JIYA and Van don't wake up until twelve in the afternoon. Five PM ang rehearsal dinner for the Casaddie wedding.

She washes her face and brushes her teeth before she showers and changes into a long polo shirt with the first two buttons open and shorts. Jiya's tying her hair into a ponytail when a knock comes in the door.

"Pakuha," Van asks her from the shower, and Jiya steps out of the bathroom to pull the door open.

Her blood runs cold.

Migo smiles at her, leaning against the doorway, and he runs his eyes shamelessly from head to toe. "Good morning, Valle."

Jiya slams the door in his face, but Migo's too quick. He pushes it with his palm and all but steps inside the room with a smug expression, crowding her, and Jiya steps back, hitting the wall, swallowing thickly. "Ano—ano ginagawa mo dito?"

Migo grins, and she wants to punch her heart for leaping inside her chest kasi putangina, it's not a smile of hostility or sarcasm. This is...this is Migo's mischievous smile. Evil smile. "You didn't think I'd let last night go, did you?"

HAHA. Tangina.

"Bakit? What happened last night? I don't remember," she tells him, raising an eyebrow.

Migo's smile doesn't waver. "You don't remember? You gave me a blowjob."

"Hindi kaya!" Jiya argues, face flaming.

He tilts his head to the side, smile widening.

Jiya bites her tongue. Shit.

The water from the shower shuts off. "Sino 'yon, Ji? Si Ads?" Van shouts.

Migo grins, not taking his eyes off her, stepping back. "Well, Valle. Seems like you do remember that you kissed—"

She shoves her hand on his mouth, slamming him to the wall, eyes wide. "Shut up!" she hisses, tiptoeing to reach his face.

Jiya feels his smile on her palm as he stares at her. "Have lunch with me."

Jiya takes off her hand and steps back. "No."

He shouts loudly, "Van, alam—"

"I'll have lunch with you!" she hisses, opening the door and pushing him out. "Do'n ka na maghintay. Bwisit."

Migo's laugh echoes down the hallway, and her toes curl at the sound of it.

Bakit hindi siya galit? He should be...he should be mad at her, furious even. More so than before.

Instead, he's this happy little shit, tormenting her about her...her mistake.

Van blinks at her, frozen at the doorway, hands clammy. She dries her hair with a towel and asks, "Ji?"

"Huh?" Jiya swallows. "Uh, yeah, si Ads, she was just telling us to be ready by five. Um, baba lang ako, I'll get something to eat."

"K." She heads to her luggage to get dressed.

Migo's humming a fucking annoying song when she takes her seat in front of him with a plate from the buffet. His eyes are shining with amusement. "I think we should talk about why you kissed me."

Jiya holds his stare. "I don't think we should. 'Sides, I was drunk."

Migo raises an eyebrow. "Really."

Jiya shrugs, chewing her food.

He narrows his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. "I think it's something worth talking about. You claimed you hate me."

Jiya grits her teeth. "Ano bang gusto mo sabihin ko, Migo?"

"I want to hear the reason why you kissed me. And why you ran after."

"Walang reason. You were there, I was drunk, you were talking a lot, I wanted you to shut up. I ran because it was a mistake."

"Mm." He stirs the straw in his drink and wraps his lips around it, staring at her. "Mistake? I don't think so. You'll fess up rin."

Fuck! Ano ba 'to, bumalik ba sila sa second year college?!

Jiya keeps her eyes firmly on his. "I won't be fessing up anything."

"Until then." He grins. "You can do what I say. Unless you want me to tell our friends."

BLACKMAIL? ULIT?!

"Our friends won't care," Jiya says, swallowing, trying to appear nonchalant. "Besides, tingin mo ba may maniniwala sa 'yo? We've been ignoring each other since we came here."

"E bakit ka takot?" Migo asks, grinning.

She grits her teeth and her hand on the table balls itself into a fist.

If he tells their friends, pinapakita lang ni Jiya na walang kwenta ang three years na pinili niya ang sarili niya over him, ang career niya sa New York. And she kept saying hindi na sila magbabalikan (not that they are) and that they were done, and that she didn't want anything to do with him anymore. Magmumukha siyang tanga.

Fuck!

Jiya stabs her fork in her plate, angry.

Migo laughs quietly.

"Wala ka bang girlfriend?"

That makes him blink. "Nag-a-apply ka ulit?"

Her neck is flushed hot. "Can't. Don't fit the requirements."

Migo leans back, raising an eyebrow. "Which are?"

She smiles sweetly at him. "Wala akong aso, sorry. Hindi rin ako doctor, kaya I can't possibly understand how important your career is. Ah, and straight ang buhok ko."

His smile falters. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Shit, Nat, ano?" Jiya mocks in a deep voice, rolling her eyes.

Migo blinks at her. "Hindi ako informed na may girlfriend ako, Valle, and for your information, the requirements are matalino," he lists, putting down one finger, "selosa. Magaling makipag-banter with me. Had no idea what champorado was before I made it for her. 'Di pa rin marunong mag-parallel park. Maganda. Masungit. In other words, ikaw. I think perfect ka sa role."

Jiya stares at him.

Wait, so, hindi niya girlfriend si Natalie?

Migo's lips curve into a smile. "How do you know all those things about Nat? How do you even know her? And..." He blinks just as a thought comes to him. "Is that why you ran away? You thought we were together?"

Jiya's mouth dries as she tries to think of an answer, but she's saved by her phone vibrating loudly on the table.

Gelo is calling.

In a second, Migo's face loses all humor and hardens as he stares at the phone.

Jiya scrapes her chair back and takes it, pero hindi pa siya nakakatayo nang maayos when Migo points his finger down and tells her flatly, "Sit."

Jiya clenches her jaw. "No—"

Migo twists around and calls, "Buenca, Isco—!"

"Fuck! Shut up!" Jiya sits down angrily.

Migo puts his chin on his palm and leans forward, pointedly glancing at her phone. "Answer it."

Jiya is seething. Taking a deep breath, she does. "Hi."

"Hey," Gelo greets, and his voice sounds tired. "I just got home. Kamusta?"

"It's one in the morning there," she says slowly, frowning, but she keeps her eyes on Migo's. His jaw ticks. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Just had to work overtime." Gelo exhales heavily. He's smiling when he says, "Don't worry about me. How are you? How was the bridal shower? Did you get wasted?"

Jiya swallows thickly and looks away from Migo. "It was fun. And yes, I got a little drunk."

Migo's mouth twitches.

She glares at him.

"Good, you deserve to have fun and relax. What are you up to now?"

"Lunch," she answers shortly. "Um, you're tired, so you should get some rest. May rehearsal kami mamaya for the wedding."

"Okay," he says softly. "Miss you."

Jiya looks at Migo.

He raises an eyebrow.

"Goodnight," Jiya rushes out in one breath.

Gelo chuckles and hangs up, bidding her goodnight.

"Ah." Migo pushes his tongue inside his cheek. "Isa pa palang requirement. Single. Walang nakataling Montemayor sa leeg niya."

Jiya scoffs, tossing her phone on the table. She crosses her arms over her chest. "Hanggang ngayon ba naman, Migo?"

"First thing. You don't answer his calls anymore," he demands, jaw tight.

Jiya rolls her eyes. "Fine."

Migo pauses. "Really?"

Jiya furrows her eyebrows together. "Binabawi mo?"

"Hindi, natural," he snaps. "I was just expecting you to put up a fight."

"Well, seeing as he's not my boyfriend, I don't actually have to answer his calls," Jiya explains tiredly, sighing. "Anything else?"

Migo leans back against his chair. "Galit ka?"

"Ako?"

"O na-tu-turn on?"

"Ano?!"

He tips his chin up at her shirt.

Jiya looks down.

Tangina. Nakalimutan niyang mag-bra!

"Migo!" she shouts, her cheeks flaming. "Ano ba, bakit hindi mo sinasabi kanina?!"

A chuckle comes out of his chest as he follows her. "Ngayon ko lang din napansin—hoy, sa'n ka pupunta?"

His laugh follows her all the way up the stairs.

It's so loud and so sudden it shocks her.

"It's good to see the twins again, I've missed them," Migo muses, still chuckling, and her heart betrays her because she's hearing his laugh again and fuck if she doesn't feel faint. "Good to know na—uy!"

Jiya almost stumbles at the last step kung hindi siya nahawakan agad ni Migo sa baywang.

She stands upright and moves back to step away from him, but he tightens his hold and raises an eyebrow. "Walang thank you?"

She grits her teeth and hisses, "Thank you." She steps back ulit, but Migo doesn't let go.

"Walang kiss?"

"Tangina, Migo—"

He grins and loosens his grip, and Jiya stalks back towards her room.

Seething, she sends him a message.

alam mo bang gago ka? :)

Migo reads that immediately. His dancing bubbles appear.

It shocks her for a moment. She's been waiting to see those bubbles appear ever since she texted him a happy birthday last year.

Pogi: alam ko ;) ah. another thing.
bawal kang lagyan ni buenca ng
sunblock. gusto ko magka-sunburn ka.

Jiya scowls at her phone.

*

Pogi: tingnan mo ko. i don't like being
ignored.

Jiya grits her teeth at the message on her phone during the rehearsal. Nasa infinity pool na sila on their designated seats while Addie and Cas are under the arch.

She ignores the message, pretending she didn't see it, and turns to talk to Van.

Pogi: ah ganyan ka, valle?

He's infuriating. Kanina pa siya tinitingnan ni Migo pero she's been ignoring him. Paano ba naman kasi, she finds herself looking at his fucking mouth and remembering their kiss and she—God. Kanina pa niya iniisip kung nahalikan din siya ni Natalie kahit hindi sila o kung sino mang babae and it...it's driving her insane.

Wala siyang karapatan, she knows. They were broken up. Pero siya, parang naging virgin ulit lips niya! Si Migo ang last three years ago and siya lang ulit ngayon, takte naman.

He sends another text.

Pogi: katabi ko lang si isco, buenca
and de paz. don't try me

Teeth gritted, Jiya raises her head to look at him.

He's smiling, eyes meeting hers, his hair falling over his forehead as it blows with the wind. His arm is slung over the back of his chair, lip tugged in between his teeth. When his tongue slips out to wet his lower lip, unconsciously, Jiya's eyes track the movement.

His smile widens.

Jiya looks away, digging her nails in her palms. Fucking hell.

Pogi: interesting. You look angry.
Whys that?

Jiya doesn't bother answering his text.

At dinner, she's just about to take her usual seat beside Inggo when her phone buzzes.

Pogi: sa harap ko

Jiya struggles with keeping her growl in. Migo pointedly tips his chin to the empty seat across him.

She takes a deep breath and sits down, not looking at his face. Inggo sits beside her, dumping his phone and wallet on the table.

He watches her throughout dinner, but Jiya ignores him.

They bring alcohol to one of the cabanas before they end the night, pero five bottles lang para walang may hangover sa wedding bukas.

Jiya sits down on one of the chairs and takes a swig.

Pogi: take off the polo

She scowls at Migo. Naka-bra lang siya sa loob.

Migo, beside the boys, raises his glass to her. "Take. It. Off," he mouths.

Jiya has a half a mind to bunch it in her hand and shove his face into it.

She unbuttons it slowly, keeping her eyes on him, jaw tight. Migo's gaze follows her fingers from across the room, down to the last button.

Jiya shrugs it off and hangs it behind her. Wala namang pake ang mga kaibigan nila kasi nasa beach sila and summer.

She blinks at her phone when it rings. Si Gelo na naman.

Across the room, Migo's glaring at his screen before he looks at her.

Pogi: dont u fucking dare

Jiya rolls her eyes and leans back against the chair, taking another swig.

When the girls finally retreat to their room with Inggo kissing her forehead in goodnight, Jiya goes to take a shower and change for bed when another text comes.

Pogi: wear a bikini and meet me sa
pool in ten.

Jiya lets out a loud groan.

patulugin mo na ako. PLEASE.

Pogi: no

God. What the hell is he playing at?

Still, Jiya puts on a bikini under the polo she wore kanina.

"Sa'n ka pa?" Van asks, tired, looking up from the bed.

"Air lang saglit," Jiya answers. "I'll be back. Sleep na, b."

"Take care," she says, turning over.

With her heart in her throat, Jiya leaves the room and walks towards the pool.

Migo is in the pool, waist-deep already and half-naked, back turned towards her. Jiya can see every line and stroke of his spine, the smooth skin of his back and broadness of his shoulders, the size of his biceps and arms.

She wants to run her hands all through them again.

Jiya shakes her head at the thought. She stops a few feet away and clears her throat.

Migo turns around. He raises an eyebrow. "Sabi ko bikini."

Insufferable fuckface. She rolls her eyes and takes off the polo, tossing it on a lounge chair.

She sees Migo's Adam's apple bob. "I haven't seen that since we came here."

Extra niya lang 'to. Jiya bought this when she was feeling bold last summer pero never got around to actually wearing it. Masyadong showy ng skin and...the straps are metal chains.

It's a low-waist, push-up bikini in black. The top is two triangles covering (not much of) her breasts with a metal barb holding them together in the middle. The bottoms...also a triangle na super low-waist, and the garter is cloth sa harap, and another metal chain wraps it around her waist.

"What, you've been paying attention to the bikinis I wear?" Jiya scoffs and dips her feet in the water, hissing at the coldness. "Keeping track of them?"

His eyes keep roaming her from head to toe as he walks closer to the edge where she's seated. He doesn't say anything.

Jiya sighs. "What did you want?"

"Spread this." He taps one of her knees. Doon niya lang na-realize she's been sticking her legs together under the pool.

Jiya swallows and spreads her legs slowly. Migo steps in between them, his torso an inch away from her center, and he places his palms on either side of her sa gutter. "Sabi mo 'di mo boyfriend si Montemayor."

"O, tapos."

His mouth twitches sa sungit niya. His finger suddenly lifts one of the metal straps of her top, and he slowly traces it from the front of her shoulder to her back slowly, dragging it across her skin, and Jiya shivers, stiffening. "That true?"

Jiya releases a shuddering breath. Migo watches her face as he puts the strap back. "Why would I lie?" she asks.

"So 'di kayo," he murmurs, eyes on hers as he tilts his head to the side, "pero may nangyari?"

Jiya raises an eyebrow. "That's personal."

His jaw ticks. "Answer me."

"Why do you care?" she snaps. "Bakit ikaw, may nangyari ba sa inyo ni Natalie? Or kung sino mang babae?"

Migo blinks and his face scrunches, like he's thinking about it.

What the hell.

"I did sleep with her once."

"Ah, good for you," Jiya says flatly, keeping her face expressionless even when she feels that statement pierce her heart. "Pwede, sabihin mo na kung ano pa ginagawa ko dito para makaalis na 'ko?"

The corner of his lips quirks up. "Selos ka?"

"Baka ikaw."

Wala naman talaga silang ginawa ni Gelo ever, pero she wants to...she wants to hurt him as much as his statement of sleeping with another woman hurt.

Kahit na he was free to do so.

Migo's eyes flash and his smile fades. "Why did you kiss me."

He asks this like a statement.

Jiya clenches her jaw. "It was a drunken mistake."

"A mistake," he repeats in a quiet growl. "A mistake."

Jiya goes to stand up, pero in a swift move, Migo grabs her around the waist and pulls her down to the water with him.

"Migo!" Jiya sputters, pushing him. "Ano ba!"

"When I said sleep, I meant actual sleep," he tells her, his grip tightening around her waist even as she pushes his chest, and there's water dripping from his hair to his skin and he looks glorious and it hurts. "And I was hallucinating."

Jiya blinks at him, confused. "Wh-what—"

"That's what you did to me while you were with Prince Charming," he tells her quietly, and hindi na namalayan ni Jiya that he backed her up against one of the walls ng pool, one hand sliding to her neck, thumb brushing her lip, eyes glued to her mouth. "Fuck you for doing that to me."

Does he think siya lang ang nag-suffer? Does he think nagpakasaya si Jiya sa New York over their agonizing breakup?

Suddenly angry, Jiya snaps, "Akala mo ba hindi—"

"Shut up," Migo says, crushing their mouths together.

It's not gentle nor is it slow. This is...this is anger and pain and his hand is around her throat, barely enough pressure for her to claw at his wrist so she doesn't, and he—it's punishing and addictive and his teeth bite down at her lip, demanding her to open up or fucking else.

She does, putting her hand on his cheek.

The pressure from his mouth weakens into less like violence and more like meeting an old friend, his hand falling from her neck to wrap around her body, pressing them flush against each other. He lifts her up to wrap her legs around his waist, and Jiya makes a sound at the back of her throat and Migo kisses her harder.

Jiya doesn't know how it happens, but when she's momentarily awoken from her daze she's sitting on top of him on the floor of the cabana, her top down to her torso. Migo's greedily biting and pinching and licking while she grinds against him, hands knotted around his neck and his lips find the expanse of her throat.

God. God, it feels so—it feels like she's drowning from how good it feels to be wanted and to be touched by him again.

"I hate that I still want you," Migo whispers in her ear before he grabs her chin and kisses her roughly.

Drunk with want, she barely even registers his words until a few seconds later, when they settle in like cooking oil on a pan.

Jiya blinks and puts force on her hands to his shoulders and breaks away, gasping for air when his hand dips down her bottoms.

Jiya looks up and meets Migo's gaze.

"What is this?" Jiya whispers. "What are we..."

She can't finish her sentence.

Migo raises an eyebrow. "You don't want to?"

"I didn't say that," Jiya mutters, eyebrows drawing together as she stares at him. She can't read his face. His chest rises and falls rapidly, lips swollen and red and so inviting. "I mean..."

He drops his hands from her body, and instantly, she wants to shout at him to put them back. Quietly, he says, "Ito lang ang gusto ko, Valle. This."

His words are like a bucket of cold water.

Jiya—Jiya feels the stupidity wash over her as her eyes begin to prickle with tears. "This..." she repeats in a hushed murmur. "This meaning getting your dick wet?"

He stares at her.

The hurt burns.

Even though it's a lie, even though she knows he's protecting himself, Jiya lifts herself off his lap and fixes her top with shaking hands. "Ayaw ko na. Sabihin mo na sa mga kaibigan natin, wala na akong pake."

She heads back to the rooms, hugging herself. In her own pain, hindi niya na naisip na Migo saw her turning her back on him and walking away from him again.