( A Special Chapter )

 

Madaling araw nang tawagan ako ni Kuya reminding me that I need to get ready for our retreat.

 

Ako kasi 'yung taong hindi nagigising sa sarili kong alarm. Minsan, I kept on wondering how I could live without my Kuya.

 

He's practically my guardian. Kahit nandyan naman si papa, hindi ko pa rin maimagine kapag wala ang kuya ko.

 

"Ihahatid na kita o sabay kayo ni Winter?"

 

Oh, right. Sasama nga rin pala si Winter!

 

Masaya akong kumuha ng pandesal at sinubo 'yun. "I'll go with her." I said.

 

Confused lang akong tinitigan ng kapatid ko since it's very rare for me to smile early in the morning.

 

As you can see, I am not a morning person.

 

Unless, I'll spend my morning with Winter!

 

"Para kang ewan sa kakangiti mong 'yan."

 

"Huwag kang basag trip, please. Hindi kita uuwian ng buko pie sige!"

 

"Sure. Ngumiti ka hanggang mapunit labi mo, bunso."

 

Hindi ko na siya pinansin as I continued walking to our garage and opened the gate. Hindi ko muna dadalhin ang car para sabay kami ni Winter.

 

"Hi, Karina! Ang aga ah!"

 

"Good morning po, Ate Taeyeon! Si Winter po?"

 

I cannot help but giggle. Oo na! Crush ko kasi si Winter!

 

Si Winter ang masungit naming kapitbahay. Si Winter na astig. Si Winter na maganda, matapang, at matalino…

 

Speaking of the devil… este, my crush.

 

"H-Hi, Win!"

 

"Hi."

 

Parang gusto kong bigyan ng slap 'yung mukha ko. Bakit nauutal, Karina?

 

I sounded stupid!

 

"Sabay ba kayong pupunta ng school ni Win, anak?"

 

"Opo, Tita!" Up until now, hindi pa rin ako sanay na tinatawag ako ni Tita na anak. But whenever she does that, I can't feel anything but butterflies in my stomach.

 

Oh, to be part of Winter's family!

 

"Ganyan suot mo?"

 

Nawala naman 'yung smile ko when Winter scanned me as if she's checking my clothes.

 

"Pakialam mo ba?! Eh sa gusto niya magdress eh." Binatukan siya ni Ate Taeyeon.

 

"Pangit ba?" I scratched my head. I can always go back to our house and change my clothes naman. "I'll go back lang po sandali—"

 

"Huwag na!" Winter suddenly said. "A-ano, maganda naman! Baka lang hindi ka komportable."

 

Ate Taeyeon stared at her sister with a sly smile. "Bakit ba mas magaling ka pa sa nagsusuot?"

 

"Batangas kasi 'yun! There might be moments na aakyat kami sa mataas na height tapos naka-palda siya!"

 

Well, she's right. Bakit ba hindi ko 'yun naisip?

 

"Retreat ba ang ganap niyo o hiking?!" Binato ni Ate Taeyeon si Winter ng maning nilaga.

 

"Ate, nakakainis ka! Pumasok ka na nga lang sa trabaho mo!"

 

I find myself laughing at both of them. Winter and Ate Taeyeon— a never ending saga.

 

"May towel na ba sa loob?"

 

"Opo.

 

"Toothbrush, sabon, at shampoo?"

 

"Meron po!"

 

"Underwears?"

 

"Mama, naman! Meron 'yan!"

 

Awkward na tumingin sa'kin si Winter na parang hiyang-hiya sa question ni Tita. Annoyed, she took her things from her Mom at lumapit sa'kin with her weary eyes.

 

I don't really mind! Underwears are necessities!

 

"Tara na, Karina!"

 

Before I realize it, sinusundan ko na si Winter palabas ng bahay nila. I even hear Tita shouting something pero hindi na lang pinansin ni Winter.

 

I guess ganun talaga ang mga nanay! It makes me miss my mom even more.

 

"Are we riding a trike?"

 

Umiling si Winter. "Maglalakad tayo." She said. "I mean, kung okay lang sa'yo…"

 

"Of course!"

 

Syempre naman pabor sa'kin 'to! Lalo na ngayon at kasama kita? Duh, who am I to argue?

 

"Okay."

 

I tried to control my smile nang hawakan ni Winter 'yung kamay ko while crossing the streets.

 

It's just a simple gesture na she can do with everyone pero heto ako at kilig na kilig na naman!

 

"Hi, Winter! Hi, Karina!"

 

It was Chaeryeong. She was waving her hands towards us at sa tabi niya ay si Ryujin na nakasimangot.

 

"Hello? Kanina pa kayo? Matagal pa ba 'yung bus?" Salubong na tanong ni Winter. "Bakit maman nakabusangot mukha niyan?" She pointed to the girl with the bob hair.

 

"Hayaan mo 'yan. Hindi 'yan morning person." Ryujin could only roll her eyes at mukhang bwisit na bwisit na sa kasama.

 

"Ah, para palang si Karina."

 

Napalingon ako kay Winter. Chaeryeong eyed us with suspicion.

 

Kailan niya naman ako nakitang nakabusangot? Nakakahiya naman!

 

"Everyone, grab your bags and choose your seats!"

 

Halos magsiksikan ang lahat sa sinabi ni Sir.

 

"Tabi kami ni Winter!"

 

"Tabi kami ni Karina!"

 

Mabilis pa sa alas kuwatrong hinila ni Ryujin si Winter at ako naman ang hinila ni Chaeryeong.

 

"Okay lang ba Karina? Hihiramin ko si Win!"

 

Winter eyed me and I have no idea what she's thinking. Dapat kasi tabi kami sa seats!

 

"Hindi na, Ryu. Tabi kami ni Karina!

 

I wore my triumphant smile nang umalis si Winter sa hold ni Ryujin. Alam kong tropa sila ever since first year but sorry Ryu, ako ang pinili!

 

"Ang pangit mo kabonding, Win!"

 

"Madali siyang mahilo tsaka baka magalit sa'kin papa niyan!"

 

"Ay madaling mahilo, yuck!" Chaeryeong moved from her seat at nagpalit sila ni Winter.

 

As usual, ako ang pinaupo niya sa tabi ng Window.

 

Hay, she's such a green flag!

 

Ano ba kailangan kong gawin para mapa-sakin 'tong nilalang na 'to, Lord?

 

"Ba't ganyan ka makatingin?"

 

Tumaas 'yung kilay ko. "H-Huh?"

 

Inirapan lang ako ni Win at inabot sa'kin 'yung bonamine na baon niya.

 

Shoot. Calm down butterflies… concern lang siya, wala 'tong meaning!

 

"You're so sweet, Win!"

 

Siya naman ngayon ang napataas ang kilay. "Sa'yo 'yan! Nalaglag mo 'yan, anong thank you?!"

 

Huh?

 

Kinapa ko naman 'yung pockets ng jacket ko at tama siya, wala dito 'yung bonamine ko.

 

Well, inabot niya pa rin. That counts!

 

"Still, thank you!" She did not utter any word at pumikit na lang sa chair niya after organizing her stuffs.

 

Grabe na Karina! You would really settle for whatever small actions she would do?

 

Bare minimum enjoyer, yarne?

 

"Kim and Yu, sa room 305." My ears perked from what our teacher said. Kagaya na lang nito, ka-room ko si Winter…

 

Thank you, Heavens!

 

"Kawawang Winter, mahihimatay—" I heard Ryujin giggled at hinampas siya ni Chaeryeong.

 

Wala na akong pakialam sa sasabihan nila. Ang importante ay kasama ko si Winter sa room.

 

I can stare at her all I want— I mean, I can take care of her!

 

"Pasok na kami, Win." Ryujin tapped Winter's shoulder at nagpaalam.

 

Chaeryeong also bid me goodbye as they proceed to their rooms.

 

Before I realize it, naglalakad na si Winter papasok sa room namin and she didn't even wait for me.

 

Nakakatampo!

 

"3 pm, papupuntahin tayo ni Sir Paul sa assembly. Do you mind if nagshower muna ako? You can take the bed sa tabi ng window."

 

"Shower?" Nagtatakang tinignan ako ni Winter as if I said something stupid. "Ah, sure! Uhm, ako din!" Tumaas 'yung kilay niya.

 

"I mean— after mo, of course!"

 

Ano ba Karina? Will you really continue acting awkward in front of Winter?! Kilala na ngang awkward 'yung tao tapos sasabay ka pa?!

 

I need to touch some grass!

 

"Anong ginawa mo sa damo, Karina?"

 

"Huh? I am touching it." Ryujin looked at me dumbfoundedly habang kinakain 'yung marshmallow niya sa sticks.

 

Earlier, tinawag na kami ni Sir for an orientation. Mabilis lang tumakbo ang oras.

 

We had dinner.

 

We had mass.

 

At sa isang iglap lang, I am here sitting with everyone in front of this bonfire.

 

I looked at Winter giggling with Chaeryeong and their new found friend.

 

Ako? I am stuck here with these people.

 

Mababait naman 'tong mga students from other schools. I just wished I'm with Winter right now…

 

"Grab your ballpens and let's start writing our thoughts."

 

Wala nang patumpik-tumpik pa, the speakers explained our task. Kumuha ako ng notebook and wrote down the things I am thankful for.

 

Right now, I am currently thinking about my family, my friends, and syempre… si Winter.

 

They're my gifts.

 

"Miss Kim?"

 

Everyone looked at the speaker nang tawagin niya si Winter. Nagkatinginan kami nila Chaeryeong since we all knew that Winter is not good with the crowd.

 

"Can you share what you wrote in front of these people?" The speaker asked and this time, nagtama na ang mga mata namin.

 

I smiled at her, trying to cheer her up.

 

"Go on. Nahihiya ka ba? Huwag!"

 

Everyone laughed except me. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang kaba ni Winter!

 

The moment she stood up, it made me feel so proud. Hinawakan niya nang mahigpit 'yung paper niya at kumuha ng malalim na hininga.

 

"W-What I am thankful about… is existence." Panimula niya.

 

Go on, you can do it, baby!

 

"An existence that goes with liberation of whom I accompany, share hope, express bravery, and love." She looked at me. "In other words I am thankful for everything that goes with my existence. Kung parte ka ng buhay ko, I am thankful to you."

 

We all silently listen as we feel the cold breeze. And Winter's words match perfectly with the fire that gives us warmth and gentleness in this field.

 

"Rather than the happenings in my life Sir, I am thankful for the people po." She explained. "Because they choose to be involved in my life when clearly, they can choose solitude or someone more enthusiastic." She added. "I am a very awkward person and I'm not good at striking a conversation with people. But when someone will try to talk to me and stay with me despite having the impression of coldness…" She looked straight into my eye and my heart jumped. "I-I… I appreciate it, Sir."

 

I gave Winter a smile the moment na matapos siyang magsalita. I can still feel my heart racing. Bakit ba sa simpleng pag-sulyap