Kinabukasan, mukha ni Niki ang nabungaran ni Andy pagkamulat niya ng mga mata. She was curled in a fetal position facing him, the tendrils of her hair gently caressing the side of her face. She was still wearing his jacket underneath the thick blanket. The room was cold due to the air-conditioning. He could feel her knee between his thighs. The other leg draped over him.

The sun was already peeking out from the partially parted curtains on the windows. At that moment, Andy could only hear three things clearly: the hum of the AC unit, Niki's soft breaths, and the slow and steady beating of his own heart.

What a way to wake up in the morning.

His throat was as dry as the desert under the intense heat of the sun, and all he wanted to do was get up and drink some coffee. But it could wait. The world could wait.

He carefully lifted his left hand to touch her face. Sensing that her cheek was a bit cold, he hiked up the blanket to cover her chin. The movement, however slight, caused Niki to stir under the blanket.

Andy held his breath and prayed that she would not wake up yet.

Niki got drunk last night, despite his efforts to help her not to. Tumagal naman ito hanggang sa maubos nila ang huling bote ng alak. Sa kakaasikaso niya rito at sa mga kaibigan, hindi siya gaanong nalasing. Kada request kasi ng mga ito, siya ang tumatayo at gumagawa. Except for when Niki has decided to lean on his shoulder and sleep.

His friends went home at around 2AM, pagkatapos makapagkape at magtanggal ng tama ng mga ito. Prior to that, si Niki ang unang nagpaalam para matulog. Inihatid niya ito sa kwarto ni Antoneth, but his sister somehow forgot that Niki was sleeping in her room. Since Antoneth's room was locked, Andy just took Niki to his room to let her sleep.

He wanted to take the jacket off to make her more comfortable, but she was hugging herself so tightly that he just gave up. Ihiniga niya ito nang maayos sa kama. Binuksan niya ang AC bago ito kumutan, saka siya bumalik sa mga kaibigan na nasa kubo.

"Andy, pakape ka naman," sabi sa kanya ni Jewel. Naiiling siyang bumalik sa kusina para kumuha ng kape.

Mike helped him bring mugs for everyone.

"Wag 'yan," sabi niya rito nang kunin nito sa dish rack ang paboritong mug ni Niki. "Kay Niki yan."

Mike raised both of his hands and backed away. "Okay. Sorry."

He let out a laugh. "Timplahin na kaya natin dito yung kape para iinumin na lang nila dun?"

Mike touched his shoulder. "Pre, natikman mo na ba yung kape mo?"

"Bakit ayaw ninyo sa kape ko?"

"It's like eating pure sugar, bro."

He frowned. "Hm. Sabi nga rin ni Niki."

"Makinig ka kay Niki." Mike put Niki's mug back on the dish rack and took the other mugs with him. Siya naman ay dinala ang mga titimplahin at ang thermos, sa likod-bahay.

"So when are you going to tell Niki about your feelings?" Angel asked him while they were making their own cup of coffee.

"Ayaw nya." Si PJ ang sumagot para sa kanya. "He doesn't want things to change."

"But why not? Change is good," Angel argued.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Can't you just guys forget what we talked about earlier?"

Jewel shook her head while clicking her tongue. "Andy, Andy, Andy..."

"Bakit takot na takot ka?" kunot-noong tanong ni Babylene sa kanya. "Of all the people in the world, you know Niki's heart the best. You only have good intentions towards her. Of all the people, Andy, you are the best guy out there for her. And she knows your heart too. Kayo nga ang pinakang-compatible na maging magkarelasyon e. Because you've been friends for a long time. Isn't friendship the best foundation of any relationship?"

PJ clapped his hand in awe. "Wow. Iba ka talagang magsalita kapag lasing, Babylene. May konting sense."

Cathleen laughed and slapped her boyfriend's shoulder. "Ikaw, lasing o hindi, wala pa ring sense."

Dumukwang si Babylene para makipagkamay kay Cathleen.

"Alam naman naming kahit ano'ng pilit namin sa inyo, kung ayaw ninyong dalawa, walang mangyayari," Mike told him. "But can you honestly see Niki with another man? Paano kapag ikakasal sya sa iba? Can you really send her off to the altar to marry someone else?"

"Baka naman kasi hindi pa nya naiisip yung kasal-kasal na yan," Babylene said to Mike.

"No. You don't understand. Kaming mga lalaki, kapag in love kami, kahit hindi pa namin girlfriend, we already imagine the life we could have together. Ang utak namin, nandoon na sa hanggang pagtanda," paliwanag ni Mike. "Kagaya ko. Na-love at first sight ako sa asawa ko. Unang beses pa lang naming magkita, naka-wedding gown na sya sa utak ko."

They all laughed at Mike's story.

"So, of course Andy has already imagined what his life could be with Niki."

"Thank you for speaking on my behalf," he said sarcastically.

Jewel took a sip of her coffee before speaking, "Niki likes you too, you know."

Lahat sila ay napatingin dito. Isa-isa silang tiningnan ni Jewel bago ito bumuntong-hininga. "May nakwento sa 'kin si Niki..."

Babylene scooted closer to her friend, as if Jewel was going to just whisper it to her. Ibinaba ni Jewel ang mug nito sa lamesa. "Niki and Andy kissed."

The audible gasps that followed almost woke the neighbors up. Everyone's heads turned towards his direction. Tahimik ang mga itong naghintay ng paliwanag mula sa kanya. And when he didn't speak, Jewel continued with her story.

"Niki was doing something for her content. Kasama doon yung paghalik kay Andy. Alam ninyo yung videos ng mag-best friends na nagki-kiss on cam? Well, the best friend should have acted disgusted. Iiwas dapat. E itong friend natin, hindi umiwas. E di na-shock si Niki. Tapos ayun."

"So naka-video yan?!"

He was shocked too. He didn't know she was recording it.

"Niki was expecting to capture something else. Kaso ayun."

Lumapit sa kanya si Babylene at hinampas-hampas siya sa braso. "Gago ka, Andy! Umamin ka na! Ano pang hinihintay mo?!"

PJ pulled Babylene back to her seat. "Kumalma ka nga."

Sinimangutan nito si PJ. "Alam mo yung ako yung napu-frustrate sa kanila? Since high school... jusko... kung pwede lang kulamin ko silang dalawa, ginawa ko na!"

Tumawa si Cathleen at inalo-alo si Babylene. "Grabe. Feel na feel ko yung passion mo sa relationship ng ibang tao."

"Number one shipper nila si Babylene nung high school."

"I guess until today," dagdag ni Angel. Bumaling ito sa kanya. "Now that you know that she also likes you, will you not even try?"

"What if, makipag-deal ka sa kanya?" suggestion ni Babylene. "Kapag hindi pa kayo kasal by 30, kayo na lang dalawa ang magpapakasal?" Humagikhik ito pagkatapos. "O, di ba. Wala kayong kawala pareho!"

Andy simply laughed and shook his head. He had actually already thought of Babylene's idea. What stopped him was the possibility that Niki might find someone before the deadline. But they were right in one thing: he should at least try.

–

The quiet and stillness of Niki's morning were partially ruined by the slight movement of the blanket she was under. Gusto pa sana niyang matulog nang mas matagal, but the drowse was already slowly leaving her system.

She rubbed her eyes and blinked repeatedly until her vision began clearing up. She could feel the heavy blanket on her and the coldness of the air from the AC unit. With the help of the light peeking through the parted curtains, she was able to see the room she was in.

She could recognize the make of the room and the posters on the wall... and Andy sleeping next to her.

He must have been tired last night. Ito ang naging abala sa pag-aasikaso sa kanya at sa mga bisita nila dahil agad siyang tinamaan ng alak. She couldn't keep her eyes open anymore last night. Nakahilig na lamang siya sa balikat nito for the rest of the drinking session.

Hindi niya alam kung mukha talaga siyang tulog kagabi dahil nag-uusap ang mga ito na parang wala siyang naririnig. She was conscious. She was awake. She heard everything.

It must have been exhausting for Andy to be her best friend while secretly wanting something more, and all the while preventing anything that would change the dynamic of their friendship. Niki didn't know if Andy has liked her since they became friends or if it was only a recent thing, like how her feelings for him had changed just this year.

She held her breath and closed her eyes when she heard a knock. "Kuya?" came Tonet's voice from behind the door. Pumihit ng dahan-dahan ang door knob. She heard Tonet gasp, probably surprised to see them sleeping on the same bed.

Mas naging mariin ang pagpikit ni Niki nang marinig na magsalitang muli si Tonet. "Good morning... so uhm... I just found them like this. Guys! It's happening!" pabulong nitong sabi. Niki had a feeling that Antoneth was talking to someone else on the phone. Or worse... nagvi-video yata ito.

–

Even with his eyes closed, Andy knew what his sister was doing. She was filming him and Niki sleeping. Ilang beses na niya itong nahuling nagvi-video pero hindi niya ito sinita dahil akala niya ay nagdu-document lang ito ng pasko nila. But if he ever saw that video online, malalagot talaga sa kanya ang kapatid.

They stayed there for a long time even after Tonet got out of the room. Andy didn't know if Niki knew he was already awake. He certainly knew she was already awake.

But since Niki was still pretending to be asleep, he figured that he should "wake up" first to save her from embarrassing herself. Gumalaw siya para makahiwalay dito, saka siya dahan-dahang nag-inat. Niki took the opportunity to "wake up" at that moment as well.

"Morning," bati niya. His throat was really dry, like sandpaper. Agad siyang bumangon para makainom ng tubig.

Pagkalabas niya ng kwrto, naabutan niyang nakangisi si Tonet sa phone habang pinanunuod ang kinuha nitong video. She immediately locked the screen of her phone when she saw him get out of his room.

"Ano 'yan?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"Wala, Kuya. Gising na si Ate Niki? May tira pang almusal. Kumain na lang kayo sa baba," dire-diretso nitong sabi saka ito dali-daling bumaba ng hagdan.

He followed his sister downstairs. Ponkan greeted him at the foot of the stairs by headbutting his leg. Kinalong niya ang pusa at hinalikan sa pisngi. Ponkan must have smelled the alcohol on him. Nagpumiglas ito.

"Pinakain mo na si Ponkan?" tanong niya sa kapatid.

Antoneth nodded. "Kanina pa."

"Yung kuting?"

"Nasa kubo, dala ni Papa."

Andy scratched his head. Kung ngayon pa lang ay attached na ang mga kabahay niya sa mga alaga nilang pusa, baka mahirapan sila ni Niki na isama ang mga iyon pabalik ng Maynila. Shaking his head, he walked to the bathroom to wash his face. Saka siya uminom ng dalawang basong tubig.

Niki also went downstairs after a few minutes. She has already removed the jacket. Nakataas na ang mahaba nitong buhok, into a wonky bun. She was walking with her eyes half-closed towards the bathroom while rubbing her stomach. Mukhang nangangasim ang sikmura nito dahil sa nainom na alak kagabi. He decided against making her a cup of coffee.

Mabuti na lang at nagluto ng soup ang mama niya para sa kanilang dalawa. When Niki got back from the bathroom, he handed her a cup of the hot soup.

"Gusto ko ng kape," ungot nito sa kanya.

"Mamaya ka na magkape." Hinipan niya ang sopas bago iabot dito. Niki took the cup from his hand and carefully took a sip. As soon as she finished the whole cup, inabutan naman niya ito ng tubig.

"What do you want for breakfast?" tanong niya rito.

"Tanghali na po," sabat ni Tonet mula sa sala.

Sabay sila ni Niki na napatingin sa orasan. Malapit na palang mag-alas dose.

"Sabi ni mama mag-init na lang daw ng tirang ulam."

Andy grimaced at the thought of eating more of the Christmas food they have been eating since the other day.

"Corned beef," Niki told him. "Gusto ko ng corned beef silog."