Nakaupo ngayon si Winter sa bakanteng table sa library sa loob ng campus. Gaya nga ng in-expect niya, being partnered with Karina had proven to be challenging, to say the least. Sinusubukan naman ni Winter pero hindi talaga siya makahanap ng kahit katiting na magandang quality kay Karina. Hindi niya lubos na maintindihan kung bakit ba siya ginawang pair dito ni ma’am Aguirre. Ever since the time allotted for their project started, wala pa si Winter nakita na pwedeng maisulat patungkol sa partner niya. As she continued to observe her, all she could see is how Karina’s so self-centered and seemingly oblivious to anyone else.

Mas lalo lang napatunayan ang assumption niyang yan as her gaze drifted to Karina across the table who was engrossed with her phone. Hindi man lang nito mapansin ang namumuong inis na nararamdaman ni Winter. Karina's attention seemed to always gravitate towards herself, her social media feed, and anything that didn't pertain to the project they were supposed to be collaborating on.

Pinagmasdan niya si Karina na mag-scroll sa phone niya at hindi naiwasan ni Winter na bahagyang mangunot ang noo. Oo nga, nakaupo sa harap niya ngayon si Karina pero hanggang doon na lang ‘yon. Pakiramdam nga ni Winter ay invisible lang siya sa paningin ni Karina dahil simula nung dumating silang dalawa rito, hindi man lang siya nito tiningnan. Mas marami pa nga ang screentime niya kaysa kausapin si Winter para magplano.

Nagpakawala ng malakas na buntong hininga si Winter for the reason that she wants to let off emotional steam and also to indirectly call Karina’s attention. Nag-angat naman si Karina ng tingin nang narinig niya ‘yon. Winter’s body tensed up at that action hoping that her partner will finally talk to her about their project but to her dismay, binalik ulit ni Karina ang atensyon sa phone niya.

Kinuyom ni Winter ang kamao niya.

Gusto niya itong kausapin tungkol sa ugali nito pero pinigilan niya ang sarili niya. She knows confronting her would only result to an unnecessary conflict.

Karina still remained oblivious sa namumuong inis nitong ka-pair niya.

Kinalma ni Winter ang sarili niya at saka niya binalikan ulit na basahin yung guidelines ng project. Naka-emphasize doon yung importance ng pagkakaroon ng maayos na teamwork sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat ng affirmations sa partner mo. But looking back at Karina, Winter knows it will be hard and impossible. Paano naman siya magsusulat ng words of affirmation dito kung ganito ang pinapakita niyang ugali.

This won’t do.

Winter reached her hand over and gently pulled Karina’s phone out of her hands, placing it face down on the table. Karina who was startled by the action, finally looked up, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“What?” inis nitong tanong.

Aba ikaw pa talaga yung may ganang mainis?

Sinalubong ni Winter ang naiinis na tingin ni Karina. 

“Karina baka nakalimutan mong may project pa tayong gagawin at partner mo ako.”

“Oo alam ko. Tapos?”

Nagpanting ang tainga ni Winter sa narinig. Huminga siya nang malalim, trying to maintain her calm voice.

“May idea ka na ba kung paano natin sisimulan ‘tong project?”

Ipinatong ni Karina ang ulo niya sa kamay niya at umaktong nag-iisip.

“Nagreresearch ako ng mga ideas kanina pero wala pa akong nahahanap na maayos..” she paused when she remembered something. “You know I actually found something useful earlier but then...” Tiningnan ni Karina yung phone niya na nakataob sa mesa and then she met Winter’s eyes.

Winter mustered a polite smile at hindi pinansin yung nakakaasar na tingin ni Karina sa kanya. She knew that Karina is only bluffing. Rinig na rinig kaya ni Winter yung sound ng pinapanood niyang Tiktok video kanina bago niya kinuha yung phone niya. 

“Same as you, nagreresearch rin ako…” sabi niya, also taking a pause. “Pero sa google ako nagreresearch, hindi sa Tiktok.”

Nakita ni Winter kung paano saglit na nawala ang mapaglarong ngiti sa labi ni Karina nang sinabi niya ‘yon. She couldn’t help but give a pat mentally to hersel