And Then You

22 / maureen

sanay siya sa kuya inggo guys ok it's 'cause he's older!! mawawala din yan :')

*

"FRIENDS," Kuya Inggo repeats flatly, halatang hindi natutuwa.

"Special friends," Maureen squeaks with a sheepish smile.

"Tanginang 'yan."

"Hey." She frowns. "I told you I need to think about this."

"Eeeeeeee," Kuya Inggo whines, scratching his scalp with his fingers. "Rinn naman, eeeeeeee—"

"Are you—" Maureen blinks, peering up at his face and tiptoeing. "Are you pouting?"

Kuya Inggo pushes her face away with his palm, glaring at her. "Special friends ampota," he mutters, aggressively grabbing his laptop and scooting his chair away from her. "May special friends bang may lima nang anak? The fuck."

Maureen can't stop laughing. "Kuya Inggo, you're graduating soon."

"O, tapos," sungit niyang sabi.

"And then it's med school after," she says with a smile, shrugging. "You might change your mind about wanting a relationship since med will take up all your time...'tsaka mas may freedom ka do'n. Baka sanay ka lang kasi sa 'kin kaya you're mistaking comfort for...feelings."

Feelings. Feelings?! Shet.

She still can't believe it.

Kuya Inggo's jaw hardens as he stares at her. "So...papayag ka lang 'pag nasa med school na 'ko? You want to be sure I'm sure?"

Maureen nods, biting her lip. "Yep—before we tell Kuya Migo. I think that's the smart move."

His eyes go to her mouth. "What's the bobo move?"

"I kiss you right now and we stop studying."

"Buhay bobo tayo dito. Thesis who?" Kuya Inggo pushes his laptop away and tilts his head towards her, grabbing her face.

Maureen sputters out a laugh and pushes his forehead back with two fingers, standing up to get herself a glass of water. "Nope. Special friends is like...walang label."

Kuya Inggo huffs, thrusting a hand in his hair and spreading his legs further on the chair. Lowly, he asks, "Pero exclusive?"

Maureen sits on the sofa and makes a so-so gesture with her hand.

"Ano 'yan?" he demands. "Oo o hinde? Pag-isipin mong mabuti sagot mo, Rinn."

She grins. "It means if you can be, then yes."

Kuya Inggo deflates. "I have been and I can," he mumbles.

Bakit ba ang cute niya? Gigil si Maureen, e. "I know, I believe you. Pero walang sex na kasama sa special friends, Kuya Inggo."

"Shit." He runs a hand over his face, laughing once without humor. He narrows his eyes at her, and then asks hopefully, "Final answer?"

Natawa si Maureen. "Yes. Until we're official."

Ayaw na lang sabihin ni Maureen na may trauma siya of him leaving after a night of that.

'Tsaka pa'no 'pag sila na? In passing every woman that gave him a suggestive smile or a once-over, will she wonder if he ever laid in bed with them?

"Okay, may kamay naman ako pang-jakol. What about kissing?" Kuya Inggo puts his hands together in prayer, giving her his best puppy eyes.

As much as she wants his mouth all over her...hindi makakatigil si Maureen kung pinayagan niya 'to. He's too addictive. "Hugging."