After minutes of continuous walk, they finally found themselves relieved after seeing the in line nipa hut, showing multiple families having fun, as well as her cousins and other relatives working. 

 

“P’wede mo ba akong iuwi ngayong gabi, Karina?” Winter’s voice echoed inside the taller one’s head unnecessarily, eversince the silence filled the two. She breathed heavily, shaking the unusual thought who barged in her insides off. 

 

Ano bang pakiramdam ang nakukuha ko sa kaniya?  She questioned herself.

 

“Lo, kinuha niya ‘yung kumot ko kagabi!” Isa’s voice echoed, as the two stepped in closer to their kubo. Karina, who’s still silent— no one knows if it’s because of her shyness or just those words that feebles her. 

 

“Sigurado ka bang makikitulog ka dito? Sa tingin ko, masiyado itong maliit at mainit para sa ‘yo,” She muttered, concerned. “baka mainitan ka o… Mangati?”

 

“I, nor my body is not that sensitive, Karina.” Winter shrugged, before it turned to a chuckle. “Sorry, lagi kong nakakalimutan. Ang sabi ko is, ako, o ang body ko is not maarte gaano.”

 

“Ah…” The taller nodded, earning a smile from Winter. “Ayos lang sa iyo na matulog sa lapag? Banig lang kasi ang tulugan namin dito.”

 

“Everything is fine with me,” She assured.

 

Hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan, Panginoon. Since the girl smiled at her, Karina suppose that— she’s all fine with it. Oh, how she wish she was able to understand English more so Winter wouldn’t struggle much in adjusting. 

 

“Halika, at ipagpaalam muna kita sa Lolo at Lola ko.”

 

“Aren’t they… H-hindi ba sila magagalit?”

 

She shrugged, shaking her head. “Hindi gano’n ang mga tao sa kubo namin, huwag kang mag-alala.” Karina left her a smile, before stepping more, almost going in inside their nipa. 

 

“Mga anak, nasaan na si Yuji? Anong oras na?”

 

“Mag-lalako raw po siya ng balut nasabi niya sa amin ni Lia kanina pero—“ Yeji wasn’t able to finish her sentence, when she saw Karina standing in front of the entrance,

 

and what surprised them more is that— she wasn’t alone.

 

“Ayan na ang magaling mong apo,” Asar ni Isa. “oh, at may nakilala pa yata.” Dagdag niya, habang bahagyang tumatawa.

 

“Halika, Winter. Huwag kang mabahala, hindi naman sila magagalit.”

 

The two stepped in, receiving confused looks literally from everyone inside their kubo. Winter, who’s biting her lip looking down, being nervous with all she is; not until Karina gave he an act of comfort.

 

The woman bravely held her hand.

 

“Lo, La, pasensiya na po at ginabi na ako nang sobra.” She chuckled, removing her slippers. “Nga pala, may nakilala ho ako kanina sa bayan nina Dok, nasiraan po ng kotse.”

 

“Oh, eh, ano sanang gagawin niya rito?” Her Lola asked, almost in a whisper.

 

“Magpapalipas lang ho ng gabi, La. Mag hahanap sana kami ng…” She took a quick glance at Winter, asking for help.

 

“ATM Machine.” Winter whispered. 

 

“‘Yung ATM Machine, ‘yung kuhaan ng pera para sa pang-gawa ng kotse niya, kaso wala yatang kalapitang mall dito.” She acted disappointed, scratching her head. 

 

“Hala, may alam na malapit na mall si Minju, sana pala nagpa-tanong ka kanina.” Lia voiced, and clicked her tongue.

 

“Bukas na siguro? Panigurado, pagod sa pag titinda ‘yong isang ‘yun,” Karina then looked at Winter, who’s still all silent hiding her face. “ayos lang ba kung sabihin ko ang pangalan mo sa kapamilya ko?”

 

“O-okay lang. It’s all fine.”

 

Karina nodded. “Nga pala, Lo, La, si Winter po.”

 

“Good… Magandang gabi po,” She greeted Karina’s grandparents, before facing her cousins, fully. “magandang gabi sa inyo.”

 

“Ang ganda,” Isa complimented, which received laughs from everyone. “bakit? Totoo naman,”

 

“Thank you.” Winter replied shortly. 

 

“Hija, anong nangyari sa kotse mo?” The grandmother asked.

 

“Ano po, the engine broke, sumobra po sa init.” She explained shyly. “Pero, iniwan ko ho sa dalawang guard doon, I think, makukuha ko naman po kinabukasan."

 

“Hindi ka hahanapin sa inyo?”

 

She shook her head. Sana nga. “H-hindi naman po…”

 

I don’t think they ever think of me. She thought to herself, before sighing.

 

Karina’s grandparents nodded, before they offered her a seat. “Maupo ka muna, Hija. Tiyak napagod ka sa kalalakad, ang layo ng bayan ni Dok at wala pa namang masasakyan dito sa ngayon.”

 

“Ayos lang po.” She bowed her head, chuckling.

 

“May kailangan ka pa ba?” Karina sat down beside her. “Huwag ka mahiyang mag sabi sa ‘kin, ha?”

 

“Thank you.” She answered in a monotone. “Do you have an outlet here?”

 

“H-ha?”

 

“Ah, I mean, may… May saksakan ba dito?”

 

“Kuryente ba ang hanap mo? Wala kasi kami no’n, eh…” She answered again, shyly. “Pasensiya na,”

 

“No, it’s okay. Maybe, maybe mag hihintay na lang ako bukas sa malls. Pupunta tayo, right?” Karina nodded. 

 

“Karina, hindi mo manlang ba kami ipapakilala sa maganda na ‘yan?” Biro ni Lia. 

 

“Kasasabi ko lang, Winter ang pangalan niya,” She rolled her eyes. “at hindi siya mabunganga katulad mo, Iyay.”

 

“Grabe ka! ‘Di bale, ako na. Lia pala!” She extended her hand for a handshake, which the other accepted quick. "P'wede ako maging beshie mo!"

 

“Nice to meet you, Lia.” 

 

“Ako rin! Isa,” 

 

“Nice to meet you, Isa.” She smiled cutely, after receiving a nose scrunch from the other.

 

“Yeji.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Yeji.”

 

The four of them laughed in unison, receiving an admiingly stare from their grandparents, and Karina.

 

“Tiga-saan ka, Hija?”

 

“I live in Manila po,” She answered. “dito po ako dinala ng kotse ko kaya ayan.” 

 

“Kay layo no’n, ah? Halos… walong oras na biyahe.”

 

“Opo, hindi ko rin po namalayan.”

 

“Hindi ka ba nagugutom?”

 

“Inilibre ko ho siya kay Kuya Jess,” Karina meddled, happily. “ngayon lang niya nasubukan tumikim ng ganoon, nakakatuwa lang ho.”

 

“Nagustuhan mo ba, Hija?” Asked their Lola.

 

“Opo, sobra po.”

 

“Mabuti naman at hindi ka nagpalipas,” Their Lola smiled, before standing up. “oh siya, lilipat na kami ng kubo at maaga pa kami mag aani kinabukasan. Magpahinga na kayo, ha?”

 

“Opo, La.” Sabay nilang sagot.

 

“At Winter, pag pasensiyahan mo na’t wala kaming kuryente, Hija.”

 

“Don’t worry, ayos lang po talaga."

 

“Oh, sige. Mauna na kami, at magsi-tulog na kayo dahil maaga pa rin kayo bukas. Magandang gabi, mga apo.”

 

“Magandang gabi rin po.” Sabay sabay ulit nilang sagot, kasamaang tahimik na naka-upo sa dalawang sulok.

 

Their grandparents walked out of the nipa hut, as Isa, Yeji and Lia as well went to their respective banigs to sleep. While the two, stayed sitting on the bamboo made chairs, having almost the same thoughts inside their minds.

 

“Magandang gabi sa inyong dalawa, sana makatulog ka nang maayos, Winter.” Bati ni Isa, bago nagsi-pikit ang mata.

 

“Salamat, Isa. Same goes to you guys, too.” She smiled at them, before facing Karina— who’s already looking at her. 

 

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