"YOUR grades came out."

Jiya looks up from her phone. She purses her lips and says, "Yes po."

"A 3.92 GPA can be a 4," her dad says, looking straight ahead. "That will give you more advantages when you graduate, considering the industry you want to be in. Or you can just inherit the company, you're the only Valle heir din naman."

May isa siyang B+. Isa lang.

And ilang beses na sinabi ng dad niya 'to. Ilang beses nang umayaw si Jiya.

She looks out the window and says, "I'll think about it, Papa."

"Good." He pulls the car over to Starbucks. "Text Kuya Willy if you're going home late. You have him at your disposal."

"Opo." She picks up her bag and laptop and leans over to kiss him on the cheek. "Take care, Pa."

Her friends are seated at their usual table, waving at her with big grins. Katabi ni Addie si Cas, and Migo has an empty seat beside him. Isco isn't here.

She ignores them and heads straight sa counter. Tyler smiles. "Na-order na po coffee n'yo."

Jiya blinks. "Oh. Really?"

"By your friends po."

Migo holds up her drink in his hand and winks, shaking it.

Her lips curl up. She thanks the barista and heads over, dumping her bag and laptop on the table and leans down to kiss Migo on the mouth. "Thank you," she whispers, and then she sits next to him and asks her friends, "Asan si Professor Utong?"

Cas gives her a salute and Addie a hug. Migo smiles, swings an arm over the back of her chair and whispers, "Welcome."

She leans back and takes the drink in his hand, sipping it.

Kakauwi lang ni Migo galing province a few days ago, pero hindi sila nakapagkita until last night kasi Jiya's cousins stayed over sa mansion nila pagkatapos nilang mag-Christmas break sa Japan.

Last night, nag-cuddle lang sila ni Migo sa condo habang wala si Inggo. Jiya was content hugging him kasi she missed him. Kumain lang sila ng dala niyang PopEye's and put on a movie.

"Don't know, don't care," Van says, scrolling through her phone.

Jiya looks at Addie. She mimes a knife cutting through her throat, shaking her head.

Hindi niya naiintindihan. "So kick na siya?" she blurts out flatly.

Addie sighs. "He slept with Wendy raw. He just said so this morning."

Jiya sighs.

Migo hisses, clicking his tongue. "Sorry, Van."

"Wala akong pake," she bites out. "Patingin nga ng scheds n'yo, I think kami ni Addie may five to seven na class, agh."

Second semester na nila ng second year.

Jiya closes her eyes habang hinalungkat ni Migo 'yong phone niya sa bag niya for her schedule. He strokes the back of her neck with his thumb and says, "Volleyball PE mo?"

"Mm."

He's grinning. "Really."

Jiya wraps her lips around the straw and looks at him. Migo stares at her mouth. "Why?" she asks, tilting her head, propping her elbow on the chair. "Feeling mo mas magaling ka sa 'kin sa volleyball? I can be good at it, too."

The corner of his lips curls up, and he raises his eyes again to meet hers. "I have volleyball before you. Baka magkalaban tayo for finals."

"Mananalo ako," she tells him.

Migo leans forward and bites her straw, keeping his gaze locked with hers. He takes a sip, smiling, and says, "We'll see, princess."

Jiya narrows her eyes at him. Migo grins at her.

Her stomach churns sa smile niya. She looks away first and punches his stomach, snatching her drink back.

He groans quietly, laughing.

"I got bellydancing!" Addie tells them, pouting. She leans against Cas and sighs. "Naubusan ako ng slots. Hirap mag-batch two."

Cas grins, eyebrows wagging. "Daan ako sa courts mamaya."

Addie smacks him, laughing. "Hoy, it's an actual form of art, ah!"

Walang class together this year si Migo and Jiya, but Migo stays sa Ebai's sa courts after his volleyball class, sweating in his PE uniform, para masalubong siya.

Disgusted, she wipes the sweat off his face roughly. "Ang dumi mo."

Migo grins, fingers climbing up her shorts. "Ikli nito, ah."

"Kaya nga shorts, 'di ba?" she answers sweetly, rolling her eyes. She tosses the towel in his face and stands up when the bell rings. "Go to class na, bye."

Hinila ni Migo kamay niya before she can leave, her sports bag on her shoulder, and he leaves a quick kiss on her cheek. "Text me."

She pushes him away and enters the courts with a smile on her lips. Wala na siyang pake kung pinagtingin-tinginan sila ng mga tao.

Kailangan nila mag-pair up for drills after the conditioning na leg lunges, jumping jacks, at squats. Wala namang kilala si Jiya rito, pero buti na lang she doesn't have to make an effort to ask a stranger kasi siya ang nilapitan.

"Partners?" he asks, smiling. He's tall, maputi, mukhang athlete. May hawak na siyang ball sa kamay niya.

Jiya nods once and offers him her hand. "Jiya."

"Cole." He shakes it firmly, smile widening.

It's a basic drill—each of the pairs stand opposite each other sa lawak ng court, and they just have to bounce the ball once para makarating sa other person. They do that ten times each.

And then they have to throw the ball to each other with only one hand. Malakas si Cole sa pagpasa niya, and si Jiya naman ay medyo mas mahina sa kanya, but thankfully hindi gano'n kahina kasi nagbo-boxing naman siya.

Cole grins when the ball hits his chest. "Ow."

"Sorry!" Jiya says, wincing.

"Okay lang, that was good. Don't hold back." He passes the ball to her, swinging his right arm.

They do it back and forth, ten times each, pero the last one that Cole passes, dumiretso sa stomach ni Jiya. "Aray! Huy!"

"Sorry," Cole laughs. "Sorry, okay ka lang?"

Jiya clenches her jaw and stalks over to him, bringing her arm back, and throws it in his chest.

Cole barely catches it, cackling. "Aray, tangina."

She smiles and flips her hair over her shoulder before returning to her post.

After drills are sit-ups. Nilapitan ni Cole si Jiya. "Ako muna or ikaw?"

"Ako." Jiya lies down with her knees up, feet flat on the ground. Hinawakan ni Cole 'yong mga paa niya, pressing down, while Jiya puts her hands behind her head. "How many?"

"Fifteen for girls," he says.

Jiya rolls her eyes. "Twenty-five for boys?"

Cole is smiling when he says, "Kaya mo?"

Instead of answering, Jiya starts.

Every time na aakyat siya from the ground, abdomen tightening, she'll meet his smiling face, watching her. Jiya clenches her jaw and counts in her head, tuloy-tuloy lang.

At twenty-five, she leans forward and pants.

"Yabang ka ah," Cole teases, lying down. "But I'm impressed. Athlete?"

She switches positions with him. "No, nagbo-box lang sa Elorde."

He tilts his head to the side from the ground to look at her, hands behind his head, grinning. "Good to know."

Mas mabilis si Cole sa kanyang maka-reach ng twenty-five. Every time na aakyat siya, he'll meet her eyes, still smiling, and sa twenty-fourth niya, he winks.

Jiya rolls her eyes. "Show-off," she mutters nang tapos na siya. "Athlete?"

"Varsity. Basketball."

Jiya scoffs and stands up, brushing her hands together. "Well, una na 'ko. Goodbye, Cole...?"

"Reyes," he supplies, looking up at her. He has sweat on his face. "You, uh, may class ka ba after this?"

Jiya raises her eyebrows. "Why do you want to know?"

"My friends and I are eating lang," he says, chuckling, standing up. He towers over Jiya with his full height, and she steps back, blinking up at him. "Baka you wanna join, Jiya...?"

She crosses her arms over her chest. "Valle."

"Valle," he repeats with a smile, eyes shining. He looks at her from head to toe. "Ka-batch ba kita?"

"Ano bang batch mo?"

Natatawa na siya. "Second year. PolSci."

Jiya's eyebrows raise. "Really."

Cole laughs. "Ano? Hindi ba mukha? Or kasi varsity ako?"

She purses her lips and says, "Second din ako. AB Lit. And libre mo ba? If hindi, hindi ako sasama. Baka manyak ka."

If it were possible, his smile widens, and he bows his head, scratching the back of his neck.

Jiya blinks. "Ano? Manyak ka?"

Cole looks at her again, grinning. "Hindi ako manyak."

"I don't know that."

"Bakit, kasi naka-shorts ka?"

"Bakit, tinitingnan mo ba shorts ko? Bastos ka."

He laughs and raises his hand. "No, I promise. I'm not like that."

"Dapat lang, kasi may boyfriend ako."

Cole hisses and steps back, clutching his chest. "Ouch. Wala na. May three magical words."

Jiya snorts. "Libre mo ba o hinde?"

"Libre. Hoy, Billy, Carlo!"

Two of the other guys in their class look at him, pausing the volleyball game. "Tara na?" one of them asks, the shorter between the two.

"Magpalit kayo, may sasama sa 'tin." Cole swings an arm around her shoulder. "Si Jiya."

Jiya pushes him off and rolls her eyes. She picks up her bag and heads to the restroom.

Paglabas niya, hinihintay siya ng tatlo, nakabihis na rin.

"Billy, Jiya, Carlo, Jiya. Marunong mag-boxing 'yan," Cole says, winking at her.

"Suntok, gusto mo?" she says, smiling at him.

Both boys shake her hands, tapos sabay-sabay silang naglakad to McDo. Cole is easygoing. Lahat sila.

He says kailangan na nilang pumunta to practice, but he gets her number before they leave. "See you on Thursday, Elorde!"

Jiya sighs and turns around, walking away. She hears the three boys laugh behind her.

Her phone buzzes with a text.

Pogi: baby nagccrave ako ng mcflurry

She raises her eyebrow.

o ano gagawin ko edi
magcrave ka

Pogi: :(

Jiya heads back inside McDo. Sinahaman niya na rin ng large fries and six-piece nuggets, wala pang break si Migo in between his classes and baka gutom na rin siya.

Sa labas ng classroom niya sa SEC C, she leans against the wall and texts him.

labas ka

He reads that immediately.

Pogi: omg namiss mo ko? matchies
clingy ka ah

She rolls her eyes and pockets her phone, waiting for the door to open.

Pagkalabas ni Migo, naka-smile na siya, ready to greet her, but his face falls into confusion pagka-raise ni Jiya sa hawak niyang takeout. "You were craving, 'di ba?" she asks flatly.

Migo turns around and presses himself against the wall.

It makes her laugh. "Hoy!"

"Wait lang, kinikilig ako."

She grins and dips the spoon in the ice cream. "Masarap 'to, babe." She shoves the spoonful in her mouth.

Migo turns around and walks closer, and he holds her face in his hands and leans down to kiss her lips, swiping his tongue on her mouth.

May ice cream pa siya na kinakain. She blinks at him, eyes wide.

"Masarap nga," he says, licking his lips. Then he takes the bag and the McFlurry and winks at her, stepping backward. "Thank you, baby."

Hindi na nakasalita si Jiya. Migo laughs and goes back inside his classroom.

Cheeks on fire, she speed-walks down the building and texts him.

tangina mo

Pogi: bakit? masarap nga

MIGO !!!!

Pogi: hoy hindi ka inosente nalunok
mo na ko

She coughs on her saliva and pockets her phone, crossing Gonzaga to head to her next class.

Nasalubong niya si Isco na kausap si Wendy.

She narrows her eyes at him and stalks over, snatching his wrist. "It's so good to see you, Cuenca." Jiya smiles sweetly, pushing his arm to his chest. Isco stumbles back, blinking. "Parang ikaw ang pumuntang Japan tapos hindi na bumalik!"

He rolls his eyes. "Bakit, na-miss mo 'ko?"

"Ano ginawa mo kay Van," she says, raising her eyebrow. To Wendy, who's awkwardly standing sa side, Jiya smiles and says, "Uy, hello. Pwede bang umalis ka muna? Medyo nakakainis kang tingnan."

"Jiya," Isco hisses. "Ano problema mo?"

"Ano problema mo?" Jiya gets in his face. "Ano ginawa mo kay Van, tangina ka. Actually." She pulls Wendy back. "'Wag kang aalis, ikaw ang problema ko."

"Hindi kami exclusive ni Van," Isco snaps, pushing her shoulder. "Wala kaming pinag-usapan na exclusivity kahit kailan, we're allowed to fuck around with other people, bakit ka ba nangingialam?"

"Kaibigan ko si Van, 'tsaka kaibigan rin kita," Jiya nearly shouts, pushing him back. "Fine, sige, hindi kayo exclusive. Pero tangina, Isco, someone to fuck around with lang ba si Van?"

"E bakit ako, pinaglalaruan niya?" he says, raising his eyebrow. "If you're my friend, Jiya, 'wag lang siya i-defend mo. Ako rin. Tangina naman, two years na akong naghahabol kay Van, I've made my move. Ang unfair naman if ako na naman lalapit, 'di ba? Sabihin mo sa 'kin na hindi niya 'ko pinaglalaruan, sige."

Jiya clenches her jaw, staring at him.

Isco sighs, running his hands through his hair. "Jiya, sabihin mo."

"Hindi siya obligated to return your feelings."

"Sinabi na niya na meron," he says. "Last year pa."
 "E 'di putangina, kayo ang mag-usap!" Jiya snaps. "Pupunta ka ba sa movie night mamaya o hinde?"

Isco blinks. "I don't know yet."

"Pumunta ka, miss ka na namen," she growls, punching his shoulder. "And please, for the sake of all our sanity, mag-usap kayo. Goodbye."

"Uy, na-miss ako ni Thanos!"

*

"Pota naman, ano 'to, sex house?" Inggo mutters, crawling on the other end of the floor. "Puro mag-jowa ampota."

Sa couch, Jiya snickers in Migo's shoulder. "Inggit ka, de Paz?"

Cas, sa floor with Addie, throws popcorn at him. "Shh."

Si Van, wala. Si Isco, wala rin.

"Do you think hahabol siya?" Jiya asks quietly, snuggling in his chest.

Migo spreads his arm around her. "Kailangan ng ka-cuddle ni Inggo," he whispers.

"Fuck you," Inggo says.

"Pass," Migo replies. "Ads, play mo na."

Addie grabs the remote. "Okay, 'wag kayong maingay."

Suspense pinapanood nila. Turn na kasi ni Cas.

Migo's other hand is on her thigh, brushing up and down her skin to the hem of her skirt, naka-focus sa screen.

Hindi maka-focus si Jiya. Ang bango ni Migo.

She turns her head to the side and noses at his neck. Migo's hand squeezes her thigh harshly when she presses her lips to his pulse point.

"'Wag kang magulo, nanonood ako," he mutters.

Jiya smiles.

She kisses his neck again, making a slow trail upwards, pulling his shirt aside with her hand. She moves to his jawline and bites his earlobe.

"Tangina mo, 'wag kang magulo," Migo whispers harshly, squeezing her thigh. "Isa pa and you'll regret it."

Jiya slides her hand over his crotch.

Migo snatches her hand with a clenched jaw. He looks at her. "Valle. Baliw ka ba?"

The last time nilang maging intimate was before Christmas break pa. Noong finals week. Pagkabalik kasi ni Migo from Pampanga, contented na sila sa cuddles.

Ngayon, hindi.

"Please," she breathes in his ear. "Please."

Migo grips her chin and gives her a rough and wet kiss. "Fuck. 'Wag kang maingay," he whispers, capturing both her wrists with one hand. His other hand pushes her head on his chest, and then pulls the blanket up to cover their lower bodies.

Jiya struggles with her hands pero hindi siya binitawan ni Migo.

"Ako naman, baby," he mumbles in her ear, his free hand skating along her waistband. "My turn, okay?"

Jiya hums, almost breathless pero wala pang ginagawa si Migo.

Nakaharap pa rin sina Cas, Addie, and Inggo sa screen.

To them, it may look like na naka-cuddle lang si Jiya kay Migo, parang si Addie kay Cas. Pero under the blanket, Migo's fingernails trace the inside of her waistband, and Jiya bites her lip, belly dipping in desire.

Migo slides his entire hand inside her skirt, brushing his fingers over her undies, back and forth, back and forth.

Jiya clutches his arm, hiding her face in his chest.

Putangina, nandito mga kaibigan nila pero she can't blame him—siya ang nag-start.

He pushes her underwear aside and rubs.

She digs her nails in his arm and shuts her eyes, already panting.

"Basa ka na," he whispers. "And wala pa sa loob, shit."

"Please, please, please, Migo," Jiya whispers, voice breaking.

Parang nawalan siya ng hininga when he slips a finger inside, kissing her hair. "Shh," he reminds her, eyes on the TV. "Baby, shh."

Jiya covers her mouth with one hand and fists Migo's shirt with the other, eyes fluttering closed.

She can't help her whine when Migo slides in another.

"Refill ako," Cas's voice says, and he stands up, shaking the bowl. "Pa-pause muna."

Jiya's eyes fly open. Migo stills, two fingers inside her, unmoving.

Addie stretches on the floor and Inggo checks his phone.

Migo strokes his hand down her hair. Jiya's breathless, thighs quivering.

"May Smirnoff pa pala dito," Cas says, opening the refrigerator. "Anyone want one?"

"Nope," Migo says.

"Penge," Inggo says.

"No," Jiya says.

Migo smiles at her.

Pagka-play na pagka-play ulit ng movie, Jiya scratches his arm, holds her breath while he thrusts his fingers in and out, thighs shaking.

She bites his shoulder, choking on her moan, nag-blackout for three seconds.

Migo slides his fingers out, fixes her underwear, and brings it to his lips.

Dazed, Jiya stares at him while he sucks them clean. "Sweet," he says.

She slaps his shoulder and closes her eyes. "I hate you," she mumbles.

Migo kisses her on the mouth. "Wash lang ako," he whispers, kisses her again, and moves out of the couch.

Chest rising and falling rapidly, Jiya leans back and catches her breath.

Pero sa sofa sa tabi niya, Migo's phone vibrates with a call. She frowns and looks at it.

And has her jaw dropping.

Bakit ganito wallpaper niya?! 'Yong panget pa na picture! Puta naman, ito 'yong mukha siyang Groot!

When he comes back from the washroom, she shoves her phone in his chest and angrily mutters, "Palitan mo 'yan. Also, your dad is calling."

Migo chuckles, puling her to him. "Ayoko, cute ka dito."

"Migo, tangina mo, palitan mo 'yan."

"Okay, sige na," he laughs, kissing her head. Pinatay niya tawag ng dad niya and hugs her. He leans in to whisper, "Ang ingay mo."

"Shut up."

Sumunod si Isco na may dalang milk tea. Inggo hugs him.

He salutes Jiya with two fingers. Jiya rolls her eyes, but she's smiling.

Bago siya ihatid ni Migo, she texts Van.

b kailangan mo ba ng food or not daan kami ni migo

Vannie: ok lang ako ano ka ba
HAHAHA wag na. thank u both love u,
see u tom

"'Wag na tayo dumaan kay Van," Jiya tells Migo, hand below his on the gear stick. "I think she wants to be alone talaga."

Migo nods. "Okay."

"Akin na phone mo, ako magpapalit ng wallpaper."

"Valle, that's my 'this is her' picture. 'Wag mo na palitan."

"Akin na," she snaps, holding her hand out.

Migo grins, glancing at her. "Asan na post-orgasm glow mo?"

"Phone," she says, cheeks flushing.

He scoffs and lets go of her hand to fish out his phone. "O, 'yan. Groot kasi e."

"Thank you." Jiya scrolls through his photos. She finds one of her that Migo took while they were studying in the library, curled up against the chair in his hoodie and cap.

Biglang may tumatawag na naman kay Migo pagkapalit niya ng wallpaper. She hands it back. "Mom mo naman."

Migo sighs, letting go of her hand.

"Ma," he says, jaw clenching.

Jiya watches his face, tilting her head to the side.

Ang alam niya kasi, mama's boy na mama's boy siya. Every field trip sila no'ng high school, siya ang binibilhan ni Migo ng pasalubong. Siya and his younger sisters.

Meron pa ngang time pinilit niya si Jiya to wear the earrings he was eyeing. Akala niya prank na naman niya, but he said, "It's for my mom. Gusto ko lang makita kung ano itsura."

Sinuot ni Jiya, dumbfounded, and then he bought the pair. Even thanked her.

When one of the other high school boys messed with him, snatching the buko pie he bought for his mom and sisters and stomping on it, Migo punched him in the face.

"Ayoko," he mutters, hand tightening on the wheel. "Ayoko nga po, okay, how many times do I have—Ma, I'm driving. I'm driving, can I just call you back? Please?"

Jiya reaches over and strokes his thigh, biting her lip.

Parang hindi naman napansin ni Migo. He sighs. "Okay po. Bye."

He tosses his phone on the center console and puts both hands on the wheel, exhaling heavily.

Jiya bites her lip. Minsan niya lang talagang makitang ganito si Migo.

When he pulls up at her house, she takes off her seatbelt and faces him. "Are you okay?"

Migo turns his head and offers her a small smile, even as his eyes look sad. Jiya swallows thickly. "Okay na okay."

"Don't lie to me, Migo." Jiya takes his hand and presses it to her lips. "I'm here."

His mouth curls upward, and he reaches out to brush her cheek with his knuckles. "I know," he whispers. "I know. It's just..." Migo inhales and leans back, not looking at her. "Uuwi tatay ko in a few days."

Jiya blinks. "Okay."

"I haven't seen him since third year high school," he tells her, turning his head. "Iniwan niya kami. So it's just been Ma, ako, si Maureen and Meg."

Jiya nods.

"And...'di ba my mom was supposed to take the job abroad?" Migo smiles slightly. "Sa States? She didn't...kasi my dad said he'd come back to us. Here. Binalikan niya kami last year and Ma and Meg took him back in with open arms. Hindi ako umuwi no'n. Tapos bumalik siya ulit sa kung saan man siya nagtatrabaho, and now he's coming here again in a few days. And I don't want to see him. Kami ni Mau."

Jiya closes her eyes. Hindi niya alam na ganito home life ni Migo.

"Hindi niya kami pinili, and hindi niya ako pinili," he says, smiling at her. "But we're fine without him. Okay akong wala siya."

She searches his face and mutters, "You shouldn't have to see him if you don't want to."

"Kailangan ko rin umuwi e," he laughs, and then sighs. "Bahala na. Sorry, I'm fine, Valle." Migo leans over to kiss her on the cheek. "Thank you for asking."

Bago siya lumabas ng car, Jiya hugs him.

Migo wraps his arms around her, head on her shoulder. He takes a deep breath.

"Nandito ako," she whispers, kissing his forehead, threading her fingers in his hair. "Alam kong I won't be able to understand, pero nandito ako."

"I know," he whispers back, hand smoothing down her back. "I know, baby. Thank you."

Medyo matagal bago siya bitawan ni Jiya. Pagpasok niya sa room, she showers, dresses, and lies down on the bed, feeling her chest drop with a weight she's not familiar with.

She sends him a message.

text me when ur home na.

Her fingers pause on the keyboard. She swallows thickly and adds:

pipiliin kita.

Jiya knows he's driving, so hinintay niya reply niya before she falls asleep.

It comes fifteen minutes later.

Pogi: pipiliin din kita. araw-araw.