I'm worried.

It's been 2 hours since I left home with my cousin, Ate Irene. She dragged me along with her kasi susunduin niya daw si Ate Jennie, my sister, from her work.

Hindi dapat ako sasama, actually. I wanted to stay with my girlfriend. It's her first time meeting my relatives today kaya gusto ko sana na mag-stay, since may pagkamahiyain din 'yon minsan.

Although I think magpapasikat 'yon doon.

Which is exactly what I'm worried about.

Sobra kasing mapilit si Ate Irene! Like one look from her and mapapabigay ka na lang.

"Winter, calm down! Relax! Hindi naman kakainin ng buhay nila tito si Karina. Geez, it's only been an hour!"

"Ate, it's been like 2 hours na kaya! What the hell is ate doing pa inside?"

Ang usapan lang kasi, susunduin namin si Ate. Pero here we are, sa harap ng mall, waiting for my ate who went inside for God knows what reason.

"I think bumibili siya ng cake.. or wine ata.. I don't know." I scoffed.

Ang dami dami ng cake sa bahay! Like each family siguro brought their own cake to share and we have like what? 4 families sa bahay? Ano nang gagawin namin sa mga 'yon if dadagdag pa si Ate!

"You're so funny! Para kang si ate mo! Ang cute mapikon!"

"Ate kasi!"

"Ate kasi what?"

"You're so! I can't believe you let me leave Karina alone kasama sila daddy.. umiinom sila, Ate! Karina's a lightweight kaya!"

"Ang sama mo naman sa girlfriend mo? They were only drinking wine when we left!"

"Ate you know naman sila daddy! And don't think I didn't notice you all sharing looks! You planned this!"

Ate Irene let out a hearty chuckle. Ugh! Gusto kong umiyak! 

My poor girlfriend's back at home left in the hands of my daddy and titos.. 

God, I can already imagine her being such a mess. Sobrang bilis niyang malasing, and drunk Karina isn't exactly a behaved Karina.

"Okay, fine. You got me. Si daddy kasi, e! He told me he'd get me that bag I've been wanting if I distract you for a bit."

"A bit? e we've been here for 2 hours.. plus, bakit ka pa naga-ask kay tito ng bag.. you literally have your own job?"

She's literally a lawyer who earns 6 digits a month!

"Walang pakealamanan!"

I rolled my eyes. Sumbong kita kay Ate Seulgi, e. Pasalamat ka wala dito.

I sighed. Namimiss ko na talaga ang girlfriend ko. Naalala ko pa yung pagpout niya saakin kanina before I left.

"Rina, can I borrow Winter for a bit lang?"

I was sitted beside my girlfriend sa couch when Ate Irene approached us. She had this mischievous grin on her face. 

"A-Ate Irene, yes po, sure po. For what po?" natawa si Ate. Pati ako natawa din. Ilang 'po' ang ginamit mo sa isang sentence, baby?

"Susunduin lang namin si Ate niya from work, is that okay?" Kumunot ang noo ko. Why do I need to come with her? I thought susunduin ni daddy si Ate? She didn't bring her car kasi kanina.

Hinanap ng mata ko si Daddy. I spotted him sa kitchen, carrying a bottle of wine and wine glasses. When our eyes met, he smiled at me and walked towards us.

"Susunduin mo na si Jen, Rene?" tanong niya kay Ate. Ate Irene nodded.

"Yes po, tito. Isasama ko po si Winter, is that okay?" my father's smile grew wider.

"Of course! Isama mo na." naupo siya sa tabi ni Karina, "Pero si Karina, maiwan lang dito." nilapag ni daddy ang bottle ng wine sa table.

Sumunod din si Tito Achille, Ate Irene's dad, who was holding his own glass of wine.

Tumingin ako kay Karina. She had an innocent smile on her face, at the same time a confused look.

"Oh, you heard your father-in-law, mag-stay ka daw dito, Rina." I think ngayon lang narealize ng girlfriend ko na maiiwan siya because her eyes suddenly widened and she looked at me, like she was asking for help.

"B-But—"

"Ayaw mo kaming makasama, Karina? Nako, magtatampo na kami sa'yo.."

"Pinabilhan ka pa naman namin ng favorite wine mo, we asked Winter what your favorite was.."

"Daddy—"

"Hayaan mo na sila diyan, Win! Your ate must be waiting, halika na!" Before Ate Irene was able to pull me, my eyes didn't fail to miss the wink she gave her dad.

They are definitly planning something.

However, nagpadala na lang ako. It's not like may magagawa pa ako.

"Sundo pala, Ate ha?" I rolled my eyes at her when she chuckled. She was about to open the passenger seat door for me when we heard a voice call.

"Win!" I turned around and saw my girlfriend running towards me. She immediately engulfed me in a hug.

"Baby.. you're really leaving me here?" I wrapped my arms around her petite but tall frame and chuckled.

"Bakit parang ayaw mo? Do you not want to hang with them?"

"It's not like that!" pumapadyak pa siya. Ang tangkad tangkad na tao pero parang bata.

"It's just.. why can't I come? I can even pick Ate Jennie up! So hindi na mapagod si Ate Irene.." humahanap talaga siya ng paraan oh.

I don't think it's because ayaw niyang maiwan kasama sila Daddy. My dad and Karina are really close. My dad has taken a liking sa aking girlfriend because, well, Karina is Karina, everyone is bound to like her.

Clingy lang talaga si Karina. It's a trait I find very adorable.

"I heard that!" Karina flinched when Ate Irene spoke. Natawa ako. Ayan, baby. Kape pa.

"Kayong dalawa, ha! Mapaghiwalay naman kayo kahit for a bit lang!" I rolled my eyes and kissed my girlfriend sa cheek niya before parting sa hug.

"You're just jealous kasi wala kang kalambingan." I chuckled when she stuck her tongue out at me.

I turned around to face my girlfriend ulit and had to hold in a smile when I saw her pouting. I cupped both her cheeks and pulled her lips to kiss.

"We won't be long, baby. Dito ka lang, okay?" her eyes were begging, like they were asking me if I was sure.

I chuckled and let go of her but not before leaving a kiss on her forehead.

"Bonding kayo doon nila tito, hindi naman sila nangangain. But please, behave, okay?" 

My girlfriend nodded kahit na labag sa loob niya.

I smiled and kissed her ulit but this time she made it last longer. I melted into the kiss before finally bidding goodbye, getting inside the car and watched my girlfriend from the window waving goodbye as we drove away.

I miss her so much. I know it's only been hours but..

Ugh!

Baka nilalasing na siya masiyado nila Daddy! Lagot sila saakin!

I flinched a bit when the door opened. 

Si Ate. 

God, finally. She was carrying a box of cake. I internally groaned. Ang dami dami na ng cake sa bahay!

"Oh, why are you frowning diyan?" she asked as she settled sa seat niya.

"Ate ang tagal mo!"

"I didn't take too long, don't be OA."

"Nangungulila na 'yang kapatid mo sa girlfriend niya, hayaan mo na." I rolled my eyes at Ate Irene. Tulak ko siya diyan e.

"God, these kids.." I heard ate mumble. I fought the urge to just push her out of this car. 

The audacity!

Thankfully, we started to drive off.

Malayo layo pa ka