winter na i-out ang sarili niya sa buong mundo.

She’s not sure kung papayag ang company, but she’s willing to try.

Okay, masyado na siyang advanced mag-isip.

Nakatulog si Karina on the way sa sakayan ng ferry, and even nung nasa ferry na sila ay tulog pa rin ang assistant manager. Panay ang picture ni Winter kapag napapanganga si Karina.

“Mr. Lee asked kung sino ‘yung bagong bodyguard,” Giselle laughed. “I told him she’s with us so walang need ika-worry.”

“Pano niya nalaman ‘yung sa bodyguard thing?”

Binigay ni Giselle sa kanya ang phone nito, showing her the tweets from the fans, “People are not thirsting over Jackson anymore. They have the hots for your ‘new bodyguard’ now. Kabahan ka na.”

Oh my god??jshd Who’s that girl?? Asking for a friend 🥵

Winter’s new bodyguard???? Since when? I NEED HER

kinda maybe want her to GUARD me wkshsks

“I should have gatekept her,” inis na sabi ni Winter. “Hopefully they don’t invade her privacy or anything.”

“If they did, dodogshowin lang sila niyan ni Karina,” natatawang sagot ng manager niya. “You know what I love about her? She can handle herself confidently. Parang walang pwedeng bumarda.”

She peeked at the sleeping girl, nakasandal ito kay Jackson at parang malapit nang tumulo ang laway. “Look at her.. Nanghihina ako, Gigi.”

“I have a suggestion to make.”

“What?”

“I’m rooming with Karina, right? You can take my place and room with her, pero ako sa malaki mong kwarto,” Giselle wagged her eyebrows. “Hindi na masama ‘yon. Plus, kanina ka pa nagpaparinig about that damn room arrangement!”

Walang pakialam si Winter kung hindi siya mapunta sa pinakamagandang kwarto sa hotel nila. Ang mahalaga, makasama niya ang pinakamagandang assistant manager.