"SO ano plan mo sa birthday ni Salas?"

Jiya stops punching the bag, panting. "Ha?"

Anton raises an eyebrow, pasing sa speed ball. A line of sweat drips down his face. "Birthday ni Migo. Sa Monday. Ano plano mo?"

"Puta, wala!" Jiya shouts, giving the bag three hard punches. "Kasi putangina, nakalimutan ko na sa Monday na!"

Last year, she threw the cake in his face.

"Chill," Anton says, laughing. "Chill lang. I was just asking."

"Oh my God, ano nga plano ko?" Nilapitan siya ng coach niya para tanggalin gloves niya and i-stretch arms niya sa likod. Ang sakit, pota. "Ano ba gusto n'on?"

"Ikaw," Anton says, focused on the speed ball.

"Aside from me," she snaps, rolling her eyes. "Agh, Anton, help?"

He lets out a breathless laugh, wiping the sweat off his face with his hand wraps. "Jiya, you know him better than I do. Trust me, ang gusto lang n'on is makasama ka. I just thought you were planning something else."

She huffs and slumps down on a bench, shoulders slumped.

Pagkatapos niya magbihis, Addie has a text waiting for her.

Ads: parked na ko babe!!!

She smiles. "Anton, I'm leaving! Ads is downstairs."

He peeks his head out of the restroom and ruffles her hair. "Ingat kayo." Then he winks and says, "Good luck sa planning," before shutting the door.

Jiya rolls her eyes, sighing, and heads downstairs.

Addie kisses her on the cheek pagkapasok niya sa Audi niya. Jiya pushes her off. "I'm sweaty!"

"It's fine!" Addie rolls her eyes and reverses out of her space. "Where us drive-thru? Burger King?"

Jiya nods and leans against the door, slumping on her seat. "I'm starving."

Kumain ng fries sa car si Jiya na sinusubuan si Addie hanggang sa makarating sila sa bahay ni Van. Her mom opens the door with a wide grin. "Girls!"

"Tita, hello po!" Nakipag-beso si Addie. "May dala lang po kaming food for Vanessa."

"Hi, Tita." Jiya gives her a quick hug kasi mabaho pa siya. "Sorry, galing po akong gym."

Van's mom quickly leads them inside. "Ay, mabuti na lang talaga you guys came. I was going to shop pero ayaw niya ako samahan, and hindi pa kumakain!"

Addie nods. "Don't worry po, kami po bahala, Tita."

Nakahiga si Van sa bed niyang nanonood ng Grey's Anatomy when Jiya slams open the door, chewing on an onion ring. "Hoy, bruha."

"Kaya pala ang ingay sa labas," Van mutters, not facing them. "Umalis kayo, I'm busy."

Addie puts a hand on her hip. "May Burger King kami. Ayaw mo?"

Van sits up and tosses her phone on the mattress, fixing her hair. "You guys are the bestest friends in the whole wide world."

"Plastik," Jiya mutters, plopping down on the floor and opening one of the bags. She pushes one Whopper in her hands. "Bilis na, your mom's worried about you. O, ketchup."

"I can't believe you're losing sleep for Isco," Addie snorts, pinching her cheek. "Lalim ng eye bags mo!"

"I am not losing sleep because of him," she snaps, almost tearing open the burger wrapper. "Please, sino ba siya?"

Jiya sighs. "Mag-deny ka pa ng feelings mo, tangina ka."

"Change subject," Van calls, shaking her head. "Pahingi ngang Coke."

Jiya and Addie stay until Van finishes her food, tapos nagpaalam na sila (Van promises to go to movie night next time), and hinatid na ni Addie si Jiya sa bahay. "Hi, Manang!" she squeals, waving from inside her car.

Jiya shuts the door. "Manang, parang ikaw ang pinupuntahan ng mga tao dito."

"Hi, Addie anak!" Manang waves back excitedly, shuffling forward to grab Jiya's sports bag. "Mag-iingat ka pauwi!"

"Yes po! Bye, Jiya babes, see you Monday!"

Jiya waves her off and snatches her bag back from Manang, glaring at her. "Mabigat po 'to."

Manang clicks her tongue and reaches for it again. "Ano ka ba, kayang-kaya ko 'yan."

"Manang, 'wag na!" Jiya snaps, grabbing it. "Sige, isa pa, magagalit po ako."

She huffs, finally letting go after a three-second staring contest with her. "Ang kulit mong bata ka."

"Makulit ka rin pong matanda ka," Jiya says, heading inside the house. "Kumain na po ba kayo? Nagdala rin po akong Burger King for you and Kuya Willy."

After she showers, she flops down on her bed, the exhaustion creeping up on her bones. Her eyes flutter shut, pero may text si Van sa kanilang dalawa ni Addie.

Vannie: sweet nyo love u both

Ads: LOVE U MWA dito lang kami if
ayaw mo na magchange subject :(

sakit nyo sa ulo pero ly 
goodnight

Saktong bago niya patayin ang phone niya, Migo texts her.

Pogi: bakit di ka naguupdate :( tapos
ka na sa boxing????

Jiya bites her lip. Nakalimutan niyang i-text.

yes kanina pa, dropped by
van's w addie. tulog na ko. u?

Pogi: :( bball pa rin w the guys. what
time ka gigising pag natulog ka
parang patay e

pag nagising ako

Pogi: valle.

four hours? idk i like
excitement

Pogi: bihis ka after non date tayo

ayoko matutulog ako.
goodnight.

She shuts her phone off and hugs her pillow, easily lulled to sleep.

*

Nagising siya three hours later.

Inaantok pa siya, but she checks her phone first.

Pogi: oki, goodnight <3

Jiya frowns and sits up. That's it? 'Yon na 'yon? Hindi siya mangungulit? She was expecting him to flood her messages and threaten her to get ready para makapag-date sila.

She calls him.

"Morning," he greets with a smile after the first ring.

Jiya pauses, and then she asks, "What's wrong?" She stands up to go to the bathroom. "May mali ba?"

Migo laughs. "What are you talking about?"

Jiya washes her face with one hand, eyebrows scrunching. "You just let me sleep kasi wala lang? And why do you sound...different?"

"I'm trying to be less clingy kasi alam kong antok and pagod ka," he tells her, chuckling. "Bakit, hindi bagay? And walang different sa boses ko."

"No," Jiya snaps, wiping her face with her towel. "Bihis ka, susunduin kita."

"Valle—"

She hangs up and heads to her closet. Kukuha na lang sana siya ng hoodie ni Migo and shorts niya, pero na-realize niya na this is her first official date with him, and even as she cringes, she sifts through her wardrobe and tries to find something else to wear.

Isa sa mga binili ng mom niya noon for her was a sleeveless white dress with red flowers that reaches mid-thigh. Never niya pa 'tong sinuot.

"Magpasalamat kang gustong-gusto kita, Migo Salas," she mutters to herself, throwing it on the bed.

While she's doing her hair (putangina, magpasalamat ka talaga, Migo Salas), she checks her phone and finds that he's left a ton of messages:

Pogi: HUY TOTOO BA

Pogi: VALLE

Pogi: MAGBIBIHIS AKO AH

Pogi: WAG TONG JOKE PLS LANG

Pogi: ok maliligo muna ako

Pogi: shit kinikilig ako susunduin mo
ko

Pogi: ok see u later baby
YEHSKFJSFK woooooo

Jiya smiles. Ang easy lang pala niyang pasiyahin.

not a joke, see u in an hour

Malapit na niyang i-burn sarili niya with the curling iron, pero nagawa naman niyang pagmukhaing disente ang buhok niya. She puts on a little makeup, wears the lipstick Migo bought for her, and shoulders her bag.

Bababa pa lang siya ng stairs, Manang, who's watching TV in the living room while folding clothes, gasps out loud, hands flying to her mouth. "Aba, aba, aba!"

"'Nang naman," she mutters, embarrassed.

She leaves the clothes on the couch and rushes over to her, squealing. "Magd-date kayo ni Migo?"

"Hindi, Manang, nakabihis ako ng ganito kasi trip ko lang."

Tumili si Manang 'tsaka siya pinagtulak-tulak. "Oh my God!"

"Manang, ow!"

"Ang ganda-ganda naman ng anak ko," she gushes, releasing her to fix her hair and dress. Then she steps back, covers her mouth with her hands, and looks at her with tears in her eyes.

"Oh my God, Manang, 'wag kang iiyak!" Jiya hugs her, wincing. "Hindi po ako ikakasal!"

"Sabihan mo 'yang si Migo na ingatan kanya, ha," Manang mutters, hugging her back. "Okay, sige na, baka ma-late ka pa."

"'Wag kang iiyak, please!"

"Oo na, oo na, bilisan mo!"

Jiya waves at Manang from the dashboard and leaves the house, grinning.

She calls Migo using the Bluetooth system in her car.

"Hello!" he shouts. "Kinakabahan ako, tangina!"

Jiya laughs out loud. "Akala mo naman we don't see each other sa school."

"Iba 'yon. Papunta ka na ba," he asks, breathing heavily. "Kinakabahan ako, shit."

"Yeah, ten minutes. At siguradihun mong gwapo ka kasi kung hindi sasapakin kita, Migo Salas."

"Baby," Migo says, smiling. "Ako pa?"

Jiya rolls her eyes and hangs up, smiling, too.

Nakasunod ang dalawang kapatid ni Migo when she tells him she's outside his house.

"Pumasok na kayo, please!" Migo shouts at them.

"Hi, Ate Jiya!" Megan shouts, smiling so wide, waving.

"Ate Jiya!" Maureen waves, too.

Jiya rolls down the window and waves back. "Hi, girls. Don't worry, iuuwi ko kuya n'yo safe and sound."

"Kahit 'wag n'yo na ibalik, Ate," Maureen says, snorting.

"Baka ayaw niya na rin umuwi!" Meg giggles.

Migo pushes them back inside. "Umalis na kayo, magluto na kayo ng dinner. Goodbye."

"Ingat!" Maureen shouts one last time before Migo slams the door shut.

Jiya bites her lip, watching her boyfriend round the car. Naka-green sweater lang siya 'tsaka beige shorts, pero bakit ang gwapo niya! Walang effort! Samantalang 'tong si Jiya, isang oras minumura ang buhok.

"Tangina, ang unfair," she mutters, tightening her hands on the wheel.

Naligo lang 'to, nagbihis, nagpabango. Tapos.

He puts a finger to her cheek and turns her face towards him to kiss her on the mouth when he settles in the passenger seat. Ang laki ng ngiti niya. "Hi."

Jiya stares at him. "May lipstick ako."

Wala siyang pake. He kisses her again and leans back sa seat niya, strapping on his seatbelt. "Medyo nagwawala ako kasi naka-dress ka and ang pretty mo, pero sa loob-loob ko na lang 'yon."

Jiya laughs. "Pasalamat kang gusto kita, Migo Salas. I gave up sleep for you, nagbihis ako, I curled my hair! I would never do this shit for anyone else."

"Nagwawala na nga sabi e. Tumahimik ka na, masyado na akong kinikilig 'di pa tayo nakakaalis sa bahay. Where are we going?"

She grins and switches the gear stick to drive. "Sa'n mo gusto?"

Migo raises an eyebrow. "We'll go where you want to go."

"Migo, bilis na." She wants to make him happy tonight. "Saan?"

"Blackbird sa Makati, Caviar sa Muntinlupa, Grape Escape sa Maginhawa—ah, the Garden Cafe sa Solaire—"

"Madaya ka, you know those are all my favorites," Jiya mutters, glancing at him. "Because I go there a lot."

Migo smiles sheepishly. Jiya's heart jumps. "Okay na 'ko sa mga 'yon."

"No," she says firmly, drawing her eyebrows together. "You choose. I want to go where you want to go. Sabihin mo or else uuwi tayo pareho."

He groans. "'Wag, sayang makeup and hair mo. Um...where I want to go isn't your...hindi mo trip."

"How do you know na hindi ko trip?"

"Princess. Gusto mo bang mangamoy usok? Nakapag-food market ka na ba ever?"

Jiya purses her lips, staring ahead. "No..."

"Okay, I say Solaire—"

"Migo!" she snaps. "Ano ba, sinabing gusto kong pumunta sa'n mo gusto e! Tell me where I'm supposed to go."

Migo blinks. "Uh, StrEat Maginhawa Food Park."

Jiya blows the hair out of her face and presses on the gas. "Hirap kausap."

He snorts. "I can't believe I'm taking you to a food market."

She holds out one hand for him to hold. Migo interlaces their fingers together. "Tell me why. I've never been there, but I want to know."

Migo brushes his thumb on her skin, silent for a few moments. Then he says, "That's where we used to go every weekend. Iikutin namin lahat ng stalls and kakain lang kami nang kakain until magsara early in the morning. I love it."

Jiya glances at him. He's staring at their hands. "Ngayon ba, you don't go there every weekend anymore?"

"Simula no'ng umalis si Dad, hindi na."

Jiya nods once and takes a deep breath. "Sana pala we brought your sisters along."

"Ay, sus." Migo lets out a laugh, leaning against the window. "Hindi ka nila titigilan sa kulit. Besides, first date natin 'to."

Jiya smiles. "Next time," she promises quietly. "Next time, i-da-date ko sila there. We can stay until morning."

"Careful ka, Valle." He brings their joint hands to his lips and kisses her knuckles. Then he mumbles, "Papakasalan talaga kita 'pag ginawa mo 'yon."

Jiya laughs out loud.

Maginhawa is loud and bustling with people, giving life to the dead night. Migo keeps their fingers intertwined habang naglalakad sila sa maingay and crowded na market, leading the way. She's a little worried about the amount of people, pushing past each other, but Migo keeps a tight grip on her hand, looking back every two seconds with a smile.

They stop at a stall na nag-uusok sa grilling. It smells so good.

Jiya hugs Migo's arm while he orders for them. He leans down to whisper, "Have you tried isaw na?"

Jiya shakes her head.

Migo laughs and orders kikiam, kwek-kwek, squid balls, and isaw.

"Go, try." Migo gives her one of the isaw sticks habang inaayos 'yong iba nilang pagkain.

Jiya scrunches her nose and takes it. "These are intestines, 'di ba?"

Migo laughs out loud. "Para lang siyang barbecue, baby. Try it."

Jiya reluctantly opens her mouth and bites.

Migo watches her reaction.

Jiya chews, blinking. "Masarap."

Migo grins and orders more habang kumakain si Jiya.

They find a table after that muna, and then they get wings in adobo flavor (weird, but...yum), a sisig meal that they share (Jiya doesn't eat ears, pero masarap), twister potatoes (chips on a stick!), claypot chicken rice, and spinach cream ravioli.

"Ayoko na," Jiya whines, holding her stomach. "Ayoko na, busog na 'ko."

"Weak," Migo tells her, laughing, still munching on squid balls. "Magde-dessert pa tayo."

"Milk tea?"

"Taho." He leans over and wipes the corner of her lips with his thumb, smiling. "I'll get for us. Do you want anything else?"

Jiya stares at him. "My stomach is falling out of my dress."

Migo laughs. "Okay. Be right back."

Pinanood siya ni Jiya na tumayo and maglakad back to the stalls. Ang hirap din hindi i-notice that a couple of people passing by watch him, too.

Jiya rolls her eyes and bites off a hotdog. "Gwapo kasi, e," she mutters.

Bumalik si Migo agad, gently grabbing her arm to haul her up. "Labas tayo," he whispers, giving her the dessert.

She blinks but follows him anyway, hand in his, holding the cup of dessert.

Sa labas ng market nila kinain ang taho na may red beans with sago and brown sugar sauce. Ang lamig ng gabi at ang sarap ng hangin. Parang nakahinga na siya away from the noise and the crowd.

Jiya leans her head on Migo's shoulder, spreading her legs in front of her, and looks up at him. "So are you going to tell me now why you were sad kanina?"

Migo shakes his head once, licking his spoon, not looking at her. "I wasn't sad, baby."

"You can stop lying to me. Hindi ko alam kung paano, pero na-sense kong may mali when I called you."

Migo is silent, chewing, and then he swallows and says, "He's on the plane. Makikita ko siya bukas."

Sabi na nga ba.

Jiya puts down her dessert and snakes her arms around his waist. "Stay with me sa bahay."

His mouth curls. "As much as I want to, hindi ko 'yon gagawin kay Mama. Birthday ko raw next week, so kailangan daw namin kumain as a family." He scoffs. "As if family ko pa rin siya."

Jiya's chest feels heavy. She purses her lips and whispers, "I'm sorry I can't do anything."

Migo puts his cup down and kisses her hair, hugging her to him. "Don't apologize," he mumbles. "I'm happy. I'm happy ngayon na kasama kita. Super happy."

Jiya manages a smile. That was what she wanted.

"Did you mean it?" he whispers, chin on her head, stroking her back. "What you said? Na pipiliin mo 'ko?"
 She swallows thickly and nods. "Araw-araw," she whispers.

One of Migo's hand slides down to hook her pinky with his.

Jiya drives them home with the windows rolled down, fingers laced together. When she pulls up at his house, she parks the car, and Migo faces her and says, "Thank you."

Jiya leans over the center console and presses their lips together. Slowly, sweetly. Migo's hand caresses her cheek.

She pulls back with a grin. "Go inside na."

"Text me 'pag nakauwi ka na."

Jiya nods.

Migo kisses her one last time and gets out of the car, but he doesn't enter the house until Jiya leaves.

The house is quiet when she arrives. She strips her clothes, takes off her makeup, showers, and crawls into bed.

She texts him.

home na baby

Pogi: okay. thank you. you make me the
happiest

Jiya smiles against her pillow.

you're welcome. u make me the
happiest too.

She bites her lip and adds:

nandito ako, migo.

He takes a while to reply.

Pogi: i know.

*

Migo calls her the next day while she's out shopping for his gift just to say that everything's fine, that he's fine, that his dad is boarding again tonight so he just has to stay home until then.

After that, he drives to Jiya's house to hug her. Hindi siya nagsalita. He just hugs her what feels like an hour, and she can hear his heart beating steadily in his chest, and then he pulls back, kisses her once, and then leaves again.

Says:

Pogi: just needed you lang

Jiya replies:

i know.

*

Monday na Monday, Jiya picks him up sa house niya.

"Happy birthday," she says, smiling, once he enters her car.

He kisses her on the mouth and says, "So sweet ka sa 'kin kasi birthday ko?"

"Tanga," she says fondly, shaking her head. "Breakfast tayo, my treat."

Pinagtulak-tulakan siya ng mga kaibigan nila, hollering their greetings.

During class, Van asks her, "Ano gift mo?"

Jiya bites her lip and shakes her head. "Something simple lang."

Napagod siyang kakalakad sa mall. Ang hirap bilhan ng mga lalaki, putek, especially when she didn't know what Migo wanted.

Actually, ngayon lang nag-worry si Jiya sa ibibigay niya kasi gusto niyang magustuhan ni Migo kahit small and simple lang gift niya. Kanina pa siyang morning kinakabahan, muntik na siyang umiyak—which is stupid, but she's also on her period and it sucks kasi ang sensitive niya.

Before their last class, she tells Migo to meet her sa car niya. Pagka-ring ng bell, she waves bye to her friends and hurries to JSEC's parking lot, palms sweating, heart jumping in her throat.

She freezes when she sees Tasha Manalo talking to Migo in front of her car. May inaabot na box.

Migo smiles and takes it reluctantly. Tasha grins widely at him, and then she waves, and then she's gone.

Migo opens the box quick, and then he drops it in his bag and shoves his hands in his pockets, looking around for her.

Jiya furrows her eyebrows and stalks towards him with her arms crossed. "Ano 'yon?"

Migo blinks. "Alin?"

"Ano binigay ni Tasha?"

"Ah." He snakes his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "A watch. She just greeted me."

Jiya stares at him. "A watch."

"Mm."

"Dami niyang pera para magbigay sa ex ng relo, ah."

Migo's mouth tips upwards. "Binili niya when we were together pa. Ayoko nga tanggapin—"

"O ba't mo tinanggap?" she snaps.

Migo's smile turns into a grin at her annoyance. "She was insistent lang, but don't worry, ibibigay ko kay Isco or Inggo—whoever wants it more."

Wala 'yong gift ni Jiya sa watch.

Jiya yanks his arms away, brushes past him and opens the driver's door, dumping her things in the backseat.

Migo, confused, settles in the passenger seat, closing the door gently while Jiya switches the engine on. "Valle, are you mad? I'm not keeping it naman e—huy! Why are you crying?"

Putangina! Putanginang hormones! Putanginang period!

Jiya covers her face with her hands. "Hindi ako umiiyak," she says, pero walang use kasi halata naman sa boses niya and she's sniffling.

Migo leans over and gently takes her hands away from her face. Jiya meets his worried eyes. "Hey," he says quietly, brushing her cheeks with his thumbs. "Don't cry, I'm sorry tinanggap ko, don't cry, baby."

Jiya looks at him with tears in her eyes, sobbing, shoulders shaking. "Hindi 'yon. It's just...wala yung gift ko sa watch," she whispers.

"Valle, ano ka ba," Migo snaps, setting his jaw. "Sinabi ko naman sa 'yo na hindi ko kailangan ng gift—"

She shoves her hand inside her bag and tosses the little box with yarn as a ribbon in his lap and bows her head, facing the dashboard to grip the steering wheel. "Um, it's really not much. It's not really...big or anything expensive, yeah."

Migo is silent, pulling the string slowly. Jiya raises her head, heart pounding fast in her chest, and watches him.

He pulls open the box and stares at it.

It's an anklet made of black cord na may silver tube bead.

Migo looks at her with a smile. "This is perfect, Valle."

Jiya bites her lip, searching his face, trying to see if he's lying so he doesn't hurt her feelings or make her cry more. She swallows and says, "Baka sinasabi mo lang 'yan kasi umiiyak ako."

"No." He pulls it up in his fingers, raising his arm. "I love it." Migo leans over the center console and kisses her. "Thank you."

Jiya cries again.

"Huy, ano ba!" Migo laughs, pushing her head to his chest. "Bakit ang emotional mo?"

"Na-insecure ako sa gift ko," she mutters, sniffling.

"Don't be," Migo says, stroking her back. "I love it, and I love it even more kasi galing sa 'yo."

She looks up at him. He brushes his thumbs on her face to wipe her tears. "Really?"

"Oo nga," he says, laughing. "O, ayan kasi, may sipon ka na rin."

Jiya slaps his chest and wipes her nose. Migo kisses her head and whispers, "Thank you. Really."

Jiya sniffles and angrily mutters, "Meron ako."

"Kaya pala," Migo says, nodding and smiling. "Dito ka sa passenger seat, baby. I'll drive."

Jiya plays with his hand with both of hers while he drives to her house. She kisses each of his knuckles, and Migo looks at her, grinning.

Sa bahay, she leads him inside. "Manang!"

"Happy birthday, Migo anak!" she yelps, opening her arms.

"Thank you po," Migo says, hugging her back. "Thank you po talaga."

"Halika, halika." Manang grabs his hand to lead him to the dining table. "Umupo ka diyan."

Migo remains standing. "Tutulong po ako sa niluluto, ang bango—"

Jiya pushes his shoulders hard. Migo stumbles on the seat. "Umupo ka," she snaps. Then she grabs Manang's hand and runs to the kitchen.

Niluto na niya 'to kagabi with Manang's guidance, pero ininit ni Manang sa stove para masarap. She bites her lip, looking at the dish. "Masarap po?"

"Oo naman!" Manang slaps her arm. "Ang hirap mong turuan sa kitchen, pero masarap, hija."

"'Nang naman," she mutters, and takes a deep breath. "Okay, okay, game. Sana he likes it."

Dala-dala niya 'yong luto niyang caldereta to the table. She sets it down in front of Migo and sits opposite him.

Migo's jaw is open, blinking. "Mukhang masarap, pota. Manang, ang bango naman nito!"

"Si Jiya ang nagluto, anak," Manang tells him with a smile.

Migo raises his head to look at her, the blankest expression on his face. "Ikaw? You cooked this? You cooked?"

Jiya clears her throat. "I asked Maureen what your favorite was."

"And you cooked this?"

"Oo nga," Jiya snaps, glaring at him. "Pinaghirapan ko 'yan kaya kumain ka."

Migo stares at her. "Oh, shit. Shit," he murmurs.

Jiya blinks. "What?"

Migo shakes his head slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, mouth curling to the side. "Wala," he says quietly, reaching for the rice. "Thank you, Valle."

Jiya watches his reaction. Masarap daw. He gets three more servings of rice.

"I can't believe you cooked for me," Migo whispers later, after niyang mag-brush sa bathroom niya, naka-cuddle sa kama. "You cooked for me."

"Pasalamat kang gustung-gusto kita," Jiya mutters. The movie the laptop is playing is just background noise. "So..." She leans up and kisses him quickly. Quietly, she says, "Happy birthday. I will celebrate you every day, pero ngayon...masaya akong na-celebrate kita with you."

Migo doesn't say anything.

Jiya raises her head and looks at him, blinking.

Tinititigan na rin siya ni Migo. "Valle."

"Hmm?"

Instead of responding, he slides his hand around her neck to kiss her again, pressing more aggressively, tilting her head to the side.

Jiya fists her hands in his shirt, squeezing her eyes closed.

"Valle," Migo whispers again, pressing their foreheads together, breathing heavily. His eyes are also closed, and his hand strokes her jaw, her cheek, with such gentleness in the touch—parang babasagin siya. "Valle, last summer...I was thinking that I shouldn't let you kiss me."

Jiya stares at him.

Migo's finger goes down to brush the pad of his thumb against her lip, and he whispers, "I did, anyway. And I thought I was breaking my own heart."

She feels the sting of that statement pierce her shirt, the skin of her chest, sa six pairs of bones ng ribcage, sa mga daan ng dugo sa puso.

Mauuna pa nga yatang masasaktan si Jiya dito.

Masakit 'to. Magiging masakit 'to.

Jiya stares at him for a few moments, letting that realization sink past her bones and organs and tissues.

Then Jiya loops her arms around his neck and kisses him. Whispers back, "You're not."

*

Migo wears the anklet. Jiya sees the silver bead shine on his skin.

(Nakuha ni Isco 'yong watch. Ayaw ni Inggo.)

*

On Friday, as is tradition, inuman na naman sila sa BGC since birthday ng barkada.

And siyempre, libre ni Migo lahat.

"Tama na!" he shouts when Inggo orders another pitcher.

"Ano 'yon?" Inggo shouts back. "'Isa pa'? Okay, sabi ni birthday boy isa pa raw!"

"Putangina," Migo mutters, running a hand through his face.

Jiya grins up at him and hands him a shot. "Iinom mo na lang 'yan, babe."

Migo downs his shot, fingers skating along her skin sa waistband niya. He glares at her and says, "Hindi ka pa takas sa 'kin. I haven't decided if I like my last gift or not."

She laughs and leans in to whisper in his ear, "I vote like."

"Maraming nakatingin sa 'yo."

"And sa 'yo lang ako nakatingin." Jiya raises her eyebrow. "Plus, I wore this for you."

Since sobrang nagustuhan ni Migo 'yong bralette niya no'ng party ni Cas (as in...sobra), she bought another one. Birthday celebration niya naman.

This time, black instead of pink, and naka-leather skirt siya instead of shorts. Wala ring polong nakapatong.

He almost had a heart attack noong sinundo siya kanina. Natawa na lang si Jiya sa kanya.

Migo traces his hand along the lace sa chest niya, finger making a slow trail in between the V of her breasts. "Dapat lang," he murmurs.

Jiya rubs his thigh, leans in to kiss him, pero they both jump when Isco slams his glass down on the table and stands up.

May kasayaw kasi na iba si Van.

Migo raises an eyebrow. "Finally."

Jiya huffs out a laugh and stands up, taking his hand. "Dance with me."

Migo leaves his glass with Cas and follows her, hands on her hips.

Sa gitna ng dance floor, Jiya pulls Migo to her, chest pressed to her back, rolling her hips against him to the beat of the music. Migo's hands travel up and down her bare skin, to the waistband of her skirt, down to her bottom and squeezes.

Migo hisses when she pushes back against him. He squeezes her hip and breathes in her ear, warningly, "Valle."

She turns around to look at him, hands on his shoulders, presses their bodies together, still following the music.

Migo's staring at her with a set jaw, watching her every move, and Jiya brings her hands down from his shoulders, to his chest, sliding them down his stomach.

And again, like last time, Migo snatches both her wrists and says, "I need a drink." And then he leaves.

Jiya rolls her eyes and follows him. "Bakit ba every time na sumasayaw tayo, umaalis ka?"

"Sinong hindi aalis," he snaps. "Naninigas na 'ko."

Jiya's mouth drops, and then her eyes.

"O ano," Migo snaps. "Kasalanan mo 'yan."

"E 'di aayusin ko pag-uwi natin." She downs one last shot and takes his hand, leading him to the table. "Paalam na tayo, magbayad ka na."

Jiya rubs him through his jeans sa backseat ng car while Kuya Willy drives them back to her house. Him biting his lip and groaning, pressing himself to the door, makes her grin.

Sa kama, she fumbles with his belt while he pushes her against the headboard, breathless against her lips, wet and dirty and desperate.

He takes off his shirt, and Jiya also moves to take off hers, pero Migo murmurs, "'Wag," and he palms her breasts and kisses them through the fabric, and she almost pops his button open, pero kinuha niya kamay niya and pushes her flat on the bed, spreading her legs.

"Akala ko ba aayusin ko?" she asks, panting, face flushed. She lets Migo hike her skirt up to her waist, hands traveling down to her thighs. "What are you doing?"

"Meron ka pa?"

Jiya blinks. Medyo lasing na siya. "Ha?"

Migo rubs her through her underwear, staring at her, and asks again, "Meron ka pa?"

"Bakit, anong problema kung meron pa?"

"Marumi. Gusto mo 'yon?"

Jiya sucks in a shaky breath. "Wala na."

Migo pulls her underwear down and puts his face in between her thighs. "Happy birthday to me," he says, grinning, looking up at her, and then he hooks his hands under her thighs and gets to work.

She feels him smile in between her thighs niya when she arches her back and grips his hair, throwing her head back.

He kisses her temple once they both shower and dress. He pulls the blanket over their bodies.

"Night," he whispers. "Thank you sa lahat ng gifts ko, pero ikaw yung best."

"Corny," she whispers back, but her cheeks hurt, and she squeezes him tighter. "You're welcome."

Jiya falls asleep with that same smile on her lips.