MAY ngiting tagumpay si Migo paglabas nila ni Jiya from the bathroom during Addie's birthday sa Conrad.
Hinayupak na bastos. ANG DAYA.
Pagkaupo niya, Inggo slaps him. "Hoy, anong ngiti 'yan, bastos ka."
Migo laughs quietly and puts his hand on Jiya's knee again.
Inggo takes a sip of his wine and wipes his lips with the back of his hand. Tangina. He checks his watch. Two more hours before he can go, before he can see Rinn.
Naiinis na si Inggo. Tinalikuran niya si Migo at Jiya kasi putangina, in love na in love na nga, ang horny pa ng dalawa. Bwisit. Peste. ANG DAYA!!!
He doesn't know how he gets through the next two hours, but he's fidgety when they finally say goodbye to Addie and Cas. Inggo looks at himself in the mirror and fixes his hair and bowtie.
"Uuwi akong condo ah, hahatid ko lang 'to," warning ni Migo sa kanya with narrowed eyes, hand on Jiya's waist as she leans into his shoulder.
Inggo waves him off. "Aalis ako, gago."
His best friend grins at him. "Ah, who's the lucky lotto winner tonight? High school friend ni Addie? Cousin? Sa'n kayo? Motel? Bahay niya?"
Hay. Ito na nga ba.
Ilang months nang walang pumapasok-labas sa kwarto ni Inggo. Lagi lang in-a-assume ni Migo na wala na sila pagdating niya sa condo, o kasi busy siya sa acads—which is true naman talaga.
Pero since night off nila ngayon, akala niya magpapaka-fuckboy na naman si Inggo.
"Secret," na lang ang sabi niya, winking over his shoulder as he steps out of the elevator, shoving his hands inside his pockets. "Ingat, bro."
"Ingat!" sigaw pabalik ni Migo. "Enjoy!"
Oh, he fucking plans to.
He waits for Migo's car to pull out onto the road before he makes his way to Blue.
Inggo rolls down the window and shouts, "Kinakabahan ako!"
"Putangina, tigang na 'ko!"
"Sana 'di ka pa tulog!"
"Mukha akong tanga pero okay lang! Para sa 'yo!"
"Kingina! Kinakabahan ako! WOO!!!"
He puts on the biggest smile on his face when he rings Rinn's doorbell.
Iniwan niya dito hoodie niya the last time nilang mag-movie, so sana suot niya ngayon.
Pero—HINDI. Hinde! Anong suot niya?
DAMIT NG IBANG GAGO!
She blinks, taking in his appearance, a small smile forming on her face. Naka-tuxedo pa talaga siya, punyeta. "Kuya Inggo."
"Kanino 'yan?" sungit niyang tanong, pulling on the hem of the fucking shirt. "Ha?"
"Kay Kuya Migo, nasama ko sa damit ko ta's 'di ko na binalik. Bakit?"
Ah, e, gano'n talaga 'pag buhay bobo.
He clears his throat and makes his way inside. "Kamusta mga alaga natin?"
Mukhang tanga 'tong si Inggo nakatitig sa kanya while she studies. Wala raw siyang oras para mag-movie kasi may presentation siya bukas na kailangan niyang tapusin.
"Aren't you tired?" Rinn asks, completely focused on her screen, fingers fast on the keyboard. "Bakit ka pa dumaan?"
Ayaw ni Inggo ma-hurt sa sinabi niya. He reasons with himself na tama lang ang confusion ni Rinn, kasi putangina, 'di rin niya alam ginagawa niya, ang alam niya lang is na it feels right. Good.
"Na-miss ako ng mga alaga natin," na lang ang sagot niya. And I missed you, too.
'Di na siya sinagot ni Rinn, eyebrows furrowing at her laptop as she pulls her legs up under her.
Inggo bites his lip and swallows, eyes shifting to the bare shoulder na biglang lumabas kasi nag-slide down ang sleeve niya. Bra strap niya, kita.
Oh, how he wants to sink his teeth in that fucking—
Put his hand under her shorts—
Pull her hair—
"Bibili akong kape," sabi ni Inggo, standing up. "Stay here."
"Ha?" Rinn blinks. "Pa-deliver na lang tayo para—"
"Text me what you want." Inggo leaves so he can catch his fucking breath.
'La na siyang pake na pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao. Bwisit. Bakit ba? Waste of time pa kanina kung bumalik pa siya sa Burgundy para magpalit, e.
Pagbalik niya sa Blue, 'di siya gulat nang makitang tulog si Rinn on her desk, strands of hair falling on her face.
Inggo puts down the coffee silently, then kneels down to stare at her face.
Kinakabahan si Inggo. Baka gusto niya lang ng isa pang beses pampawala ng system. She's in his skin so fucking deep—there's no use denying it now—and he wants her to make it stop.
Pero...gagawin niya ba 'to kung one more night lang gusto niya—tuck her in bed, kunin ang laptop, and translate her remaining fourteen pages of notes into her working deck sa Canva, para makapagpahinga na siya?
Leave at four in the morning feeling tired—but satisfied as fuck?
Grin and bang his head on the wall when he gets her text?
Rinn: thank you :(
'Yon lang 'yon. Putanginang kinginang gago, gets na niya si Migo 'pag kinikilig sa text.
Inggo's smiling with toothpaste in his mouth as he types his reply.
you're welcome, rinn.
*
Sometimes, the stress gets to him.
Painis na sinarado ni Inggo 'yong pinto ng kwarto niya.
"Sa'n ka?" Migo asks tiredly, looking up from his books.
"Swimming. Tangina, 'yoko na." Inggo slams the door on the way out.
He's well-aware malapit na mag-midnight, pero does he give a fuck? No.
Gusto niyang puntahan si Rinn. Ever since first semester started, 'yong one-week fix na pagpunta niya sa Blue was his pahinga. His reward for making it through the week—or trying to.
Pero busy na rin masyado si Rinn kasi midterms na. Ayaw niyang istorbohin kahit all he wants to do is stare at her while she studies.
So pumunta siya sa pool sa school.
This isn't the first time he's done this, kaya alam na niya kung saan papasok. He tosses his flip-flops away and takes off his shirt, strips down to his trunks, and dives in.
Hindi alam ni Inggo kung ga'no katagal siyang nagla-laps 'tsaka nagfo-float lang sa tubig.
Pero narinig niya na may ibang tao, and he turns quickly, not expecting the breath to get knocked out of him.
Rinn is standing at the edge of the pool in—in a loose V-neck white shirt and denim fucking shorts. "Hi."
"Pinuntahan mo 'ko?"
