sanay siya sa kuya inggo guys ok it's 'cause he's older!! mawawala din yan :')

*

"FRIENDS," Kuya Inggo repeats flatly, halatang hindi natutuwa.

"Special friends," Maureen squeaks with a sheepish smile.

"Tanginang 'yan."

"Hey." She frowns. "I told you I need to think about this."

"Eeeeeeee," Kuya Inggo whines, scratching his scalp with his fingers. "Rinn naman, eeeeeeee—"

"Are you—" Maureen blinks, peering up at his face and tiptoeing. "Are you pouting?"

Kuya Inggo pushes her face away with his palm, glaring at her. "Special friends ampota," he mutters, aggressively grabbing his laptop and scooting his chair away from her. "May special friends bang may lima nang anak? The fuck."

Maureen can't stop laughing. "Kuya Inggo, you're graduating soon."

"O, tapos," sungit niyang sabi.

"And then it's med school after," she says with a smile, shrugging. "You might change your mind about wanting a relationship since med will take up all your time...'tsaka mas may freedom ka do'n. Baka sanay ka lang kasi sa 'kin kaya you're mistaking comfort for...feelings."

Feelings. Feelings?! Shet.

She still can't believe it.

Kuya Inggo's jaw hardens as he stares at her. "So...papayag ka lang 'pag nasa med school na 'ko? You want to be sure I'm sure?"

Maureen nods, biting her lip. "Yep—before we tell Kuya Migo. I think that's the smart move."

His eyes go to her mouth. "What's the bobo move?"

"I kiss you right now and we stop studying."

"Buhay bobo tayo dito. Thesis who?" Kuya Inggo pushes his laptop away and tilts his head towards her, grabbing her face.

Maureen sputters out a laugh and pushes his forehead back with two fingers, standing up to get herself a glass of water. "Nope. Special friends is like...walang label."

Kuya Inggo huffs, thrusting a hand in his hair and spreading his legs further on the chair. Lowly, he asks, "Pero exclusive?"

Maureen sits on the sofa and makes a so-so gesture with her hand.

"Ano 'yan?" he demands. "Oo o hinde? Pag-isipin mong mabuti sagot mo, Rinn."

She grins. "It means if you can be, then yes."

Kuya Inggo deflates. "I have been and I can," he mumbles.

Bakit ba ang cute niya? Gigil si Maureen, e. "I know, I believe you. Pero walang sex na kasama sa special friends, Kuya Inggo."

"Shit." He runs a hand over his face, laughing once without humor. He narrows his eyes at her, and then asks hopefully, "Final answer?"

Natawa si Maureen. "Yes. Until we're official."

Ayaw na lang sabihin ni Maureen na may trauma siya of him leaving after a night of that.

'Tsaka pa'no 'pag sila na? In passing every woman that gave him a suggestive smile or a once-over, will she wonder if he ever laid in bed with them?

"Okay, may kamay naman ako pang-jakol. What about kissing?" Kuya Inggo puts his hands together in prayer, giving her his best puppy eyes.

As much as she wants his mouth all over her...hindi makakatigil si Maureen kung pinayagan niya 'to. He's too addictive. "Hugging."

"Kissing."

"Not on the lips."

"Aling lips?"

"Kuya Inggo!" Maureen shouts, reaching over to toss a pillow at his face. "Ano ba!"

Ang lakas ng tawa niya. "Fine, fine! No kissing until you ask me. Either of the lips."

She covers her face with her hands. "Stop."

"Rinn, you're so fucking cute. Gaganyan-ganyan ka pa sa dami na ng kasalanan na ginawa natin?" Kuya Inggo chuckles, turning back to his laptop. "Sige na, mag-aaral na 'ko, friend."

Maureen laughs, shaking her head.

Girl, siguraduhin mong kaya mong panindigan 'yang special friends special friends na pauso mo, sungit na sabi ng demonyo niya. Bwisit. Gusto ko na ng talong niya.

She clears her throat and reaches over for her own laptop.

Steals a glance at Kuya Inggo, who's already staring at her with a raised eyebrow and a sexy smirk. "Second thoughts?"

"Nope," Maureen answers easily. "None at all."

Kuya Inggo's chuckle tells her he does not believe her.

Minsan, kinekwestiyon na rin ni Maureen sarili niya.

Pa'no ba naman kasi, masyadong sineseryoso ni Kuya Inggo ang role niya bilang special friend.

In the mornings, may mahiwagang "good morning" text na si Maureen.

Kuya Inggo: siguro nahihiya kang i-text ako

Kuya Inggo: ok lang ako na lang mauuna

Kuya Inggo: good morning, rinn.

No'ng minsan, kumatok lang si Kuya Inggo na may dalang dawalang itlog sa kamay niya.

Maureen blinks. "Ano 'yan?"

"You said gusto mo ng eggs kagabi," he answers sleepily, yawning and pushing past her to her unit after handing her a small coffee cup. "Wala kang itlog sa ref mo so nagnakaw ako ng amin. 'Pag naghanap si Migo, sasabihin kong kasalanan mo."

He checked her refrigerator and woke up early, despite being so tired from working on his thesis, to cook her breakfast.

Maureen watches him from the corner of her eye while she sips her coffee. Then she frowns. "Pa'no mo alam how I like my eggs? I don't even know how you like yours." She looks at her coffee. "Pati coffee mo."

"Eggs—scrambled at maraming onions, coffee—Kopiko Blanca para mabilis 'tsaka matamis, woman—ikaw." Kuya Inggo yawns again, rubbing his eyes with one hand. "Pass me a plate, Rinn."

Yung kilig ni Maureen, na-feel niya hanggang sa ilalim ng tiyan niya.

Baba mo pa nang 'onti, tukso ng demonyo. Alam kong na-feel natin 'yon sa baba pa ng tiyan, Mau.

Some days, magluluto siya in her kitchen while Maureen makes them coffee.

Kuya Inggo slams her cupboard closed one morning and bangs his forehead on it, one hand running through his face.

Sa sobrang tangkad niya, abot niya talaga cupboards ni Maureen.

She blinks at his aggressive reaction. "What?"

He turns his head to look at her, not peeling it away from the cupboard. "Nag-stock ka ng Kopiko Blanca para sa 'kin?"

She keeps her face blank. "No."

His smile is wide. "Delikado ka sa 'kin, Rinn, lumayo ka bago kita halikan."

Some days, do'n sila sa kotse niya na naka-park sa Blue bago pumasok.

Sabi ni Kuya Inggo once, "May space sa likod. Four-seater 'to."

She smacked him. "Kuya Inggo!"

"Sinasabi ko lang na may space, baka mas komportable ka do'n kumain ng breakfast," he says cheekily. "Bastos ka talaga, Rinn, parehas kayo ni Migo."

Tapos another time, while he's staring straight at her: "Ang sarap mo..."

Wala nang masabi si Maureen kundi, "Kuya Inggo."

"—Mong panoorin kumain, ang payat mo masyado." Tapos he'll wink at her na para bang okay lang ang lahat kasi cute siya, potangina.

Tapos if his thoughtfulness, teasing, and constant presence in her condo while they study and/or watch a movie with dinner aren't already making this hard enough, mayro'n pa yung mga nakakalokong texts niya.

Kuya Inggo: rinn may nararamdaman akong kakaiba

Maureen sits up in her lecture, frowning. May sakit ba 'to?

what kuya inggo? not feeling well?

Kuya Inggo: oo e

Kuya Inggo: nawawalan na ako ng paningin sa isang mata

HA

Kuya Inggo: parang isang nostril lang din gumagana

Kuya Inggo: wala nang pandinig sa isang tenga

Kuya Inggo: di ko na maangat right arm ko

Kuya Inggo: di na ako makalakad sa left leg

Kuya Inggo: di na ko makahinga isang lung na lang ata

KUYA INGGO OK KA LANG BA NASAN KA?

Kuya Inggo: rinn alam ko na tawag sa condition na to

Kuya Inggo: miss na kita

BALIW. NAKAKABALIW SIYA!

Maureen puts her face in her hands and breathes out slowly, not knowing if she wants to kill him or kiss him until they both can't breathe anymore.

Kuya Inggo: i-miss mo rin naman ako rinn cooperate ka naman dyan panget mo kabonding

It makes her laugh into her hand.

Pareho silang sobrang busy sa acads. Kuya Inggo is slaving over his thesis na minsan hindi na siya nagsasalita 'pag nakaharap sa laptop, which is unusual kasi palagi siyang nagsasalita. Minsan, he'll appear at her door after a meeting with his thesis adviser, drop his bag pagkabukas ni Maureen ng pinto, and pull her into a tight hug, whispering, "Pagod na 'ko, Rinn." Minsan, he'll lay his head down na lang bigla on Maureen's lap for a quick nap kasi, "Potanginang data 'yan," and he'll grab her wrist and put it on his hair, demanding scalp massages.

Si Maureen naman, may terror prof sa isa sa mga majors niya and a subject she doesn't quite grasp, kaya stressed din siya at napapaiyak na lang minsan while Kuya Inggo wipes her tears and feeds her comfort food.

Kaya when she gets texts from him throughout the day, gumagaan loob niya.

Kuya Inggo: oo na pogi ako paulet ulet

Kuya Inggo: rinn kasalanan ko bang pinanganak ako para sayo

Kuya Inggo: send kang selfie para magwala ako

Kuya Inggo: natatae ako pota san maganda CR, arete?

Kuya Inggo: may problema tayo rinn gwapo ako maganda ka pano pag panget anak natin

Kuya Inggo: OR WORSE KAMUKHA NI MIGO POTANGINA!!!!

Kuya Inggo: babalik ko sa puke mo ok

Kuya Inggo: buti pa imaginary anak nandon na

Kuya Inggo: 🍟 may emoji pala dito bat ang cute kamukha mo

Kuya Inggo: joke mas kamukha mo to 🍑 hehe 😋

Kuya Inggo: joke special friends lang pala tayo

Kuya Inggo: pero baby naiisip mo ba na mas hihirap pa lalo buhay mo pag naging doctor na ko

Kuya Inggo: kasi ako naiisip ko, pano na yan

Kuya Inggo: ayoko na dito namimiss na kita

Kuya Inggo: tangina mo omg ganda mo today bwisit

Kuya Inggo: dahell gusto kita gusto mo rin ako diba

Kuya Inggo: bat ang bobo ni migo putangina

Kuya Inggo: bakit emotional baggage tawag at hindi griefcase

Kuya Inggo: can i play some important role sa kasal mo, like ur groom? tnx

Kuya Inggo: mag-nap ka. NAP AH HINDI COMA

Kuya Inggo: di mo pa ko tinatawag na baby whats wrong with u

Kuya Inggo: i mean this in the most respectful way possible, i wanna fuck u so bad

Kuya Inggo: kumain ka ng lunch ireport mo sakin kung ano kinain mo

Kuya Inggo: ang gwapo ko

Kuya Inggo: baka feeler ako at akala ko pahinga mo ko, dagdag lang pala sa stress mo AHAHHAHAHAHHAA

Kuya Inggo: bat ka tinitingnan ng lalaking yon. tsaka yon. tsaka yon.

Kuya Inggo: basketball tau later baby

May time din they walk past each other sa SEC Walk. He's alone and she's with her friends, and they all pinch each other nang makitang papunta sa direction nila si Kuya Inggo.

Parang tanga 'tong si Maureen na kinakabahan kahit kaka-breakfast lang nila together that morning, pero 'yong tingin kasi ni Kuya Inggo...head to toe—slowly, and then back up to her eyes before biting his lip.

Tapos his quiet, "Hi, Rinn," nang dumaan siya, sinabayan pa niya with a pinch on her hip, his fingers spanning her bare thigh when it falls away.

It's so subtle and so quick that Maureen feels like they just shared a dirty secret. O na parang ni-rail siya ni Kuya Inggo sa wall for everyone to see dito mismo sa SEC Walk.

'Di naman siya ci-non-tact ni Maureen that day, but then he texts:

Kuya Inggo: mag-lock ka ng pinto mo mamaya hayop

The physical attraction is so insane na minsan nagd-drool na si Maureen 'pag nagtataas ng shirt si Kuya Inggo para magpunas ng pawis, or when he flexes his fingers purposely in front of her and rubs it along her back, or her nape, or her thigh, or when he corners her sa counter para lang kumuha ng plato with a, "Sorry," and a breathless laugh pressed to her ear.

Pero hindi lang 'yon, e. Oo at papayag si Maureen magbuka na naman ng legs niya kung 'di lang niya pinapanindigan 'tong special friends na pauso niya, pero hindi lang talaga 'yon.

Maureen walks out of class in tears. Her terror professor stopped their presentation and told them na kailangan nilang ulitin next week.

Kuya Inggo stayed up with her last night while he worked on his thesis and her on this freaking presentation, tapos hindi pa nakaka-four slides in, wala na. Tapos na.

May text waiting for her na as she steps out of CSR.

Kuya Inggo: baby how was the presentation i know u did so well

Kuya Inggo: raincheck pala on dinner, tomorrow na lang? dinner with sila cas tonight

Pota. E 'di na-disappoint niya rin si Kuya Inggo.

She sniffles and types.

it was fine! ok no problem, good luck!

Maureen almost drops her phone when her it rings with his call.

Quickly, she plasters a smile on her face. "Hey."

"Saan ka ngayon?" tanong niya agad.

"Um, outside CSR."

"Stay there."

Maureen sighs. "Kuya Inggo, you don't need to come. I'm fine."

"I know. Lalabas tayo, sinusundo lang kita," he says easily, and Maureen can imagine him shrugging.

Her voice is small when she asks, "What about dinner with sina Kuya Cas?"

"Sino si Cas? Lalabas nga tayo."

"Ayoko," Maureen says in frustration, feeling her eyes burn na naman. She can't believe he's cancelling his plans for her. "Kuya Inggo, ayoko."

"'Di ako nagpapaalam, Rinn," he says firmly. "Talikod ka."

Almost, almost crumbles when she's pulled into his body, his warmth and scent enveloping her. Kuya Inggo cradles her head to his chest and kisses her temple. "It's okay, it's okay, baby. So proud of you."

Dito, dito nalaman ni Maureen na safe ang puso niya kay Kuya Inggo.

He might not have taken care of it in the beginning, pero hindi naman niya alam kung pa'no gawin 'yon.

And then he learned...he's learning.

Hihintayin na lang ni Maureen na maging sigurado sa kanya si Kuya Inggo. 'Yon lang naman ang pwede niyang gawin.