Sabado ang isa sa mga araw na inaabangan ni Winter. Dapat ay nagpapahinga pa nga siya sa umaga dahil may klase pa siya sa gabi, ngunit unti-unti itong nabago nang makilala niya si Karina.

Hindi naman ito labag sa kalooban niya. Natuwa pa nga ang kanyang nanay dahil may dahilan na si Winter upang makalaba-labas man lang. Hindi kasi nagtutugma ang rest days nila, at maliban sa linggo, Sabado lang ang araw na parehas silang nalilibre.

"What's this?" Tanong ni Winter nang maglapag ng isang plastic si Karina sa counter ng kanilang store.

"Almusal."

"Kat, you know I don't–"

Ni hindi niya natapos ang kanyang sasabihin nang taasan siya ng kilay ni Karina. Umikot na rin ito para pumwesto sa harap ng cashier at mahina siyang itinulak para maupo.

"Katarina."

"Hindi ako magpapabayad, MJ. Just eat your breakfast."

Nagsimula ito nang malaman ni Karina na hindi nag-aalmusal si Winter. The younger girl would simply just say she got used to it. Gustong itanong ni Karina kung bakit. Hindi niya kasi maisip dahil kapansin-pansin namang maagang gumigising si Nanay Isay at paniguradong nag-aalmusal ito dahil minsan nang nakasabay ito ni Karina na bumili ng pandesal sa umaga.

Kaya't nang malaman ni Karina ito ay sinigurado niyang paalalahanan ang kaibigan na kumain o 'di kaya'y dalhan ito ng almusal sa tuwing dadalaw siya sa umaga.

Kaunti pa lang naman ang mga bumibili nang gantong oras. Nakailang sulyap pa si Karina para siguraduhing mauubos ng kanyang kasama ang kanyang mga dinala.

"Stop glancing, Kat." Winter even whined.

"Ubusin mo 'yan." Pabirong pagbabanta niya.

Kahit naman hindi sabihin ni Karina ay alam niyang mauubos ito ni Winter. Una, pinagsabihan niya kasing hindi makakapag kape si Winter sa umaga hangga't hindi siya kumakain. Pangalawa, napansin niyang puto at kutsinta ang nagustuhan ni Winter sa lahat ng kaniyang mga dinadala.

Halos matawa si Karina nang maalala niya ang unang beses na binili niya ito para sa kanila.

"I know puto but what’s this? Is this… some kind of gelatin?"

"Ano?"

"This! The brown one!"

"Kutsinta 'yan, MJ. Anong gelatin?"

"It looks weird. Why does it have a sauce ta's may white sprinkles?"

"Para siyang sticky rice cake. Saka niyog 'yan. Try it. Masarap."

"Are you pranking me, Katarina?!"

"Just try it!"

"Done?"

Winter only hums. Karina then moves from her spot and cleans up for Winter instead.

"I can do that, you know."

"Alam ko." Karina did not even bother to look at her. "I want to do it for you though."

"Why?"

"Wala lang." Nginitian siya ni Karina. "Reward for eating your breakfast."

Halos umikot ang mata ni Winter sa sinabi ni Karina, even when she knew how the girl only loved to .

"Am I a kid?"

"Every good deed deserves a reward, Miss Kim."

"Ang annoying mo! Move nga, I'm working."

Tinawanan lang siya ni Karina nang magpalit sila ng pwesto.

May mga iilang customer pa ang dumating sa laundromat kaya't tumayo muna si Karina para asikasuhin ito. Mag-isa lang kasi si Nanay Isay ngayon dahil nag resign na ang dati nilang kasama sa shop.

Hinayaan lamang siya ni Winter dahil nasanay na rin sila na tumutulong si Karina dito. Winter sometimes feel bad kasi hindi naman nila ito nababayaran but Karina only insisted na gusto niya lang may magawa na hindi acad o org related.

"Gusto rin kita makasama, pero hindi mo naman pwedeng iwan si Nanay dito."

Pagbalik ni Karina ay may bitbit na itong mug. Winter smiles with the small fact that it's the one she loves to use.

"The real reward."

Pinatong ni Karina ang mug sa counter bago lumabas muli ng store. Napangiti na lang si Winter sa mga pakulo ng kaibigan.

She feels rewarded already. Even without the coffee.

It's a Sunday night and niyaya ako ni Karina na kumain sa labas. She didn't tell me where but she said she wanted to show me around. As if she hasn't been doing that. She seemed so excited though, so I immediately agreed. After all, Karina did nothing but treat me well.

I just didn't know na I have to go through all these before I could even eat dinner.

Panic started to rise when the street we’re taking started to get crowded. Karina’s still holding my hand yet with the amount of people around us, I couldn’t help but get nervous. I almost yelped when Karina suddenly stopped. Muntik na kaming magkabungguan. Humarap siya sa’kin at kita ko ang pag-aalala sa mata niya.

“Dapat pala sa kabila tayo dumaan. Dito ka sa harap ko.”

She didn’t let go of me pero pinaurong niya na ako sa harapan niya. I already had my back facing her when I felt her breath against my right ear.

“Diretso ka lang, ta’s kakanan tayo sa kanto na ‘yun. Wala nang masyadong tao doon.”

My hold on her tightens as I start walking. Malapit kasi sa palengke ang laundromat ni Nanay. It’s almost dinner time and maraming bumibili sa ganitong oras. It was one of the reasons why I always feel scared of going out.

We reached the corner so I stopped first. Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag when I saw na konti na lang ang dumadaan sa street na lilikuan namin. I looked over at Karina and she was sweating profusely. I was about to reach in my pocket when she suddenly stepped forward, making me almost stumble.

“Pawis na pawis ka.” She mutters as she starts wiping my forehead and neck.

“Yung bangs mo–” She couldn’t even finish her sentence because she started giggling na. "M-mukha kang baby."

“Hey!”

I could feel my bangs nga sticking on my forehead. Grabe naman kasi ang tao. Bakit ang clutch nila bumili ng pang-dinner?

"Ganto talaga dito. Yung iba kasi hindi naman nagre-ref, yung iba naman hindi afford mag grocery nang maramihan para may stock sila." She speaks, as if she'd read my mind.

I could only nod. Iba pala talaga dito. And I'm just glad I have Nanay and Karina with me as I learn.

Karina started fixing my bangs and even tucked a few strands behind my ear. Ni hindi niya man lang pinunasan sarili niya eh she was sweating even more! I know na hindi ako ganon ka pawisin but I’ve noticed na mabilis talaga pagpawisan si Karina. Minsan nga need niya pa na nasa 3 ang electric fan or else she'll start sweating.

“Kat, come here. Let’s wipe your sweat.”

“Mamaya na! Baka humaba pila.” Nakangiting sabi niya

Pila? Saan?

I could only shake my head when she started pulling me again.

This is what I don’t like sa streets ng Manila. There aren’t even any sidewalks to walk on! Hindi ata ako makakalma tonight dahil halos katabi lang namin ang mga sasakyan at motor na dumadaan. Karina even pulled me to the side and she doesn’t even bother to look back.

“‘Wag kang lingon nang lingon, MJ! Sasakit leeg mo.”

“Kat! I’m just being careful. Nasa daan ka na!”

Tumawa lang siya at mas nagmadali pa maglakad. Syempre, I get pulled!

Hindi ko na alam kung saan ba kami papunta. It's not where we used to go to 'pag niyayaya niya akong lumabas. Nanay only lets her kasi I rarely go out daw. Para naman daw maarawan ako. As if, hindi ako naaarawan sa napaka-init naming campus?

Karina then started to pull me into some kind of alley? What was it called again? Eskinita? Why are there so many lusutan ba ta's wala naman naman sa maps?

"Kat…"

I just couldn't say it pero natatakot na ako. She looked back at me and I saw her worried eyes again. We just couldn't stop kasi pang isang tao lang ang daan and baka makaabala kami.

Finally, I can see the other end na. We ended up on another street. I'm not sure though where Karina was planning to take me. Sabi niya lang na we'll be eating somewhere else.

And of course, I always trust her.

Tumigil muna siya at humarap sa'kin. I know she's starting to feel guilty just by the look in her eyes.

"Hey, it's okay…" I assured her.

"I'm sorry, hindi muna kita tinanong. Okay ka lang ba? Were you scared?"

I could only nod

"It's okay. You're with me naman."

I li