Nakatayo si Karina sa labas ng classroom habang hawak ang bag niya. 

 

Magkikita kasi silang dalawa ni Winter ngayon para magplano tungkol panibago na namang by pair na project.

 

Believe it or not, ka-pair na naman kasi ni Karina si Winter so that makes 2 projects na ang gagawin niya kasama siya.

 

Karina had always been aware of Winter's diligent nature in school. Lagi niya itong nakikitang mag-isa but that doesn't mean na loner siya kaya siya mag-isa. Parang hindi nga nito kakailanganin ng tulong tuwing may pinapagawa sa kanila kasi mas nauuna pa itong matapos at magpasa ng papel. Unlike Karina who really likes the attention to herself dahil marami siyang kaibigan sa block nila, Winter didn't like any of it.

 

Karina perceives her as an independent person. 

 

Ang sabi nga ni Giselle sa kanya, may mga tao talaga na mas prefer kapag mag-isa sila kasi mas nao-organize nila nang maayos yung thoughts nila in that way. 

 

Of course Giselle knew that life until Karina walked into her life para mambulabog. Ang tahimik niyang buhay, biglang gumulo. Yeah, let's just think of it in a good way para mabawasan naman ang mga negative traits ni Karina. 

 

Kaya naman nung nalaman ni Giselle kung sino yung magiging partner ni Karina, she felt sorry for her in advance dahil alam na niya kung paano magiging pabigat si Karina sa kanila. She wasn’t wrong though because she could already see Winter’s frustrations every time.

 

Tiningnan ni Karina ang oras sa phone niya. Maaga pa para pumunta sa meeting place nila pero sakto lang para makarating siya on time.

 

Actually, siya pa nga ang nag-set ng time para makapag-meeting sila after ng last subject nila. Karina also didn't know what got into her at siya pa ang nag-aya kay Winter. Siguro para makabawi? After all, she knew she's not really a useful groupmate.

 

Hindi naman dense si Karina para hindi malaman na naiinis na si Winter sa kanya. She knew what the girl went through with her. Bukod sa minsan na nga lang siya makipag-cooperate sa kanya, hindi rin niya nagagawa nang maayos yung simpleng task na binigay sa kanya. 

 

They had to write words of affirmation for their assigned partners every day. Winter has been pretty consistent with it and Karina is loving every bits of it kahit yung iba doon ay hindi sincere dahil sa inis nito sa kanya. At least meron diba?

 

If Karina likes their set up, she's sure Winter is not really having any of it. If Winter is consistent, Karina is the complete opposite. Magsusulat lang siya kung kailan niya gusto and that happens rarely. Kaya napansin talaga ni Karina kung paano yung gulat na itsura ni Winter when she complimented her. 

 

She couldn't help but chuckle at the memory. Cute. Naiinis na nga yung tao sa kanya pero iniisip pa rin niyang cute 'to? What's wrong with her?

 

Karina was about to walk papunta sa AVR nang biglang magring yung phone niya. Tumatawag ang mommy niya.

 

Sinagot naman ni Karina ang tawag dahil baka gusto lang nito na mangamusta. A smile appeared on her lips as she answered the call.

 

"Mommy, hello!" bati niya rito.

 

Halatang halata mula sa boses ng mommy niya kung paano ito ma-excite. "Karina anak, you won't believe what your sister achieved today! May na-receive na award ang ate mo sa research project niya. Can you believe it? I'm so proud of her!"

 

The smile slowly faded on her lips habang nakikinig sa mommy niya na magkwento kung gaano ito ka-proud sa ate niya.

 

"That's great, mommy. I know proud ka kay ate."

 

"Oh, you bet!"

 

Her mom excitedly goes on sa pagkekwento niya tungkol sa ate ni Karina and she was too caught up on it that she didn't even notice na napapatagal na pala ang tawag. 

 

Karina saw the time.

 

Late na siya. 

 

For sure kanina pa naghihintay doon si Winter.

 

But her mom is still not done.

 

After ending the call with her mom, Karina walked with long strides towards the AVR and there she saw Winter arranging her things and just about to leave.

 

Nang magtama ang tingin nila, Karina knew Winter already reached her last straw.

 

Maybe it was because of the call or maybe it was just a long day for her, that Karina also didn't let herself calm down and think before speaking. Nakita na lang niyang paalis na si Winter na masama ang loob sa kanya.

 

There was still a heavy air floating around nang umalis si Winter sa room. Karina still stood there, looking at the door where Winter left. Ramdam pa rin niya yung bigat ng pakiramdam niya mula sa nangyaring sagutan kanina, pero habang lumilipas ang mga segundo ay parang biglang may bumuhos sa kanya na malamig na tubig.