SA bar sa BGC ulit birthday ni Addie. Inom lang nang inom si Jiya.

"Huy!" Inggo takes her glass and laughs, flicking her forehead. "Slow down, Ji! The night is young, 'di ka pa sumasayaw, wala pa si Salas."

At his name, Jiya snorts. "'Wag na siyang pumunta."

Wala na rin siyang pake kung ipagsabi ni Migo sa lahat ng friends nila tonight that they kissed. That she kissed him.

To her right, Van puts a hand on her knee and sighs. "And here I thought tapos na feud ninyo."

"May nangyari ba?" Anton questions, spreading his legs beside Jiya sa couch. "Parang medyo weird kayo."

Kasi kapag nagyayaya friends nila, hindi pupunta si Jiya kung nando'n si Migo. And vice versa.

Jiya shrugs and snatches her drink back from Inggo. "Wala."

"Guys, guys!" Addie comes running in her heels, curls bouncing on her shoulders, hatak niya si Cas—galing silang dance floor. Her eyes are wide and she's panting. "Migo's bringing a girl!"

Inggo whistles, and Anton laughs. "Baka bago na niya," Anton says, grinning, bringing his glass to his mouth. "Ano raw name?"

"Rose Gonzales daw?" Cas says, hugging Addie from behind. "We don't know her, pero same sila ng org ni Jiya."

"Yup," Jiya says, downing her shot. She slams it on the table and stands up. "Sayaw ako. Addie, steal muna kita. Sorry, bro."

Nagpakawala si Jiya sa music with her best friend, following the music.

Ano bang pake niya na dadalhin ni Migo 'yong naka-date niyang 'yon? Siya naman nag-set up sa kanila.

Addie runs her hands over Jiya's body and whistles. "Hot mo naman, babe!"

Love lang siya ni Addie kaya ganyan. Confidence booster nila palagi—but as always, 'di naman nagwo-work kay Jiya.

She's in a white crop top, black jeans, and a leather jacket, tapos naglugay lang siya. Her makeup is simple—dark eyeshadow, cheek tint, 'onting lipstick.

Still, she smiles and twirls Addie around. "Ikaw 'yon. Happy birthday!"

Sumama na rin sa kanila si Van and Isco maya-maya.

When Migo comes in, Rose following behind him na naka-makeup and party outfit talaga—their eyes meet.

Jiya turns her head away and blinks rapidly, facing her friends, heart crawling to her throat.

Dumiretso siya sa table nila and ang lakas ng greetings nila from their friends. Jiya sees him introducing Rose to their barkada.

"Oh, si Migo!" Addie shouts over the music, stepping back. "Wait lang b, I wanna meet Rose din!"

Van goes with her.

Wala nang pake si Jiyang kumuha ng bagong shot sa bar, making no face at the Cuervo she downs, and heads back to the dance floor.

"Lakas," a stranger comments, inching closer to her with an impressed smile. "Wanna dance?"

'Di na sumagot si Jiya. She puts her hands on him and closes her eyes, drowning herself in the music.

When she opens them again, Migo's watching her from across the room.

Even as her heart stills and races, hindi tumigil katawan niya. She presses herself to the stranger's body and stares back at him.

Naka-black shirt, jeans, and black cap na nakabaliktad on his head. Arm spread over the couch, nakatabi sa kanya si Rose na hanggang ears ang smile.

He tips his head back and drinks his shot, putting his arm around her shoulders.

Jiya's jaw clenches and she takes off her jacket, turning to face the stranger, putting her hands on his neck. He grins at her.

"Hey!" Addie pulls her away bigla, frowning. "Jiya babes, are you drunk na?"

She turns back to look at their table. Rose has her hand on his face, leaning closer. 'Di siya pinigilan ni Migo.

Eyes burning, she swallows the lump in her throat and steps back. "Wait lang, Ads. I just need fresh air."

She pushes past the sea of sweaty bodies and leaves the bar.

Sa labas, the music is still loud and the air is cold. She hides herself sa may alleyway and leans against the wall, bones and fingers numb. Oo nga pala. Naiwan niya sa loob jacket niya. Mahal 'yon, ah.

Jiya hangs her head back and closes her eyes, face crumpling together.

"Stupid," she mutters to herself, angry. She balls her hands into fists by her sides and takes a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling shakily. "Ang tanga-tanga mo, Jiya Valle," she whispers, refusing to open her eyes as she tilts her head back to the sky.

Natatakot siyang umiyak if she opens them.

Ang pinakanakagagalit pa ro'n—bakit siya napapaiyak? Bakit ito ang nararamdaman niya sa dibdib niya na ayaw niyang iramdam, pero laging pinaparamdam ni Migo? Nakakaputa.

Kahit anong ipilit ni Jiya na wala siyang pake sa gago, bi-ne-betray siya paulit-ulit ng puso niya.

"Valle."

Jiya's eyes open.

Tangina. Wala na. Game over. Umiiyak na siya.

Migo's jaw is tight as he steps closer to her. "Bakit ka umiiyak?"

First time nila magpansinan since Tuesday. That was days ago.

"Ano bang pake mo," she snaps, and then she winces. Her voice is shaking.

Jiya turns her head away and brushes past him, but Migo catches her wrist with tight fingers and snaps, "Bakit ka nga umiiyak?"

"Tigilan mo 'ko, Migo," Jiya hisses, yanking her arm back.

"You were the one who wanted me to date her," he reminds her loudly. Angrily. "Ikaw, Valle. Tapos ngayon, gaganyan ka?"

"E 'di i-date mo!" she nearly shouts, as furious as he is. Galit na galit at pagod na pagod na siya. "Puta, wala akong pake! Ikaw yung sumunod sa 'kin sa labas—"

"Wala kang pake pero nagseselos ka?" Migo demands, eyes blazing. "Pwede, for once, for once, Valle, maging honest ka—"

Jiya laughs loudly. "Selos? Sinong may sabi sa 'yong nagseselos—"

Migo steps forward, slides his hands to her face, and kisses her.

*

"So you're leaving," Jiya says slowly, blinking at him. "To the States."

Migo, on his bed, nods. "And hindi na kami babalik."

Jiya leans against the wall of his bedroom, staring at him.

She was busy packing her stuff for Korea when her phone rang. Huffing, she brushed the hair away from her face and grabbed it, features pulling together in disgust to see the contact name Pogi on her screen.

She put her phone on silent and tossed it on the bed, facing her suitcase again, pero 'di nagtigil si Migo. Paulit-ulit ang tawag. Naiinis na si Jiya so she answered. "Ano? Ba't ang kulit mo, I'm busy."

"Valle," he said, and Jiya blinked in surprise. Parang seryoso 'yong voice niya. Not a hint of teasing. "May time ka ba today?"

Jiya was dumbfounded. "Wala, busy ako."

"Ah," Migo muttered. "I heard you were going to Addie's later, but can you find the time lang to drop by my place? May sasabihin lang ako sa 'yo. Or I can go to yours naman. Five minutes lang."

Bakit ang seryoso nito?

Her eyebrows furrowed together. "I can drop by your house," she said. "Ano meron? Prank ba 'to? Papatayin kita kung prank."

"No," he answered quietly. "No. Uh, text mo 'ko 'pag papunta ka na. See you."

Binaba na niya.

Anong gusto sabihin ni Migo sa kanya na kailangan niyang makipagkita before she leaves for Korea tomorrow?

And ngayon, sa room ni Migo, may suitcase na nakabukas sa may closet niya, and he tells her this.

He's leaving the country and he's never coming back.

"Bakit biglaan?" she suddenly asks in the silence of the room.

Migo's just staring at her. "Hindi siya biglaan. We talked about it before I started college, pero ayaw no'n nila Mau and Meg. And now...I don't know, final na. My mom wants to take it."

Jiya blinks at him. "Pero ikaw, gusto mo?"

"It doesn't matter," he says. "Decided na. She's taking the job there."

Oh.

She doesn't know what to say.

"Alam na ng iba?" she asks.

"Not yet."

Bakit siya unang nakakaalam? Bakit siya unang pinaalam?

Jiya stares at him. "Hindi ka na babalik dito?"

Migo nods once. "Hindi na."

"Ever?"

His lips curl up. "Bakit parang ang saya mo? Ouch naman, Valle."

She doesn't find the courage to smile. Dazed, she steps closer to the bed. "Answer me."

Migo blinks up at her, following her every move. "Yes," he mutters.

Jiya sits down beside him. "Baka ikaw yung masaya. 'Di mo na makikita pagmumukha ko."

"Highlight 'yon ng day ko, pa'no ako magiging masaya," he mumbles, leaning back, palms on his mattress, when Jiya moves closer. "Valle, ano ginagawa mo—"

"If you're not coming back," she whispers, tilting her head to the side, staring at his wide eyes, "okay lang naman siguro na gawin ko 'to, 'no?"

"Gawin ang—"

Jiya slides her hand to the back of his neck, pulls him to her, and kisses him.

Migo lets out a noise of surprise and total and utter confusion at the back of his throat, frozen. Not moving.

Holy fucking shit. She's kissing (holy shit) Migo Salas (holy shit!), her longtime sworn enemy since high school. Ginawa na niya. Hinalikan na niya. Committed na siya to it, might as well go all the way. Wala nang aatras. I-ca-career niya na 'to.

Jiya loops her hands at the back of his neck and pulls back, pressing their foreheads together, and whispers, "Kiss me."

Migo's still frozen, eyes shut, but he doesn't push her away.

Jiya tilts her head to the side and presses her lips to his again, thumbs brushing his jaw.

Ano ba, nag-short-circuit ba utak ni tanga?

Jiya almost pulls back and hits him in annoyance, but then Migo finally, finally puts his hands on her hips, squeezes them, and pushes his mouth to hers.

Jiya groans softly at his aggression, belly churning and toes curling, and in the feeling of the slow and deep slide of their lips together, Migo moves back against the bed, pulling her with him, and spreads his legs. She swings her own over his thighs and meets his kisses halfway.

Migo kisses exactly the way Jiya imagined him to—obnoxious. Pushy. Bossy. Migo Salas na Migo Salas. He spreads his fingers over the curve of her waist, sliding under her shirt to touch her skin, and his other hand goes to her neck, tilting it to the side.

Jiya threads her fingers in his hair and sucks his bottom lip.

Kasi kung pushy si Migo, mas pushy si Jiya. Mas bossy. Gano'n naman ever since dynamic nila—kaya palagi silang nag-aaway.

"Shit," Migo whispers, out of breath, and Jiya shuts him up. From slow, naging desperate, open-mouthed, dizzying and intoxicating one kiss melting to the next, and Jiya pushes him back against the headboard and takes his tongue to her mouth, and Migo gets his hands under her shirt sa likod niya, fingernails scraping down the dip of her spine it makes her moan softly in his mouth.

She bites his bottom lip before she slides her tongue inside again, tracing the roof of his mouth, fingers tightening in his hair, and Jiya feels a rush of unmistakeable satisfaction when Migo starts making helpless little breathless noises on her lips.

God. This is what it's like to kiss Migo Salas.

It's a deep, dragging kiss, with half of Jiya's body on top of him, chests pressing together no spaces, mouths open, Jiya takes exactly what she wants the way she wants it from him, swallowing all his tiny noises, taking him slowly, and then deeply, and then desperately—like she wants to take his breath away. Make him remember this is what it's like to kiss her.

After what feels like hours of her skin burning from his hands on her back, on her waist, on her neck and cheek, of their lips drawing out one kiss and then another and then another—Migo pulls back, lips red and swollen, chest rising and falling. He stares at her, eyes wide.

And then what Jiya did settles on her, and she gasps, horrified, before he can even say a word—and pushes his shoulders so hard he bangs his head on the headboard, and Jiya crawls off the bed very, very ungracefully, grabs her bag and runs away.

"Valle!" Migo shouts, but she doesn't turn around.

That would've been the last time they saw each other.

And then she sees him in school, first day na first day, and all her bones freeze and her heart goes numb—and then it races.

He'd remember. He'd remember how desperate she was when she kissed him, how desperate he was when he kissed her back, and how—oh, God. How she wanted him to remember, how she made him remember.

When Migo smiles, Jiya backs up. To Van, she mumbles, "Mauna ka na. I forgot I had a meeting." She turns around and runs.

Jiya doesn't know what to tell him when he asks.

So she doesn't.

*

Jiya's eyes flutter shut at the familiar, missed feeling of his lips on hers. She fists her hands on his shirt, pulls him to her, and kisses him back. Migo stumbles forward, backing her up against the wall, hands cupping her neck, and he slides their mouths together, sucks on her bottom lip, gets his tongue inside.

Jiya knew she wanted Migo. She just didn't know how badly until she had his lips on hers again. She feels like she's going wild with it, hurt and happiness and anger and desperation clawing at her skin as she moves her hands down to his belt, pulls it, and Migo's body falls flush into hers, groaning into her mouth.

"Tangina," he whispers, moving his head to the side, kissing her again, hard and deep. "Nakakabaliw ka, Valle."

"Shut up," Jiya whispers back, keeping her hands on his waistband, gives back as much as he's giving.

Then, at the back of her eyelids, she sees Rose's and Migo's faces—and she puts her palms on his chest and pushes him back, putting distance between them.

"Valle, wait," Migo says, tone panicked, digging his nails in her arm. "Tatakbuhan mo na naman ba ako?"

Jiya breathes heavily, shutting her eyes. "Nasa loob pa si Rose," she says, inhaling shakily. "Nasa loob pa si Rose, ano ginagawa mo dito?"

"We didn't kiss if that's what you're thinking," Migo says immediately, catching his breath. "Ano ba, Valle. Fine. Ako na mauuna. Paikot-ikot tayo, ikaw lang naman ang gusto ko. Ikaw lang, ikaw lang. Gets mo na? O tanga ka pa rin and I need to kiss you again to make you understand?"

Jiya stares at him, frozen.

The corner of his lips curls up as he watches her face. "'Yon naman din 'yong reason why you kissed me last summer, 'di ba?"

Shakily, she bows her head and puts it on his chest, moving him back. "Wait," she breathes.

Migo laughs. Jiya feels the vibrations of his chest under her palm and shivers. "Lutang ka na yata," he says, smug.

She swallows thickly and doesn't look at him. Para siyang nahihilo. Hallucinating. Lasing ba siya? Is this a dream?

"Valle," he whispers, stroking his fingers on the curve of her waist, fingers leaving a burning mark on her bare skin, "I like you. I've liked you for years."

"Wait lang, putangina," Jiya snaps, overwhelmed, forcefully pushing him back. "Wait, I—"

"There you guys are!" Addie's voice shouts from the end of the alley, and Migo jumps back, hands in his pockets, parang hindi niya lang ginawang baliw 'tong si Jiya with them. "Jiya babes, are you okay?"

Addie comes closer, frowning. Jiya looks up at her and smiles, shaking her head. "I'm fine."

"Your whole face is burning!" she shrieks, eyes wide, putting her hands on her cheeks.

Jiya doesn't dare look at Migo. She knows the asshole is grinning.

"Tara na, Van wants to go back to my condo, so ride with Isco. Ah, and Migs, hanap ka ni Rose."

Addie loops her arm around Jiya's and drags her back inside.

All of them leave the bar together. Hindi makatingin si Jiya kay Migo kahit ilang beses siya titigan nito.

Rose gets in Migo's car sa passenger seat. Inggo's riding with them. Jiya rolls her eyes and turns to Van, following her to Isco's car. Addie and Cas are leaving together, and Anton's leaving alone.

In the backseat, Jiya shuts her eyes and leans against the window, trying to calm her breathing down, Isco's and Van's loud singing voice filling the car.

When they get to Addie's unit, Van showers first, and Isco raids the fridge. He scrunches his nose and says, "Expired na food ni Ads, pota. Gusto n'yong pa-deliver ng McDo? I'll order."

Jiya nods and sits back on the couch, rubbing her forehead. "Please."

Isco blinks. "Ano?"

"Order ka," Jiya mutters.

"Shuta, nag-please si gago," he scoffs, shaking his head and clicking his tongue. "Lasing ka nga."

Jiya ignores him and almost jumps when her phone buzzes with texts. With dread filling her chest, she opens them with shaking fingers.

Pogi: so i wanna make out with you
Pogi: exclusively.
Pogi: if you're into that, call me
Pogi: if not, call me anyway
Pogi: i need an answer sa sinabi ko
kanina :)
Pogi: i'd call but idk if isco and van are
there.
Pogi: ah, and hinatid ko lang si rose.
walang nangyari. don't worry.

Jiya's breathing gets erratic reading all of those. She stands up and says, "I'll just call someone."

"K," Isco says back, scrolling through his Grab. "Ano gusto mo?"

"Nuggets, fries, Coke float." She shuts the door to Addie's condo pagkalabas niya and steps further away, near the elevators.

Without a second to spare, baka kasi mag-back out pa siya, she calls him.

Migo answers sa first ring pa lang. "Baby," he greets, the smile evident in his voice.

"My answer," Jiya starts, clenching her free hand into a fist, "is hindi 'to magwo-work."

"We'll make it work. Now give me a different answer."

Jiya leans back against the wall and closes her eyes. "Migo, I kissed you kasi I thought you were leaving."

"And now that I'm staying here, ayaw mo na?"

She swallows and doesn't answer him.

"Valle," Migo says. "Let's stop being each other's almosts. I like you, you like me, pwede bang maging tayo na? Ano pang iniisip mo?"

"Wait lang." Jiya scrunches her eyebrows together. "So dinala mo lang si Rose sa bar kasi you were trying to make me jealous?"

He laughs out loud. It fills Jiya's chest with a warmth she can't explain. "It worked, didn't it?"

She snaps angrily, "So kailan pa? Anong years pinagsasabi mo? Nagpapakabaliw ako sa 'yo since last summer tapos may gusto ka na pala sa 'kin—"

"Since freshmen pa tayo," Migo answers quietly.

"Last year?"

"Freshmen. In high school."

Jiya blinks. "Hatdog."

"Tanga," Migo says, laughing. "You hated me so much. The only way I could catch your attention was by being an asshole to you. Lagi mo 'kong pinapansin 'pag inaaway kita."

"Bobo," Jiya snaps. "So you posted my confession letter, pinahiya mo 'ko sa harap ng school, kasi may crush sa 'kin?"

He clears his throat. "Panget nga crush mo no'n, tangina naman. And nainis ako na may gusto kang iba."

"And tinulak mo 'ko sa pool kasi—"

"I was going to help you para 'di ka madulas! Pero you pulled your arm away tapos na-push kita accidentally," he explains in a rush, embarrassed.

"And you took my bag na may pads—"

"Because I was going to put chocolates and food in it kasi alam ko you haven't eaten yet, pero you took it back before I had the chance," he mumbles. "Sorry. Medyo tanga-tanga talaga ako."

Jiya bites her bottom lip. Out of her control, her lips start to pull up into a smile.

"Ano?" Migo asks impatiently. "Magsalita ka, kinakabahan ako dito."

She sighs and looks down at her feet. "Alam mo bang ilang beses ako umiyak because of you?"

Migo pauses, inhaling sharply.

"And na-realize ko lang," she continues, swallowing, "that I was hurt because I like you. A lot. So tangina mo."

He laughs again, loud and happy. "Valle, alam mo naman na lahat ng sinabi kong gago hindi totoo. I was either just trying to get your attention—in the worst way possible—or nagselos ako. 'Yong kay Buenca, 'yong kay Jeremy. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry about Rose," she mutters, kicking her feet on the floor. "And about what I said sa JSEC. I was just mad."

"I know," Migo says lightly, smiling. "O, ikaw naman. Since when?"

Jiya flushes. "Basta."

"Madaya, pota," he snaps. "Bilis na. I was moving away thinking na never na ako magkaka-chance sa 'yo, tapos hahalikan mo ko nang gano'n? Puta, 'di na ako nakaalis."

She covers her face with her free hand and mumbles, "Last year. No'ng pinakilala mo si Tasha sa 'min. Do'n ko na-realize."

"Oh," he says. Jiya imagines him wincing. "Shit, sorry. Ilang beses ko na rin dinala si Tasha with us."

Jiya tried her best just to ignore them. Masakit man, she tells herself na wala siyang pake kasi hindi naman siya gusto ni Migo. "You didn't know," she says.

"I wish I did," Migo mutters. "I wish I did. 'Yong selos ko when you and Anton go out—God, I wanted to pull out his intestines, and friends pa lang kayo n'on. I can't imagine what you felt na naging kami pa ni Tasha."

She shakes her head kahit hindi siya kita. "Sorry about Anton," she mutters.

"Siya mag-sorry sa 'kin," he says, snorting. "Siya may gusto sa 'yo."

Jiya rolls her eyes. "That's not true."

"Tanga," he snaps. "Bibigyan ka ba ng flowers, ilalabas ka ba for dates, and dadalhin ka all the way to Tagaytay kasi friends lang kayo? And umamin na siya sa 'min, 'wag kang ano."

"Fine," Jiya says, defensive. "Well, ikaw naman yung gusto ko, so ano magagawa niya?"

Migo lets out a deep breath. "Shit, kinikilig ako. Wait lang."

Jiya laughs out loud. "Gago."

"So okay na?" he asks, voice like that of a kid's na kakabili lang ng candy. "Patay na patay ka sa 'kin, patay na patay ako sa 'yo, I get to make out with you exclusively—"

"How do we tell our friends?"

"'Hoy mga putangina. Valle and I are dating.' Done."

Jiya shakes her head. "You think it's that easy?"

He hums. "Well, feeling ko alam naman nila na may something. Lalo na si Isco, but we'll figure it out. For now, sure ka bang 'di ka lasing? Iiyak ako bukas if this is just a very cruel prank."

Jiya turns around to the wall and leans her forehead on it, closing her eyes. "Sure ka bang 'di kayo nag-kiss ni Rose?"

"Yes," he says.

"Yes rin, I'm not drunk or messing with you," Jiya whispers. "Okay! Goodnight! Matulog ka na!"

Migo laughs. "Cute mo. Daan ako tomorrow."

"Ayoko," Jiya snaps, clutching her chest. "'Wag ka muna magpakita."

He makes a noise of protest. "Bakit? Gusto kitang makita."

"Baka masapak kita sa kaba."

He laughs again. "'Nyeta, Valle, dahan-dahan, please."

"Night," she says and hangs up.

Jiya clutches the phone to her chest and breathes deeply. In, out. In, out. She squeezes her eyes shut and whispers, "Calm down, calm down."

Pagbalik niya sa unit, si Isco naman ang nasa shower, and Van's lying down on Addie's bed, a towel on her head, scrolling through her phone. She frowns at Jiya and asks, "Sino kausap mo? And tagal naman."

Jiya bites her lip and shakes her head, flopping down on her stomach beside her. "Wala, friend."

Her phone buzzes. Carefully, Jiya opens the message.

Pogi: night baby

She types her reply.

corny mo putangina

Pogi: AHSDHSJHSFSADKD

Jiya laughs and shuts her phone off.