Karina panicked as soon as she saw Winter. 'Ano ba naman tong buhay nato? Ang lakas mangtrip ha? Pag ito hindi pa binigay sakin this time, gawan natin ng paraan. Hindi pwedeng hindi!'

“Uhh.. mom can I use the comfort room for a second?” Paalam ni Karina. Hindi na rin nga nito hinintay ang sagot ng mga mommy niya bago ito tumayo at pumunta sa kinatatayuan ni Winter.

“And you're coming with me.” Bulong nito kay Winter bago ito hinila palabas.

“Looks like they're getting along well.” Natatawang sabi ni Minseok.

Nang makalabas ang dalawa ay agad na hinarap ni Karina si Winter.

“What are you doing here Ms. Kim? Why are you here?” Karina asked Winter na naguguluhan din.

“Lolo said I'm about to meet someone? Is it you? Akala ko ba you're already preparing for an arranged marriage?” Napahawak naman sa sentido si Karina. She's losing it.

“That’s what my parents told me. Kaya we're here to meet my soon-to-be. Ano bang sabi ng lolo mo sayo?” Karina asked Winter. Nakakunot ang noo nito at magkatapat lang sila. ‘Oh gosh! Crush ko nga pala to!’ Napakagat naman sa labi si Karina nang marealize kung gaano sila kalapit sa isa't isa. Mahina lang kasi ang mga boses nila at baka marinig sila sa loob.

“Soon-to-be? Ang sabi lang naman ni lolo, we're here to meet some of my parents' friends.. and also their daughter. He doesn't said anything about marriage, I thought it was something like a blind date nga eh.” Gulong gulo at litong lito na silang dalawa. Hindi tuloy sila sigurado kung sino ang paniniwalaan, kung mauuwi ba talaga sila sa kasalan o date date lang.

“We should ask them later. But the problem is our current marriage, Winter. Paano kapag nalaman nila na kasal na talaga tayo? What should we say?” They were both in deep thoughts. Paano nga ba?

“We're taking too much time, Karina. I don't have any plans as of the moment but for now, the best thing we could do is go with whatever flow there is. We'll talk later after, depending on how things would go. Okay?” Wala na silang maisip, at medyo nagtatagal na rin sila. Naririnig na rin ni Karina ang pagnonotify ng phone nito kapag may new messages siya kaya naman tumango na ito at inayos ang sarili.

“Teka. Akin na phone mo.” Nagtataka namang binigay ni Winter ang phone kay Karina at pinagmasdan lang nito ang pagtipatipa sa phone niya. Biglang tumunog ang phone ni Karina at iwinagayway ang phone sa harap ni Winter.

“That's my number, I've saved it for future purposes.” Ngumiti pa ito ng matamis sa kaniya bago muling pumasok sa loob ng reserved room nila.

Napatingin nalang ito sa contact number na kakasave lang sa phone niya. ‘Your Wife’ pa nga ang nilagay nitong contact name. Napailing na lang si Winter at ibinalik na ang phone sa inner pocket niya bago muling bumalik sa loob.

“Minjeong, apo dito ka. Tabihan mo si Karina.” Pagpasok ni Winter ay naiba na ang pwesto ni Karina. Hindi na siya katabi ng mommy Jisoo niya kundi ay katabi na ng lolo Minseok ni Winter.

Sumunod naman si Winter at umupo sa tabi ni Karina. The main course and dishes were getting served din nang dumating si Winter kaya tahimik lang ang lahat habang iniintay matapos ang pagaayos ng mga pagkain.

Nang makaalis na ang mga servers ay tumikhim ang lolo ni Winter para makuha ang atensyon nila.

“Let's eat first mga anak.” Sabi ni Minseok at agad naman silang nagsimulang kumain.

Karina was eyeing a dish, to be specific, it's a dish near Winter but too far for Karina to reach. Napansin naman ito ni Winter kaya agad itong bumulong sa katabi.

“You want that one?” Sabi pa nito sabay turo sa Buttered Shrimp na kanina pang tinitignan ni Karina. Tumango naman si Karina dito, hilig niya kasi ang hipon. 

Imbis na ibigay ni Winter ang buong plate na naglalaman ng ulam ay kumuha ito ng ilang piraso at isa isang binalatan ang mga ito bago ilagay sa plato ni Karina. Naka gloves naman siya at kasama itong sinerve kanina.

Their little gestures didn't get unnoticed from the others inside the room. It made them think that they see hope in the upcoming union of the two. ‘I think they'll manage being with each other.’ is what the three older people thought.

‘What a gentlewoman you are, Winter. Ang sarap mong mahalin.’ Karina was a blushing mess. Kada kasi makikitang wala nang shrimp sa plato ni Rina ay kukuha uli si Winter para magpeel nito at ilalagay uli sa plate ni Karina. Kaya nang kukuha uli si Winter para ipagbalat siya ay pinigilan na niya ito.

“I'm good na Minjeong, t-thank you.” Nahihiyang sabi nito. Busog na kasi siya, kanina pa kaya siya pinagbabalatan ng sugpo ni Winter. Tumango naman si Winter at nagpatuloy na rin sa pagkain.

Nang matapos ang lahat at malinis na ang table ay wine naman ang sinerve sa kanila. Muling tumikhim ang lolo ni Winter.

“Minjeong, apo, I know I've said this is just going to be a blind date. That's what I thought too, but I think there was a misunderstanding on my part. Your tita Lisa and tita Jisoo here will explain.” Tinignan naman ni Minseok sila Lisa at Jisoo saka tumango. Napalingon na rin si Winter sa mga ito.

“Minjeong, anak, your mothers were our best friends. Mine was Jennie while your Tita Jisoo here was Rosé’s. At sa tingin namin ay wala kami ngayon ng tita Jisoo mo if not for your parents. They actually played a big part in our relationship.” Lisa held Jisoo’s hand that was above the table and smiled while looking at their hands.

“We made a promise, all four of us, that once our kids reach the age of 30, with no current relationships, we'll marry them off.” Lisa looked at both Winter and Karina that sat across them.

“And since Jennie and Rosé are now gone, it's on us to fulfill the promise we made with each other. Just like how they played cupid on our relationship, we'll make sure that their daughter will also have someone to love and cherish, and hopefully it's from the embodiment of our daughter, Jimin.”

Karina was only looking at her hands below the table, she was fidgeting her fingers due to nervousness. Habit niya na kasi ito kapag kinakabahan. Nakita naman ito ni Winter kaya walang pagdadalawang isip nitong hinawakan ang kamay ni Karina. Mukhang masusugat na rin kasi yung balat niya dahil pulang pula na. Karina stopped breathing, hindi siya makapagreact sa ginawa ni Winter dahil kaharap niya lang ang mga magulang niya. Hindi tuloy siya makatili!

“Shh. It's okay. We'll be fine.” Winter whispered and smiled at her while still looking in front of them. Napahigpit tuloy ang hawak ni Karina sa kamay ni Winter, napangiti na rin ito.

“So, what do you say mga apo?” Minseok asked, medyo worried kasi ito sa apo niyang si Minjeong. Baka masyado itong naoverwhelm sa sudden announcement ng mga best friend ng mga magulang niya.

Instead of answering Minseok, Winter looked at the person sitting beside her. She wanted Karina to decide this time. Last time they talked, siya ang nagdecide, at ngayong nandidito na sila muli sa ganitong sitwasyong wala na silang kawala, she wanted to make sure she considers Karina's opinion. Hindi lang kasi para sa future ni Winter ang pagdedesisyonan nila ngayon kundi kay Karina na rin.

“Rina.” Pagtawag ni Winter kay Karina. Nagulat naman ang katabi nito at humarap rin sa kanya.

“Y-yes?” Nagstutter pa nga si anteh mo. Kabado pa rin. Nahihilo na kasi yan kung saan magfofocus, sa kamay ba ni Winter na nakahawak pa rin ng mahigpit sa mga kamay niya o sa mga titig ni Winter na ngayon ay katabi niya.

“You decide this time. What should we do?” Dirediretsong tanong nito sa asawa. Yes, Winter is now thinking like a married woman. Being considerate to the other party is the first thing she learned.