Work Text:
"Woy Summer, ayusin mo pagka-cut ng hotdogs."
Summer was jolted back to reality after hearing Hoshi, who was just standing beside him. He cast a quick glance at the cutting board placed on the dish counter, the knife in his right hand, and the small bowl containing the sliced hotdogs, which he had done a few minutes prior. Then he sighed deeply. He let go of the knife and walked over to the sink to wash his hands. Hoshi, on the other hand, was staring at him with intrigue.
He turns off the faucet by tapping it, wipes his hand off with the hem of his shirt, and then returns to look at the void of Mingyu's modest kitchen once more.
Hoshi scratched his head after flipping the fried chicken on the pan with boiling oil. He frowned and rubbed his brows at Summer, irritated by his actions. "Para kang tanga, Summer. Kanina ka pa tulala diyan. Migo deprived ka na agad ba? Bilis naman, ampota."
Summer's face automatically brightens up as he hears Migo's name, not from Hoshi, who was in front of him, but from his other friends, who were just comfortably sitting in the living room. He dashed off to his feat and sprinted outside of the kitchen to welcome his best friend.
"Grabe, miss na miss? Daig pa yung pamilya ng mga OFWs." Hoshi's last remarks, but Summer just chose to ignore them.
Because, after all, he always misses Migo.
"Happy birthday, Gyu. Naks, tanda mo na." Migo greeted his friend. He extends a fist bump, which the other initially rejects humorously but eventually accepts. "Arte mo talaga, gago." He commented. Gyu simply lifted his middle finger in front of Migo's face before rushing to the kitchen to evade Migo's impending punch. "Hindi ka na makakalabas ng buhay, Kim Mingyu! Sinasabi ko sa'yo! Last birthday mo na 'toh, pars!" He shouted, his veins on his neck almost palpably popping. Minggoy just gave him a strong laugh, causing him to shake his head and chuckle.
He puts his bag on the couch and taps Jan's shoulder, who is comfortably sitting on it. "Si Summeru?" He asked.
"Mukha ba talaga akong hanapan kapag hindi mo makita yang best friend mo, Migo?! Puro na lang si Summer! Kailan naman ako?!" Migo's eyes widened because of Jan's abrupt outburst at him. But it swiftly changed into a grimace when he heard him guffaw uncontrollably and tauntingly at him. "Pota, priceless ng reaction mo, pars!" He commented in between his loud laughs. "Nasa kusina si Summer, naghihiwa ng hotdogs para sa spaghetti ni Gyu mamaya... Oh, ayan na pala yung hinahanap mo! Summer, miss ka na ng best friend mo!" Jan teased, earning a roll of the eyes from both Migo and Summer. It made him laugh even more.
"Lakas talaga ng amats mo, pars. Buti na lang kinakausap ka ni Wis." Jan's throat tightens as he coughs repeatedly upon hearing what Migo has mumbled. Migo grinned broadly, as if he had won the lottery, for at last, after the longest period, he finally got a card to pull out against Jan every time he would dare to taunt him.
"Putangina, Miguel Angelo!"
Jan shouted, his face buried on the couch, cursing Migo again and again, who was now laughing away from him and walking towards Summer, who was leaning against the kitchen door frame.
Summer walked halfway to meet Migo. And the moment Migo grinned at him in jest, he pouted his lips. "Ganyan mo ba salubungin best friend mong dalawang oras mong hindi nakita?" He asked in a teasing manner. Summer punched him lightly on the chest.
"Did you get caught in the rain? Ang lakas pa naman ng ulan." He seriously asks. He reaches out and fluffs Migo's hair with his hand. Despite the little height disparity between them, Migo lowered his head so Summer could have a better feel of it.
He shook his head in response to Summer's questions. "Hindi. May bubong naman yung jeep."
Summer's gentle tousling of his hair turned violent, prompting Migo to chuckle and grab his best friend's wrists to stop him. "Ang gago talaga ng sagot mo, noh?" He spat out. He crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for Migo's laughter to die down.
"Sorry na, Sam. Cute mo talaga kapag naka-kunot yang noo mo." He complimented him, although Summer just shrugged it off. Migo smiled. He softly lifted Summer's hand out from the cross of his chest and then gently pulled him into him for a tight hug. He placed his hand on Summer's back and gently stroked it. He felt Summer's head nestle into a snug position on his chest, and after it had done so, he sensed his relaxed breathing on his. "Ang lakas nung kulog kanina. Natakot ka?" He softly asked. He felt Summer's head move in a nod. "Kawawa naman ang best friend ko na yan." Summer's hair was later ruffled as Migo laughed and ended their conversation.
"Alam ko lahat kayo gusto akong makatabi pero I need to reject some of you kasi isa lang 'tong katawan ko. I can't cater to all of you tonight, guys."
Summer's expression soured as soon as he heard it. While Cholo and Hoshi execute an act of vomiting on their blankets, Jan and Migo refute Mingyu's idiocy.
"Puta, kolorum yang bunganga mo." Jan.
"Kadiri mo, gago! We don't settle for less!" Migo.
Their ostensibly brief banter turns into a long, wearying, but enjoyable one. They were laughing so hard that their jaws and tummies were hurting. Cholo chose a movie to watch on the television to help them fall asleep, but their constant laughter rendered it useless.
"Guys, parang awa niyo na. Awat na, please lang." Summer begged, still laughing.
Then the laughter continued. From past eleven o'clock until twelve midnight. They were just laughing and making fun of each other. They all felt as though they had overlooked it, and in the middle of their lively laughter, they were all averse to putting an end to it.
And yet, after all, it should have come to an end.
"Good night, mga pars."
"Good night, Migo."
Summer whispered as he snuggled closer to Migo. He curled himself comfortably into the blanket that they were both sharing. Migo shifted his position so he could face Summer, and with his arm outstretched, he allowed Summer to rest his head on it. He slowly slid his eyelids closed as he murmured something to finally end the day. "Good night, Summeru."
Cholo's resounding voice welcomed the morning. Migo was no longer by Summer's side as he stretched and opened his eyes. Summer soon sat up and was shocked to noticed Migo on the couch, his brow furrowed as he handed him his phone.
"Sam, may nagtext sa'yo." He said, his voice rife with bitterness.