Seulgi woke up tasting toothpaste from her lips.

 

Bumalikwas siya, nakangiti na si Irene sa kanya.

 

Nagstretch siya, "You really like kissing huh?"

 

"It's my love language."

 

Tumawa si Seulgi.

 

Irene leans forward again, taking Seulgi's lips to hers.

 

Then came a "Good morning." from her after.

 

"G'Morning." Seulgi replies. "..Anong oras na ba at gising ka na?"

 

"It's like 8am-ish?"

 

Seulgi grunts, "Too early."

 

"Not a morning person?" Irene asks.

 

"Not ever." Umupo si Seulgi at sumandal sa headboard ng kama. "..Plus, late na tayo natulog kanina."

 

"Seven hours of sleep is enough." Comment ni Irene. "..Unless oso ka. You look like one actually."

 

Tumawa si Seulgi, "I'm not ever beating that allegation."

 

Bumangon na din si Irene, but dumerecho sa lap ni Seulgi.

 

"Too much?" Irene watches Seulgi's reaction.

 

"I'm not dreaming, am I?"

 

"Why do you always say that?"

 

"Cos it feels like one. You feel like one." Seulgi reasoning out.

 

"I'm very much real, thank you. Now shut up, I wanna make out."

 

Namula agad si Seulgi, "Ngayon na?"

 

Irene nods, "Right now."

 

Irene circles her arms around Seulgi neck then proceeds to take her lips.

 

Seulgi's hands likewise caught Irene's waist for support.

 

Seconds after, they pulled away from each other while catching their breaths.

 

"Can I ask what are you so afraid of?" Irene asks.

 

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

 

"Nararamdaman ko, kahit sa paghalik mo."

 

"Oh, um.. Baka kasi madisappoint kita?"

 

Irene laughs, "You think I'm after your make out skills?"

 

"Hindi naman. Nakaka-conscious lang na you're a good kisser tapos ako, first time palang."

 

"I'm your first kiss?" Irene smiles.

 

"Kagabi, oo." Admit ni Seulgi. "..Di ba nga, I only had one relationship. Tapos high school 'til 2nd year college pa yun."

 

"You never fooled around?"

 

"Dapat ba akong matuwa dahil tinanong mo ko niyan?" Naguguluhan na si Seulgi.

 

"You mean, this is your first ever make out?" Irene clarifies again.

 

"Y-Yeah." Seulgi blushes.

 

Irene hums, "I thought it's not since you're so good at it."

 

"Thank you?"

 

Irene buried herself in Seulgi's warmth, "What are you doing today?"

 

Niyakap naman siya ni Seulgi, "Chores. You?"

 

"I'll be meeting up with my parents."

 

Seulgi smiles, "Nice. What are your parents like?"

 

"Like any other parents. Cool, supportive, funny. Yours?"

 

"Cool, supportive, funny. Sensitive."

 

Both snickered.

 

"Well, they're getting old." Irene says.

 

"Ilang beses ka na tinanong kung kelan ka mag-aasawa?"

 

"Madami na, di ko mabilang."

 

"Ano sinasabi mo?"

 

"That I haven't found the right one, yet. Ikaw ba?"

 

"Buti ka pa. Ako talagang pinagpapatungan na ng plato kapag nahuhuli kumain e. Parang nag-give up na ba."

 

"Napaka-choosy mo kasi."

 

"Choosy? Ikaw nga lang gusto ko tapos choosy?"

 

Irene playfully jabs Seulgi's stomach, "Just make sure na ako lang."

 

"Pwede na tayo tumigil. Ang corny na natin e."

 

Irene snorts, "Oo nga. I'm cringing."

 

---

 

"Ingat sa daan."

 

Asa pintuan na sila ng unit ni Seulgi.

 

"Yeah, ibalik ko nalang clothes mo after kong mapa-laundry."

 

"No worries."

 

Irene puts on her heels.

 

"Matangkad ka na ulit." Seulgi making fun of Irene's height.

 

Irene fakes a laugh, "I'll be going now."

 

Hands on the knob, she feels a hand turning her around once more then their lips meeting in rendezvous.

 

Seulgi catches Irene's lower lip and traps it between, teasing the tip of her tongue to Irene's lip.

 

Irene whimpers, making her knees feel weak at that.

 

They let each other go.

 

"Bye." Seulgi whispers, bumping her nose with Irene's.

 

How the am I supposed to go after that? Irene thinks.

 

---

 

"Okay, spill."

 

Kakaupo lang ng ate ni Irene sa swivel chair. Nasa loob sila ng kwarto ni Irene sa family house.

 

"What?" Irene played innocent.

 

"Anong what? Pagkapasok mo palang ibang-iba na aura mo tapos what? Iba pa yang damit mo. Tapos what? Wag ako, Bae JooHyun."

 

Irene chuckled, "You know me too well, unnie."

 

TaeYeon crosses her legs, "When are you gonna tell Mom and Dad?"

 

"Wala pa. We're still getting to know each other."

 

"Pero may damit ka na galing sakanya?"

 

"I stayed at her place last night, but nothing happened."

 

TaeYeon whistled, "I like that person already. Where did you meet?"

 

"We're officemates, actually."

 

"Oh, so bat ngayon lang?"

 

"Cos I made the move! She was.. I don't know, slow?"

 

TaeYeon laughs, "She might be intimidated, you know? Nakakatakot ka kaya sa malayo."

 

"I don't bite as far as I know. But she's.. different, unnie."

 

"How?"

 

"That's the funny part cos I can't even comprehend why am I so hung up on her! She's calm, she's witty, she's so considerate of me.. And.." She throws her hands in the air, "..I don't know. She doesn't talk too much but the way she looks at me says a lot."

 

The older sibling stares at her sister, "Wow, you're in.. deep, little sister."

 

Irene makes a worried expression, "Am I?"

 

"But it's fine!" TaeYeon assures her, "..If it means you're heading to a good direction."

 

"I'm not gonna scare her, will I?"

 

"Why? What did you do?"

 

"I initiate all the skinships?"

 

TaeYeon snorts, "That's your natural. I think di ka nga mabubuhay ng isang araw kung wala kang nakadaupang-palad."

 

"Is it a turn off?"

 

"Ew, bat ako tinatanong mo. Bat hindi siya tanungin mo?"

 

"I'll ask her next time."

 

"Just be careful, okay? Then let us know."

 

Irene smiles, "Okay unnie."

 

---

 

"Back so soon?" Seulgi asks after opening her door and finding Irene on the other side of it.

 

"Am I still welcome?"

 

"A constant guest is never welcome." Seulgi opens her door wider then let Irene in.

 

It was Saturday night and oo, kaninang umaga lang umalis si Irene.

 

"What's up?" Seulgi asks.

 

"Idadaan ko lang yung mga damit mo and I have food here." Sabay lapag sa kitchen table ng paperbag. "..Galing bahay."

 

"Oh, okie." Seulgi cutely utters, making Irene smile. "..Thanks."

 

Nilalabas isa-isa ni Seulgi yung tupperware when Irene says, "You think we're going too fast?"

 

Nalipat sakanya ang attention ni Seulgi and the latter sees the PM biting her lips, as if something's off.

 

Seulgi faces Irene, "What's on your mind?"

 

Irene was again looking down, so Seulgi catches her cheek, forcing them to face each other.

 

And now that they can, Seulgi can only read the worry in Irene's eyes.

 

"..Funny, cos just this morning you were asking what am I so afraid of? And now you come back to me and I can ask you the same question. What's wrong, Irene?"

 

"I-I had a talk with my sister. She said I'm already in deep. I-I think she's right and now I'm realizing how much I like you. And kilala ko ang sarili ko, I tend to get very clingy and I can be too much sometimes. Before I know it, I'm driving back to your place cos I wanna know what you really think of.. this. Us."

 

Seulgi merely smiles, "Gusto ko yung kung ano gusto mong mangyari."

 

"A-Are you sure?"

 

"Oo naman. Ikaw ba?"

 

"God, of course. I like you, Seulgi."

 

"So I've heard." Seulgi smiles, "..I like you too, Irene Bae."

 

Irene takes off Seulgi's hands from her face, only that she can launch herself to Seulgi's embrace.

 

She feels the beating of Seulgi's heart on chest and she's never been more assured than that.

 

"Ginulat mo naman ako. Akala ko kung ano na." Seulgi laughs nervously.

 

"I'm sorry if I came on too strong."

 

"Minsan kelangan ko ding magulat para mag-sink in din sakin na andito na nga tayo."

 

"I thought I scared you for real."

 

"You did. Akala ko nagbago isip mo e."

 

Irene's forehead creased as she gazed at Seulgi, "Why do you say that? Why do say that all these feels like a dream? Pakiramdam ko tuloy we'll never connect."

 

"Because.." Seulgi hesitates before continuing, "..I think you're too good for me."

 

It was Irene's turn to laugh, "Naririnig mo ba sarili mo, Seul? You're the one who's too good for me. I was basically throwing myself at you but you.. you tucked me to bed and never took advantage of me. And this morning, while I was being selfish you still humored me even though it was your first time. God, I never met anyone like you. I wish I met you sooner. You could've saved me from all the heartbreaks."

 

"Now I'm the one overwhelmed." Seulgi chuckles. "..Thank you for saying that. I don't want to argue anymore since I know naman na di ka papatalo. So how do we end this?"

 

"Ang dali mo pa kausap, see? We might be total opposites but I think we're really compatible."

 

"You think so?" Seulgi asks, an eyebrow raised and smile on her lips.

 

"I know so." Irene replies, also smiling.

 

"Are we good now?"

 

"Yeah."

 

"Okay."

 

"Okay."

 

Irene tiptoes, kisses Seulgi on cheeks. "I have to go now then."

 

Seulgi reaches for Irene's hand and kisses the back of it, "Ingat ka."

 

---