RINN could've screamed at him to leave her at home. She could've locked herself in her room.

Bumalik muna sila sa bahay niya para sa kotse ni Inggo, e. Pero sumakay lang siya silently beside him and put on her seatbelt.

The relief spreads throughout his whole body first.

And then the anxiety.

He's never done this before, never had anyone worth doing this for. Ngayong mayro'n na...yung kaba niya, sheeeeesh. Gan'to ba parati pinagdadaanan ni Migo 'pag kasama niya si Ji? O sadyang dahil lang alam niyang may chance he can fuck this up more than he already has?

Potangina. He can feel his palms sweating.

He's sure Rinn would find this endearing...tease him, even, or try to relax him with her laughter and her touch...if she wasn't mad at him.

Kasalanan niya 'to. Hindi niya dapat siya iniwan sa condo, and he's been trying to make amends for it since pagbalik ng school.

Inggo takes a breath that doesn't do anything to calm his heart and tries for a smile. "Sana excited ka, Rinn."

She nods once and looks out the window.

Shit.

Inggo starts the engine, sucking it up.

He sabotaged her date and her plans. 'Di naman niya in-expect na magiging excited talaga si Rinn, pero it hurts pala all the same.

Na parang napilitan lang siya and just wants to get this over with.

Inggo tightens his hands on the steering wheel and tells himself again na kasalanan niya 'to. Doesn't matter kung first time niyang magplano o mag-book ng reservations. Doesn't matter kung ilang weeks siyang nag-research for the best places kasi wala siyang alam sa territory na 'to. Doesn't matter if he spent nights worrying about whether she'd find it boring, or underwhelming, or ridiculous, and she'd be too nice to say it to his face.

Sinabi na ni Rinn sa kanya na he broke her heart.

Hearing it in her shaky and quiet voice felt like a knife twisting around his own.

Migo trusted him not to do that. Lalong-lalo na si Rinn. Tapos ano ngayon ang ginawa niya.

Putangina ka talagang bobo ka.

Inggo takes another deep breath and tells himself to focus and make her smile and give her a good time.

Once Inggo parks the car, he shuts off the engine and quickly walks to her side to open it, offering his hand.

Rinn stares at it.

Inggo's smile wavers. He whispers, "Please, Rinn."

With a swallow, she puts her hand in his.

He exhales a shuddering breath and threads their fingers together.

Inggo leads her inside the pottery studio, opening the door to let her through first. His hand finds its way to her small waist as they walk up the reception area, heart crawling through his throat at (a) the fact that Rinn fits so easily into his side and doesn't push him away, and (b) na nandito na sila at sana, putangina, sana magustuhan 'to ni Rinn and she doesn't demand that he take her home.

She's looking around in awe, blinking at the pottery shop, as they're led further inside the studio to the work stations. The instructor, si Rey, greets them both with a wide smile, sending a wink Inggo's way, and gives them aprons and the materials needed for the session. Tapos dinala sila to the corner of the room, sa mas private, kasi ni-request ni Inggo 'yon.

Pero there are two other couples here. Napansin din ni Rinn, because she mumbles, while putting on her apron, "You said this was cheesy."

She's talking to him! She's talking to him!

At totoo nga. Sinabi ni Inggo 'yon while they were watching Ghost, one of Rinn's favorite movies.

Inggo steps forward and to help her with the strings, his skin buzzing with the need to touch her. He ties the apron around her neck and back, fingertips brushing her nape and hips. "But you said you wanted to do this," he reminds her quietly, laughing a little. Then he kisses her temple quickly before moving away. "And I want to do it with you."

Rinn looks at him, blinking.

Kung ano man ang sasabihin niya, hindi na niya nasabi kasi nagsimula na session nila.

She looks at him when he doesn't go get his own clay. Pinapanood niya lang si Rinn sa pag-wedge nito para walang air bubbles.

"Why are you just...staring at me? Ako lang ba gagawa?"

He decides to tell her the truth. "No. I came here a week ago to check the place out. Tapos nagpaturo ako...para..." He clears his throat. "Para mag-focus ako sa 'yo ngayon. We'll do it together. You know, Ghost style."

Basically, Inggo wants his hands on hers while they work on their pot.

Rinn opens her mouth. Then closes it again.

Doesn't say anything in protest when Inggo sits behind her with his legs spread open sa harap ng wheel. He feels her back muscles tense.

"Ang sabi sa 'kin is dapat relaxed daw 'pag wheel throwing," Inggo whispers in her ear, scooting closer until her back is against his chest. "The more relaxed we are, the more successful he's going to turn out."

Rinn doesn't turn her head. She mumbles, "He?"

"Firstborn ang tawag sa unang creation," Inggo answers with a chuckle. "Pala-desisyon ako at sabi ko boy. Gusto mo babae? Babae na sina Karli, Canton, at Piglet, e."

She doesn't answer him, but she doesn't need to. He sees the flush of her neck from his words as she clears her throat and takes a deep breath.

She blushes even more when Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers begins playing, and the other couples cheer and laugh loudly.

Inggo grins.

He doesn't put his hands on her until the coning and the centering of the clay, the part where they need to shape it right.

"Heel of your left is going to meet the center of your palm," he mumbles, leaning down to place his hands above hers, head on her neck. Rinn's breathing hitches and her fingers freeze at his touch, pero Inggo gently moves her hands along. "Squeeze it, then move up with it while you're squeezing."

She snorts.

Inggo's smile widens. He drops his head on her shoulder and whispers, "Bastos ka. Thumb over thumb compression on top and compression on the wall."

His long fingers cover hers entirely as he guides their hands together.

"Kuya Inggo, is this correct?" Rinn asks in panic, an adorable crease appearing between her eyebrows when she turns her head to look at him, their mouths an inch apart that Inggo's eyes drop to it. Shit.

Her eyes widen as she realizes their proximity. Their gazes lock together.

She looks away quickly.

Inggo clears his throat and focuses back on the clay. "Yeah. Yeah, let's push it down."

Rinn doesn't look at him again, but she doesn't tense, either. She lets her body mold against his while Inggo guides their hands through the steps—lifting, drilling down and compressing the bottom, then pulling a wall.

"Yeah, that's good, baby. Pressure lang."

Rinn's bottom lip gets pulled into her teeth. "You're doing that on purpose."

Inggo grins, shaking his head. His hair tickles her cheek and neck. "No, I'm not. Okay, straight wall on the outside..."

They finish shaping the bowl together and trim off the excess clay.

Inggo gives her the honor of catching the bowl away from the wheel. She's so careful with it, like she's holding their actual firstborn, that Inggo wants to kiss her stupid.

"Okay, lift, Rinn. Place it gently."

She lifts the bowl and places it on top of the wood he's holding slowly.

"There he is," sabi ni Inggo with a wide smile. "Great job, baby."

He gets his first laugh after that, proud na proud sa gawa nila.

Inggo wants to cry.

A smile. He got a smile. Hindi nga para sa kanya, pero at least mayro'n.

And then Rinn can't stop smiling, admiring their handiwork, and Inggo can't stop staring, feeling like the happiest man alive.

He puts one hand on her waist while they wait for their bowl to be packaged. His other hand goes to brush her hair behind her ear. Inggo smiles at her when she looks at him. "I'm doing this thing right, then?"

It was apparently the wrong thing to say, because her smile fades and she steps back, making his hand fall down.

Crack.

Akala ni Inggo nabasag 'yong bowl nila. Puso niya pala 'yon.

Aray, putangina?

Rinn turns away from him and mumbles, "I'll wait for you in the car."

Shit.

Inggo puts his head in his hands, leaning against the counter and sighing heavily.

Wala na yatang balak si Rinn itago ang gawa nila.

Okay lang. Si Inggo na lang mag-aalaga dito, na kay Rinn naman ang iba nilang alaga.

Inggo fixes a smile on his face when he returns to the car, turning on the ignition. "Okay, I hope you're hungry—"

"Kuya Inggo, I—"

"Rinn, please," Inggo whispers, breathing out shakily, before she can say another word. He bangs his head on the wheel and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry kung may nasabi akong mali bigla, pero—"

"I can't do this anymore," Rinn tells him.

Sudden anxiety makes him tremble. He raises his head to look at her. "Huh?"

"If this was for forgiveness, I forgive you," she whispers, turning her head to look at him.

Oh, Christ.

She's crying.

"Pero if it's for anything otherwise...tama na, Kuya Inggo. Kung ano mang 'thing' 'to...tama na. 'Di mo naman tayo paglalaban kay Kuya Migo."

Inggo flinches.

"Maybe you're using him to avoid commitment," tuloy ni Rinn, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, and Christ, Christ, what is he doing making this fucking angel cry— "Maybe not. Baka ayaw mo lang talaga ng commitment with me. I'm fun enough to hang out with, cool enough to fuck, but forever beneath your romantic interest. I get it. I told you I won't beg for your love."

Inggo stares at her. He can hear his heart shattering over and over in his ears. "Beneath my—beg—"

"And I really don't want to force you to choose between me and Kuya," sabi ni Rinn, smiling at him. "So—"

"Sandali, putangina," Inggo snaps, fisting the steering wheel. "Sandali lang, Rinn. I...yes, this was for forgiveness. Because I was a fucking ass and I left you after you told me you loved me. Pero this—" He takes another breath, shutting his eyes. "This is also because you're the only one who made me feel like I was more than just a body to fuck. You made me believe it, kaya you're not the one begging here, Rinn. I am. I'm grabbing at straws to keep you here with me kahit ayaw mo, I'm crawling for crumbs for your fucking smile and affection. My words won't be enough, kaya will you let me show you?"

Rinn stares at him, swallowing thickly.

"If you decide you're done, I'll take you home," Inggo says quietly. Dejectedly. "If you decide ayaw mo na akong kasama, I'll respect that. Pero 'di pa tayo tapos, I'll beg for more after tonight if I have to."

The silence nearly kills him.

"Please," he whispers when Rinn still hasn't said anything after what feels like an eternity.

Inggo doesn't realize he's been biting his tongue, waiting for her response...until he releases it at her voice.

"Okay," she whispers, turning to the window.

OKAY. Shit. He feels like a fucking fool grabbing at these little pieces she's offering him, pero wala siyang pake because she's so worth it.

That simple okay has his heart rejoicing. "Okay," he echoes quietly, shutting his eyes for a moment. "Okay, great. Thank you."

She's worth it, she's worth it, she's worth it.