Chapter 31

No Ones POV

The room was dark, the glow of the maps painting sharp lines across the walls. Pins and notes marked streets, alleys, and hideouts across Manila—a web closing in on their target.

The boss leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, eyes cold and calculating. “I alright. Make sure!!” he barked, his voice slicing through the tense silence. Everyone stiffened; one mistake could be fatal.

The lieutenant stepped forward, voice smooth but sharp, carrying a quiet cruelty. 

“Boss… Confirmed Mikhaela Lim is in Makati,” he said, letting the words sink in. “I’ve already sent people from the Philippines to search all around the city. We will make sure to harass her.”

A slow, satisfied smile curved across the boss’s lips. “Good,” he murmured.

 “Every street. Every corner. Every shadow. She should know… we are always watching.”

Outside, the city carried on unaware. But in the shadows, agents moved silently, tracing her steps, ready to strike. Mikhaela Lim didn’t notice… not yet.

And in that dimly lit room, the Cyndecate’s anticipation hung thick in the air. The hunt had begun—and they already knew exactly where she was.

…….

Mikha’s POV

Napakamot na lang ako ng ulo habang pinapanood ko siyang pumasok sa unit niya kagabi. Ang bilis talagang mag-iba ng mood ni Aiah—kanina lang, halos matunaw na kami sa sofa sa sobrang tamis, tapos ngayon, daig ko pa ang nakulong sa freezer sa sobrang lamig niya.

I’m not used to this. Sa totoo lang, hindi talaga ako nagseryoso noon. I never thought I’d reach this point na halos magmakaawa ako sa harap ng pinto ng isang babae. I have a lot of flaws—lalo na yung issue namin ni Daniela. I can’t blame her for being paranoid. If I were in her shoes, baka mas malala pa ang maging reaction ko. But I promise to make it right. Para sa kanya, gagawin ko lahat.

Kagabi, kahit anong katok ko sa unit niya, hindi talaga siya sumasagot. Nag-explain na ako, nagmakaawa, nag-iwan pa ng txt messages, pero wala. Kaya heto ako ngayon, alas-syete pa lang ng umaga, nasa tapat na ulit ng pinto niya.

Dala-dala ko yung yearning face ko at hoping na makita lang siyang ngumiti ulit.

Bumukas naman ang pinto. Ready na siya—nakaayos na at mukhang papasok na sa work.

I gave her my best “please-forgive-me” smile and handed her a bag of fresh fruits and three Roses na binili ko pa kanina sa supermarket. “For you and the baby, Babi. Fresh ‘yan.”

Tinanggap niya naman. Pero Poker face parin. Walang emosyon. Hindi ko mabasa kung gusto niya ba akong sapukin o yakapin.

Sa sasakyan Tahimik lang ang byahe namin. Nakakabaliw yung katahimikan, kaya sinubukan kong basagin. I kept glancing at her, craving for even just a small look back. Gustong-gusto ko siyang hawakan, pero baka maputulan ako ng kamay.

“Did you sleep well?”

Nod.

“Feeling dizzy? okay naman ang pakiramdam mo?”

Nod.

“Nainom mo na yung vitamins mo?”

Nod.

I hate it. Gustong-gusto ko na siyang suyuin nang maayos pero para akong nakikipag-usap sa pader na tumatango lang. I want to make up with her so bad. Kaya naman, bago kami makarating sa office niya, nag-kambyo ako ng manibela at huminto muna sa isang safe zone. Pinatay ko ang engine at hinarap siya.

“Hear me out…” Napabuntong-hinala ako, taking her hand gently. “This is all new to me, Aiah. I’ve never been serious in my previous relationships. Never. But believe me, this time… I swear, I am into you 100%. I’m sorry if my past is causing you pain. It’s a mess, I know. But you’re the most important person to me now. Please… forgive me if my past is hurting you. I love you.”

I said it with everything I had. Wholeheartedly.

Napa-isip siya. Tumingin sa malayo, bago tumingin ulit sa akin.

“Alright. Okay,” matipid na sabi niya.

Ghad. Yun lang? “Alright, okay”? This is way harder than I expected. Akala ko ba effective yung mga lines ko na mala telenovela Bakit parang hindi tumalab sa kanya?

Maya-maya, nasa loading area na kami ng company niya. I quickly got out of the car para pagbuksan siya ng pinto. 

Pagbaba niya, huminto siya sa harap ko habang naka cross arms.

“Take care, okay? I’ll drive you home later. I’ll pick you up early,” sabi ko,

looking at her with so much longing.

Pero wala lang siyang kibo. Silent treatment pa rin. Pero napansin ko, hindi pa siya pumasok sa loob ng building. Nakatayo lang siya doon, parang may hinihintay.

Bigla siyang napa-ubo. Like she’s trying to remind me something.

 I panicked. “Do you need something, baby? Not feeling well? Gusto mo bang umuwi na lang tayo?”

“No,” tipid niyang sagot.

“So what is it? Tell me, anong kailangan mo? I’ll get it for you.”

She looked at me, her poker face finally breaking into a tiny, bratty, yet extremely lovable pout.

“Where’s my kiss?”

Oh, thank God! Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. Napangiti ako from ear to ear. Yes! Effective yung lines ko kanina, delayed lang ang reaction!

Dali-dali ko siyang hinalikan sa noo, at isang mabilis na dampi sa labi bago ko siya niyakap nang mahigpit. “Take care, okay? I love you so much. Counting the hours until I can see you again.”

“I love you,” she whispered back, finally smiling.

Habang naglalakad siya papasok sa building, lumingon pa siya para mag-wave at nag-flying kiss pa.

 Napasandal na lang ako sa sasakyan ko habang nakangiti na parang tanga.

No One’s POV

Later that night…

The living room was bathed in a dim, warm glow, the only sound being the soft hum of the aircon and the distant city lights flickering outside. Sa dami ng upuan at malambot na sofa sa bahay ni Mikha, Aiah chose her favorite spot—Mikha’s lap.

She settled in comfortably, straddling Mikha’s lap as she wrapped her arms tightly around her neck. She leaned her forehead against Mikha’s, talking in that sweet, tiny baby voice that always gave Mikha butterflies.

“Tired, babe?” Mikha asked softly, her hands instinctively finding Aiah’s waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

“No… I’m just tired because I wanted to see you already. Sobrang miss kita,” Aiah whispered. She didn’t just kiss Mikha’s cheek; she trailed her lips from Mikha’s jawline up to her ear, sending shivers down Mikha’s spine.

Mikha closed her eyes, her breath hitching at the contact. She turned her head just enough to capture Aiah’s lips in a lingering, tender kiss before pulling back with a smirk. “I love you more.”

Aiah pouted, her lips looking dangerously inviteful. “No, I love you more.”

“No, I love you the most,” Mikha countered, her voice dropping into that deep, husky tone she only used for Aiah. She squeezed Aiah’s waist, making the older girl gasp softly.

“Excuse me? I loved you first kaya!” Aiah teased, giggling as she started their favorite “love-stakes” argument.

“Doesn’t matter who was first, it’s about who loves the most now. And that’s me,” Mikha insisted. She didn’t just boop Aiah’s nose; she leaned in and nipped playfully at Aiah’s lower lip. “Talo ka na.”

“Ay, madaya! Kissing to win?” Aiah laughed, but she didn’t complain. She won the argument anyway by sealing Mikha’s lips with a deeper, more passionate kiss that left them both slightly breathless.

“Guess what, babi?” Aiah asked after a moment, her voice breathy and excited.

“Hmmm?” Mikha hummed, her hands now tracing lazy circles on Aiah’s back. Aiah reached down to take Mikha’s hand, intertwining their fingers and playing with Mikha’s rings.

“My leave got approved. Starting Monday, I’m on leave for 15 days!”

Mikha’s eyes lit up with pure joy. “That’s great! Let’s plan, then. Do you want to travel? Kahit saan, Babi. Just tell me.”

Aiah paused, her fingers stopping their play as she looked at Mikha with wide, hopeful eyes. “Hmmm, seriously? Okay lang ba talaga ‘yun?”

“Of course,” Mikha said firmly, taking Aiah’s hand and kissing each of her knuckles. “I will make that happen. I’ll ask Joanna for help; they have a source in Cathay Airline. I’ll make sure everything is first class—no stress, just us. You deserve it, babe. You and the baby.”

Aiah’s smile was so radiant it could have lit up the entire room. She squeezed Mikha’s hand, her eyes shimmering with tears of happiness. She leaned in, burying her face in Mikha’s neck, breathing her in.

“Yes! Let’s do that. I miss traveling… but doing it with you? It’s a dream come true, Mikha. Sobrang dream come true.”

She snuggled deeper into the hug, her fingers still playing with Mikha’s hand, feeling completely cherished, safe, and so incredibly in love.

As the soft melody of their travel plans settled in the air, Aiah’s eyes wandered toward the corner of the room. Perched against a shelf was a wooden acoustic guitar she hadn’t noticed before.

​”Oh, you have a guitar? Is that new?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Nah, it’s actually kinda old. Kinuha ko lang kanina when I was opening my old boxes,” Mikha answered, her voice soft as she pulled Aiah closer.

Aiah’s eyes sparkled, her playful mood returning. She shifted on Mikha’s lap, wrapping her arms around her neck, and looked at her with that irresistible, tiny pout. “Baby, please… play for me. Please?”

Mikha chuckled, unable to say no to those eyes. “Alright, alright. Matagal na akong walang practice, but okay… let me play this song. It’s been on my mind lately.”

Mikha reached for the guitar, settling it comfortably against her while Aiah stayed tucked in her arms. She took a deep breath, her long fingers finding the familiar frets. After a few experimental strums that echoed warmly through the quiet condo, she started the intro.

Her voice came out low and soulful, carrying all the yearning and the truth she wanted Aiah to feel.

“The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful

Stop me and steal my breath.

And emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky

Never revealing their depth.”

As she sang, Mikha didn’t look at the strings; she looked straight at Aiah. Every word felt like a secret confession. When she reached the line 

“I’ll hang from your lips,” Mikha’s gaze dropped momentarily to Aiah’s mouth, making Aiah’s breath hitch and her cheeks flare a deep crimson.

“And tell me that we belong together,

Dress it up with the trappings of love.

I’ll be captivated,

I’ll hang from your lips,

Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above.”

Mikha’s voice grew more confident, more powerful. She leaned in closer, her forehead almost touching Aiah’s. The vibration of the guitar was felt between them, a literal resonance of their hearts.

“And I’ll be your crying shoulder,

I’ll be love’s suicide

And I’ll be better when I’m older,

I’ll be the greatest fan of your life.”

Aiah was completely mesmerized. She reached out, her fingers gently tracing the line of Mikha’s jaw, her touch feather-light as she listened to the promise in the lyrics.

“And rain falls angry on the tin roof

As we lie awake in my bed.

And you’re my survival, you’re my living proof.

My love is alive and not dead.”

Mikha finished the final strum, letting the chord ring out and fade into the silence. She didn’t put the guitar down immediately. Instead, she stayed there, trapped in Aiah’s gaze.

“You’re really the greatest fan of my life?” Aiah whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Mikha leaned in, closing the small gap between them until their noses brushed, her heart full. “Always have been, Since the moment I realized it was you.”

Aiah didn’t say anything; she just pulled Mikha into a deep, lingering hug, burying her face in Mikha’s neck, overwhelmed by the kilig and the realization that she truly was the only one in Mikha’s world.