"Winter, who are you talking to?" ningning asked in astonishment. She just looked at ningning, wearing her famous smile.
"Who else? I'm talking to karina." She raised an eyebrow at her best friend.
"Nothing, I just want to check you out. You talk first. I will just go somewhere."
Ningning stared intently at where winter was. She could see winter laughing hard. She didn't know what to think. How could she say everything to winter? Without hurting her. She leaned against the wall, inhaling all the frustration that she's been carrying for almost a year. Besides, she doesn't want to hurt winter's feelings. She loves her, and it hurts seeing winter being like that. She asked herself, "What is the best thing to do?'' But there's no answer coming out.
She dialed someone's number, "Giselle, let's talk."
____
Giselle was waiting for her at the corner. She never thought that It would hurt her. Giselle, Karina's best friend.
She waved her hand, running towards the girl who's standing in excitement. "Hi, it's been a while. I'm glad you asked me to go out because I'm bored. Like super."
"I don't know how to tell her."
"Winter, right?" Giselle asked her.
She nodded, "I don't want to hurt her feelings. I don't want her to suffer because of me. She experienced enough. And I want her to be happy but–– she can't be happy, if I'm going to pretend. She needs to know everything."
"Do you want me to help you? I'll help you to talk to her. To tell her everything that she needs to know. Don't worry, I'm here."
_____
Ningning took a deep breath as they faced winter who seemed confused. "We need to tell you something. I need to tell you something, winter. Where's Karina?"
"She's not here. Karina told me that she was just going to buy ice cream at the supermarket. What do you want to tell me?" Winter said, looking into Ningning's eyes.
"Winter, I want you to trust me and believe in everything that I'm going to say." Winter nodded as a response to her Chinese friend. That's the cue to continue, "She's gone."
"Who? I don't understand what you're talking about, Ning. Just straight to the point.
"She's dead, winter. Karina is dead. I don't know how to tell you about this. But everything you're telling me that you're taking to Karina. Everytime, I see you fixing someone's hair and– there's no person beside you. You're talking to no one, winter." She looked at winter, "Winter, she died a year ago. It's impossible that you don't know about it. You're the driver that time, winter. I see you eating and there is also a plate in front of you. You laugh alone as you look to your side. I don't know how to tell you about it. You are so happy, I don't want you to be sad again."
"I know. I know karina is gone. I know she's gone but I can't. I can't afford not to have her by my side, I can't. But to dream that she is here beside me. That’s just the way I get happy. I knew she was not beside me but please? Just this, Ning? Let me imagine things? I need her, I need my wife." Winter looked at them while crying.
Before they could speak, winter stood up. "She's here, Karina is already here." Winter said, wiping her tears.
Giselle and Ningning just stared at winter. Winter was kneeling while crying and kept saying something. "Karina, please? Don't go away. I need you, baby. I can't live without you. We planned everything. I didn't have any chance to tell you that I got a house for use and I–– I want to marry you and be there for you. For the rest of our lives. So don't leave me, please? I'm begging you." Giselle and Ningning heard winter, begging to someone that they can't even see.
And the last thing that they witnessed is winter who's shouting karina's name. All over again.
"Promise me! Promise me, to marry me in another life! I will wait, Karina!" Giselle and Ningning shed tears as they watched winter.
