"BUNOT!" sigaw ni Van, shaking the bowl.

Anton lets out a shout, shaking his head and laughing. "'Pag ako nabunot ko ulit si Isco..."

"Mahal na mahal ko gift mo, bro," Isco says, pulling him in for a bro-handshake. "Salamat talaga. Gamit na gamit."

Van snorts. "'Pag wala ako."

"Natural," Isco says, winking at Van. He sticks his hand in the bowl. "Game! Bawal madaya, ah!"

"Hoy, Fuentes. Bawal mong sabihin kay Ads, gago ka," Inggo says, grabbing his own piece of paper. "Ikaw din, Ads, 'wag kayong madaya!"

Napunta naman kay Jiya and Migo 'yong bowl. Jiya doesn't want to move sa higa niya kay Migo, blanket on her body. "Kunan mo 'ko," she mutters.

Migo rolls his eyes, but he picks up two pieces of papers anyway. He hands her one, and his lips quirk up. "'Pag ikaw ulit nabunot ko this year, don't punch me."

She grins, cups his chin and kisses him on the cheek. "Deserve mo 'yon."

"Sorry na." He leans in to whisper, "'Di ka naman back to back, alam ko na from experience."

She slaps his shoulder. "Bastos ka."

"Walang away this year, please!" Addie says, pointedly looking at the two of them. "Alam kong kayo na, pero I'm not taking any chances."

"Shit, dumugo pa mouth ni Migs last year," Anton says, laughing. "Lakas kasi ni Jiya."

Inggo and Cas laugh. Migo shakes his head, smiling.

Simula last year, noong pinag-force ang barkadas ni Cas and Addie na magkasundo-sundo, isa na ro'n 'yong Casmas Party nila last Christmas. May pa-Secret Santa na sila no'n na pauso ni Addie—Anton got Isco (fleshlight), Van got Anton (socks na may mukha niya), Cas got Van (book of cocktail recipes), Inggo got Cas (Pornhub shirt), Addie got Inggo (cow-print romper na may ears), Jiya got Addie (the Lizzie McGuire movie soundtrack vinyl), Migo got Jiya, and Isco got Migo (Pornhub shirt).

In other words: Isco > Migo > Jiya > Addie > Inggo > Cas > Van > Anton > Isco.

Wala silang wishlist. Kung ano lang gusto mong ibigay sa nabunot mo, 'yon na 'yon.

Kaya naman binigyan ni Migo si Jiya ng breast suspenders. No'ng binuksan 'yon ni Jiya, tumatawa na siya. "Parang need mo e," sabi ni Migo. "'Lika dito, ako magsusuot sa 'yo."

Sa tawa ng mga kaibigan nila, medyo kinabahan din sila no'ng hindi gumalaw o nagsalita si Jiya. Tinitigan niya lang si Migo.

Ito namang si gago, lumapit para isuot sa kanya. "Kasi naman, Valle, 'wag tayong back to back." He clicked his tongue and shook his head, sighing. "Baka akala ng iba lalaki ka—"

Malapit na siyang mahawak ni Migo sa chest no'n.

He pulled his palms back immediately, raising them, eyes widening. "Valle, wala akong nahawakan."

He was defending himself, pero parang sinasabi niya na rin na back to back talaga siya.

"Bro," Inggo said, shaking his head.

"Ji, 'wag," Van warned.

Jiya pulled her fist back and punched him in the face.

This year, nakuha ni Jiya si Cas.

"Okay!" Van shouts, tucking her paper in her pocket. "Walang dayaan, mga punyeta kayo." She grabs her bag and puts on her shoes. "Group study tayo tomorrow, Ji, Ads?"

Jiya gives her a thumbs-up. Hinabol naman siya ni Isco, tapos sabay na sila nagpaalam. Si Addie naman uuwi na, hahatid lang siya ni Cas. Anton's going to the gym, tapos si Jiya mag-aaral sa lib.

Ayaw nga lang siya paalisin nitong boyfriend niya. "Dito ka na lang," he whines, tightening his grip on her arm. "Maglalakad ka pa."

"Ayoko." She tries to shrug him off, but he doesn't budge. "Ayoko dito, maingay."

"E 'di do'n tayo sa library."

Kasi dahil finals week na, Jiya coops herself up in the library. Kung hindi man siya mag-isa, Migo's studying with her (pero hindi 'to prefer ni Jiya kasi nakaka-distract siya), tapos 'pag group study nila ni Addie and Van, sa Tyler's or Gino's sila.

Pero sa dami rin kasi ng ginagawa nila matapos lang ang sem, hindi rin sila masyadong nakakapagkita. 'Pag nagkikita man, quick lang na daanan papunta sa class, during lunch breaks, or 'pag ihahatid ni Migo si Jiya pauwi, pero nagkukulong si Jiya sa library 'tsaka sa bahay para mag-aral.

Medyo nagtatampo na si Migo.

Nasa lib ulit si Jiya nang mag-text si Migo. Galing siyang class.

Pogi: tama na work valle kanina ka pa
nandyan. ako naman

Her lips curl up in the corner as she leans back against her chair, hugging herself with one arm kasi pucha, ang lamig dito.

marami pa kong finals baby. 
uwi ako in an hour

His reply is instant.

Pogi: pupunta ako dyan hihilain kita.
bilis na i'll take u home

wag kang magulo nag-aaral
ako. ONE LAST HOUR
promise.

Pogi: akyat ako

NO NO NO NO lalandiin mo
lang ako tapos wala akong
matatapos.

Pogi: :( busy mo :( i miss u

She smiles.

after finals hindi na. i need to
ace this baby

His message bubbles appear and disappear. And then:

Pogi: fine

Jiya sighs. Nagtatampo na ba 'to? 'Di ba niya gets na kailangan niya mag-first honors Dean's List ulit?

Wala siyang time para suyuin siya, so she just says:

text kita pag pauwi na ko

Migo only says:

Pogi: okay

She purses her lips and rubs her forehead, and then puts her phone down and gets back to work.

Hindi pa niya makita ulit si Migo sa mga next few days. Hindi rin siya masundo kasi he has early review before first period with his groupmates. Medyo parang tampo pa rin si Migo, pero he asks every day kung nakakain na si Jiya. He doesn't bother na kulitin siya na makipagkita na.

Three days left ng hell week, she turns over in bed and texts him.

have u written the wedding
vows na?

Mabilis siyang mag-reply.

Pogi: almost done. i'll submit before
deadline don't worry

Jiya frowns.

are you not going to let me
read it?

Pogi: no. don't worry, may sources ako
and i followed the format. indvidual
grading naman tayo

Tama naman siya, pero she thought na they were going to read what the other wrote. She sighs.

wasn't worried naman. okay.
goodnight

Pogi: night. good luck sa presentation
tom

thank you. good luck sa exam.

"Done!" Addie shouts, closing her laptop. "Tangina, submitted! Tapos na!"

Jiya slams her laptop closed and covers her face with her hands. "Tangina, tapos na," she mutters, closing her eyes. Pagod na pagod siya.

Van shuts her laptop and stands. "Iinom ako, may sasama ba?"

"Me!" Addie jumps up and runs to her bedroom. "Bihis ako. Gusto mong pamalit, b?"

"Please, sige. Kating-kati na 'ko uminom. Text ko si Isco pero may final pa yata until later. Ikaw, Jiya?"

She checks her messages. Wala pa ring text si Migo. His last one was four hours ago:

Pogi: exam na ako. kain ka

And Jiya's reply was:

okay good luck. you rin

Tapos na dapat 'yon sa exam.

"Puntahan ko yung masungit," she mutters, pushing her things inside her bag. Shoulders slumping, she asks Addie, "Ads, nagkakatampuhan ba kayo ni Cas?"

"Yes naman!" she replies, laughing, throwing clothes on her bed. "Natural lang 'yan, b. Ano ba ginawa mo?"

"Nag-aral. Finals natin."

"Ah." Van snickers. "Kaya pala MIA si Migo recently. Well, sa bagay, wala ka ring pake sa iba 'pag nag-aaral ka."

Jiya frowns. Gano'n ba siya kapatay mag-first DL?

"Ang unfair naman na magalit siya," she huffs. "I was studying, dapat bang unahin ko siya?"

"No," Addie answers, smiling at her. "Pero siguro he wanted you to make time somewhat. He makes time for you kahit na finals rin niya. Sinusundo ka, dinadalhan ka ng pagkain and coffee..."

She winces, but she says, "Hindi DL si Migo."

"Nasa honors program siya, babe," Addie reminds her, raising her eyebrows. "BS Chem? Top fifteen percent lang ng applicants natatanggap. Grabe 'to."

Jiya purses her lips. Right. How did she forget?

"Puntahan mo na!" Van laughs, throwing a pillow at her.

She sighs and hugs them, and then leaves Blue.

Pababa sa elevator, she texts Inggo.

nandyan ba siya?

Inggo Best Bro: hello inggo kamusta
ka inggo ok lang naman ako ji thanks
for asking

She rolls her eyes.

de paz :)

Inggo Best Bro: opo nasa room po

ok otw na ko but dont tell him.

Inggo sends back an emoji with a zipper on its mouth.

Dumaan muna siya sa Army Navy para mag-take out, and then dumiretso siyang Burgundy. Inggo opens the door. His face lights up sa dala niyang pagkain and he hugs her. "Mahal na mahal kita," he whispers, bringing the food to the table.

Jiya rolls her eyes and takes off her shoes, tossing her bag and laptop on the couch. "Dahil diyan, kumain ka muna. Sunod kami."

Inggo doesn't hear her, already stuffing his face with fries.

She knocks on Migo's door twice. Nang walang sagot, she opens it and steps inside.

Naka-phone lang si Migo na nakahiga sa bed niya, back up against the headboard, naka-earphones. He doesn't look up.

Jiya exhales heavily and crawls on the bed, sitting next to him. She takes off his earphones. "Migo."

"Ano," he says, raising an eyebrow.

Jiya purses her lips and sighs. "Are you seriously mad at me because I had a lot to do for my finals?"

"No," he says. "I had to study a lot rin. I get it."

"So bakit ka nga galit?"

"'Di ako galit," he snaps, tossing his phone on the side. Migo's jaw tightens. "Gets ko nga, finals nga natin, important acads natin—"

Jiya rolls her eyes, pulls him in by the neck and kisses him. Sandaling hindi gumalaw si Migo, bwiset.

She pulls back and mutters, "Ilabas mo 'yang galit mo sa 'kin in a way na pareho tayong magiging masaya, okay? Ito na apology ko."

Jiya doesn't let him respond and instead kisses him again, pressing him back against the headboard.

Finally, he moves, cradling her head with one hand, the other wrapping around her back, fingers dipping under her halter top, scraping her skin with his nails.

He bites her lip, hard, and Jiya gasps, lets his tongue soothe the pain, and then pushes in deeper. She struggles to follow him, running out of breath, kneeling up on the bed. Migo pushes her shoulder back down, laying her on the mattress, and he hovers above her and whispers, "Pagdasal mong hindi papasok si Inggo."

"E 'di 'wag kang maingay," Jiya warns him, and then he spreads his knees over her face, pulling his boxers down, and Jiya tilts her head up, opening her mouth.

Migo slides both hands in her hair and leans his head back, panting. "Shit," he breathes, "'yan."

Jiya looks up at him, bobbing her head slowly, hands gripping his thighs.

Migo pulls her hair to still her. "Can I?"

God. She pulls off him, lips wet and smeared, and meets his eyes. Her own are wet with tears.

"Tangina," he groans. "Tell me I can, Valle."

She nods quickly. "Please," she whispers.

Migo puts his hands on the back of her head and moves, thrusting in and out.

"Ah, puta," he mutters, hips moving quick. "Fuck, baby."

She takes it all, mouth full, listening to his grunts and gasps, letting him take what he needs.

He pushes Jiya's head to his pelvis, groaning. Jiya almost chokes, pero na-swallow naman niya.

She has tears in her eyes when Migo pulls off. He kneels on the bed and kisses her gently, sweetly. "Thank you," he whispers, wiping the tears off her cheeks.

Jiya lets him pull his boxers up before she hugs him, lying down on the bed. "Okay ka na?"

He laughs. "Okay na okay."

"Dapat lang, dami e."

"Gaga," Migo says, laughing. "I wasn't...I wasn't mad."

She rolls her eyes. "Migo. Nalunok na kita, 'wag ka na magsinungaling."

He's still smiling, caressing her face. "Na-miss lang kita."

Napaka-clingy talaga nito, hay. Jiya hugs him and mutters in his shoulder, "Sorry. Alam ko you try to make time for me kahit na marami ka ring inaaral. 'Pag hinahatid mo 'ko sa bahay and even just to bring me food and coffee, and palagi mo 'kong gusto makita and makasama."

Migo's quiet. She's on the right track.

She sighs and mutters, "Siguro hindi lang ako sanay na nagbibigay ng time sa iba. Important sa 'kin ang studies ko, Migo, pero important ka rin sa 'kin. I'm sorry 'di ko napakita 'yon these past two weeks."

"No," Migo says, exhaling heavily. "Ako yung masyadong nag-demand ng attention mo when I knew how important DL is to you. 'Tsaka finals, lahat tayo busy 'tsaka pagod. Hindi lang rin ako sanay na...na ako yung nagde-demand for it. I'm sorry, too."

Jiya purses her lips. "We'll both work on it," she whispers, leaning up to kiss him on the mouth. "I brought food, pero can we take a nap muna? Kakatapos ko lang ng finals and pagod na 'ko."

He nods, wrapping his arms tighter around her. "Proud of you for finishing finals, baby," he whispers, kissing her forehead. "This sem wasn't easy."

Kahit na SOSE siya, kahit na honors program siya, Jiya appreciates na he sees how hard this sem was for her as well.

Ni minsan hindi siya sinabihan ng parents niya na proud sila sa kanya.

She swallows thickly and says, "Thank you. I'm proud of you, too."

*

Paggising ni Jiya, wala na si Migo sa tabi niya.

She rubs her eyes sleepily and takes off her top and bra kasi puta ang sakip. She opens his closet and finds a shirt and a hoodie para masuot niya, and sleepily trudges out of the room.

Si Anton na nasa couch ang una niyang nakita. He looks up from his phone and smiles at her. "Morning, Jiya."

She scrunches her eyebrows, shoving her hands inside the pockets of Migo's hoodie.

Wala boyfriend niya and si Inggo.

She drags her feet to the sofa and sits down beside him, hugging her legs. "Sa'n sila?" she rasps.

"Naubos na raw ni Inggo 'yong pagkain na dala mo kanina," he says, grinning, "so hinila siya ni Migo para bumili ng food bago ka sana gumising."

Gutom na nga rin siya. She hums and nods. "Mm. Kamusta finals mo?"

Anton laughs. "Hirap, tangina. Kayo?"

"Same." She sighs. "Nasa Lan Kwai 'ata sila Ads and Van, susunod ako later, sasama ba kayo?"

"Oo naman." He bumps shoulders with her. "'Di na tayo nakakapag-boxing."

Jiya looks at him and purses her lips. "Sorry. And...I'm sorry rin sa—"

"Don't," Anton says, shaking his head, smiling gently at her. "Nothing to apologize for, na-miss lang kita kasi friends tayo. Back off na 'ko no'ng naging kayo ni Migo. Kaibigan ko rin siya." He laughs once.

Jiya smiles at him. "Good to know."

Tinapos nila sem nila nang lasing. Sinundo si Jiya ni Kuya Willy kasi lasing rin si Migo.

Pagkauwi niya, she's still wearing his shirt and hoodie (nag-bra siya, okay). She lies down on her bed and smiles, dazed.

Noong nakita kasi siya ni Migo, he hooked his fingers in the pockets of her shorts and kissed her on the mouth in front of Inggo and Anton, and sa Lan Kwai, hindi niya mapigilan na hawakan si Jiya under the shirt she wore, even sucked a hickey on her neck habang nagsho-shots mga kaibigan nila.

She calls him, closing her eyes.

"Valle," he mutters.

Lasing na lasing na. Jiya smiles. "Home na. You?"

"Last na raw ni gago." Medyo maingay pa nga sa line niya. "Oy, de Paz! Uwi na tayo, 'nyeta ka."

"Sandale!" Inggo shouts from a distance. "Last na, bro!"

"Kanina pa niya sinasabi 'yon," Migo mutters, sighing. "Tulog ka na."

May gusto pang sabihin si Jiya. Quietly, she says, "Hindi mo ba talaga ipapabasa sa 'kin yung vows?"

"No," Migo answers immediately. "Private 'yon. E yung sa 'yo?"

Jiya purses her lips. "If you won't show me yours, I won't show you mine."

"Fine," Migo says. "Magkakitaan na lang tayo kung sino may mas maganda na vows pagdating ng wedding natin."

Jiya coughs. "Hoy, slow down, wala pa tayong one year."

Migo chuckles. "Matulog ka na nga. I'll dream of you wearing my shirt to sleep. With nothing else on."

Jiya grins. "Gusto mo 'yon? I'll send you a pic."

"Hoy." His voice goes lower, and Jiya laughs. "Kanina pa 'ko nababaliw kasi nagsuot ka ng sa 'kin, don't do that to me."

She grins, and her cheeks are burning, and she feels warm. "Text me 'pag nakauwi ka na. If someone asks for your number, sabihin mo susuntukin ko."

Kanina pa kasi maraming tumitingin kay Migo sa Lan Kwai. Jiya stared them down with a raised eyebrow, clinging to him, until they noticed her and looked away.

He's smiling. "Will do, baby. Goodnight."

"Night," Jiya whispers, and hangs up.

Bago siya maligo, she strips off her shorts, lies down on the bed stomach down, and takes a picture.

Private Message: migago

sungit sent a photo

sungit: goodnight mwa

migago is typing...

migago is typing...

migago is typing...

migago: fuck you

migago: putangina mo

migago: tangina ka

migago: fuck ang hot mo

migago: tangina mo pls oh mygod

Jiya laughs.

Private Message: migago

sungit: 😘

migago is typing...

migago is typing...

migago: 🖕🏽

migago: ❤️

*

Walang suntukang nangyari sa Casmas Party, pero parang magkakaroon.

It's obvious na magkaaway sina Van at Isco kahit na they try to hide it.

Pa'no ba naman kasi, walang single remark si Isco about Van, hindi niya tinitingnan, hindi niya kinakausap. Ito namang si Van, galit sa lahat.

Jiya sits next to her on the couch with her Smirnoff. "So anong problema n'yo."

"Tanong mo siya," she bites out, rolling her eyes. "Nag-date sila ni Wendy kahapon."

Jiya sighs. "Van."

"Nagalit siya kasi nagalit ako," she says, taking a long chug of her beer. "Pero whatever, bahala siya sa buhay niya."

Gusto ni Jiya sabihin na bakit hindi na lang kasi siya umamin, pero she remembers her situation with Migo before—ganyan na ganyan. In denial. Jealous. Ayaw mag-take ng risk.

So she just keeps quiet.

Van stands up. "Poolside tayo."

Jiya slings her arm around hers and downs her Smirnoff.

Wala namang suntukan na nangyari, pero the night ends nang hindi pa rin nag-uusap si Van and Isco. Ang weird, and Migo raises his eyebrows, asks her about it, but she just shakes her head and says, "Stubborn sila pareho. 'Wag tayong makialam."

Every year din, nagkikita mga high school friends nina Jiya and Migo for a Christmas party na get-together. Last time, hindi nagpapansinan sina Migo and Jiya kasi may bruised jaw pa si Migo sa suntok niya, tapos galit pa si Jiya about the breast suspenders.

"Magkaaway na naman kayo?" Gabbie laughed, picking up a pizza slice. Bumaba sila ni Jiya para kumuha ng food. "Buong high school natin up until college pa rin?"

"Gago siya," Jiya said, rolling her eyes.

"Panget," Migo called, pushing her out of the way. "Gago ka rin. Nakikita mo 'to?" He pointed to his jaw, gritting his teeth. "Ikaw may gawa niyan!"

"Deserve mo 'yon, asshole!"

Pinaghiwalay na naman sila ng friends nila no'n, pagod na pagod na sa kanilang dalawa. Five years na.

Jiya's mouth curls upward now. She's driving, tapos hawak niya kamay ni Migo with one hand.

"What?" Migo asks, looking up from his phone.

"Wala lang." She snickers. "I mean, they know naman na from our stories, pero first time natin makikita ulit high school friends natin na...tayo."

Migo grins. "Tingin mo maiiinis si Kline 'tsaka si Dan?"

'Yong dalawang sinasabi ni Migo na ni-'reject' ni Jiya. She rolls her eyes. "Friends ko lang sila."

"Gusto ka nila," he snorts. "'Wag kang ano. Kline told you noong concert tapos tinawanan mo lang, pero he bought you your favorite donuts. Tapos si Dan naman, sinabi niya sa 'yo no'ng birthday mo, may gift siyang necklace."

Jiya blinks at him. "How do you know all that?"

Migo snorts. "Pinapanood lang kita, Valle. Crush nga kita no'n."

Jiya bites her lip to keep from smiling.

Pagdating nila sa bahay ni Leo, sinisigawan sila 'tsaka tinutulak-tulak. "Sabi na nga ba e!"

"OMG, ang weird!"

"Walang magkaaway this year! Woo!"

Masaya laging mag-catch up with their high school friends every year, pero mas masaya kasi katabi niya si Migo, his arm slung around her.

Mukhang wala namang galit si Kline, tapos si Dan naman, masaya raw for them. Jiya expected nothing less—friends niya lang talaga sila.

While they're all playing cards sa may living room, Jiya goes out sa balcony with Gabbie, 'yong pinaka-close niya no'ng high school.

Si Dan namang ang lumabas nang pumasok na ulit si Gabbie.

He smiles at Jiya. "It's been a year, Jiya, grabe."

Jiya grins. "Oo nga e. Ikaw, kamusta?"

Dan sits beside her and offers her his jacket. She shakes her head. "Okay lang ako. Magkwento ka naman! Kamusta sa UST?"

"Okay naman," he says, brushing his hands over his hair. "Mahirap."

Jiya bumps his shoulder. "Kayang-kaya mo 'yan."

He looks at her and says, "Pa'no nangyari si Migo? 'Di ba you hated him? And he...well, he made your life hell. Umiyak ka pa sa 'kin no'n."

Jiya shrugs once. "Wala na 'yon, Dan. Okay na kami. He's good to me."

Dan sighs and stares ahead. "Sana kung sinundan kita sa Ateneo."

"Huy!" Jiya laughs, smacking him. "Wala 'yon sa college."

"So ni-reject mo lang ako nang basta-basta?" he asks, grinning. "Nag-ipon ako para sa necklace mo!"

Jiya puts a hand to her mouth. "Dan..."

He snorts. "Alam mo ba sabi mo sa 'kin? You said magkaka-rashes ka sa metal. Sinungaling."

She laughs again and says, "Sorry na! I didn't know what to say kasi—and ano ba, ang panget kasi ng pagkakasabi mo."

"Sige, pa'no?"

Jiya clears her throat. "Jiya," she says in a low voice, pulling her face to a serious expression. "Ito gift ko sa 'yo. Matagal na kitang gusto. Will you go out with me?"

"O!" Dan grins. "Ano mali do'n? Ang ayos-ayos kaya!"

"Ang weird kaya!"

"Sige na, sige na." He raises his hands in surrender. "Aaminin ko na corny ako. Pero pa'no 'yong time na tinawag kitang lasing tapos binabaan mo lang ako? Ang sakit, ah!"

Hindi na namalayan ni Jiya that she spoke with Dan for hours, laughing with him, mindlessly accepting the jacket he draped over her lap, until tinawag sila sa loob para mag-King's Cup.

She sits beside Migo with a smile and puts a hand on his knee. "What time tayo uuwi, babe?"

"Bahala ka," he says, and then he stands up to get himself another shot. Nahulog kamay ni Jiya, and she blinks, confused.

Quiet si Migo sa car pauwi, nakatingin lang sa phone niya. Naiiinis na si Jiya.

She glances at him and says, "Okay, ano problema mo?"

"Wala akong problema."

Ito na naman sila. Jiya clenches her jaw and exhales heavily. "Pwede, sabihin mo na lang."

"Akala ko ba kaibigan mo lang?" Migo finally says, looking at her. "Hinalikan ka pa. Kaibigan 'yon?"

Dan kissed her sa cheek and said, "Goodnight! Ingat!" Hindi naman alam ni Jiya na gagawin niya 'yon.

"I didn't know he was going to do that," she tells him slowly, drawing her eyebrows together. "'Tsaka totoo nga, kaibigan ko nga lang. Natin. Ano problema mo? Tingin mo nilalandi ko?" she snaps.

"Hindi ko 'yon sinabi."

"That's what you're implying."

"You spent half the night with him," Migo snaps back, voice lowering, "na suot mo pa jacket niya."

Jiya lets out a laugh. "Hoy, Migo. Alam mo kung sino naglalagay ng malisya do'n? Ikaw lang. Sa 'min, it was just catching up between friends—"

"Friends pero ang touchy? Tangina, inakbayan ka," he argues loudly. "Inakbayan ka, lumabas ako, niyayaya na kita sa loob, tapos ayaw mo."

She didn't notice na tinanggal ni Dan yung kamay niya pagkakita kay Migo, and she didn't notice Migo's expression when he said, "Valle, samahan mo 'ko, kakain ako."

And she answered, "Sunod ako! Go lang!"

She didn't notice he slammed the door.

She tightens her hands on the steering wheel. "Hindi ko napansin."

"Hindi mo napansin!" Migo repeats with a humorless laugh. "Okay, sige, the next time na akbayan ako ni Tiff, or ni Bea, or ni Hannah or ni Em or ni Trisha, or bigyan ako ng jacket nila or halikan nila 'ko, hindi ko rin mapapansin, Valle."

"That's different and you know it," Jiya says, anger simmering in her bones. "Bakit ba galit na galit ka? E two years ago na nangyari 'yong gusto ako ni Dan! Migo, magkaibigan lang kami—"

"Hindi ka lang kaibigan sa kanya—"

"So bakit ko 'yon kasalanan?"

"Kasi hinayaan mong manood ako, Valle," he snaps, angry. "Ang sakit n'on panoorin! Hindi ko tinigil kasi akala ko gagawin mo, kasi ako ang boyfriend mo."

Her hands are shaking on the wheel.

The silence is so loud.

"Pull over," he says, quietly this time. "Pull over, mababangga tayo. I'll drive."

Jiya pulls the car over. Numbly, she opens the door and steps out. Migo gets in the driver's seat. Jiya puts on her seatbelt sa passenger seat and looks out the window.

Hindi na sila nagsalita ulit hanggang makarating sa bahay ni Jiya. They both get out of the car, pero sabi ni Jiya, "Pwede kitang ihatid."

"Grab na lang ako from here," he says, not looking at her. "Pumasok ka na."

Jiya shoulders her bag and turns around. When she touches the front gate, she stops.

Swallowing, she turns around again and mutters, "Uuwi ka na sa province tomorrow, 'di ba?"

"Oo."

Ang cold niya, ang sakit.

Jiya exhales heavily, closing her eyes, and stomps over to him. "Mga one month kitang hindi makikita kasi nasa Japan ako and nasa Pampanga ka, so ayusin na natin 'to ngayon."

Migo stares at her.

Okay. Okay, game. "I'm sorry I hurt you," Jiya says, keeping her voice firm, tightening her hands on her bag strap. "Hindi ko natigil yung pagiging touchy niya kasi hindi ko napansin—that is the truth. Hindi ko sinasadya." She takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry hindi ako naging sensitive sa 'yo and I'm sorry you had to watch that. I—this is my first serious relationship, Migo," she mumbles, keeping her eyes on his. "These things don't come easy to me. I'm learning along the way."

Migo's chest rises and falls, and he brings his hand up to his forehead, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry I lashed out on you," he mutters, meeting her gaze. "I know hindi mo sinasadya, and I'm sorry I said otherwise. And I'm sorry sinabi ko 'yon—about Em, Tiff, Hannah—I was...I was angry and irrational. That wasn't fair at all. I'm sorry I hurt you, too."

Jiya purses her lips and nods. "Okay."

He nods once. "Okay."

Jiya swallows. "Are we okay na?"

Migo gives her a small smile. "Come here."

Jiya walks closer to him and slides her hands around his waist. Migo leans against the car and cradles her head, hugging her tight.

"Seloso," she mutters in his shirt.

Migo lets out a small laugh, turning his head to kiss her temple.