My bro and Dadoy went downstairs to take a leak, leaving me alone in the room with Jessica. Lorraine's still out cold. The rooster on the roof is already crowing, signaling the break of dawn. We live in this massive old house that belongs to my mom's relatives, so you can hear everything from the neighbors too. The house is split into four sections, and ours is the biggest. No rent for mom, just the usual bills for electricity and water. She's thinking of buying the rights to the place, but the original tenants want to keep it for now. They've moved to Laguna anyway.
I can hear Dadoy chatting downstairs in the dirty kitchen, but I can't make out what they're saying. So, I turned to Jessica, who I've been eyeing for a while now, and just came clean to her.
"Damn, girl! I didn't think you could keep up! I'm seriously impressed!"
"Ha ha! You're the one who took on both me and Lorraine. She's still knocked out!"
"You're really something. When was your first time?"
"This year, actually. But back in grade 6, my friend fingered me when we were on summer break. She was a tomboy. That's when I got into sex."
"Oh, what about with a guy?"
"I've been lining up."
"What do you mean 'lining up'?"
"What do you do when you're in a line?" she asked, then answered herself.
"I'm hooking... Ha ha!" she joked.
"Who did you hook with?"
"I met this Chinese or Taiwanese guy in Recto who owns a hardware store. I used to beg for money when we were broke. He'd give me 3,000 to 5,000 pesos. He's the only one who's, you know... besides you. Ha ha!"
"No wonder you're so good at it."
"I can handle it! He had a big belly and a small shaft."
"Bigger than mine?" I asked quietly, seeking validation.
"Yeah, yours is bigger! And harder. You take forever to finish! I'm drying up here!"
"You were tough. Not tight anymore. More like a pro."
"What about Lorraine?"
"She's tight, like it's her first time."
"Jeric fingered her, then suddenly went after Kate. But Kate wasn't having it. Jeric would try to put his arm around Kate, but she'd get mad. Kate's sassy and straightforward. She told Jeric, 'You think you're hot, huh? Trying to get with both of us? Nice try!' She said that when we were hanging out at the eatery across the school. Jeric was showing off, thinking he's all that."
"Jeric really likes Kate. You know what I mean," I said.
"Yeah, she's sexy. Big boobs, petite, and cute. A lot of guys like her. And Kate... don't tell anyone... she's a bit of a playgirl. She loves being the center of attention. She knows she's hot. Plus, she's smart, especially in Math."
I wanted to confess that Kate and I had a thing, but maybe it wasn't the right time.
"Kate and Arcy, they're the brains of our group. But your brother is too shy. Though, Arcy is a chick magnet with his guitar skills and good looks. It's weird you two don't look alike."
"He took after mom. Look at their noses. The rest of us got our looks from dad."
"Arcy never really says if he's courting anyone. He's just always with us. Kate made the first move on Arcy, but she also showed interest in Jeric, so they both went for her. Lorraine and I, we grew up with Kate. We've been tight since kindergarten, never separated until now. A lot has changed between us."
"Bro, I'm heading home," said Dadoy.
"You sure you don't want to stay?" I offered, like I was pimping out Lorraine.
"Nah, maybe next time," Dadoy declined.
"Alright, you probably drank too much. No worries," I said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, something like that. You took forever to get here... Later, bro!" We fist-bumped.
"Bro, I'm heading to Bulacan," my sibling said.
"You got money for the fare?" I asked, pulling out my wallet and handing him 200 pesos.
"Leave the key with me. Lock the gate when you leave."
He opened the gate, came back to give me the key, then left.
"Here," he handed me the key.
"Mom and I will be back around noon tomorrow," he said, embarrassed since Lorraine was sleeping naked. Jessica was in her bra, with just a pillow covering her lower half.
"You don't want to stay with Jessica?" I teased, but he ignored me and went downstairs. Jessica couldn't help but giggle, thinking we were joking with my bro.
I listened for their departure, hearing them walk together to the corner. I heard the gate lock and the door close. I grabbed a pillow, laid my head down, and stretched out, feeling relaxed.