And Then You

20 / inggo

RINN could've screamed at him to leave her at home. She could've locked herself in her room.

Bumalik muna sila sa bahay niya para sa kotse ni Inggo, e. Pero sumakay lang siya silently beside him and put on her seatbelt.

The relief spreads throughout his whole body first.

And then the anxiety.

He's never done this before, never had anyone worth doing this for. Ngayong mayro'n na...yung kaba niya, sheeeeesh. Gan'to ba parati pinagdadaanan ni Migo 'pag kasama niya si Ji? O sadyang dahil lang alam niyang may chance he can fuck this up more than he already has?

Potangina. He can feel his palms sweating.

He's sure Rinn would find this endearing...tease him, even, or try to relax him with her laughter and her touch...if she wasn't mad at him.

Kasalanan niya 'to. Hindi niya dapat siya iniwan sa condo, and he's been trying to make amends for it since pagbalik ng school.

Inggo takes a breath that doesn't do anything to calm his heart and tries for a smile. "Sana excited ka, Rinn."

She nods once and looks out the window.

Shit.

Inggo starts the engine, sucking it up.

He sabotaged her date and her plans. 'Di naman niya in-expect na magiging excited talaga si Rinn, pero it hurts pala all the same.

Na parang napilitan lang siya and just wants to get this over with.

Inggo tightens his hands on the steering wheel and tells himself again na kasalanan niya 'to. Doesn't matter kung first time niyang magplano o mag-book ng reservations. Doesn't matter kung ilang weeks siyang nag-research for the best places kasi wala siyang alam sa territory na 'to. Doesn't matter if he spent nights worrying about whether she'd find it boring, or underwhelming, or ridiculous, and she'd be too nice to say it to his face.

Sinabi na ni Rinn sa kanya na he broke her heart.

Hearing it in her shaky and quiet voice felt like a knife twisting around his own.

Migo trusted him not to do that. Lalong-lalo na si Rinn. Tapos ano ngayon ang ginawa niya.

Putangina ka talagang bobo ka.

Inggo takes another deep breath and tells himself to focus and make her smile and give her a good time.

Once Inggo parks the car, he shuts off the engine and quickly walks to her side to open it, offering his hand.

Rinn stares at it.

Inggo's smile wavers. He whispers, "Please, Rinn."

With a swallow, she puts her hand in his.

He exhales a shuddering breath and threads their fingers together.

Inggo leads her inside the pottery studio, opening the door to let her through first. His hand finds its way to her small waist as they walk up the reception area, heart crawling through his throat at (a) the fact that Rinn fits so easily into his side and doesn't push him away, and (b) na nandito na sila at sana, putangina, sana magustuhan 'to ni Rinn and she doesn't demand that he take her home.

She's looking around in awe, blinking at the pottery shop, as they're led further inside the studio to the work stations. The instructor, si Rey, greets them both with a wide smile, sending a wink Inggo's way, and gives them aprons and the materials needed for the session. Tapos dinala sila to the corner of the room, sa mas private, kasi ni-request ni Inggo 'yon.