"Swabe, Winter! Summa Laude! Congrats!"

 

 

 

I was engulfed into a massive group hug by my Kuyas. Graduation na kasi namin ngayon and here I am, being awarded with a highest latin honor.

 

 

 

Well, I wouldn't achieve this all if it wasn't for Karina Yu. And to say that my life had completely changed ever since I met her is an understatement. Talagang inikot niya patiwarik ang buhay ko. Tinalo pa ang Earth's revolution sa pag-ikot.

 

 

 

Because of her support– financial, emotional, physical mwehehe– I was able to focus on my studies even more and of course, sa social relationships ko din.

 

 

 

She took my number one source of problem– money– off my shoulders. Kaya I'm really thankful talaga na sinet-up siya sa'kin ng mga Kuya ko.

 

 

 

Does that make me a gold digger? I don't know.

 

 

 

I love Karina Yu and her money. Eme!

 

 

 

Syempre hindi naman pera ang habol ko sakanya, jusko. Karina Yu is so loveable. She's so easy to adore and love.

 

 

 

Kaya nga ako nahulog eh. Not because of her money nor for the things she showered me, but because of her entire being.

 

 

 

When my Kuyas let go of me, I was again being wrapped into a familiar hold. I automatically smiled. Pabango pa lang alam na alam ko na kung sino 'to.

 

 

 

"Congratulations, Darling. You deserve it." I leaned back to her. Nakaback hug kasi siya sa'kin with her head resting on my shoulders. May hawak-kawak din pala siyang bouquet of white tulips– my favorite.

 

 

 

I closed my eyes, feeling her warm touch. "Thank you, Rina. Pero hindi ko to magagawa lahat kung hindi dahil sayo."

 

 

 

"It's your effort that mostly did it, Darling. Give yourself the credit, hmm?" Ngumiti ako nang marahang dinapo niya ang bibig sa pisnge ko, swaying our bodies.

 

 

 

I turned around so that I could meet her eye to eye, took my academic cap, and placed it on top of her head. "Hmm, sige na nga. Pero dedicate ko pa rin itong greatest academic achievement ko para sayo."

 

 

 

She giggled. "Okay, okay."

 

 

 

My gaze then went to the flowers. "Para sa'kin ba'to?" I asked.

 

 

 

"Yes, Darling. All for you." I smiled widely, taking the bouquet from her hands.

 

 

 

"Thank you, Rina." I kissed her cheeks.

 

 

 

"Ay ang sweet naman! Sana all!" Oh, . Nandito pa pala sila Kuya. I almost forgot about there presence.

 

 

 

Char. Nilambing lang ako ni Karina, nakakalimutan ko na agad ang mga ganap sa paligid. Eme.

 

 

 

"Sana all talaga, Baby girl! Summa Laude na nga, may maganda pang girlfriend tapos meron ding mga poging Kuya! How to be you po?" Pagbibiro nila kaya namula naman ako bago sila pinaghahampas. Mga loko talaga.

 

 

 

"Jeno, diba I already told you to stop calling my girlfriend a baby girl." Hinila naman ako ni Karina. Napakaselosa talaga netong Mommy ko hahaha.

 

 

 

"Oh bakit? Baby girl naman talaga namin siya bago mo siya naging baby ah. Sus!"

 

 

 

"I don't care. Ako lang ang may karapatan tumawag sakanya ng Baby." Mabigat na saad nito bago bumaling sa'kin. "Right, Baby?" She pouted, sulking. And yet, I felt my knees weakened.

 

 

 

Weakness ko na ata ang ganitong klaseng endearment galing kay Karina.

 

 

 

I chuckled before teasing her. "Tama naman sila kuya ah. " She pouted even more, attempting to release herself from our hug. I didn' let her bagkos ay inakbayan ko siya.

 

 

 

"Eto naman. Napakamatampuhin talaga ng girlfriend ko na 'yan." Paglalambing ko, kissing her temple before whispering. "Of course sayo lang ako, Mommy."

 

 

 

I felt her gasped when I blew hot air on her ears. Naramdaman ko din kung paano mag-goosebumps ang hairs sa neck area niya. Haha.

 

 

 

"Oo nga! Ang sobrang selosa mo din, Ate Rina! Baka signs of aging na 'yan." Mark said this time, causing Karina to look at him in disbelief.

 

 

 

"Excuse me! 29 palang ako!"

 

 

 

"Kaya nga! Isang taon nalang mawawala ka na sa calendaryo– uy! Sorry! Haha!" Hindi na nito napigil when she raised her hands and turned it into a fist saka hinabol si Kuya Mark.

 

 

 

"Haha! Isipin mo teh. Kakatapak pa lang ni Winter sa grade 10, CEO ka na ng company mo ate!" I laughed.

 

 

 

"Hala siya oh! Child abuse!"

 

 

 

"Ugh! Come here you two! Ang hilig niyo talaga akong inisin!"

 

 

 

Nasa may sasakyan na kami ngayon papunta sa isang restaurant na pinareserve ni Karina for a post celebration.

 

 

 

She was the one driving the car habang ako naman ay lihim siyang pinagmamasdan. Ang sobrang ganda talaga niya. Hindi mo mahahalatang papunta na siya sa 30's niya. She looks like she's still approaching 20's   sa sobrang baby face nito.

 

 

 

"Darling, staring is rude y'know?" Nagising ako sa diwa when she finally caught me.

 

 

 

"Ang ganda ganda mo kasi. Mahirap huwag kang titigan haha."

 

 

 

She smirked, turning her gaze at me and flipped her hair before returning back on the road. "I know right."

 

 

 

I playfully rolled my eyes. "Yabang."

 

 

 

She just giggled whilst I bit my lips, contemplating if should ask my next question.

 

 

 

"Spill it, Darling." Sabi ko nga. Kilalang-kilala niya ako.

 

 

 

"Nabother ka ba kanina sa sinabi nila Kuya Mark?" There I said it. I wanted to know what she feels about this.

 

 

 

Although it was delivered playfully and my Kuyas meant no harm sa biro nila, baka kasi may nararamdaman na 'tong gf ko na something personal about it.

 

 

 

Mag iisang taon kalahati na din kasi kami ni Rina. Although she was the one who express in liking me first, I was the one who pursued her. Ako 'yung nanligaw. Halos limang buwan din ang itinagal 'non.

 

 

 

When we became official, we never mind about the between us even though may mga ibang taong kumutya. Lalong-lalo na sa'kin. Alam niyo naman ang mga Pilipino, palaging may opinyon 'yan sa bawat sitwasyon na wala naman silang dapat pakialam. Mga nakikisali lang.

 

 

 

But who cares. Mga inggit lang yan sila because I was the one who captured the heart of their dream woman. Sa akin siya na-inlove. Ako ang pinili. So belat nalang sa may mga gusto sa Mommy ko. Bleh!

 

 

 

"When I started liking you, I already prepared myself for what's about to come. It includes all the jokes and the nonsense opinion nor viewpoints about our relationships."

 

 

 

"But one thing's for sure though, is that I really don't care kung ano man ang sabihin nila about sa'tin. I'm helplessly in love you, Winter, and that's all there is to it. Nothing else. "

 

 

 

"And age is just nothing but a number ika nga nila haha."

 

 

 

Hayst, Mommy Karina Yu. Mahal na mahal talaga kita.

 

 

 

"What about you, Darling? Are you bothered dating someone older than me?" She glances back at me. Mabilis naman akong umiling.

 

 

 

"Dating you has been nothing but amazing, Rina. Wala na akong may maihihiling pa." I sincerely replied, making her smile from her seat.

 

 

 

"Saka, ang dami din kasing perks kaya literal na wala na akong may maihihiling pa talaga haha." I continued, joking. Pareho kaming natawa.

 

 

 

"That's right, Darling. Sabi ko naman sa'yo eh. Just spend your time loving me, at ako na ang bahala mag spend ng money."

 

 

 

Bahagyang napatawa lang ako bago umiling. Hindi naman niya kailangan gumastos para lang mahalin ko. She knows that. My love is priceless for her.