NO'NG college, outside of his famous barkada, Kuya Inggo wasn't a friend.

He was a lover or an ex-lover, but never a friend.

But since Valentine's last year, he made it clear his bachelor days were over.

He's making the effort to show it to Maureen, pero bakit parang ang hirap paniwalaan na hindi 'to tatagal?

Na parang may expiration date 'to?

And it's unfair, Maureen knows, because he's trying his best kahit mahirap. Kahit na hindi niya inaamin na mahirap, na hassle.

May toothbrush si Kuya Inggo sa tabi ng kanya sa unit ni Maureen sa Blue. May charger sa sofa, may ilang hoodies and shirts sa closet that he sprayed with his cologne because he knows she loves his smell. May stock ng Kopiko Blanca, may laman ang fridge niya kasi he checks it every time he's here.

He's taking up space in her unit like he's never leaving, pero bakit pakiramdam ni Maureen na iiwan siya?

Mag-iisang taon ang time that it took for him to leave his things in her unit.

Pero isang gabi lang, isang trip lang paakyat at pababa sa kotse, pwede niya nang kunin ang lahat ng 'to at bawiin.

Their last call, Maureen was showing him her new clothes. He said all the right things, made her stomach flutter from his gaze up and down her body through the screen, pero as soon as she was out of the frame, Kuya Inggo massaged his forehead with a sigh and went back to his books.

The call before that, nanonood sila ng favorite movie niya, Tangled, pero 'di naman nanonood si Kuya Inggo. He was studying. Naka-mute pa nga yata yung movie.

Hindi rin naman siya matulungan ni Maureen sa studies niya kasi wala siyang kaalam-alam sa med. One time, in the middle of their call, Kuya Inggo said, "Rinn, baby, sandali lang. I'll call you back, papa-explain ko lang 'tong isang case."

She told him no rush. To do what he needs to do and not worry about her.

She stays up with him when he needs to, helps him review terms and even reads up sa module niya para may maiambag siya, pero ayun lang, pa-lessen na nang pa-lessen ang mga tawag since she said that kasi hindi naman talaga alam ni Maureen yung specifics ng mga kailangan niya aralin.

Gets naman niya.

Pero hindi niya mapigilang isipin he's getting tired before they even started.

Actually, parang sila na nga kasi, e. Ang difference lang is they're hiding it 'tsaka walang sex.

Nakikita lang ni Maureen kung pa'no mag-scramble for time for everything si Kuya Inggo. When he's not in class, he's busy wolfing down food kasi five times a day siyang kumakain sa laki niya, reviewing for his next class, sitting in an oversized chair talking to her, studying with his classmates, or dead to the world sa kama.

Kaya when he doesn't answer his phone and Maureen knows he forgot he's supposed to show up at Ateneo para sa career talk ng freshman class niya, Maureen decides to keep her cool.

Baka nag-aaral o natutulog.

"Mau," sabi ng homeroom adviser na partner niya kanina. "Wala pa rin si speaker? Should I be worried? You said ikaw na bahala sa kanya."

Dahil hindi sumasagot si Kuya Inggo, she calls someone else. "Kuya."

"O. Miss mo 'ko?" sagot ng kuya niya after one ring, at alam ni Maureen na he's grinning.

Her mouth turns up at the corner as she leans against the wall. "Baka ikaw, Kuya. Sa'n ka?"

"Dinadalhan ng coffee si Valle para 'di masungit bago ako umuwi. Hanggang mamaya pa kasi. Bakit? May kailangan ka? Pwede kita daanan."

Kahit pagod siya, okay lang kung may kailangan si Maureen.

Hay. Itong kuya niya talaga...nakakataas ng standards. Tingnan mo, pupunta pa sa office ni Ate Jiya kahit out of the way para personally i-deliver pa ang coffee niya so she doesn't get cranky sa overtime niya. Kabisado siya ni Kuya Migo.

Coffee + Kuya Migo = Happy Ate Jiya.

Actually, second lang ang coffee diyan.

Maureen sucks in a breath. "You're not with Kuya Inggo?"

"May study date 'yon," sabi ni Kuya Migo with a snicker. "Ewan ko lang kung nag-aaral talaga o nag-roundtrip pabalik sa condo para matulog. O kung ano, alam mo naman si gago."

Her smile fades. "Ah. Okay."

Baka natulog lang. Sinundo niya si Maureen kagabi from an org mixer kahit sinabi na niya na hindi kailangan kasi she can hitch a ride naman.

He said he wanted to.

"Anyway, dito na 'ko sa office ng hipag mo. Ano, hirap ka na sa college? Grades lang 'yan, demonyo ka."

Despite the physical ache in her chest, a laugh escapes her. "Kuya, I hate you."

"Mahal mo 'ko. Ano kailangan mo? O napatawag ka lang?"

"Um, actually, can you swing by for a bit sa Ateneo and talk about being a med student to my InTACT class?"

Mabuti na lang din siguro kung hindi si Kuya Inggo, kasi when Kuya Migo walks in the room in his scrubs, halos masapian ng kilig ang mga freshies niya at biglang lumipat sa first row.

"A graduate of BS Chem here in the Ateneo, Miguel Salas is currently a YL5, or a first year medical student at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health," basa ni Maureen sa ginawa niyang introduction for Kuya Inggo. "Please give him a round of applause, everyone."

Potangina, ang lakas ng hiyawan. Nagsisilabasan na ng phones ang mga 'to at halos mag-crawl na sa ground ang mga freshies niya sa first row.

"Thank you for that wonderful introduction, dear sister," he starts with a wink as he brushes past her. "My girlfriend was also a student faci for InTACT about three years ago, pero never kong akalain na magiging speaker ako for my sister's class."

At the word 'girlfriend', everyone visibly deflates.

Natawa si Maureen at the clear look of devastation sa first row.

"So, med school. Una sa lahat: ang hirap, gago."

The class erupts in laughter, and Maureen smiles.

Kuya Migo really has this way of drawing everyone to him because of his naturally charming personality. He's funny without trying, he's charismatic...he's so easy to love.

Parang si Kuya Inggo.

Maureen checks her phone throughout Kuya Migo's speech, pero wala pa rin siyang reply. She's convinced he's asleep talaga.

"Siguraduhin n'yong kaya n'yong panindigan ang medicine," Kuya Migo says. "Mahirap mag-stay. It's constant work and patience and perseverance. Find the right people to support you and believe in you kasi kakailanganin n'yo. Finally, pwede mapagod ang utak, pero 'wag ang puso. One big fight lang. Thank you. I will not be opening the floor to any questions."

Another chorus of laughter mixed with applause and cheers.

"Joke lang, required pala ang Q&A dito." Kuya Migo takes the water Maureen hands to him and sits down on the teacher's desk. His arrogance should be annoying, but it's so endearing no one even rolls their eyes because of his confidence. Para bang confidence na hindi asshole. "First question, game."

Ang daming nagtaas ng kamay. Pumili ang kuya niya. "You in the blue shirt."

"Ano po type n'yo?"

"A positive," mabilisang sagot ni Kuya Migo with a grin. "'Tsaka si Jiya Valle. Next. Med-related, please!"

Ang dami nilang tanong that the event extends an hour later than expected. Ayaw rin nila pauwiin si Kuya Migo kasi nagpapa-picture pa. Yung kamay niya, nasa likod lang niya the whole time, walang hinahawakan na iba sa mga pictures na 'yon.

Hinatid siya ni Kuya Migo pabalik ng Blue after nilang mag-dinner together sa Regis. Tinanong siya kung ano nangyari sa previous speaker, bakit bigla siyang tinawagan.

"Something came up with him," na lang ang naging sagot ni Maureen.

Nakuha niya ang totoong sagot when she calls Kuya Inggo for the fifteenth time and a girl answers.

"Hello?" a feminine voice snaps. "Who's this?"

Maureen doesn't know kung anong name ang naka-save sa contacts ni Kuya Inggo. "Uh, this is Rinn. Who's this? Where's Kuya Inggo?"

"He's sleeping," sabi niya in an annoyed tone. "This is Kaye. I suggest you leave him alone muna, kanina ka pa kasi. Pagod siya, e."

"Kaye?" she hears his raspy voice say. "Akin na 'yan. Ba't mo sinasagot mga tawag ko?"

"Sorry, naiistorbo ka kasi, e. Who's she?"

He pauses. "Kapatid ng kaibigan ko."

"Ah, the one na sinundo mo kagabi kaya absent ka ulit sa study group? Ano ka, babysitter? Ang clingy naman."

Oh. Oh.

Her fingers ball themselves into fist.

"Shut up, Kaye," Kuya Inggo snaps. "Hello? Rinn?"

"Hi," she whispers.

"Wait lang, lalabas ako." She hears shuffling on the other line, and the noises die down.

Maureen grips her bag. "Where are you?"

"Condo ng friend with some friends," he answers in a rush. "Sorry, we were studying and I fell asleep. What were you calling about? May nangyari ba? Shit, I'm late sa date natin. Fuck."

He forgot. He forgot and that's okay, marami kasi siyang iniisip.

Hindi nga rin ma-blame ni Maureen si Kuya Inggo because siya rin ang may kasalanan kung bakit pagod na pagod siya.

"Nope," she says as cheerfully as she can. "I just missed you. Sorry."

"I miss you too." Kuya Inggo genuinely sounds distressed. "Sorry, I'm so sorry. We were studying and I fell asleep. And don't...what Kaye said. That's not true, okay? 'Wag mong dibdibin. Papunta na 'ko."

E 'yon na nga, e. Totoo siya.

She's clingy kasi natatakot siyang i-abandon na siya ni Kuya Inggo sa mas matanda, sa mas matalino, sa mas ka-level niya, sa mas helpful sa kanya, sa mas malapit sa kanya.

Sa hindi hassle.

Kasi feeling ni Maureen parang baggage na lang siya, e.

'Tsaka kaya nga ayaw niya ng relationships before is kasi his days were dictated by himself. He didn't have to update anyone, he didn't have to work around anyone else's plans or schedule. Ang hirap na nga sa med, pinapahirapan pa lalo ni Maureen ang buhay niya.

Shit. Buti na lang hindi pa sila.

"Yeah," na lang ang naging sagot niya. "Don't worry about it na, Kuya Inggo, okay? It's fine, I promise. You don't need to come na, may plans ka pa later."

Maureen knows he said he's going to club with his friends tonight.

"Shh, baby. On the way na 'ko."

Fully armed siya pagpunta niya ng Blue—may kasamang bouquet of roses, food, cheesecake, and a lot of forehead and cheek kisses. "Forgive me for my tardiness, baby. Maawa ka—ay, ano ba English n'on? Please...uh, please mercy to me."

God. She's...she's so in love with this beautiful, funny, charming, and amazing man who's bending his back over someone like her.

She laughs, buries her face in his neck, and jumps on him. She kisses the spot below his ear, where his cross earring is dangling.

He's so hot. So sweet.

Ano ginagawa niya rito with her? Babysitting?

Kuya Inggo laughs and wrestles her down to the couch.

It's Friday night and he's here. His phone keeps buzzing for calls and texts ng mga kaibigan niyang hinahanap na siya.

E ngayon, nandito na naman siya because he feels bad about earlier.

"Kuya Inggo, you should go," Maureen tells him after he bites off a piece of chicken wing from her hand.

"Nah." He grins cheekily at her. "This beats going to the club, baby."

"Baka hinahanap ka ni Kaye," she whispers before she even thinks about it.

Kuya Inggo scrunches his eyebrows. "So? Who cares? I don't. Kaibigan ko lang 'yon."

Kaibigan pero laging nasa IG stories niya. Oo, na-stalk na ni Maureen 'tong babaeng 'to.

Kaibigan pero laging kinukuha ang phone ni Kuya Inggo para mag-selfie. Nakita ni Maureen once na d-in-e-delete ni Kuya Inggo lahat 'yon.

"Well, basta, her and your other friends. They're expecting you, you said na pupunta ka since palagi kang nagb-bail."

His face is expressionless. "Rinn, gusto mong umalis ako?"

He's not getting it! "Of course not, pero you've been looking forward to this night out din, 'di ba?" Sinabi ni Kuya Inggo sa kanya na excited na siyang uminom a few nights ago.

"Yeah, but—"

"So go, I promise it's okay. I'll feel better knowing you're having fun there."

Kuya Inggo sits up and stares at her. "I'm having fun here, too," he says quietly.

Maureen smiles at him and cups his face. "Yeah, I know, pero nakaka-guilty kasi, Kuya Inggo. You told them you're gonna show up..."

"Okay, I get it." He sighs and kisses her fingers. "I'll come back na lang after a few drinks so I can get them off my back. I won't drive, don't worry."

"Okay." She smiles up at him and kisses his cheek on the way out the door. "Have fun."