Champorado

10

"BUNOT!" sigaw ni Van, shaking the bowl.

Anton lets out a shout, shaking his head and laughing. "'Pag ako nabunot ko ulit si Isco..."

"Mahal na mahal ko gift mo, bro," Isco says, pulling him in for a bro-handshake. "Salamat talaga. Gamit na gamit."

Van snorts. "'Pag wala ako."

"Natural," Isco says, winking at Van. He sticks his hand in the bowl. "Game! Bawal madaya, ah!"

"Hoy, Fuentes. Bawal mong sabihin kay Ads, gago ka," Inggo says, grabbing his own piece of paper. "Ikaw din, Ads, 'wag kayong madaya!"

Napunta naman kay Jiya and Migo 'yong bowl. Jiya doesn't want to move sa higa niya kay Migo, blanket on her body. "Kunan mo 'ko," she mutters.

Migo rolls his eyes, but he picks up two pieces of papers anyway. He hands her one, and his lips quirk up. "'Pag ikaw ulit nabunot ko this year, don't punch me."

She grins, cups his chin and kisses him on the cheek. "Deserve mo 'yon."

"Sorry na." He leans in to whisper, "'Di ka naman back to back, alam ko na from experience."

She slaps his shoulder. "Bastos ka."

"Walang away this year, please!" Addie says, pointedly looking at the two of them. "Alam kong kayo na, pero I'm not taking any chances."

"Shit, dumugo pa mouth ni Migs last year," Anton says, laughing. "Lakas kasi ni Jiya."

Inggo and Cas laugh. Migo shakes his head, smiling.

Simula last year, noong pinag-force ang barkadas ni Cas and Addie na magkasundo-sundo, isa na ro'n 'yong Casmas Party nila last Christmas. May pa-Secret Santa na sila no'n na pauso ni Addie—Anton got Isco (fleshlight), Van got Anton (socks na may mukha niya), Cas got Van (book of cocktail recipes), Inggo got Cas (Pornhub shirt), Addie got Inggo (cow-print romper na may ears), Jiya got Addie (the Lizzie McGuire movie soundtrack vinyl), Migo got Jiya, and Isco got Migo (Pornhub shirt).

In other words: Isco > Migo > Jiya > Addie > Inggo > Cas > Van > Anton > Isco.

Wala silang wishlist. Kung ano lang gusto mong ibigay sa nabunot mo, 'yon na 'yon.

Kaya naman binigyan ni Migo si Jiya ng breast suspenders. No'ng binuksan 'yon ni Jiya, tumatawa na siya. "Parang need mo e," sabi ni Migo. "'Lika dito, ako magsusuot sa 'yo."

Sa tawa ng mga kaibigan nila, medyo kinabahan din sila no'ng hindi gumalaw o nagsalita si Jiya. Tinitigan niya lang si Migo.

Ito namang si gago, lumapit para isuot sa kanya. "Kasi naman, Valle, 'wag tayong back to back." He clicked his tongue and shook his head, sighing. "Baka akala ng iba lalaki ka—"

Malapit na siyang mahawak ni Migo sa chest no'n.

He pulled his palms back immediately, raising them, eyes widening. "Valle, wala akong nahawakan."

He was defending himself, pero parang sinasabi niya na rin na back to back talaga siya.

"Bro," Inggo said, shaking his head.

"Ji, 'wag," Van warned.

Jiya pulled her fist back and punched him in the face.

This year, nakuha ni Jiya si Cas.

"Okay!" Van shouts, tucking her paper in her pocket. "Walang dayaan, mga punyeta kayo." She grabs her bag and puts on her shoes. "Group study tayo tomorrow, Ji, Ads?"

Jiya gives her a thumbs-up. Hinabol naman siya ni Isco, tapos sabay na sila nagpaalam. Si Addie naman uuwi na, hahatid lang siya ni Cas. Anton's going to the gym, tapos si Jiya mag-aaral sa lib.