"So Karina, do you have a boyfriend?" Tanong ng lalaking pinsan ni Karina na si Chan. Sa sobrang thick ng accent niya, ang hirap intindihin. 

Napatingin si Karina sa rearview mirror and found her cousin already looking at her as well.

Biglang kinabahan si Karina at umiwas ng tingin. 

He's currently driving them to some restaurant para ma-try daw ni Karina yung Australian meat pies or yung Aussie pie. 

Kasama nila yung girlfriend ng pinsan niya, yung kaibigan ng girlfriend ng pinsan niya at yung pinsan niyang nurse, si Ate Irene. 

"Oo nga, Karing. Wala ka pang nakwento sa akin," Ate Irene asked.

Karina could only laugh nervously at her cousins. Hindi pa kasi namention ni Karina na bet niya ay girls, specifically the girl next door slash childhood friend, slash jowang hilaw niya na si Winter. 

Jowang hilaw? Karina could only blush at the thought.

"Uh—uhm," she stuttered. Hindi niya alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanila yung tungkol kay Winter.

Kahit naman nasa Australia sila lumaki, you never know what they think about the alphabet community. What if ayaw nila sa kagaya niya?

Just thinking about it made her sad. Parang hindi kayang i-disown ni Karina mga pinsan niya if ever they're close minded. She loves them so much but if they can't accept her…edi what family na lang diba? 

Karina's eyes kept looking at the rearview mirror and then at Ate Irene who was sitting beside her. 

They were waiting for her answer. Pati yung dalawang babae din ay interested sa topic.

"You know Yeri has a girlfriend," biglang nagsalita ulit si Chan. Tinuro niya si Yeri sa likod, yung friend ng girlfriend niya. "Long distance though, right Yerms?" 

Para namang natanggalan ng tinik si Karina sa narinig.

Her cousins support the alphabet community! 

Napangisi na lang siya at tumingin kay Yeri who was also smiling at the mention of her girlfriend.

Yeri was visiting from the Philippines.

"Yup. Nasa LA siya right now," Yeri replied. 

"Hindi ba mahirap yun?" Curious na tanong ni Karina.

Yeri sighed. "Yes, it is. But susunod din ako soon." She smiled and then turned to Karina. "Ikaw? Namiss mo ba jowa mo?" 

Nag assume naman kaagad si Yeri na may jowa si Karina.

Sige na lang. 

"Uhm, hi-hindi ko siya jowa," Karina shyly said. Tiningnan niya ang expression ni Ate Irene habang sinasabi niya yun and found her with agape, looking shocked. "Not yet." She laughed nervously. 

Hinampas naman siya ni Ate Irene. "Karing! Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi. Sino ba yan?" 

Carefully she said, "naalala mo si Winter?" 

"Your neighbour that you always fight with?" Tanong ni Chan. 

"Oo."

"Omg ka Karina! Yung cute girl na tinatawag kong Snoopy?" 

Natawa naman si Karina sa sinabi ng Ate niya. Naalala niya pa yung mga times na nag-aaway sila tapos inaasar siya ni Ate Irene na Snoopy and her friend. 

Although she doesn't kn