THEY don't ask for Jiya's name at the Starbucks branch in Katipunan anymore. As soon as she drags her feet in, laptop in her arms and tote bag slung over her shoulders, bright and early Friday morning, the barista, Tyler, grins. "The usual po, ma'am?"

Jiya nods, squinting, reaching for her wallet. Her friends are already seated at their usual table, and they're waving at her. Jiya ignores them, head still woozy from sleep—or the lack of it.

"Venti iced white chocolate mocha, blended whipped cream for Jiya," he rattles off cheerfully, writing her name on the cup. "One eighty-five pesos, po."

She pays for it and heads over to the table near the sockets, pulling up a chair beside Addie and dumping her stuff on the couch.

"Pwedeng pansinin mo muna ako," Isco whines to Van, pulling on her sleeve. "Kanina pa ako nagsasalita e."

"Sinabi ko na nga na may lunch date ako," Van mutters, focused on her laptop. "Mag-aral ka nga diyan. Kaya ka bumabagsak e, you just stare at me during class."

"Natural." Isco scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Pero sino nga 'yong ka-date mo?"

Umagang-umaga ang iingay na naman ng mga 'to.

Addie gives Jiya a one-arm hug, quickly pulling away after a second. "Good morning, Jiya babes. Ready for the test?"

She nods once, spreads her legs and leans back, closing her eyes.

Van doesn't answer Isco, and he huffs, turning to Jiya. Clearing his throat, he starts, "So natatakot akong magtanong."

"E 'di 'wag mong gawin," Jiya says, eyes still closed.

Van snickers, her fingers still typing away on her laptop. "'Di pa 'yan nagka-kape, don't talk to her."

Isco sighs loudly, grabbing his coffee off the table with a frown. "Pero magtatanong pa rin ako because I failed the last one. Kasalanan ni Van, ang ganda niya kasi."

"Shut up," Van says.

"Bobo," Addie mumbles, munching on her donut, eyes skimming the thick bundle of readings in her hand.

Isco ignores them and says to Jiya, "Kailangan ko ng notes sa ArtAp."

"No," Jiya says.

He nods without argument and leans back, sipping on his drink. "Okay, let's wait for your coffee para hindi ka na ganyan. Katakot, e."

Jiya opens her eyes and stares at Isco. He blanches and looks away, scooting closer to Van.

"Ah." Addie puts her readings down and sits up straight, dusting off her hands. She grins. "As a victory for our first week, labas tayo Pop-Up tonight. My treat."

"G," Van says, not even looking up from her screen. "I need a breather na rin. Dami nang ganap, pota."

"Okay, so me, Isco, Van. I asked sila Jane na rin and they said g."

"Wala pa akong sinasabi," Isco says, raising his eyebrow.

"Van's going, so you are. Am I wrong?"

Isco sips on his drink. "Tama naman. Continue."

Van rolls her eyes, shaking her head. Addie turns to Jiya with a wide grin and her best puppy eyes.

Jiya would much rather stay home after an exhausting week, but she's already ahead of her homework, and if she goes now, she can cancel later on—'pag mas lalo nang pupuno ang schedule niya.

But. There's one other thing to consider, and she asks, in her raspy, sleepy voice, "Who else is going?"

Addie keeps her smile and answers, "Cas."

'Yong boyfriend niya since last year. Jiya raises an eyebrow.

Addie continues in a much smaller voice, "Inggo..."

Jiya stares at her.

"Anton..."

Kasunod na n'on si Migo. Jiya shakes her head firmly. "No thanks."

Her smile fades instantly and she grabs Jiya's arm, whining, "Inuman lang naman! I know you guys don't exactly get along, but you don't even have to talk to each other. You'll just be...breathing in the same space."

She blinks at her friend's grip, and Addie instantly lets go. Jiya leans back against her seat and mutters, "That's bad enough. Huminga siya sa wala ako. Actually, kahit 'wag na siya huminga. At all."

"Kaya naman last year ah," Van interjects, stretching her arms out, finally meeting Jiya's eyes. "What's the big deal, babe?"

Isco tilts his head to the side. "Oo nga, parang last week mo pa siya in-a-avoid."

Internally, Jiya winces.

Sophomore year at Ateneo and she thought she was Migo-free for the first time since high school.

Hindi pala. Tangina.

First day, she saw him at SEC Walk, his annoying face lit up with a smile. Jiya froze, stepped back, and mumbled to Van, "Mauna ka na. I forgot I had a meeting." She turned around and ran.

Tapos sa Gonzaga while buying lunch, she saw him come in with Cas and Inggo. Obviously, since magkakaibigan silang lahat, Addie raised her hand and waved, then she opened her mouth to call out, "Guys! Here kami!"

Pero bago pa man 'yon mangyari, Jiya abandoned her food, scraped back the chair, mumbled a pathetic excuse about not feeling well, and scrambled for her things before they could see her.

Tapos sa library. Jiya has a favorite spot in the Rizal Library—second floor, sa tabi ng aircon, where there's a table stuck to the wall and a socket below it. It's cold, but it's the perfect place to work. When she was a freshie, she spent five hours straight sitting on this chair, working on her finals.

Migo knows it's her spot, too. Kaya noong nag-text si Isco, she blanched.

Ipis: oy grinch hanap ka ni migo. said
u @ Rizal Lib

"Bobong putangina," she muttered angrily with her jaw clenched. She pulled out her charger, shoved all her things inside her bag, and ran towards the shelves in the quietest way possible. Bawal mag-ingay rito.

Seconds later and Migo came in, eyes falling instantly on her vacant spot. Jiya hugged her bag to her chest and panted, squeezing her eyes shut, hidden sa mga rows of books.

Migo eventually left, but not before checking the other tables and couches.

One—one whole week of successfully avoiding the asshole (plus summer, buti na lang she was out of the country), and she goes to an inuman na nando'n siya? Yep, no thanks.

"Walang deal," Jiya grumbles, scraping her feet on the floor. "I have much more important things to worry about than to waste my time and energy with him. Like, getting my grades up, for example. Internships, orgs. My career."

It's the truth...sort of.

She will never hear the end of it if she tells them the other truth. Nope. Never. That's a secret she's taking to her grave.

"Puta, chill muna," Isco says with a laugh, shaking his head. "Second year pa lang po tayo."

"She had an internship na first year pa lang," Van points out, shrugging. "Besides, it's good that Jiya has clear goals. May balak siyang mag-Summa. E, ikaw?"

"Balak kitang pakasalan."

"Isa pa. Sige."

Jiya rolls her eyes and sighs, mind made up, but beside her, Addie pouts. "What if I promise he doesn't try to talk to you?"

"Hindi 'yon makikinig sa 'yo or kay Cas," Jiya deadpans, standing up when her name is called, slapping her hand down on the receipt. "Hindi 'yon nakikinig kahit kanino. Tangina, wala pa akong kape, please lang."

When she does have her coffee, Addie's still adamant. She lets Jiya have a long sip before she says, "You can't hide from him forever."

"He said he's transferring to a school in the States," Jiya bites out, spreading her legs. "Bakit pa siya nandito?"

Van whistles, stirring her straw around her own drink. "Poor Migo. Scholar, gwapo, decent basketball player, tall—but is hated by the great and untouchable Jiya Valle. Ouch."

Isco snickers.

"Akala mo ba gusto kita?" Jiya asks him.

He scowls at her.

Addie sighs, flipping her hair away from her shoulder, and stares down at her donut like it's dead. "Fine. But habol ka to my condo after your InTACT class so we can still chill and hang out with you. We'll order lunch there na rin."

She feels awful. She feels awful looking at her friend's dejected face, especially because Addison Zacarias, resident sweetheart, wants her to come so badly, and she's turning it down because of jerkface.

"Down," Jiya says, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek as an apology. "I'll make it up to you."

She grins at Jiya, and she sighs in relief, knowing they're okay.

Isco blinks and leans forward. "Coffee, check. Notes, please?"

Jiya glares at him, hand going inside her bag. "Hoy, Van. Bakit mo ba 'to dinala sa friend group natin?"

"Because he does whatever I say." Van winks.

Jiya tosses him her binder. "Last na 'yan."

It lands on his chest. Isco hugs it and salutes her. "Yes po, sir."

*

Maldita si Jiya. Point blank. Wala nang argument do'n, which is why she's not the most approachable person for freshmen to come to when they need help or have questions.

But maldita as she is, she knows how to do her job, and as student facilitator (SF) for a block same as her course, her job is to be an approachable 'ate' and friend to them.

She has class once a week with them, and today's session is just an introduction to their student life in the Ateneo. She's reviewing the slides on her phone with her head bowed, laptop on her arm, on the way to the classroom in the SOM building, when two fingers press on her forehead. Jiya stumbles back with a scowl, eyebrows furrowing. "Hoy—"

Migo's standing in front of her, shoving his hands inside his jacket pockets. He's smiling. "Wow. Ang panget mo pa rin, Valle."

His voice makes the hair at the back of her neck rise up. Tangina. Putangina. Walang kwentang gagong—

She pushes her tongue inside her cheek and snaps, "Tabi."

She's thankful her voice doesn't shake.

Eyes widening, he puts a hand to his heart, wincing. "Ouch. Didn't you miss me?"

"Anong i-mi-miss ko sa 'yo, tanga? Move." Jiya steps aside to walk past him.

But Migo also steps to the right, blocking her way. His smile widens to a teasing grin, and his eyes are shining with familiar humor. "Ako na-miss kita. I haven't seen you since classes started last week."

Jiya grits her teeth and looks up to meet his eyes. "I was busy."

"Busy avoiding me?"

She manages one laugh. "You're not that special."

He shrugs. "Fine, sige." Migo crosses his arms over his chest and tips his chin up. "Patingin ng schedule mo."

Jiya gives him a flat stare and pushes past him, bumping his shoulder, and puts her hand on the door. "Ayoko."

"Ah, ganyan ka? Sige, maybe we can talk about why you kissed—"

Jiya almost drops her laptop twisting around and shoving her hand on his mouth, slamming him to the wall, eyes wide. "Shut up!" she hisses, tiptoeing to reach his face.

The other students walking the hallways give them glances. Fucking hell. 

She feels his smile on her palm. Kadiri, gago. "Sorry, guys," he says, muffled, still staring at her. "Crush kasi ako nito, e."

Jiya takes off her hand like she's been burned and wipes it on his jacket, disgust on her face. "Fuck you."

Satisfied, he holds out his hand for her phone. "Class sched mo muna. We can schedule that later."

Jiya clenches her jaw and shoves it to his chest, curling her free hand into a fist.

Migo grins at the angry look on her face and pulls out his phone with his other hand, opening his own schedule. "Nice," he whispers, nodding. "Classmates tayo sa Theo. 'Di ako pinabayaan ni Isco."

"Sinabi ni Isco sa 'yo 'yong Theo class na kinuha ko?" Jiya asks quietly. "And also my InTACT class?"

"Yep," Migo answers, switching between both phones, eyebrows furrowing. "We're friends."

Tanginang traydor, after she gave him her notes! Bubugbugin niya 'yon mamaya. Jiya holds out her hand impatiently. "Akin na, magbe-bell na."

Migo pockets his phone and gives her back hers, still wearing that stupid fucking grin. "It was the only class na pareho tayo this sem. I wanted to make the most out of it."

"Tapos ka na ba? I'm sick of your face."

"I doubt that," he mumbles, reaching to his head to take off his ball cap.

And then he leans down, snags one of Jiya's belt loops with his finger, and pulls her close to him.

She gasps in surprise, arms to her chest, and Migo whispers in her ear, "Since you kissed me and all."

Jiya freezes.

Lord, pwede na. Kaya ba today? Ngayon na, please. May vacant ba diyan?

Migo steps back and lets her go, placing his ball cap on top of her head gently, brushing the strands away from her face. Jiya doesn't even move. "Punta ka sa inuman later. 'Tsaka suotin mo 'to." He opens the door for her with a smile and says, "Go inside, the SF shouldn't be late."

Jiya only blinks, and her feet drag forward, towards the classroom.

"See you later, Valle," Migo says, and then he closes the door, and he's gone.

"Boyfriend mo, Ate Jiya?" one of the early freshies ask with a grin, just as the bell rings.

"Hinde," sagot niya, almost slamming her laptop on the teacher's desk. She takes off his cap with a huff. "Hinding-hindi."

*

"Puta," Jiya grumbles, forcibly kicking her gym shorts off. "So pupunta ako."

"Yes!" Addie shouts sa speaker phone, giggling in glee. "Why'd you change your mind? Actually, no, don't answer that. I'm just happy na pupunta ka. Chill lang naman, babe."

"Baka gusto niya lang talaga makita si Migo," Isco says.

"Ano? Pakiulit," Jiya snaps at her phone, slumping down on the chair in front of her dresser. "Sige. Ulitin mo."

"Van," mahinhin na sumbong ni Isco.

"Bahala ka diyan," Van says. "We'll get dinner at Gino's first. Habol ka, we'll see you there, Ji."

"'Ge," she mutters.

"Text us!" Addie says, tapos binaba na 'yong call.

Who knows what Migo will say to her friends if she's not there? She grits her teeth.

Fucking stupid son of a—

"Agh!" Jiya screams, pulling out her hair with her fingers. She jumps on her bed and kicks the mattress, features pulling together.

Bakit ba kasi nandito pa 'yon? Sabi niya lilipat na siya! Puta naman!

E bakit ko ba kasi siya hinalikan?

"Shut up," Jiya tells herself, hitting her head with her hand. "Shut up, shut up, shut up. It was a mistake."

She mumbles this to herself until there are two fast knocks on her door. Jiya doesn't look up. "Come in."

"Jiya, hija?"

"Yes po, Manang?" she mutters, still kicking the mattress.

Their housekeeper is smiling when she says, "Anong gusto mong hapunan, anak?"

She sits up and shakes her head, face to face with Manang. "Oh, I won't be eating here po, so dinner na lang po for you, Kuya Willy, and my parents when they get home."

Manang is old—her face is lined with wrinkles and her hair is washed out with gray strands, but she works, moves, and cackles like she's twenty. Her youthful spirit makes the Valle house seem less lonely than it actually is.

She's been working for her family since Jiya was ten.

"Uy, may plano ka?" she asks, wagging her eyebrows, leaning against her doorway.

Jiya sighs. "Inuman lang po with friends, alam na po nila Mommy and Papa. Pero ayoko talagang pumunta." She follows that up with a groan and a distasteful expression.

Manang's smile widens. "Kasi pupunta rin si Migo?"

"Agh, Manang naman! Forbidden word 'yon dito, please!"

"Okay, okay!" Manang backs up, laughing. "Sige na. Pakainin ko na si Kuya Willy para makaalis kayo nang maaga."

"Thank you po," Jiya mumbles, lying face down on her pillows.

What if mag-pretend siyang napilay? Or sabihin niya na may family emergency? Maniniwala ba si gago?

But if she stays home, she's going to go out of her mind thinking about his babbling mouth. Paano na reputation niya?

"Bwiset, bwiset, bwiset," she chants repeatedly, stripping off her clothes to hop in the shower. "Putanginang gago talaga..."

She doesn't bother drying her hair afterwards, and, like a child, kicks in her ripped jeans and simple halter top and applies her lip tint, all the while cursing Migo Salas's entire existence. She pulls her fist back and imagines his ball cap as his face.

"'Ge." Jiya faces the mirror and shoulders her bag. Kanina pa siya galit, nasa mukha pa rin niya. "Pupunta ka. That's enough. Just have fun with your friends."

She fists the cap in her hands so she can shove it back in his face, climbing down the stairs. "Kuya, ready na po ba tayong umalis?"

Her driver backs away from the living room window, glances at her, and rubs the nape of his neck. "Opo, ma'am—"

"Jiya," she corrects automatically.

"Jiya," he says, grimacing, "pero may sasakyan po sa labas, akala ko po sundo ninyo."

She hurries down to the living room and peeks out the window.

Migo is grinning, and he raises his hand to wave at her. He's leaning against his gray Toyota Vios.

"Tangina," she says.

"Anak, ayusin mo buhok mo," Manang says, hands fussing on her hair. "Hay nako, ang gwapo-gwapo talaga ni Migo."

"Kuya, wait lang po." She slams open the front door and heads down the porch, down to the huge gates of her house.

Migo stands up straight. "Don't drool. Alam kong gwapo ako."

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Jiya snaps, stopping in front of him with raised eyebrows.

"Sinusundo ka, ano pa ba?" is his annoying answer. He opens the passenger door and gestures inside, grinning. "Sorry, alam kong shit car lang for Your Majesty, but I promise I'm a good driver. You know that naman."

Jiya has never ridden in his car by herself. Lagi nilang kasama friends nila, courtesy of Addie and Cas. And if ever man sasakay si Jiya, do'n siya sa malayong-malayo kay Migo—opposite the driver's side, stuck to the window.

She stares at him. "I didn't say anything about your car."

He just winks at her and taps the door. "You didn't have to."

She's not that spoiled. Hindi rin siya bitchesa. Jiya knows she's privileged, but she has never, ever, stepped down on others because of it.

It's offending—and it works. She moves to get in so she can show him na wala siyang pake na he drives a Vios, but Migo blocks her way at the last minute, almost making her bump to his chest.

He grabs the cap from her hands and puts it on her head.

Jiya clenches her jaw and glares at him. "Pwede ba?"

"Gulo kasi ng buhok mo, panget," he mutters, then he steps back to round the driver's side. "Get in."

Jiya puts on her seatbelt and childishly crosses her arms while Migo pulls back against her driveway, and heads onto the main road.

"Walang Bluetooth dito," he says. "Just so you know."

"I didn't say anything," Jiya snaps.

Migo laughs. "Ang sungit mo talaga, Valle. Loosen up."

"I thought you were moving," she says, raising an eyebrow. Straight to the point na.

His smile doesn't fade, and he glances at her once. "I thought so, too."

"Anong nangyari?"

"Alam ko kasing mami-miss mo 'ko, kaya I stayed."

Jiya scoffs and looks out the window, rolling her eyes. She pulls out her phone and texts Addie.

b i'll meet you at pop up na lang.

Ads: okay!!! <3

The rest of the ride to Katip is quiet and awkward. Jiya glances at Migo's face a couple of times, furrowing her eyebrows, wondering what the fuck she's doing here in his car with him.

"Careful ka, Valle," he says suddenly, staring ahead. "Tingin ka pa sa 'kin ulit, hahalikan kita."

Jiya's head whips around to stare at the window, eyes wide. "As if naman papayag ako," she bites out.

"I'm just returning the favor," he says, and Jiya can hear the teasing smile in his voice.

Jiya doesn't look at him again.

Katip is alive and wild. Jiya keeps her distance from Migo as they walk in to Pop-Up, and instantly find their friends at a huge table near a stall, already starting with the drinks.

"Jiya!" Addie screeches, throwing her legs off the bench to jump at her and hug her. Then, her eyes widen, shifting to Migo. "Pumunta ba kayo here together?"

"No," Jiya says.

"Yes," Migo answers.

"Pahinging Smirnoff," Jiya tells Addie, dragging her to where the rest of their friends are seated. Cas and Inggo give her a one-arm hug and a salute.

"Mag-kwento kang tangina ka," Van says, head tilting to Migo's direction.

Isco whistles, a smug expression on his face. "Sabi na e."

"'Lika dito." Jiya gestures for him to come over. "Halika ditong hayop ka."

"May ginawa ba sa 'yo 'to?" Anton asks cheekily, grabbing her waist to a hug, and Jiya squeals, feet raising in the air. "Ako na magbubugbog."

"Bakit ba lagi akong bi-nu-bully?" Isco sighs.

"Please, kaya ko na 'yan," Jiya says, grinning.

Anton flicks her forehead when he puts her down. "Hoy, ngayon ka lang nagpakita sa 'kin, ah. Medyo hurt ako."

Out of all the boys, si Anton ang pinaka-kaclose ni Jiya. They've gone out on friend dates before, movies and dinner, and they box together at Elorde. When Jiya was in Korea for the summer, Anton FaceTimed her rin. Jiya grins at him and hands him her bottle. "Sorry na, boss. I'll libre samgyup next week, promise."

He opens her Smirnoff with the opener in his keyring, and slings an arm around her shoulder, dragging her to a stall. "Sabi mo 'yan! I was actually planning to pick you up because I heard you were coming, pero nahiya ako."

His statement makes Jiya laugh, throwing her head back. "Tanga, bakit ka mahihiya? You could've called me rin."

Anton merely grins, grabs her bottle, and takes a huge sip. "Ewan. Pero duly noted, sunduin kita next time."

As is 'pag inuman, the hours blur into minutes as they drink and drink and drink. Van and Jiya dance on the floor, laughing and giggling, and nilapitan sila ng isang Uniqlo boy with short shorts, mukhang lasing na rin. "Hey, girls. Room for one more?"

"Wala, alis," Jiya tells him without a look in his direction, and he leaves.

Van laughs. "Tangina. Gwapo naman ah!"

"May boyfriend ka," Jiya points out, raising an eyebrow.

"Wala!" her friend argues, swinging her hips from side to side. "Fubus lang kami ni Isco."

"Kadiri, puta."

"Pero ikaw, sabi mo gusto mo ng jowa pero ganyan ka 'pag may lumalapit."

Jiya rolls her eyes. Anton appears next to them after chatting with his friends and snatches her drink again, throwing his head back.

"Hoy, kumuha ka ng sa 'yo!" Jiya laughs, smacking him.

Anton grins and curls his hand around her waist. "I'll get you the next one. Dance with me muna, Addie and Cas are sucking faces, Inggo is leaving with Liv, tapos si Van 'tsaka si Isco niyan mag-mo-momol na."

"At least merong ka-momol." Van sticks her tongue out and leaves the dance floor, jumping on her feet.

Jiya dances with Anton, and they drink and catch up, pero opposite of what she expected, Migo doesn't try to annoy her. He doesn't even try to talk to her.

Jane, Tasha, Yuching, Marc, Alexa, and a couple of their other batchmates are there at their table. As usual, Tasha, his ex, makes a beeline for Migo, offering him a drink. He smiles politely and accepts it, and nods at what she's saying.

Jiya returns her attention to Anton. "I have to tell you something."

Her friend raises an eyebrow and leans forward, head tilting to the side.

Jiya whispers in his ear, "'Di pa ako kumakain, and I'm hungry."

As expected, his smile fades. Anton's lips purse and he looks at her flatly. "Are you serious, Jiya?"

"Sorry!" she squeaks, grabbing his hand. "Gusto ko na kasing uminom kanina."

"Tapos sumayaw ka pa! Ano ba, gaga ka ba?"

She drags him with her, pushing past sweaty bodies. "Kaya pakainin mo na lang ako, please. I want McDo."

He keeps his arm around her, siya sa side ng cars, while they walk. It's three in the morning and it's full of drunk people, the usual at McDo Katip. Anton lines up for them while Jiya plays with the lights on the table, grinning.

He puts down their tray and gives her a look of disappointment, but puts a straw in her drink and offers it to her. "Bawal kang uminom without eating, okay, Valle?"

Migo's the only person who calls her by her surname, and it irritates her. From Anton, it only makes her smile and nod, leaning forward to sip on the drink he's holding. "Yes po, bossing."

While they eat and talk and laugh, Jiya's phone blows up, notifications from her friends coming in.

Vannie: GAGA SAN KA PUMUNTA

Ipis: ipapapulis ka namen pag di ka
sumagot

Ads: JIYA PLEASE TELL US UR OK

Guiltily, she hurries to type her reply. Nakalimutan niya silang sabihan, shit.

Anton snatches her phone, tapping the screen and putting it to his ear.

"Hi, Van," he says, smiling at Jiya, gesturing for her to continue eating. "Kasama ko si Jiya, we're eating lang at McDo. I'll take her home after this, so don't worry. Yup. Sige, ingat."

"Thanks," Jiya says, chewing loudly.

Anton chuckles, shaking his head, and reaches over to wipe the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "Kain ka pa."

Jiya has ridden in Anton's passenger side countless of times, noong minsan pa he drove her to Tagaytay because she just wanted to go to the Starbucks branch there. Kaya she has no hesitations connecting her phone with the Bluetooth speaker kasi it recognizes it kaagad.

On the way to her home, they blast 2000 hits—it's their thing during rides in his car. Ang lakas ng boses nila while they sing at the top of their lungs. She positions her phone sa may center console where the holder is and takes a video.

When Anton pulls up at her house, he shuts off the engine and jumps out the car to open her door pa. Jiya clicks her tongue and steps out. "Gentleman talaga."

"Siyempre." He grins at her. "You good?"

"Yep! Thank you." She hugs him. "It was a good night. Text me when you're home na."

"Will do. Pasok ka na."

Jiya waves at him one last time and steps in the front gate, being as quiet as possible. Her parents know she's coming home early morning, but she doesn't want to wake them up.

In her bedroom, she takes off the cap and tosses it on the dresser. She strips off her clothes and showers, brushes her teeth, and puts on her pajamas before slumping down on her bed.

There are two messages and three missed calls waiting for her from Migo, and Jiya furrows her eyebrows.

Pogi: Hoy panget nasan ka?
Pogi: Di ko na rin mahanap mga
kaibigan naten huy

(Oo, siya ang pilit na nagpalit ng contact name niya.)

Jiya types her reply.

umuwi na baket

His reply comes in an instant.

Pogi: HA? with who? Did you call your
driver?

No.

She closes her message window with him and opens her camera roll, smiling as she watches her video with Anton. Jiya posts it on her Instagram story.

@jvalle: always a good
time with this one.
@antonbuenca

Anton doesn't see it until he gets home an hour later, while Jiya's asleep. He gives it a heart reaction and responds:

@antonbuenca: always! home na.
drink lots of water and eat,
or else I'll be mad. Night,
Ji.

Migo's reply comes in the morning, too.

Pogi: ah. si buenca pala.

*

hello hello! welcome to champorado's first chapter! please let me know what u think, thank you for reading :')