And Then You

35 / inggo

SANAY na si Inggo na pinagtitinginan.

Sanay na siya sa mga ulong umiikot when he walks into a room, lalong-lalo pa 'pag kasama niya si Migo. Lalaki muna mata nila 'pag dumapo sa isa sa kanila, tapos mas lalo pang lalaki 'pag nakita yung isa. It used to amuse him kasi alam niyang kaya niya silang kunin with just the right look, the right smile, and the right words. In short, mataas ang success rate niya.

Pero si Rinn...hindi niya talaga alam na men would sign their lives away 'pag tumingin lang siya sa kanila.

He would sign his life away.

Pero pagdating kay Inggo, alam niya kung ano ginagawa niya.

Strategic kasi siya, e. Tingnan mo, nakalugay lang ang buhok niya kasi alam niyang nangangati ang kamay ni Inggo na i-wrap 'yon around his fist 'tsaka i-smooth 'yon down her back. Naka-top siya na crochet na off-shoulder na nga, cropped pa, may mga butas-butas pa, tapos matching low-waisted jeans. Kitang-kita ni Inggo the swell of her breasts that he'd like to bite again and the curve of her hips that he'd like to pin down and mark with his handprints again. Her cheeks are flushed and her lips are this soft pink he's imagined wrapped around his cock so many times in the past year and gasping in his mouth while he kisses her senseless.

Pero parang si Inggo ang nawawalan ng sense na nakatitig sa kanya. She's taking pictures of the place they're staying at and writing notes with her co-interns, laughing and smiling like she's not making him pant like a bitch in heat.

That's his girl. That's his girlfriend.

The word makes him rub his chest unconsciously—the part where his heart is.

It's not any different from what she's been to him for the past year. Hindi pala nakakatakot maging isang boyfriend kung ang boyfriend na 'yon ay sa tamang tao. Pero to have the title, to know that her body and her heart and soul will only have his handprints and no one else's, to be certain na alam ni Rinn na it's her handprints  alone and no one else's on his body and heart and soul...that security is such a relief.

And being with her is as easy as breathing.

Kissing her 'pag red ang stoplight sa kotse. Carrying her shopping bags with one hand and holding hers with the other while she clings to his arm. Sending her messages like

aso ka ba kasi asayo na ang lahat booo000m

tangina rinn pumunta ako sa ref para sa isang snack at wala ka don anong kalokohan

and receiving messages like

Rinn: you have to eat, ok?

ok spread them legs then

and

Rinn: sino paboritong gf mo

ikaw, baby

Rinn: ah so may iba? the f

and smiling at his phone and covering his face. Watching her do a little happy dance when she gets food after being cranky dahil sa work niya. Choosing a nightlight together for his condo para makatulog siya nang maayos. Studying with her on his lap and imagining a future where he comes home after a long day at the hospital and there she is.

"Hi," sabi ng kaibigan ni Rinn na lumapit sa kanila sa kitchen. She's smiling and tucking her hair behind her ear.

Inggo blinks and refocuses. "Huh?"

"Nasusunog na 'yong hotdog," she says, giggling.

Tiningnan ni Inggo si Migo.

Nakatitig lang 'to sa phone na nasa counter, sa picture ni Jiya na wallpaper niya.