"TANGINA, boy, walang ginawa sa 'yo ref ko, ha," Inggo snaps to his best friend from his desk, looking up from his books. "'Wag mong sinisisi 'yan sa mga problema mo, pota ka."

Kanina pa kasi binubuksan at sinasara nang painis ni Migo ang ref ni Inggo habang nakatitig sa phone niya.

Second year na nila sa med at nakabalik na si Jiya sa T&B. Puro overtime siya this week kaya nagta-tantrum na si Migo. Late nang nakakauwi si Jiya at hindi na naabutan si Migo kasi maagang umaalis for school. Ayan, nagwawala.

Pero gusto na rin magwala ni Inggo kasi hindi pa umuuwi si Migo, wala daw kwenta kung wala si Jiya do'n. Hindi tuloy makapunta si Rinn kay Inggo, tangina, naghihintay ng go signal from Blue.

May kotse na siya na secondhand, the only gift she accepted from her father kasi kailangan niya, at safe siyang mag-drive. May approval na from Migo after spending the whole summer praying for his life sa passenger seat sa simula.

And may approval na rin from Inggo. Siyempre hindi niya ipapag-drive si Rinn kung hindi siya okay mag-drive, 'di ba. Inggo would rather go back and forth from Blue kung hindi pa siya confident sa skills ni Rinn at kung hindi confident si Rinn sa sarili niya.

Inggo sighs and slams his book closed, massaging his temple when Migo closes the ref one last time and sinks down into his seat while glaring at his phone. "Oy, gago. Sinong Pilipino ang tawa nang tawa?"

"Laughu-Laughu," sabi ni Migo nang walang tono, hindi pa rin nakatingin sa kanya.

"Anong tawag sa maliit na tipaklong?"

"Tipakshort."

Bwisit. "KJ, ampota, alam na lahat ang sagot." Inggo rolls his eyes. "O, ano problema mo? Miss mo lang talaga si Ji? O dahil sa Montemayor?"

Migo turns his head to look at him. "Diretsuhin mo nga 'ko, de Paz. Sino mas gwapo sa 'min?"

"Ako."

"Hindi ka kasama sa choices!" Migo bites out. "Tangina, 'wag mo kong ginagago ngayon, wala ako sa mood!"

Inggo bites his lip to keep from laughing. Parang bata, ampota. "Asan ba picture?! Anong buong pangalan?"

Sinabi ni Migo sa kanya. Inggo pulls out his phone.

"Tangina mo, boy, walang ibang nakikita si Jiya kundi sa 'yo, 'wag mong sinasabi sa 'kin na kinakabahan—ay. Gwapo, gagi."

Binatukan siya ni Migo. "Sino nga!"

"Ikaw, tangina ka!" sigaw pabalik ni Inggo. Hindi lang dahil best friend niya 'tong si Migo pero totoo din naman. Bwisit. "Ga'no katangkad 'to? Mas matangkad ka?"

"Oo!"

"'Yon naman pala! 'Yon ang importante, boy!" Kinuha ni Inggo ang mukha ni Migo in his hands and presses their foreheads together. "Hoy, gago. Gwapo ka, matangkad ka, matalino ka, malaki ang alaga mo sa pantalon mo, girlfriend mo si Jiya, ikaw ang mahal ni Jiya, ikaw ang pakakasalan ni Jiya. Tanga, sino ba siya?" Inggo slaps his cheeks multiple times. "Gising, pota!"

"Tama, tama!" agree ni Migo, nodding with furrowed eyebrows, furiously blinking.

"I believe in you!" sigaw ni Inggo, still slapping his cheeks. "Ako magiging best man mo! Ninong ng anak mo!"

"Oo, gets ko—gets ko na—pwede ka na mag-stop—"

"'Wag mo 'kong d-in-o-dog show sa mga bullshit mo, Salas! You are loved! If you can't fly, then run! If you can't run, then walk! If you can't walk, then crawl! Maganda rin naman pwet mo, tangina! Gets mo?!"

"Aray, putangina mo! Tama na!"

"Aalis ka na ng condo ko?!"

"Oo!"

Binitawan ni Inggo si Migo with a smacking kiss on his cheek. "Door is that way."

While Migo furiously washes his face in the bathroom, Inggo texts his girlfriend.

baby come here na. paalis na kuya mo bwisit. send me ur waze and pls drive safe. if u need me, CALL. dont text and drive.

Her reply comes quickly.

Rinn: so bossy hehe oki otw na :*

you love it. ingat ka please.

Rinn: yes baby

Inggo bangs his head on the table.

Tanggal angas 'pag b-in-a-baby ka na ng mas bata sa 'yo, 'no?

"'Di mo man lang ako pinakain, bwisit," reklamo ni Migo pagkalabas niya ng banyo, picking up his bag from the floor sa may kama niya. "Samantalang 'pag nakiki-freeloader ka sa bahay, kinukuha mo pa yung pinakamalaking parte ng manok. Bwisit—huy!"

Sa biglang natatawang sigaw ni Migo, Inggo turns around.

"Tangina ka, hoy! Ano, nakalimutan niya ba 'yan nang itulak mo siya palabas?" Migo slaps his knee, wiping a tear from his eye.

Inggo stumbles over his chair getting up and surging toward the bed.

Tinuturo kasi ni Migo ang panty ni Rinn na nasa kama niya.

"Kay—"

Natigilan si Inggo.

Migo raises an eyebrow. "Kanino? Kilala ko? Classmate natin? Akala ko wala kang type do'n? O upper batch? Lower?"

He swallows thickly and grabs it. "Basta. Hindi mo kilala. Alis! Alis!"

"Taste mo na pala ngayon ang white cotton, 'tol. Akala ko more of a red lace guy ka, e."

Taste niya si Rinn. Point blank.

"Labas!"

"Ito na! Nimamadali mo pala ako kasi may schedule ka. 'Ge na!"

Sabi ni Rinn kailangan nila maging official before they tell Migo. E official na sila nang ilang months na.

Nakakapagod nang magtago.

He doesn't want to lie to Migo and Jiya all the damn time anymore—lalong-lalo na kay Migo na kasama niya halos araw-araw. He doesn't want to schedule the visits and their meet-ups and hole up in either of their condos or cars anymore kasi they can't even go out on a real date unless sa malayong-malayo. He doesn't want to act like other girls have a right to still look at him, hit on him, put their hand on his arm, and ask for rides. Hindi naman sa pinapayagan ni Inggo na gawin nila 'yon, lumalayo na nga siya 'tsaka nang-tu-turn down, pero ang hindi niya masabi na taken na siya? Pucha.

Imagine niya lang kung paano pa kaya si Rinn na nililibutan ng mga putanginang mosquitoes sa Ateneo ngayong graduate na si Migo at ang barkada niya.

Hindi lang niya masabi kay Inggo, pero alam niya na maraming nagpapa-cute sa baby niya. Gago. Pota. Kala mo naman cute, papanget kaya ng mga tanginang 'yon. Gusto ni Inggo maging isang six-foot bakod, at kung alam ni Migo na sila ni Rinn, sasamahan siya para maging isa pang six-foot bakod.

Kung hindi niya muna ilunod si Inggo sa sarili niyang dugo. Pero okay lang maghirap kung masasabi na niyang girlfriend na niya si Rinn.

Pero Rinn tells him to wait a little more while in bed with him, using his post-orgasm daze to her advantage. "Gusto ko na rin ipagsabi," she tells him quietly, tracing circles on his bare chest as she lays naked on top of him, their limbs still tangled in each other. "I don't want to hide you...or us any longer. Pero natatakot akong sabihin kay Kuya because I know he'll be furious with you. Ikaw ang i-ba-blame niya."

"I can handle it, baby," Inggo tells her, stroking her face. "Before, alam kong imposible to convince him na seryoso ako because I wasn't sure enough and I wasn't willing to try. Pero ngayon, Rinn...I know he thinks no man will ever be good enough for you, pero kaya ko naman na ipaglaban tayo sa kanya. I can and I will."

"Kaya ko rin. You're worth it. This is worth it," Rinn whispers, kissing his collarbone, and Inggo's cock twitches. Tangina, 'di na napagod, gago, nakatatlo na nga. "It's just...I'm sorry for risking your friendship with him. I know you love him and he loves you, but..."

Inggo hugs her tight, sighing into her hair. "He loves you more. Gets ko."

She breathes out shakily into his skin.

"Hey." Inggo strokes her spine gently. "Don't worry about it for now. He'll be happy for us once the shock wears off. Hanapin na lang natin yung right timing when you're ready."

She looks at him gratefully and kisses him slowly.

His consolation siguro is the fact na alam niyang mahal siya ni Maureen Salas.

It's enough for now.