coincides with champorado's chapter 18 hehe

*

PUTANGINA, nakakabobo si Miguel.

"Putangina, anong suot niya? Mukhang band-aid, ampota," galit niyang sabi after downing his shot.

Inggo rubs a hand over his forehead.

Mga ilang araw na silang magkaaway ni Jiya. Birthday ni Inggo ngayon, putanginang 'yan, tapos hindi pa rin sila nag-uusap.

Ito kasing bobo niyang kaibigan, inuuna ang selos kay Anton habang may problema pala sa parents si Ji. Tapos hindi niya sinabi na nakitulog sa kwarto ni Inggo si Tasha after the block party. Ayan, nagalit si girlfriend kasi nakita si ex-girlfriend sa condo.

Putanginang Tasha 'yan. No'ng sila ni Migo, nababanas si Inggo sa kanya. E pa'no, sumasabit lang kay Migo kasi popular, napakaarte, tapos laging nagta-tantrum kapag sinasabi ni Migo na lalabas siya with his friends tapos ayaw naman sumama sa kanilang barkada. Isa pa, pinipilit niya si Migo mag-sex, naiinis kapag umaayaw si Migo.

Bitch.

Wala na lang choice si Inggo no'ng sumabit si Tasha sa kanila, lasing na. Gago siya, pero 'di niya iiwan ang isang babaeng lasing nang basta-basta.

Never pinapasok ni Migo si Tasha sa kwarto niya, so do'n siya sa kwarto ni Inggo. After nilang itapon sa kama, Inggo pushed Migo's chest and said, "Tangina mo. Figure out how to explain this to Ji. Do'n ako sa couch."

E hindi nasabi ni gago.

Ayan, nasa dance floor si Jiya, naka-LBD na sobrang fit. Tama si Migo, parang band-aid, but she looks so good.

"Stop staring at her," Migo hisses at him, clenching his jaw.

"Tangina, boy, sabihin mo 'yan sa lahat ng gago dito, lahat sila nakatingin sa kanya," Inggo scoffs, rolling his eyes. 'Tsaka kahit anong ganda o sexy ni Ji, parang kapatid lang 'yan, kadiring isipin otherwise.

Inggo wants someone else. One who's not coming.

"Tanginang 'yan," sabi ni Migo, still watching Jiya, tapos he runs a hand over his face.

"Naninigas ka na, 'no?" di-mapigilang tanong ni Inggo with a smirk.

"Shut the fuck up."

He shrugs and grabs his soda. Hindi lang si Migo ang may problema sa babae ngayon.

Wow. First time 'yon, ah.

Sinabi na ni Migo sa kanya na hindi makakapunta si Rinn kasi marami raw siyang schoolwork, pero nag-text na siya kanina.

Rinn: Happy birthday, Kuya Inggo!
Sorry for missing out, but have fun. :)

Tanginang Kuya Inggo 'yan, ampota. 'Di naman niya ginamit 'yong 'kuya' no'ng—

Putangina, naisip ko pa 'yon nang katabing-katabi ko pa talaga si Migo. 'Yong kapatid niya, kung nakakalimutan ko lang. Gago.

For a moment, inisip ni Inggo kung payback 'to when he didn't come to her debut, pero hindi gano'n si Rinn. If she could, she would've been here.

O, so bakit ko pa siya hinahanap? Bakit hindi ako umiinom? Nagpapakalasing? Naghahanap ng babaeng iuuwi?

Inggo's fingers tighten against his glass, pushing his tongue against his cheek.

Putangina—

"Putangina," Migo growls, banging his glass against the table sabay tayo.

"Atta boy," Inggo mutters when his best friend stalks over to where Anton and Jiya are. Narinig niyang sinabi ni Migo, "Tanggalin mo 'yang kamay mo, Buenca, susuntukin kita. Tanggalin mo, gago."

Inggo grins, watching him and Jiya argue. A few moments later, nilagpasan ni Ji si Migo papuntang banyo, tapos sinundan siya ni Migo.

Maya-maya, inuuwi na ni Migo si Jiya, hand in hers. Inggo snickers, watching them leave in a hurry. Tigas na tigas na yata si gago.

"O, nandito ka pa pala? Kala ko nasa banyo ka na, e," nakangising tanong ni Cas, pulling Addie to his lap. "'Tsaka ba't 'di ka pa lasing, birthday boy?"

Kanina pa may mga lumalapit kay Inggo, pero wala siyang gana.

"Pupuntahan ko gift ko," sabi ni Inggo, finally standing up. "Bill n'yo na lang sa 'kin mga drinks. I'm leaving."

Alam niyang his friends are questioning kung bakit siya ang pupunta when laging siya ang pinupuntahan, pero wala na silang nasabi kasi nasa pinto na si Inggo, shrugging his jacket and helmet on and shoving his key in the ignition.

Almost an hour later, nasa Blue na siya. Dahil alam niya kung anong floor at room ni Rinn, dire-diretso na siya sa elevator pagkatapos mag-log sa guard ng pangalan niya 'tsaka ID.

Inggo rings the doorbell once, then he hears, "Wait lang!"

Seconds later and Rinn opens the door in a fucking hoodie and the shortest shorts he's ever seen.

Tangina, ang sikip ng pantalon niya.

"Kuya Inggo," she breathes, blinking.

Her hair is up in a bun, few strands falling over her face.

Hindi siya nakabihis, hindi naka-makeup, pero putangina. Ang ganda niya.

He will admit na he'd noticed already before they even had sex, pero bata pa kasi no'n si Maureen. Inisip lang niya na, shit, ang ganda niya, tapos move on na. Magandang kapatid lang siya ni Migo, 'yon lang.

Pagkatapos ng araw na 'yon, no'ng pinuntahan siya ni Rinn, it was impossible to look at her the same way as before.

Hindi mawala-wala sa utak ni Inggo ang balat niya under his fingers, her hair in his fist, the sounds she made in his ear, her legs and arms around him, her fucking eyes—so trusting and beautiful.

Aaminin niyang may mga naging babae pa after Rinn. Hindi naman siya magco-commit after one time with her.

Nandito lang siya ngayon kasi gusto niya pa ng isa pang beses. Pampawala sa system niya.

He smiles at her and leans against the doorframe. "Come for a drive with me."

Rinn blinks at him. "Uh, Kuya Inggo—"

"Mau, who's that?"

Inggo's smile slips.

May gago sa loob.

The look on his face must be murderous, kasi Rinn's eyes widen and she pushes her hand out before he could shove open the door and barge inside. "That was my study partner."

"Study partner," Inggo repeats lowly.

Rinn winces. Parang gano'n kasi 'yong mga excuse ng mga nahuhuli ng parents nila kapag kasama ang boyfriend o girlfriend.

"Study partner?!" ulit ni Inggo nang mas malakas, stepping forward to push past her.

"Kuya Inggo!" Rinn shouts, putting her hands on his chest, eyebrows furrowed. In any other circumstance, matatawa si Inggo kasi ang liit niya. Para siyang nanunulak ng brick wall.

In any other circumstance. Hindi natutuwa si Inggo ngayon.

"I'm pretty sure who I have here inside my condo is none of your business," sabi ni Rinn, frowning now, taking her hands off his chest to cross her arms.

Inggo's eye twitches. "E kung sabihin ko kaya kay Migo? Anong oras na, Rinn, nand'yan pa rin 'yan?"

"Oh my God." She puts a hand to her forehead, exasperated. "We were just studying. Pero kahit hindi, you are not my parent. Kuya Migo is not my parent, I'm an adult, for fuck's sake."

"Pero kahit hindi," Inggo repeats slowly.

Rinn sighs, looking at him. "I'll go with you for that drive. Birthday mo. Just don't...scare my blockmate."

Inggo only blinks, following Rinn inside.

Pinanood niyang mag-pack 'yong gago the whole time, standing guard at the doorway of her bedroom while she changes. Sa pagmamadali niya, malapit na siyang mahulog. "B-bye, Mau!"

Pagkalabas ni Maureen, naka-hoodie pa rin siya pero naka-denim shorts na. Putangina, ang ikli pa rin.

She gives him a tentative smile. "Let's go?"

All Inggo wants to do is to toss her on her bed and have his way with her.

He shakes his head and nods. "Let's go."

Hindi siya nagpapasakay ng ibang babae sa motor niya. First time 'to.

"Here." He fastens the strap of her helmet while she looks up at him, and he ignores the kick in his chest at her smile. "Hold onto me."

Inggo takes a deep breath when Rinn presses her front to his back, her legs on either side of the motorcycle. Her arms go slowly around his waist, under his jacket.

His mouth twitches sa sobrang loose ng hawak niya. Parang nahihiya pa.

"Please go slow," sabi niya in his ear.

Inggo shuts his eyes. Tangina, Rinn, 'yan din ang sinabi mo when I took your fucking virginity—

Inggo steps on the gas pedal.

He can feel her hands laying on his stomach. Masyadong loose.

"Higpitan mo pa," sabi ni Inggo over the wind.

"Ha? Hindi na, this is fine!" sabi ni Rinn.

Hay. Napaka-stubborn, parang ang kuya niya.

Inggo steps harder on the gas pedal, making the motorcycle lurch forward.

"Kuya Inggo!" she screams, tightening her arms around him instinctively, burying her face on his shoulder.

He laughs breathlessly. Takot na nga dumaan sa SOM Forest mag-isa, takot pa rito. So cute.

"I hate you!" Rinn shouts, pinching his skin over his shirt.

His grin stays with him throughout the whole drive. Tawa siya nang tawa when Rinn takes off her helmet when they stop over for food tapos ang sabog ng buhok niya. Inggo finds himself smoothing her hair down with his hand, brushing the strands away from her face while Rinn looks up at him, blinking in confusion at his touch.

Nagulat na lang si Inggo when Rinn comes back with her tray tapos may kasamang hot fudge sundae na hindi naman in-order ni Inggo.

Nagtusok siya ng fry sa taas, saka niya inabot sa kanya with a smile. "Happy birthday. Make a wish."

Inggo tilts his head, accepting the ice cream.

Rinn shrugs, passing over straws and utensils and napkins to him. "I wanted to get you something but I didn't know what. Kung ano na lang ang wish mo, I'll make it come true."

Inggo stares at her.

Last year, nag-dinner siya with his family 'tsaka nag-inuman lang din sila ng friends niya. Walang candle o wishing—the last time he did this was when he was in middle school.

"Sorry." Rinn winces, mistaking his silence as rejection when it's fucking astonishment and wonder—"Baka you're too old for this—"

Inggo snatches the ice cream back from her hand. "You calling me a lolo?"

Her mouth spreads into a smile as she shrugs.

He finds himself staring at her lips, licking his own, before he focuses back on her pretty eyes.

Before he knows it, Inggo blurts out, "My wish is for you to tell me who you're planning to sleep with next."

The smile fades from Rinn's face. Kingina. Bakit parang lumubog din puso ni Inggo ro'n? "Why?"

The whisper is as confused and appalled as he is. Inggo clears his throat and tries to appear nonchalant. "Gusto kong malaman para alam kong tama ang experience na ibibigay niya sa 'yo."

Rinn lets out a breath and leans against the seat, her jaw ticking. "Experience. Parang movie lang sa Ultra 7, ah. What's this, a pre-event survey? I-te-test mo ba muna bago ako?"

Holy. Shit.

She's so fucking sassy when she's pissed.

Alam ni Inggo na mahirap galitin si Rinn kasi sobrang sweet niya—iyong ayaw sa confrontation at gustong pakisamahan ang lahat, iyong parang maninipa ka ng aso 'pag nasaktan mo kasi she wears her heart on her sleeve. Alam ni Inggo na sobrang bait ng puso niya.

Which is why he knows she still hasn't forgiven him for her first time.

Alam niyang dapat hindi niya ginawa, pero ginusto niya e. Tangina, ang hirap i-refuse nang nakatingin si Rinn sa kanya nang gano'n, nang kinakausap siya nang gano'n. He couldn't have gotten rid of their clothes fast enough, at hindi niya ma-regret na ginawa nila no matter how selfish it is. What he does regret is how he treated her afterward.

How he let her clean herself up, dress herself, and walk away with a fucking thank you. Tapos hindi niya tinanong kung kamusta siya pagkatapos.

Wala ngang contact ni isang beses—hindi sila nagkita until pumunta si Inggo sa bahay nila the night before Ji's birthday celebration, no'ng pumasok si Rinn nang naka-putanginang bikini lang at white shirt na basa.

Gago, ang tigas ni Inggo no'n. Naglabas siya sa banyo, sa kabilang kwarto kung sa'n natutulog si Rinn.

Alam niyang pupunta siyang imperyno sa ginawa niya.

Si Rinn nga mismo hindi siya c-in-ontact e, unlike 'yong ibang mga babae na nakasama ni Inggo sa kama na nagiging clingy bigla, na gusto ng round two, kahit alam naman nila kung ano pinasok nila with him.

Pinabayaan siya ni Rinn. So cool and level-headed and mature kahit no'ng nag-sorry si Inggo sa kanya during her first week sa Ateneo.

Ngayong pinakiusapan siya to 'put it past them', ayaw ni Inggo. Ayan, nagalit si Rinn.

Inggo's leg has this urge to brush up her calf. He has this urge to lean over the table and fucking kiss her, slide his hand down her shorts.

"You're so hot, I wanna fuck you again," sabi ni Inggo under his breath.

Rinn's eyebrows furrow. "Huh?"

"Wala." He clears his throat and tries to fucking breathe, Jesus Christ, he's so horny. "No, Rinn, hindi gano'n. I just...just let me have this, okay? Hindi pa rin ako okay with the way I did things with you."

She lets out an impatient sigh. "Kuya Inggo—"

Alam na niya ang sasabihin ni Rinn.

Alam niya raw ang pinasok niya. 'Di ba 'yon ang gusto ni Inggo. She was the one who asked him, not the other way around.

No, not asked. In Rinn's words, sasabihin niya begged.

Somehow, Inggo doesn't like it when she tells him these things. Kahit 'yon pa ang totoo, ayaw niyang naririnig na: "It's not like I gave you a choice. I literally begged you."

She didn't have to. Unang tanong pa lang, pumapayag na si Inggo sa utak niya. His resolve was just in making sure na sure si Rinn. Hindi nga niya maisip-isip si Migo in his lust and desire, punyemas.

Puta. Anong klaseng kaibigan siya na ginusto niya pa talagang siya ang una ni Rinn?

"Please. It's my birthday." He flashes her a smile, then takes a bite of the fry na nakatusok sa sundae niya. "See, kinain ko na. That means you have to make it come true."

She stares at him for a few moments before she sighs. "You know your request is weird, right?"

Inggo shrugs, smiling at her.

Rinn clears her throat and looks away. His heart kicks when he realizes she's blushing. "Fine. I'll let you know, but you can't meddle."

Hindi na lang sumagot si Inggo.

They spend the rest of the impromptu midnight meal laughing and talking like old friends, dipping more fries in the sundae, drawing smiley faces with ketchup on the tray.

No'ng iuwi niya si Rinn, (she shouts in his ear ulit when he lurches the motorcycle forward) and she leans over to give him a kiss on the cheek and a last whisper of, "Happy birthday. Thank you for the drive," namalayan na lang ni Inggo that he's had the best birthday of his life.

Pumunta siya sa condo ni Rinn to get her out of his system, another chance to make things right afterward.

Then done. Tapos. He can finally put this behind him and not feel so guilty—well, a little less guilty—when he looks at Migo.

Pero wala silang ginawang anything sexual. At all.

Parang mas pumasok pa nga sa system niya si Maureen Salas.

Naririnig niya tawa niya. Na-i-imagine ang ngiti sa likod ng mga mata niya when he closes them. Remembers the feel of her hands around his stomach and her hair in his fingers.

Tangina.

Patay siyang gago nito kay Migo.

*

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