Chapter 33

​No One’s POV

Habang naglalakad sa gitna ng mataong mall, mahigpit ang hawak ni Mikha sa kamay ni Aiah.

​”Tama nga sila… life is magical pag bumubuo ka ng pamilya kasama yung mahal mo. This feeling is totally indescribable; it’s like every cell in my body is vibrating with joy. Daig pa ang nanalo sa lotto ng sampung beses,” Mikha thought to herself, her eyes never leaving Aiah.

Para kay Mikha, ito na ang rurok ng tagumpay niya. Hindi ang mga awards, hindi ang pera, kundi ang babaeng nasa harap niya ngayon.

​But even the brightest sun casts a shadow. Hanggang kailan magtatagal ang ganitong klaseng saya?

But this happiness comes to an end?

Location Baby Boutique

​The air in the store smelled like lavender and new cotton. Mikha and Aiah moved through the aisles, fingers intertwined, their laughter punctuating the soft background music.

They were so immersed in each other that they didn’t notice the slight rustle of a clothing rack two aisles over. Or the way a black-clad figure adjusted a heavy lens behind a display of stuffed toys.

​Click.

Aiah lifted a tiny, frilled lace dress. “This is so cute, babi, look! Bagay na bagay sa kanya ‘to.”

​Mikha leaned in, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “She will look like a princess in that… just like her mother. But look at this,” she added, picking up a miniature navy blue romper. “This is nice too. Very dapper.”

Click

​”I like that too! For sure, baby will be so pogi in that. Pero babi, we don’t even know the gender yet,” Aiah giggled, resting her free hand her tummy.

​Mikha stopped walking and turned to face her. She took Aiah’s hand in both of hers, kissing her knuckles with a reverence that made Aiah’s heart skip.

“Girl or boy, it doesn’t matter. Basta healthy siya-at lalo na ikaw. I hope and pray everything stays safe.”

​”Medyo kinakabahan ako,” Aiah admitted softly.

​”Don’t be. I’ll promise magiging okay lahat Ginagawa ko yung best ko. Hinanda ko na ang lahat. From the hospital to the specialists-I handpicked the best for you. I’m 100% confident na magagaling sila. I will make everything perfect for both of you. You won’t have to worry about a single thing, okay?”

​Aiah’s eyes shimmered with tears of affection. “Thank you, babi. You’re the best partner. This journey became easy and overwhelming because ikaw yung taong nagbigay sa akin ng anak. Wala akong pinagsisisihan.”

​”No,” Mikha whispered, tucking a stray hair behind Aiah’s ear. “Thank you for being part of my life and part of our babies life. I love you so much.”

Click. The camera captured the exact moment Mikha tucked a strand of hair behind Aiah’s ear.

​They stood there, locked in a gaze so filled with love it was suffocating. They were in a glass sanctuary-beautiful, clear, and incredibly fragile. They didn’t see the man in the shadows lowering his camera, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he checked the playback of their most intimate moments.

…….

[Setting: Isang madilim na opisina. The only light comes from a glowing computer monitor, casting jagged shadows. A cigarette burns forgotten in an ashtray, its smoke curling like a snake.]

Isang tauhan ang pumasok at marahas na inilapag ang isang makapal na envelope sa mahogany desk.

“Boss, these are the pictures. Minanmanan namin nang maigi si Mikhaela. She’s with someon. A girl…”

The leather chair slowly spun around. The Boss-a man whose face was etched with the bitterness of the past-slowly slid the photos out. He stared at the image of Mikha kissing Aiah’s hand inside the boutique, a look of pure contempt on his face.

“So, the great Mikhaela Lim has a weakness after all,” he rasped, his voice like dry gravel. He flicked the photo with his finger, as if it were trash.

“Akala niya siguro makakatakas siya. She thinks she can build a ‘perfect’ life while I’m still here, rotting in the shadow of their success?”

He let out a dry, mocking laugh that echoed in the cold room. His eyes turned sharp, reflecting a decades-old hatred.

“Katulad siya ng tatay niya. Mahina. Madaling mauto,” he hissed, his grip tightening on the edge of the desk until his knuckles turned white.

Naalala niya ang lahat. Ang bawat deal na inagaw sa kanya, ang bawat pagkakataon na pinahiya siya sa harap ng mga investors. He lost everything because of Mikha’s father. Naungasan siya, natapakan, at nawalan ng dangal sa business world dahil sa galing at swerte ni Lim.

“I will make this a big disgrace to her family. Mapapabagsak ko ang Lim Corporation because of this. I couldn’t get my revenge on the father, so I’ll take it from the daughter. I’m going to take everything she loves and use it to bury the legacy her father worked so hard for.”

He leaned into the light, his eyes glinting with pure, unadulterated malice.

“Keep watching. ‘Wag niyo muna silang gagalawin. I want her to feel even more secure. I want her to believe she’s won. Gusto ko ‘yung nasa peak siya ng saya… bago ko unti-unting bawiin ang lahat sa kanya. I want to see the Lim Empire crumble, and I want her to watch it happen while she’s holding the ruins of her ‘magic’ life.”

…….

Aiah’s POV

I was quietly fixing all of the baby’s stuff, folding the tiny clothes with extra care. I am now five months pregnant, but my tummy is still not showing. The doctor said it was totally fine-bihira lang daw sa mga buntis ‘yung ganito. A lot of mommies are actually jealous of me dahil hindi halata, pero ako? I want a bump. I want to show the world that I am having a baby with Mikha Lim.

Gently, I rubbed my stomach and whispered, “Bakit, nak? Don’t hide yourself. Next week, we’ll be having an ultrasound and a photoshoot. You should be showing na para ‘very good’ tayo sa camera.”

Living here in Mikha’s condo feels like we’re already a married couple. Ang aga niyang gumigising para magtrabaho. Mikha has been pouring everything into her new business ventures, and everything turned out so well. Success came fast, and she’s working so hard to build a future for us.

Since pinayagan ako ng boss ko na mag-work from home, ako lang ang naiiwan dito sa condo maghapon, waiting for her. After my shift, I freshened up and ate the healthy snack na inihanda ni Mikha bago siya umalis kanina.

“Tonight, I’ll make it different,” I told myself while looking at the kitchen. Hindi pwedeng siya lang ang laging nagluluto.

I decided to prepare a special fish dish for her. I wanted to surprise her with a warm meal pag-uwi niya.

But as I started cooking, the oil began to splatter, and the smell of the fish turned into a bitter, burnt scent. The smoke started to fill the small space of the kitchen.

In my haste to save the dish, my elbow accidentally hit a glass on the counter.

CRASH!

The sound of the glass shattering against the floor echoed through the quiet condo. I froze. I instinctively reached down to pick up the shards, but my hands were shaking. A sharp piece of glass sliced through my palm.

“Aahh!” I winced, watching the bright red blood drip onto the cold tiles.

Suddenly, a heavy feeling washed over me. My heart started pounding against my ribs for no reason. It was a weird, suffocating sensation-isang matinding kaba na parang may mangyayaring masama. Hindi ko maipaliwanag, pero parang may babalang pilit na sumisiksik sa isip ko.

The door swung open.

“Aiah! I’m home-” Mikha’s voice stopped mid-sentence. She dropped her bag the moment she saw the smoke and me, standing there with blood dripping from my hand.

“Aiah! What happened?!” Mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro siyang nakalapit sa akin. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with pure worry.

“B-babi, I just wanted to cook… I’m sorry, nasunog ko yata ‘yung isda-“

“Stop. Don’t move,” she commanded, her voice thick with emotion as she carefully lifted me away from the broken glass. She sat me down on the counter and quickly grabbed the first aid kit. She cleaned my wound with such focus, but I could feel her hands trembling against mine.

“Next time, don’t cook for me, Aiah. Please,” she whispered, her voice cracking as she bandaged my hand. She looked up at me, her eyes pleading. “It’s my duty to provide for you. I don’t need it. I don’t need a fancy dinner… you being safe is enough for me. Having you is enough.”

She hugged my waist, resting her forehead against my stomach. “Please… ‘wag mo na uulitin ‘to. Hindi ko alam gagawin ko pag may nangyareng masama sayo.”

I stroked her hair, trying to calm the storm inside her. But that weird, dark feeling in my chest didn’t leave. The silence of the condo felt heavy, and for the first time, the “magic” of our life felt like it was hanging by a very thin thread.

……

The next day started with a silence so heavy, it felt like it was crushing the air out of my lungs.

As usual, Mikha was a whirlwind of productivity. Maaga siyang nagising-as in mas maaga pa sa sikat ng araw. From my breakfast to my lunch, up to my dinner and even my vitamins, she prepared it all. Everything was laid out on the marble counter with surgical precision.

Pero may mali. Ramdam ko sa bawat kilos niya. Something was bothering her, but she wasn’t talking. No, it was more than that-she was acting so different. So cold.

“Wow Babi, mukang extra special yung food namin ni baby ngaun?” I tried to joke, trying to break the ice as I watched her back while she was packing her laptop bag.

She didn’t laugh. She didn’t even look at me. “Standard meal, Aiah. Just make sure you eat it all. Don’t skip the vitamins.”

Her voice was flat. Walang emosyon. It was like I was talking to a pre-programmed robot, not the woman who used to kiss me every five minutes.

“Mikha?” I called out, moving closer to her. I reached out to touch her arm, but she subtly adjusted her blazer, causing my hand to fall back. She didn’t flinch away, but she didn’t let me in either.

“I have to go. Maraming meetings na pupuntahan. I’ll be home late,” she said, her eyes fixed on her watch.

“Late again? Lagi ka nalang umuuwi ng late wala ka nang time dito sa bahay. Hindi ka naman siguro nag tatampo sakin?”

“I’m just busy, Aiah. The business is growing, and with that comes pressure. Don’t overthink,” she replied, her tone sharp and icy.

It stung. Biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko.

Baka galit siya sa akin dahil sa nangyari kahapon? Baka naiirita siya dahil sa pagtatangka kong magluto, na imbes na makatulong ako, naging pabigat pa ako at kailangan niya pa akong asikasuhin. Baka napapagod na siya. Napapagod na siyang alagaan ako, napapagod na siyang intindihin ang lahat.

“Just stay inside today,” she added, her hand already on the doorknob. “If you need anything, call me. Don’t go out alone. Better yet, don’t go out at all.”

“Mikha, ano bang problema-“

“I said stay inside!” she snapped. The volume of her voice made me jump. She immediately closed her eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath, but she didn’t apologize. She didn’t even look back at me. “I just… I need to know you’re here. Just stay here.”

And then, the door clicked shut.

I stood in the middle of our silent condo, looking at the perfect breakfast she prepared. It looked delicious, but I felt like I was going to choke if I ate it.

I sat on the edge of the sofa, clutching my bandaged hand. Baka nga napapagod na siya sa akin. Ang sakit isipin na habang mas lalong nagiging successful ang business niya, mas lalo naman siyang lumalayo sa akin. Is she realizing that having a family is a burden to her success?

I looked at my still-flat stomach and whispered, “Sana mali ang nararamdaman ko, Sana hindi siya napapagod sa atin.”

Pero ang kaba sa dibdib ko, hindi nawala. Mas lalo lang itong lumalim, kasing lalim ng katahimikang iniwan ni Mikha sa bahay na ito.

…..

Isang umaga..

Nagsimula ang araw ko na may pag-asa.

I woke up earlier than usual. Sinubukan kong unahan si Mikha sa kusina. I wanted to be the one to make her coffee for once. I wanted to show her that I’m not just a burden or someone she needs to “provide” for-I’m her partner. I even prepared a small breakfast for her, humming a song to keep the kaba away.

But when she walked into the kitchen, she didn’t smile. She didn’t even taste the coffee.

“Aiah, what are you doing? You should be in bed maaga pa,” she said, her voice flat and professional.

“Gusto lang kitang ipaghanda, babi. You’ve been working so hard, I want to help-“

“You don’t need to do this. Just rest,” she interrupted, taking the spatula from my hand and putting it down. “I hired people to clean, and I can manage the food. Ang kailangan ko lang ay magpahinga ka at alagaan ang sarili mo. Focus on the baby.”

It felt like a slap. I tried to reach out, tried to hug her from behind while she took over the stove. “Babi… okay ba tayo? Are we… okay? May problema kaba sabihin mo naman sakin”

She didn’t lean into my hug. She stayed stiff, like a statue. “Yes, Aiah. Of course, we’re okay. Don’t overthink, please. I’m just busy. So much pressure lately. Just… go back to the room. Okay?” Then kiss me in my cheek

I let go. I felt so small. Inintindi ko. Pinilit kong lunukin yung pride ko dahil sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Stress lang siya sa work, Pressure kaya wala siya sa mood.

….

Pero akala ko mag babago ​dumating yung mga araw na hindi ko na siya kilala. Isang tanong, isang sagot. Gabi-gabi siyang umuuwi na parang may pasan na daigdig, laging malalim ang iniisip, at kahit katabi ko siya, pakiramdam ko ay milya-milya ang layo niya.

​Inintindi ko. Pinilit kong intindihin dahil sabi niya, “Pressure lang sa work,” Pero paanong hindi ako mag-iisip kung ang dating mapagmahal na Mikha ay naging kasing-lamig na ng yelo?

One night

11:00 PM.

12:00 AM.

1:00 AM.

Bawat patak ng segundo sa wall clock, parang karayom na tumutusok sa dibdib ko. I was sitting on the sofa, clutching a throw pillow so hard my knuckles turned white. Lumamig na ang dinner na inihanda ko, at kasabay nito, unti-unti ring naniningas ang galit sa puso ko.

It hurts. Sobrang sakit.

I tried, Lord. Alam mo kung gaano ako nag-effort nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Kahit sinasabi niyang “just rest” at “I don’t need you to do that,” nagluluto pa rin ako I tried my best inaral ko. Sinusubukan ko siyang ipag-brew ng kape sa umaga. Sinusubukan ko siyang yakapin kahit parang pader ang hinahawakan ko. Inintindi ko siya dahil sabi niya pressure lang sa business.

Pero hindi ko na kaya. This is too much. Kung may problema siya, sabihin niya sa akin! Hindi ‘yung hinahayaan niya akong mag-isa rito habang iniisip ko kung nasaan siya, kung okay lang ba siya… o kung mahal pa ba niya ako.

Dahil sa bawat gabi na ganito siya, isa lang ang nararamdaman ko: na pagod na siya sa akin. Na ayaw na niya.

2:45 AM.

Narinig ko ang pagpihit ng doorknob. Pumasok si Mikha, amoy alak at iwas ang tingin. She tried to walk past me toward the guest room, like I was just a piece of furniture.

“MIKHA!” I screamed, standing up so fast my head spun. My voice was thick with tears and rage. “HINDI MO AKO LALAMPASAN NGAYON MAG UUSAP TAYO!”

Mikha stopped, her back still turned. “Aiah, please… I’m tired. Go to sleep.”

“TIRED?! I’M TIRED TOO, MIKHA!” I ran to her and forced her to face me, my hands trembling as I grabbed the lapels of her blazer. “Pagod na akong mag-intindi! Pagod na akong mag-isip kung ano’ng mali sa akin! Sabi mo okay tayo? Sabi mo don’t overthink? Pero tingnan mo ang sarili mo! Halos alas-tres na! Amoy alak ka na naman!”

“I’m doing this for our future-“

“TANGINA NAMANG FUTURE ‘YAN, MIKHA!” I shrieked, the tears finally bursting out. “Anong silbi ng future kung ngayon pa lang, pinapatay mo na ako sa pag-aalala? Kung may problema ka, sabihin mo sa akin! Partner mo ako, hindi mo ako pasyente! Hindi mo ako obligasyon na kailangang ‘i-provide’ lang!”

“Aiah, stop. You’re getting hysterical. It’s bad for the baby.”

“HUWAG MONG GAMITIN ANG ANAK KO PARA PATAHIMIKIN AKO!” I pushed her hard, my heart breaking with every sob.

“I tried to be sweet! I tried to talk you! I tried to cook, to help, pero ang laging sagot mo, ‘just rest ano pagod kana? Let me do it hindi yung ganito’! Para na akong mababaliw dito sa loob ng condo mo dahil sa lamig mo! If you’re tired of me, just say it! Kung ayaw mo na sa amin, sabihin mo! Huwag mo akong unti-unting ubusin nang ganito! Ang sakit-sakit na, Mikha…”

I looked into her eyes, searching for even a spark of the woman who used to worship the ground I walked on. Pero wala. Cold. Hard. Final. Para na kaming estranghero.

“I’ll sleep in the guest room,” she whispered, her voice devoid of any warmth. “I go to bed, Aiah.”

“Mikha, please…” I begged, my voice disappearing into a whisper.

She peeled my hands off her blazer and walked away without looking back. The sound of the guest room door clicking shut was the loudest thing I’d ever heard.

I collapsed on the sofa, clutching my five-month bump, sobbing until my throat hurt. I understood her for weeks. I waited for weeks. Pero tonight, I finally realized-she’s keeping me feeling this way because she’s already let go. Pagod na siya. At ako? Ako ang naiiwan dito, pilit na binubuo ang pamilyang siya mismo ang sumusuko na.

I don’t know how long I stayed on the sofa, clutching my stomach and sobbing until my chest felt hollow. The guest room door remained shut. The silence in the condo was deafening, a sharp contrast to the screams I had just let out.

Eventually, the exhaustion of the pregnancy and the weight of the heartbreak took over. My eyes were swollen, my throat was parched, and I eventually drifted into a restless, shallow sleep right there on the couch.

But in the middle of the night, I felt a shift in the air.

The scent of her-that familiar mix of her perfume and the lingering hint of whiskey-brushed against my senses. I felt the weight of the sofa dip beside me. I didn’t open my eyes. I couldn’t. I was too tired to fight, too scared to see that cold, robotic look in her eyes again. So, I stayed still. I pretended to be deep in sleep.

I felt a warm, trembling hand gently brush the hair away from my forehead. Her touch was so soft, so full of the tenderness I had been starving for these past few weeks. Then, I heard it. A sob.

It wasn’t just a cry; it was a sound of pure agony. Isang pigil na hikbi na parang nanggagaling sa kailaliman ng pagkatao niya. I felt her hand linger on my hair, her fingers tracing the side of my face with such longing that it made my own heart ache.

I felt her lean down. Her forehead rested against mine for a brief second, and I felt a hot, stray tear drop onto my cheek.

“I’m sorry, love…”

Her voice was barely a breath, cracked and broken, whispered so softly that if the room hadn’t been so deathly silent, I wouldn’t have heard it. It was the first time in weeks she had called me that. Not “Aiah,” not “you”-but love.

I felt her arms slide carefully beneath me-one behind my back, the other under my knees. Even in her state, she was so cautious, so mindful of my five-month bump. She lifted me slowly, her strength steady despite the tremor in her breath. I kept my eyes closed, my heart thumping against my ribs, terrified that if I moved, this version of her would disappear.

She carried me into our bedroom-the room she’s been avoiding for weeks. The air was cool, but as she laid me down on the bed, the mattress felt like a sanctuary. She didn’t just leave. She pulled the duvet up, tucking it around my shoulders with the kind of meticulous care that spoke a thousand words she couldn’t say.

She lingered there for a long time, her hand resting very lightly over my stomach. I could feel her shaky breaths, the silent weeping she thought I couldn’t hear. She sounded like someone who didn’t know what to do anymore. Like someone trapped in a cage and the only way to save me was to stay away from me.

In the dark, without the “business” and the “pressure” to hide behind, she was just Mikha-the woman who was clearly suffering, yet choosing to keep me in the cold.

I wanted to open my eyes. I wanted to grab her hand and tell her that we can face whatever it is together. I wanted to scream that I don’t care about the money or the success if it means losing her heart. But I didn’t. I kept my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, even as my own heart shattered into a million pieces. Because now I knew.

She wasn’t falling out of love. She was falling apart.

I felt her slowly stand up, heard her quiet footsteps as she walked back out toward the guest room, and the soft, final click of the door. Only then did I let a single tear escape my closed eyes, tracing the path where hers had just been.

Bakit ka humihingi ng tawad, Mikha? Ano ba talagang nangyayare sayo?

I can hear your pain, Mikha. I can feel your agony. Please… don’t do this alone.

………

🌈🌈🌈🌈 Thank you for waiting

Note: For anyone hurting right now-one day, this pain will make sense.