Champorado

19

"IBA ang ngiti natin, 'tol," Inggo says, chuckling and wagging his eyebrows. "Anong nangyari?"

"Walang nangyari," Cas counters, biting his lip to keep from smiling, pero halatang-halata na ngumingiti na 'to sa glow ng mukha habang binababa ang bag sa couch.

"Shet!" Migo howls, jumping on his back. "Puta ka! Iniwan mo na 'ko!"

Anton whistles loudly and tackles him. "Pare! I'm so proud!"

Inggo tackles all of them and brings them to the ground, wrapping his arm around Cas's neck in a chokehold and ruffling his hair. "Ang laki mo na, totoy!" He wipes a fake tear from his face. "Kahapon lang, naiiiyak ka kasi akala mo mabaho hininga mo when you first kissed Addie—"

"Tangina mo!" Cas shouts, kicking him.

Jiya rolls her eyes, focused on her laptop while she slurps her her coffee. Ang ingay, pota, umagang-umaga.

Nagb-breakfast ang mga boys sa condo kasi free cut ang mga unggoy na 'to for first period at mamaya pa silang eleven, pero nang pumasok si Cas, kinalumitan na nila 'yong pagkain.

Alam din ni Jiya bakit sila nagkakagulo-gulo. Addie texted na kanina.

Hindi na siya virgin. Sila ni Cas.

"Ang cute mo naman!" sigaw ni Anton. "Kilig na kilig, ampota! Baka gusto mong umuwi ulit, pare?"

"Gago," Cas says, but he's laughing, red-faced, and wala nang pake si Jiya kasi alam niyang mahal niya si Addie and vice versa. "Kain na nga tayo—uy, Jiya! Morning!"

She sends him a salute without glancing at him.

"Don't worry. 'Di ko sinaktan si Ads," he says in a mumble.

"Wala akong sinabi," Jiya says, raising her eyebrow.

"Ah. Akala ko galit ka sa 'kin."

"Ganyan lang talaga 'yan," Migo says, slapping his back. "And magagalit na lang talaga kapag sinaktan mo na talaga si Ads. Baka mamatay ka."

"Hindi 'yon mangyayari," Cas says firmly.

"Siguraduhin mo," Jiya tells him, closing her laptop. She stands up and puts her things inside her bag. "Okay, class na ako, boys."

"'Wag na!" Inggo shouts from the couch, cuddled with Anton. "Dito ka na lang, bro."

Migo grabs her laptop and hugs it. "Dito ka na lang," he echoes, giving her his best puppy eyes.

Jiya rolls her eyes and puts on her ID. "Akin na."

"No."

"Miguel."

"Pota," he mutters, giving it back to her. "'Wag mo nga akong nilalandi sa harap ng mga kaibigan natin."

Cas whistles lowly. "O ano, alis na kami? Ikaw naman?"

Jiya throws him her pencil case. "Sige pa, Fuentes!"

"Sorry, sorry!"

Migo takes her bag and walks her to school, hand in hand. "How was yesterday pala with my sisters? Sabi nila it was fun but ayaw nilang magsabi kung ano ginawa n'yo."

Jiya's lips curl up in a smile.

"Ate, anong balak mo kay Kuya?" tanong ni Maureen while they were getting their nails done pagkatapos nilang mag-buffet. Even Meg was being pampered, kiliting-kiliti with her feet in the water.

"Kakatayin ko siya kapag pinalitan niya 'ko," Jiya answered her with a sweet smile.

Maureen giggled a little. "I'll help you. Pero kakatayin din kita kapag pinalitan mo rin siya."