THERE'S a reason Inggo doesn't chase after Rinn.

In freshman year, Migo called Inggo while he was in the middle of sex.

Sinagot ni Inggo, out of breath. "Ano, gago? Tangina, busy ako—"

"Inggo, sorry," sabi ni Migo. "Shit, sorry. I need a favor. It's Mau. Putangina."

Nagulat si Inggo kasi first time niyang narinig na seryoso at galit ang kaibigan niya.

He stopped and hurriedly rolled off the bed. "Ano? Ano nangyari?"

"Nasa condo ka? May tux ka ba diyan?"

"Meron." Inggo glanced at the girl, who looked incredulous and irritated, said, "Alis," and pinched the phone between his ear and neck to throw open his closet. "Sa'n ako pupunta? Ano nangyari kay Rinn?"

At the time, alam na ni Inggo kung paano ang relationship ni Migo with his sisters. Alam na niya na laging silang nilalabas ni Migo for a date to the movies o kahit lunch o dinner, alam na niya na nag-uuwi si Migo ng Starbucks cheesecake para kay Rinn at donuts para kay Meg at Tita Sheryl, alam na niya na Migo called them once a week habang nasa Katip siya kahit uuwi naman siya sa weekend kasi miss niya na sila at gusto niya malaman kung kamusta na sila. Alam ni Inggo na, ni isang beses, walang text o tawag galing sa mga kapatid niya na hindi sinasagot agad ni Migo. Walang inis kahit kinukulit siya.

Natutuwa pa nga. Sasabihin niya kay Inggo nang nakangiti, "Uy, nag-text si Mau."

"Ano sabi?" tatanungin ni Inggo.

"Ang panget mo, Kuya," he'd read, natatawa. Then he'd reply agad, already typing on his phone. "Bwisit 'tong batang 'to. Panget ka rin."

Napapairap na lang si Inggo kasi alam niyang may kasunod pa 'yon: ingat sa school. Makinig ka sa teachers mo. Kumain ka nang marami. Text mo 'ko 'pag pauwi at nakauwi ka na.

Nagsabi si Migo ng name ng hotel. "Prom nila ngayon pero 'di yata darating putanginang date niya. Wala pa rin."

Inggo felt Migo's anger. Pero more than that, he felt his own rage.

"Nasa'n ka?" he asked, buttoning his polo shirt hurriedly. "Nagbibihis na 'ko."

"Traffic, gago. Fuck! Forty-five pa. Mas malapit ka sa 'kin, I'll meet you sa venue na. Sorry, magdala ka ng pera, may bayad tickets—"

"'Wag ka magpabangga, gago," Inggo snapped, throwing on his blazer and tie carelessly around his neck. "May papatayin pa tayo. Akong bahala kay Rinn, text mo 'ko. Get out!"

Sinigaw ni Inggo 'yong last sentence na 'yon sa babaeng nasa kama pa rin niya.

At his tone, she scrambled off the bed and hurriedly put on her clothes.

"Shit," sabi ni Migo, natataranta na nga, nalaman pang may kasama si Inggo no'ng tumawag. Narinig ni Inggo na sinuntok niya ang steering wheel. "Shit. Sorry, tangina—"

"Shut up," sabi ni Inggo.

"Please, please, please, give her a good time until I can get there. Make her smile, please—"

"Migo," sabi ni Inggo, barely able to keep his anger in. "Mag-focus ka diyan, tangina mo."

Binaba na niya ang phone. He put on gel on his hair and sprayed cologne over himself, slipped into his shoes, and left the condo.

Ang mga napansin ni Inggo no'ng gabing 'yon: (1) mahal ang ticket, pero wala siyang pakialam, (2) pinagtitinginan siya ng mga high school girls, pero wala siyang pakialam habang hinahanap si Rinn, at (3) slow song ang nagpa-play at puno ang dance floor.

Nang mahanap niya si Rinn, nag-iisa siya sa table, pinapanood ang mga kaklase niyang sumasayaw.

Mukhang maayos pa makeup niya. Mukhang hindi siya umiyak—o hindi pa. O baka nag-ayos na sa banyo kanina.

Shit. His hands clenched themselves into fists by his side, pero hindi siya pwedeng magalit.

Give her a good time. Make her smile.

It wasn't even Migo's voice in his head. It was his own.

Nilapitan siya ni Inggo, plastering his smile in place. "Rinn."

Her eyes widened in surprise, jaw dropping. "Kuya Inggo. Oh my God, nakabihis ka."

He laughed. "It's prom, of course nakabihis ako." He winked and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

She looked at his hand, then back at his eyes, and then smiled so slowly it tore his chest open.

Rinn danced with him. She laughed when he spun her around. He allowed her to step on his shoes. She grinned when he dragged her to the buffet table to eat chocolate bonbons, and laughed again when he took her to the photobooth and made silly faces while putting on props and masks.

He told her she looked beautiful. At hindi 'yon para lang ngumiti siya—it was the truth.

She smiled, anyway. "Do I have to say na gwapo ka rin?"

Inggo laughed so hard.

Softly, Rinn asked him, "What are you doing here, Kuya Inggo?"

May finals kasi sila ni Migo.

But Inggo smiled and said, "I'm here for you."

Then she hugged him, still swaying. Inggo squeezed her to him.

No'ng dumating si Migo, naka-tux na rin, he put on the biggest smile on his face para abutin sila sa dance floor. Niyakap siya ni Rinn with a surprised, "Kuya!" and then laughed when Migo said, "Kanina ka pa sinasayaw ni Inggo, ako naman."

In the end, dalawa ang naging dates ni Rinn kasi hindi sumulpot si putanginang gago. Rinn had fun with her friends sa may banda while Inggo and Migo hung back sa table, watching her.

May mga ilang girls na lumapit kay Inggo, pero sabi niya, "Date ko si Maureen Salas, sorry."

Pagkatapos, at past one in the morning, kumain sila sa McDo nang naka-suit and tie si Inggo at Migo at naka-dress si Rinn. Sa kotse, kumanta sila nang malakas pauwi. Tapos bago pumasok si Rinn sa bahay pagka-park ni Migo, she kissed both their cheeks and whispered, "Thank you. Goodnight, balik na kayong Katip and aral na kayo."

Migo and Inggo grinned at her and waved until makapasok siya sa bahay.

Once she was inside, Inggo dropped the smile and said, "Sa'n?"

Migo put the car in drive and didn't answer him.

Nakarating sila sa isang bar. 'Di na alam ni Inggo kung saan, at 'di niya rin alam kung pa'no alam ni Migo na nandito si gago.

Sinundan niya si Migo sa loob. Once nakita niya ang gago, who was laughing with his fucking friends and drinking, Migo picked up a glass, stalked over, and poured it all over him before smashing the glass on the table.

Nagulat silang lahat. Bago pa man siya makatalikod, Migo hauled him up, smashed him against the nearest wall with his hands full of his shirt, and hissed, "You ditched my sister for this? Tangina ka, ah."

High school student pa lang 'to. Grade eleven o twelve.

Mapupunta sila sa prisinto nito, e. Pero hindi niya mahanap pake niya.

"Maureen Salas," sabi ni Migo, so close to crushing his air as his forearm pinned his neck in place. "Tandaan mo pangalan niya. Pagkatapos mong mag-sorry sa kanya sa klase on Monday, lumapit ka sa kanya ulit, hawakan mo siya ulit, tingnan mo siya ulit, I'm gonna fucking find you like this and do worse than pour a fucking drink on you. Intindi mo?" He patted his cheek with a harsh slap, smiling. "Bayaran mo yung baso, okay?"

Laging nakangiti si Migo. Like him, laging loko-loko 'tong gago.

Pero this smile—this smile was a promise.

Kumuha ng baso si Inggo sa table nila, nakiupo, 'tsaka nagpa-buhos ng alak. Pero ayaw nila lumapit sa kanya. "Ba't kayo takot? Kami lang 'to, guys."

Kaya siya na lang kumuha ng putanginang alak niya, downing it one shot. Medyo tinakot pa niya si gago na tatapon niya 'yong glass sa mukha niya. He flinched.

Inggo smiled and put it down, then left the place with Migo.

They stayed in the car in silence.

Tapos sabi ni Migo, "Thanks."

Tapos sabi ni Inggo, "Boy...natatakot ako sa magiging boyfriend ni Rinn at ni Meg."

It made his mouth twitch. "Pasalamat ka na lang hindi magiging ikaw 'yon. Kailangan dalawa tayong manakot."

At that time, natawa si Inggo.

Tapos, softly, sabi ni Migo, "Salamat sa pagpunta for Mau. And for giving her a good time. She had fun, and she's not going to cry tonight."

Inggo nodded. "Anytime."

"Ikaw ang una kong naisip na tawagan agad," Migo continued, swallowing thickly. "Alam kong pupuntahan mo siya. I don't trust anyone not to break her heart," sabi ni Migo, running a hand over his face. Then he turned to look at Inggo. "But I trust you not to."

I trust you not to.

I trust you not to.

I trust you not to.

What kind of jackass sleeps with his best friend's sister behind his back? Doon pa lang, na-break na ni Inggo trust ni Migo sa kanya—trust over his sisters, who he loved most in the world kapantay ni Jiya at ni Tita Sheryl. Binigay niya 'yon kay Inggo, at ano ginagawa niya ngayon?

'Pag lumabas siya ng kotse at sinundan niya si Rinn sa taas, hindi naman ibig sabihin n'on pinagkakatiwalaan niya sarili niya na mag-stay the whole night. To be in it all in, to go up to Migo and explain that this is what they both want.

Hindi niya alam ang gusto niya.

Baka umalis lang siya habang tulog si Rinn. Baka maramdaman pa ni Rinn na ginamit lang siya for sex.

She is not—has never been and will never be—any of Inggo's flings.

He will not hurt her or Migo or himself like that.

Kaya umalis na lang siya, punching the steering wheel.

Sa condo, nasa banyo si Migo. "Master," sabi ni Inggo nang lumabas si Jiya na suot ang shirt ni Salas.

Just as he thought, she stalks over to him and smacks his shoulder repeatedly. "Tanga! Tanga, tanga, tanga!"

Aray, gago, nanununtok nga pala 'to! Inggo puts his arms up to block her hits. "Kumain lang kami!" At nag-movie, nag-Timezone, 'tsaka nag-kiss sa kotse... "Aray, tangina!"

"Hoy, de Paz." Jiya points a finger at him and narrows her eyes. "I know your ways. Sinasabi ko sa 'yong off limits si Mau."

"Ayoko ngang mamatay!" Inggo groans, rubbing his shoulder. "Ji. I swear to God I won't touch her." Again.

She smacks him again on the head. "Siguraduhin mo lang."

Hindi na nga talaga, kasi Rinn deserves someone sure. Committed.

At hindi si Inggo 'yon. Hindi niya alam kung kaya niya maging 'yon.

Alam niyang ito ang tamang decision. He just hopes he doesn't fucking regret it.

*

I LOVE KUYA MIGO SOOOO MUCH. stomoyon pupuntahan ka sa prom :(  

thank u always for voting and commenting and tweeting :( kung 'di ko pa nali-like or nare-retweet mga threads n'yo, tag me please!!! i screenshot and bookmark them kasi kinikilig ako huhuhu love u all 

also nakita ko to tas sabi ko inggo??? (not mine ah HAHAHA)