"SO I'm meeting Cas's parents tomorrow," Addie says, sitting down beside Van sa Zen Garden, halatang kabado na. "And I need your help, free ba kayo to come over?"

"Ads, don't be nervous!" Van slings an arm around her shoulder and grins. "Tagal na ninyo ni Cas, ngayon ka pa kakabahan."

"Of course!" she frowns, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "What if they don't like me?"

"Impossible," Jiya mutters, focused on her laptop on her lap. She bites the straw of her coffee and says, "Where's Isco pala?"

Instantly, Van's face sours. "Puta. Bahala siya."

Addie bumps her shoulder and wags her eyebrows. "LQ?"

"As if." Van rolls her eyes. "'Di niya ako nire-reply-an kanina pa. And then he said he's with Wendy raw, 'yong orgmate niya."

Jiya raises her eyebrow. "So selos ka?"

"Hindi nga!" Van snaps. "Baliw si Isco sa 'kin, there's no way."

Addie laughs, hugging her. "Oh, my sweet, sweet girl. 'Pag iba na tinitingnan ni Isco, do'n ka lang magre-regret. Ba't ba ayaw mo pa siyang sagutin?"

"Change subject!" Van shouts, standing up frustratedly. "I call change subject. Oo, Addison, free ako tomorrow for your shit. Jiya?"

"Alam n'yo namang wala akong input," Jiya mutters, not taking her eyes off her laptop.

"Still!" Addie says. "I need you there for moral support, Jiya babes."

"'Ge," she says. "Wala naman akong plans. Pero tonight, pass muna ako sa inom, I'm going to Jeremy's dance compet sa Irwin."

"Oh!" Van points at her. "'Yong gwapo! The one who had a crush on you!"

"Bobo," Jiya snaps, raising her head.

Addie laughs. "Oo, babe. Gusto ka n'on."

"Basta, oo, siya."

"Your dance compet last year! Sama ako, may extra ticket ka?" Van asks.

"G. Also no, but you can buy there sa doghouse." Jiya tilts her chin. "300 lang."

Van grabs her wallet and skips away.

Addie's fiddling with her fingers and chewing her lip when Jiya looks up after a few moments of silence. She says, "Hoy. Cas's parents will love you. Sino bang hindi?"

Addie smiles at her. "I really hope so."

"'Wag kang kabahan, Ads," Migo's voice says, and he swings his long legs over the bench and sits down beside Jiya. "I'm sure everything will go well."

"Aw!" Addie grins at him. "Thanks, Migo. You don't have class?"

Wala na. "Wala na," Migo answers, shoving his hands inside his pockets and bumping Jiya's shoulder. "Valle. Punta kang inom later?"

"No," Jiya says, not looking at him.

Migo waits for her to expound. She doesn't.

Jiya stands up and closes her laptop. "Addie, see you later sa Film Lit. Van, tara na, we have class!"

Van snatches her bag and waves at Migo. "Hi!"

Migo grabs her wrist and stands. Jiya faces him, face blank, and stares at the hand on her skin.

He swallows thickly and lets go. "Why not?"

"I have plans," Jiya says, turning around. "Bye!"

She hooks her arm around Van's and walks away.

Sa competition ni Jeremy, Van whispers, "Shit, ang galing niya. Bakit gumagwapo mga guys when they dance?"

Jiya can't say she doesn't agree, because tama siya. Jeremy looks the best when he dances kasi love na love niya ang sayaw. It shows in his stage presence and facial expressions.

Inside her pocket, her phone buzzes.

Pogi: kain tayo

Hindi ba sinabi ni Jiya may plans siya? Annoyed, she types her reply.

busy nga ako

His chat bubbles immediately appear.

Pogi: with what? :( kain kain kain kain
sunduin kita tara na gusto kong mang
inasal

She's sure he's far away from Katip. 'Yong inom nila Inggo ngayon will be at BGC.

im still at school

Pogi: perfect nasa condo lang ako

Jiya draws her eyebrows together. 'Di ba 'to sumama sa friends nila?

no na, i might eat with someone
else

His reply comes a minute later.

Pogi: sino?

Jiya turns off her phone and focuses back to the stage.

Pagkatapos, Van runs to the CR, leaving her bag with Jiya. She meets Jeremy sa labas, sweaty and high on adrenaline. "Jiya!"

He runs to hug her. Jiya laughs, hugging him back. "Uy, congrats! Ang galing mo!"

"Siyempre!" Jeremy says, laughing. He puts her down, face bright, grin wide. "The team wants you to eat with us. Sama ka na sa 'kin sa car."

Jiya juts her thumb out. "I came with a friend e."

"Sama na rin siya!" Jeremy says, slinging an arm around her shoulder and ruffling her hair. "Let's eat."

So sumama si Jiya and Van with them, and wala namang problema kasi very easygoing si Van na kasama. If hindi lang naging teammates ni Jiya ang mga 'to last year, she wouldn't be as comfortable as she is rin.

Hinatid ni Jeremy si Van muna before si Jiya. She hugs him again and congratulates him, but before she can leave, Jeremy says, "Do you wanna have lunch with me tomorrow, Ji?"

She blinks and raises her eyebrows, almost letting out a laugh at his nervousness. "Uh, Saturday bukas."

"Kaya nga," Jeremy answers, biting his lip. "Lunch, as in a date. I'm asking you out."

Potek.

Jiya blinks. "Um. Sure. Pero I can't promise anything, ah, we're friends, and I'm not really looking for anything right now."

Jeremy grins, happy, and leans over to kiss her on the cheek. "Cute mo. Noted. Goodnight!"

So habang nagpapalit-palit si Addie ng clothes, undecided on what to wear to her brunch with Cas's parents, Jiya's dazed, staring at the mirror.

"Hello?" Isco waves his hand in front of her face and pokes her nose. "Anyare dito?"

Van slaps his hand away and bites on her donut. "May date 'yan, don't disturb her."

"With Migo?!"

"Tanga," Jiya snaps, pushing him on his chest. "And also, friend date lang. Friend date."

"Friend date!" Addie shouts, laughing, from inside her room. "It's either a date or not! And sabi na sa 'yo, Jeremy likes you!"

"Yie," Van says.

"Yie," Isco parrots.

"Yie n'yo mukha n'yo," Jiya says, rolling her eyes.

Group: casaddie cake

Anton Buencamino: GOODLUCK @Addie!!
❤️

Inggo de Paz: GOOD LUCK @Addie 🥵 kailangan
mo sa nanay ni castillo

Cas Fuentes: don't make her even more
nervous!!

Migo Salas: GLUCK ADS :) kayang kaya mo
yan

Addie Zacarias: @Inggo BAKIT ANO
MERON SA MOM NYA

Cas Fuentes: babe wala, niloloko ka lang.
also ill be there in twenty

Addie Zacarias: OMG WAIT LANG im not
yet ready!!!

Isco Cuenca: ikaw kilala ka na ni mama and
papa @Van

Van Andres: tumahimik ka

Anton Buencamino: anyone g to movies?
labas kami sama kayo? @Jiya @Van @Isco

Van Andres: g

Isco Cuenca: g

Isco Cuenca: wag na si grinch may date
yan

Inggo de Paz: YIEEEEEE

Cas Fuentes: for real? sino?

Anton Buencamino: weh? with who?

"Bobo mo puta!" Jiya smacks Isco behind the head.

"Aray!"

"Aray mo mukha mo 'nyeta kang putangina mo—"

Private Message: migago

migago: is isco joking?

sungit is typing...

sungit: may nagyaya lang ng
lunch.

migago is typing...

migago: who?

sungit: someone from my dance
team last year. i watched his
compet last night w van

migago is typing...

migago is typing...

migago: sure ka bang ikaw tinanong? hindi
si van?

Jiya stares at the phone and blinks rapidly.

Tama nga naman siya. Alam naman ni Jiya e. Alam naman niyang wala siya sa level ng friends nila.

Private Message: migago

sungit: right. baka nga

She turns off her phone and plasters a smile on her face when Addie comes out of her room in her dress.

Group: casaddie cake

Jiya Valle: wala, walang date.

Jiya Valle: @Addie love u. kick
ass.

Jiya Valle: @Cas alagaan mo yan,
papatayin kita kung hindi

Inggo de Paz: 💀

Cas Fuentes: opo 🥵

*

Jiya likes Jeremy as a friend. 'Yon lang.

She made it clear pagka-meet nila. Jeremy didn't show naman na he was upset, and Jiya's glad that they can stay friends kahit papaano.

Hindi na siya kinausap ni Migo and vice versa until Monday afternoon and she goes to Rizal Lib to study. Buti na lang vacant 'yong spot niya.

She doesn't even notice how long she's been in here until she stretches, exhausted, and checks her watch. Nanlaki mata niya. It was nearly seven na pala—she's been in here for three hours.

Kaya pa ng isang oras, she decides, cracking her fingers, but then her phone lights up with a text.

Pogi: punta ka tetsuo, 2 orders of
karaage and soba, sansho for the spice
level. pati dalawang sprite.

Jiya reads that and doesn't reply. Iniwan niya laptop niya and her bag on the table, only bringing her wallet and phone. Naglakad siya to the gate, crosses the footbridge, and heads to Tetsuo.

Nakaupo na si Migo sa may table near the corner. Jiya walks straight sa counter and pulls out her wallet, flatly stating Migo's order.

She has to wait pa for the order, but wala siyang oras. She needs to go back to the lib, so she tosses the receipt in front of Migo and turns around to leave.

"Valle," he calls, and Jiya faces him. Kinukuha niya wallet niya. "I'll pay you, hold up."

"'Wag na," she says, walking away.

"Wait lang." Migo stands up and grabs her wrist, jaw tight. "Kumain ka muna. The other plate is for you. That's your order, 'di ba?"

"I'm studying," she says slowly, staring at the hand on her wrist. Migo immediately lets go, seeing the look on her face. "Kaya no thanks."

"Valle," he says exasperatedly, like he's pleading with her. Luh. Plastik. "Ten minutes lang. Kanina ka pa nag-aaral."

"Kasama sa terms ko na you don't bother me about acads," Jiya reminds him. "This is acads. 'Di ba I told you wala akong time? And ginawa ko na gusto mo, so enjoy your food."

Jiya leaves, and Migo doesn't try to stop her this time.

Next morning, kakatapos niya lang maligo, may message na si gago sa phone niya.

Pogi: starbucks muna bago ka pumasok.

Hindi niya ni-reply-an. Jiya puts on a white shirt tucked into plaid skorts and slips on her sneakers. She combs her hair on the way to school, nag-apply lang ng lip tint, and tells Kuya Willy, "Kuya, sa Starbs n'yo na lang po ako ibaba."

She gets out of the car, cradling her laptop, bag on her shoulder, and steps inside, shivering sa lamig. Sa may couches, Migo looks up.

Jiya walks towards him with the blankest expression on her face and asks flatly, "What do I buy?"

"Sit," he says, pointing to the chair across from him. "And I bought na for you."

Jiya sits down, staring at him. May iced white chocolate mocha sa harap niya, tapos may coffee na rin for him.

Free coffee? Who is she to turn it down?

She stabs the straw inside the drink and takes a sip. Tinititigan lang siya ni Migo. She stands up and says, "Okay na?"

"Hindi pa."

Jiya grits her teeth and sits back down. "What else?"

Migo purses his lips. He swallows thickly and asks, "May plans ka ba after school today?"

"Dinner with Anton," Jiya answers impatiently, drinking her coffee. "What else?"

"Oh." He rubs the nape of his neck. "Okay. Wala na, I guess."

Jiya turns around and leaves.

Hindi pa 'yon ang last na kita niya sa gago. On her way to her InTACT class, he stands up from his seat sa SEC Walk bench and speeds up his steps to walk alongside her. "Hi."

"What do you want?" she asks flatly, scrolling through her notes sa phone.

"Hinahatid lang kita sa class mo," he mutters. "Are you going to our movie night sa condo later? Inggo invited everyone."

Jiya read that message sa group chat nila and ignored it. Addie and Cas are going, pati rin si Isco and Van. Wala siyang balak kung nando'n si Migo.

She stops in front of the classroom, and hinarap siya ni Migo. He's gripping the straps of his bag tightly. "Kasama ba 'to sa mga dapat kong gawin?" she asks.

Migo stares at her and shakes his head slowly. "No."

"Baka sumunod kami ni Anton. That all?"

Migo steps back. "Yeah."

Jiya pulls open the door and shuts it in his face.

Sa dinner nila ni Anton, he asks her about the date, fiddling with his glass.

Jiya snorts. "Walang date. Friends lang talaga kami."

"Or maybe you rejected him."

Jiya glares at him. "Ayoko na pag-usapan, Anton, pwede?"

"Sorry," he says, raising his palms in surrender. "Gusto lang namin malaman kung ano nangyari, but sorry for being nosy." Anton's phone on the table rings. He frowns and picks it up, reading his messages. "Ah, oo nga pala, may pa-movie night kila Inggo and Migo. They're asking where we are. You wanna go?"

Jiya shakes her head with a smile and asks for the bill, reaching for her water. "No thanks. Pagod na 'ko, so I'll head home early."

Hinatid siya ni Anton to her car. Before she leaves, he hugs her tightly and says, "Let's do this again next time. Ingat ka, ah? Text me when you're home."

Jiya nods and steps back, smiling at him. "Ikaw rin, text me 'pag na kila Inggo ka na. Ingat! Bye!"

In the car, while listening to music, biglang nagblow-up 'yong iMessage ni Jiya with her friends.

Ads: jiya babes i thought kasama ka ni
anton :(

Ipis: hoy grinch hinahanap ka ata ni
migo?? inask nya si anton 'asan si
valle? sabi nya susunod siya' tapos
anton said you went home tapos yung
mukha ni migo?!! hello????? para
syang nagka-stroke

Vannie: chismoso ka talagang
tanginaka. PERO OO NGA JI?? he was
quiet also nung nag-movie kami, wala
syang kwentang kasama non

Jiya closes her chat window with them and sighs.

Anton messages her.

Anton: here na burgundy :) ingat ka,
thank you for today!

thank you rin! will let u know
when im home :)

Part of her regrets not going to Burgundy, kasi pag-uwi niya, nagsisigawan na naman parents niya sa taas.

Manang takes one look at her and says, "Gusto mo bang magpaikot muna kay Kuya Willy, hija?"

Jiya shakes her head, exhausted. She climbs the staircase sluggishly and mutters, "Thanks, Manang. Goodnight."

She closes her eyes while she showers, the echoes of her parents' shouts booming against the walls. She slips on a big shirt and her boxers, tapos humiga na siya sa kama.

When she closes her eyes, tears fall down her cheeks. She falls asleep to the sound of her parents' voices.

*

Monday morning and her mom throws open her room door and slams it.

Jiya blinks, heart jumping out of her chest. "Mommy," she breathes. "I thought you left for work na—"

"What is this?" she growls, tossing a sheet of paper in her face. "Ano 'tong midterm grade mo na 'to, Jiya?"

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

Jiya bends down on shaking knees and takes the paper, breathing shakily. May B+ siya sa Filipino.

She spent more hours and more days studying for her midterm test for that subject more than the others. Tapos B+ pa rin?

She swallows thickly and says, "Midterm grade pa lang po," Jiya mutters. "That's not final. I can still pull it up for the rest of the semester, I'm working on it—"

"I thought you said your orgs aren't getting in the way of your acads," Hillary snarls, features pulling together. "Or ano 'to, friends mo? I don't allow you to go out and have your freedom for you to give me a B+, Jiya. Ano 'yan, 3.5?"

Jiya's hands are shaking. "Opo," she whispers.

"Pull it up," she snarls, slamming the door.

Jiya heaves and almost crumples to the floor, hugging herself. She takes several deep breaths, putting her head in between her knees, rocking slowly, squeezing her eyes shut.

When she finally composes herself, wala na siyang time for any stopovers before class—late na rin siya nagising. Kuya Willy drops her off directly at Gonzaga, and she hurries to the CTC building for her first class.

Hindi niya kinausap si Van as she sits next to her, staring ahead. Her friend says, "Ah, wala ka palang coffee. Sorry, babe. 'Di na kita kakausapin."

Jiya ignores her and listens to the lecture.

Pagkalabas nila, nakatayo si Migo sa may SEC Walk, tiptoeing amidst his height, may hawak na drink. His face lights up when he spots them, and he jogs over.

"Mauna na 'ko, I'll see you in ArtAp," Van says. "Hi, Migo."

"Hi," he greets, pero nakatingin siya kay Jiya. He hands her the coffee. "Um, here. Medyo late ka raw today."

Jiya takes it. Nagsha-shake pa rin mga kamay niya, and she almost drops the drink.

Migo snatches it before it falls, and he looks at her, eyes wide with concern. "Huy, Valle. Okay ka lang? What happened?"

Jiya brushes past him and walks away.

Hinabol siya ni Migo, snatching her arm. "Kausapin mo 'ko," he demands. "Mag-breakfast muna tayo somewhere—"

Isa na naman sa mga pinapagawa niya. Puta.

Jiya faces him and says, "Ayoko na, Migo. Sabihin mo na sa lahat ng kaibigan natin, wala na akong pake. Stop telling me what to do. Move."

Hindi na siya hinabol ni Migo this time.

Jiya decides to go to Elorde after class. Pinakuha niya gloves niya and gym outfit kay Manang and pinadala with Kuya Willy, and he drives her to the boxing gym. Do'n siya naglabas ng galit niya kay Migo, sa parents niya, sa sarili niya.

B+ lang. A 3.5. Hindi naman end of the world.

Wala na siyang strength tumayo or gumalaw after two hours, so nagpahinga muna siyang nakaupo, catching her breath, chugging down her water.

Diretso ligo sana siya pagkauwi niya, but she spots Migo's Vios at a distance sa harap ng gate nila, and he's leaning against it, head bowed, kicking the floor.

"Hindi niya ba talaga ako titigilan," Jiya hisses angrily, slamming the door closed pagka-stop ng car.

Migo looks up at the sound, blinking, as Jiya walks over to him. "Wala na akong gana makipag-away sa 'yo," she says. Fuck, she's exhausted. "So just leave."

Jiya moves to open the front gate, pero hinarang siya ni Migo. His eyebrows are furrowed. "Ano ginawa mo? Why are you so tired?" Then his eyes harden, and he snaps, "Nag-boxing ka kanina pa? 'Di ka pa kumain?"

"Puta, ano ba pake mo," Jiya snaps, pushing him. "Pagod na ako, Migo. Tabi."

He scratches his head in exasperation. "Valle, wait lang. Pwede bang hayaan mo muna ako mag-sorry?"

Jiya laughs loudly. "Sorry? Sorry saan?"

"Sa sinabi ko about your date," Migo snaps. "Hindi ko naman—I didn't even mean that."

"Wala akong pake sa sinabi mo. Tabi."

"'Tsaka sa—" He takes a deep breath, showing her his palms in surrender. "Sa nangyari sa car. And sa pagba-blackmail ko. I won't bring it up anymore."

"Wala akong pake sa nangyari sa car. And ano, na-konsensiya ka bigla?" Jiya asks flatly, raising her eyebrows. "Kasi hindi na kita pinapansin o pinapatulan?"

"Valle—"

"Leave," Jiya snaps, pushing him. "Ayoko na kitang makita."

She slams the gate in his face. Pagpasok niya sa living room, she winces.

Her mom is screaming in the kitchen. "And don't you think about lying to me, Gerard!"

"Tigilan mo 'ko, Hillary," her dad shouts back. "Can you shut up for once, for fuck's sake!"

Hindi na nakapagpigil si Jiya. She turns around and leaves the house, eyes red and stained with tears.

Pagkalabas niya ng gate, Migo's Vios is still parked, and he's seated in the driver's side, banging his head on the steering wheel.

Before she changes her mind, she stalks over, opens the passenger door and says, "I know I said I don't want to see you but can you just drive? Please?"

Her voice shakes.

Napansin din ni Migo, because he doesn't say a word and turns on the engine. Tapos he straps on his seatbelt and backs up the driveway.

Jiya puts on her seatbelt with trembling fingers. Then she puts her face in her hands, and to her utter and complete humiliation, she cries.

Hindi nagsalita si Migo. He keeps driving.

Jiya hugs her knees to her chest and keeps her head down, sobbing. Tangina. Sa tabi pa talaga ni Miguel Salas ka nag-break down.

Jiya doesn't know how long he drives, but when he stops the car, she's not crying anymore. Her face is red and sore, mabaho pa siya sa pawis niya from boxing, and naka-basketball shorts lang siya 'tsaka sports bra. Puta naman.

She looks out the window and says, "Sorry. Nagsayang ako ng gas mo, I'll pay you."

"No need," Migo says quietly.

Jiya swallows thickly. Ang awkward.

"Do you wanna eat?" he asks. "Nag-stop ako sa McDo. Baka gutom ka."

She is, actually. But Jiya looks down at herself and almost laughs. "I can't go out like this."

"Wait here." Migo grabs his wallet and phone. "I'll buy na lang then we can eat sa Burgundy, Inggo isn't home."

Jiya nods mutely, still refusing to look at him. Migo steps out of the car.

She brings out her phone and winces at her face. "Ang panget mo talaga," she mutters to herself, angry, and tosses it on the seat. Mas lalo pang napangitan sa 'yo si Migo. Sobra sobra na.

She doesn't wait long, and pagbalik ni Migo with the food, the smell is so good her stomach grumbles. She looks away. "Sorry."

Migo hands her a Coke float with a straw and the paper bag with fries. "Pwede ka kumain dito."

Jiya blinks, taking them slowly. "Really?"

She's not allowed to eat in any of their cars.

Migo meets her eyes and nods, switching on the engine.

Jiya looks away again and opens the paper bag. She almost devours the whole thing bago sila makaakyat sa unit niya.

Migo turns on the lights and dumps the food on the table. Jiya wraps her arms around herself, biglang na-conscious, stepping inside slowly.

"Sit," Migo tells her, gesturing to the chair. "And eat." Then he disappears inside his room.

Jiya takes a seat hesitantly, picking up the spoon and fork na nilapag ni Migo for her. Before she can take a bite, however, Migo steps out and hands her a sweater. "Nilalamig ka," he says.

Wala na siyang hiya. She takes it and puts it on. "Thanks," she mutters. Baka naiilang din si Migo sa kanya.

They eat silently. Hindi matingnan ni Jiya sa mata si Migo kahit alam niyang he's glancing at her from time to time. She stares at her food and chews quietly. Masakit pa rin mga mata niya.

Naunang natapos si Migo kumain. He faces her and takes a deep breath. "Do you want to—"

"No," Jiya says immediately, staring at the table. "No, I don't want to talk about it with you. Can you just forget na this happened?"

Migo pauses. And then, "Okay."

"Thanks," she says, standing up. "We can just—go back to normal by tomorrow."

"Can I still say sorry?" Migo asks, standing up, too. His face falls. "I really didn't mean what I said, Valle. And I was just—I was just messing with you, I wasn't going to tell any of our friends naman talaga."

"Totoo naman," Jiya tells him, blinking. "I appreciate the honesty, actually."

"I was being stupid, hindi siya totoo," Migo says, voice rising, curling his hands into fists.

"Can you take me home?" Jiya asks suddenly, cleaning up her mess sa table.

Migo is silent for a long time, staring at her. And then, resigned, he says softly, "Yeah, I'll take you home."

Hindi na nagsalita ulit si Jiya sa ride, and hindi niya rin tiningnan si Migo. When he pulls up sa driveway niya, she opens the door and says, "Sorry ulit sa gas, I'll pay you back sometime. Thanks."

Tahimik na 'yong house when she comes in.

Finally.

*

May morning meeting si Jiya with her org before her Theo class.

Mukha siyang patay, pero pumunta pa rin siya, and after, hinabol siya ng one of her co-officers, si Rose, palabas sa MVP. "Jiya, wait!"

She turns around and looks at her, drinking her coffee.

Rose grins. Naka-tube top lang siya and shorts—hindi ba siya nilalamigan? Naka-sweatpants nga 'tsaka hoodie and cap lang 'tong si Jiya na parang ready na matulog kahit saan. "You're friends with Migo Salas, right?"

Friends. Ha! Jiya snorts. "Hindi. Why?"

She blinks, tilting her head to the side. "Oh, weh? I see you two all the time kasi."

"Ano nga meron?" Walang patience si Jiya. Umagang-umaga, ano ba.

Rose puts her hands together, like she's praying and whines, "Can you set me up with him? Kahit one date lang! Ang tagal ko na siyang gusto i-ask since nag-meet kami sa party a few months ago, pero, ugh, I'm so kabado talaga when—"

"'Ge," Jiya says, almost tossing her her phone. "Put your number in. Free ka lunch today? Okay lang kahit JSEC?"

Rose sputters, blinking. "Oh my God, yes, seryoso ka ba?"

"Number," Jiya snaps, pointedly looking at her phone.

"Okay!" She giggles, jumping on her feet, putting it in. "Thank you, Jiya!"

She merely takes back her phone and turns around.

Pagpasok niya sa room, Migo looks at her and smiles weakly. "Hi."

"Free ka lunch today?" Jiya asks flatly, stopping in front of him.

Surprised, he blinks and sits up straight, nodding slowly. "Uh, yes, did you wanna eat ba—"

"JSEC after nito," she tells him, and heads to her seat, resting her head on her arms and closing her eyes to nap habang wala pa prof nila.

To Rose, she says:

hanap kang table sa jsec, free
siya.

Rose: OMG!!! THANK YOU THANK
YOU

Pinatay na niya phone niya.

Nakangiti si Migo walking with her pabalik from Red Brick Road. "First time mo magyaya, Valle."

Jiya doesn't talk to him.

He bumps her shoulder. "Huy. Are you—are you okay? Ito ba 'yong kagabi—"

"Ito nga pala." She reaches inside her bag and almost tosses him his sweater. The one he lent her. "I washed it na, thanks ulit."

"Sure," he says slowly, catching up with her pace. Migo clears his throat. "Um, are you going to Addie's birthday party sa Friday?"

"Natural," Jiya says.

"Sunduin kita—"

"No need," she tells him, dire-diretso sa SEC Walk to JSEC. "Out of the way ako, so don't bother."

"I offered," Migo says, clenching his jaw. "So—"

"Asan na 'yon?" Jiya mutters, cutting him off, looking around the busy cafeteria.

Migo frowns, watching her. "Who?"

"Ah!" Jiya drags him by the sleeve nang makita si Rose na excited nagwa-wave, face glowing. "There she is."

"Valle," Migo says, yanking his wrist away. "Sino 'yan?"

She ignores him and pushes him forward. "Rose, Migo. Migo, Rose."

"Hi!" She holds out her hand and tucks her hair behind her ears, grinning. "We met already, but, uh, I asked Jiya for this favor lang kasi kinakabahan talaga ako." Rose laughs. "You're very handsome kasi."

Jiya steps back. "Bye—"

"Thanks," Migo says, jaw tightening even as he forces a smile. His hand circles around Jiya's wrist and pulls her to him bago siya makaalis. "Excuse us lang for a sec, please."

Jiya yanks it away with a sneer, rubbing her skin sa tight na grip ni Migo. "Ano ba, 'di mo ba alam na rude iwan ang date mo?"

"Anong date?" Migo hisses, eyes blazing with an anger Jiya has never seen before. It takes her by surprise. "Ano 'to, Valle? Tangina naman, bakit mo 'ko dinadala sa date na wala akong alam?"

"Kung ayaw mo, you can tell her yourself," Jiya says, bratty, not breaking her gaze away kahit na umaapoy na 'yong mga mata ni Migo sa galit. "She asked if I could get you guys to meet, sabi mo free ka, I don't see the problem."

"Ang problema is akala ko ikaw ang nagyayaya," Migo snaps angrily. "Akala ko tayo lang dalawa."

Jiya blinks at him. "Ba't ko naman gustong gawin 'yon?"

He freezes and stares at her. "Wow," he says, lips curling up, natatawa. "Wow, okay, yeah. Sige."

"Have fun," Jiya says, and then she turns around and leaves, kahit na she feels her anger and hurt and humiliation burn sa buong katawan niya.