double update dahil short lang ang dalawang 'to hehe

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WALA sa ugali ni Inggo de Paz manuntok.

But here he is anyway, punching the asshole who touched her in the bar in terrifyingly calm fury.

Alam ni Maureen why he's here.

Papunta na siya kanina sa Blue when Maureen told him she was at Lan Kwai with her friends.

Twenty minutes later at pumasok sila ni Kuya Migo at ni Ate Jiya and the rest of their popular barkada. Kuya Inggo's eyes scanned the floor immediately, biting his lip when he spotted her, the corner of his mouth turning up.

Oh, how her head buzzed, heart rejoiced, and her private parts clenched when she saw him in his plain black sweater and shorts.

Lalo na when he spread his legs over his chair, one arm over the back of it, and raised his hips while he adjusted his shorts to his size.

Bastos kang bata ka, sabi ng anghel niya.

Pero gusto niya na sanang umalis, ayaw niyang makita si Kuya Inggo with girls draped over him, his usual look when he's out partying...pero ayaw umalis ng mga kaibigan niya. One of them said, "Dito na tayo, may perfect view tayo of Migo Salas and Inggo de Paz!"

Batukan na sana ni Maureen 'yon, e.

Pero ang worry ni Maureen, na feeling niya masusuntok siya kung may in-entertain siyang babae kahit karapatan naman niya 'yon kung gusto niya...hindi naman nangyari.

Because she could tell he was watching her.

Other than his girl friends, walang iba. May mga lumapit, pero tinaboy sila ni Kuya Inggo with a polite smile and a tip of his shot glass.

Maureen could barely believe her eyes.

She could barely believe them now. He's still punching the fucker who put his hands on her butt from behind while she was dancing.

In a flash, he was ripped off her body. Akala ni Maureen si Kuya Migo at first, kasi kahit anong focus niya kay Ate Jiya, hinding-hindi niya palalagpasin sa paningin niya si Maureen.

Pero it wasn't Kuya Migo.

She's still shaking, shocked, pero Kuya Inggo doesn't look at her. He bends down, haules the asshole to his feet, and drags him outside. Sinundan siya nina Kuya Cas at Kuya Anton.

"Mau." Kuya Migo hugs her tight and leads her outside, stroking her back soothingly. "Tara."

Nakasunod sa kanila si Ate Jiya, who also hugs her and wipes her tears. "Mau, you want to stay muna sa Burgundy tonight?"

Oo, kasi nando'n si Kuya Migo. Pero nando'n din si Kuya Inggo.

She nods, at walang sabi-sabing dinala siya ng kuya niya sa kwarto niya. He gives her his clothes to sleep in and an extra toothbrush, then tucks her in bed, pulling the covers up to her chin.

"Kung may kailangan ka, nasa labas lang ako," sabi ni Kuya Migo with a weak smile, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her. "Gusto mo ng tubig?"

Maureen shakes her head slowly, sniffling. Her eyes are sore. "Kuya, what if nasaktan friends mo?"

"Don't worry about them," he mumbles, still smiling.

"Sorry," she whispers, feeling so bad they had to step in.

"Shut up." Kuya Migo's arms wrap around her, burying her head into his chest while she fists his shirt. "Don't you fucking apologize sa hindi mo kasalanan. Intindi mo, Maureen?"

Maureen swallows thickly and nods.

He strokes her back soothingly. "Sorry hindi ko napigilan."

"Kuya, ano ba," Maureen sobs, punching him lightly in the stomach. "'Di mo naman 'yon kasalanan! You couldn't have known what was gonna happen. Bawal ka rin mag-sorry kung bawal ako mag-sorry, okay?"

Kuya Migo sighs, squeezing her body to his in an even tighter hug. "Okay, 'wag ka na umiyak. Dito si Kuya. Dito si Kuya, Mau."

It's what he always told her when she cried herself to sleep the first few months she realized their dad left them.

"Love you, Kuya," sabi niya.

"Love you too, Mau."

"Ow!" narinig niyang sabi ni Kuya Inggo sa labas.

Pinapagalitan siya ni Ate Jiya sa labas, pero hindi na marinig ni Maureen.

Hay. She pulls away, and Kuya Migo wipes her tears with his fingers. "Pasabi kay Kuya Inggo and Kuya Cas and Kuya Anton na thank you...sobra."

He smiles at her and pats her head. "'Ge, akong bahala. Tulog ka na. Gisingin mo 'ko kung may kailangan ka."

Maureen smiles at him and lays her head on the pillow, shutting her eyes.

She hears Kuya Inggo ask, when Kuya Migo steps outside, "How is she?"

She doesn't hear the rest of their conversation, pero the answer must have not been enough to him kasi the door opens hours later, and she knows it's not Kuya Migo.

"Hi," Maureen whispers, sitting up.

Kuya Inggo steps inside Kuya Migo's room. His face looks sore. May bandage na maliit on his eyebrow and his lip has dried blood.

Shit.

"Thank you," she says, swallowing thickly.

Kuya Inggo doesn't say a word for a long while.

He sits down next to her, drops his head on her shoulder, and sighs, his breath tickling her skin. "Rinn," bulong niya.

"Yes, Kuya Inggo?"

It's so silent for so long, his breathing steady and his lips on her shoulder, that Maureen thinks he fell asleep.

But then he says, "I should've asked you to dance with me instead."

And then he turns his head, brushes his lips over her temple, and whispers, "Night."

Maureen stares at the door long after he's gone.

She thinks her cheeks hurt from smiling in her sleep.