Chapter 44

Mikha POV

Pag balik ko sa bahay ni Aiah, nakita ko agad siya sa labas na nag hihintay.

Well, I guess I found an instant friend in her, plus she is very beautiful. But looking at her standing there, a strange wave of deja vu hit me so hard it made me dizzy. It’s like my eyes know the exact symmetry of her face, even if my brain can’t place it. but why does my heart beat like it’s trying to break out of my chest just by looking at her?

She’s holding a bag and a key.

“Aiah, let me hold it for you.”

Kinuha ko yung bag niya. Our fingers brushed, and I swear a literal spark flew between us. I gasped slightly, and my hand trembled. It felt so incredibly familiar, like a routine my hands had practiced a thousand times before.Ghad, Mikha Lim, are you flirting??? No no! I guess no, I’m just being friendly!

“Babi-I mean, Mi-Mikha…” Tila nadulas na sabi ni Aiah

“Huh? Who’s bobby?” I said

My heart did a sudden, heavy thud. Hmm, does she have a boyfriend already? No, please. Why did that word coming from her lips make my chest ache with a sudden, overwhelming emptiness?

“Ammm.. ano, wala! Nagkamali lang yung katiwala namin, yun… So-sorry. Umm anyway, okay lang ba sayo? I will drive you ebike, hindi kasi ako sanay mag drive, its been a while.”

She bit her lower lip, looking at me with eyes that seemed to plead for something I couldn’t understand.

“Well, anythings fine with me, miss Aiah… But I’m much more comfortable if I drive you. I can just borrow the pickup truck kay Jhoanna if you don’t mind… okay, hintayin moko dito.”

“Wait!! Mikha. Umm Actually, meron naman pickup truck sa garahe… gusto mong tignan? Yun nalang yung gamitin natin.”

I smiled and said yes to her, tapos pumunta kami sa garahe nila. Meron sila dung isang family car-it was a Land Rover Range Rover Sport na dark grey-and isang pickup na Jeep Gladiator red.

The moment I saw them, my breath hitched. This luxury car is the one I’ve been eyeing, and this color is exactly what I wanted. But it wasn’t just admiration. It was a suffocating feeling in my chest, like a memory trying to claw its way up. Sa asawa niya kaya ‘to o sa bf niya? Kasi nabanggit niya na di siya ganun karunong magmaneho. Sana hindi, kundi it will be a heartbreak for me. I felt a sudden, irrational urge to cry, totally confused as to why a stranger’s relationship status could break my heart this deeply.

“Amm, wow. Nice cars… is this all yours?”

“Umm No, Actually it belongs to someone…” sabi niya.

Her voice cracked, and it physically hurt me. Literally, a sharp pain shot through my chest. I just don’t dig nalang, kasi its personal. But inside, I felt this overwhelming, protective instinct to pull her into my arms and tell her everything would be okay. Where is this intensity coming from? I just met her.

Since malapit na mag lunch, we decided to eat somewhere. Walang masyadong restaurant sa lugar na ‘to, but sabi niya ituturo niya daw yung favorite kainan niya. It was an Inasalan with a classic taste-specialty ng lugar.

When we got there, medyo masama yung panahon umaambon na. Mabuti nalang at may jacket ako. Without even thinking, my arms moved on instinct. I pulled the jacket over our heads and tucked her firmly against my side. The fit was… perfect. Like she belonged right under my shoulder. I could smell her vanilla perfume, and my brain went into a frenzy. I know this smell. Why do I know this smell?

I felt like a teenager, but at the same time, grounded. I was so happy being with this girl. It feels like it was not our first time. We ate a lot and laughed a lot. Every time she laughed, a warmth bloomed in my stomach. I was falling, hard and fast, but I was so confused. How can you feel a deep, soul-stirring comfort with someone you literally just met?

Afterwards, dumeretso kami near the seaside. She showed me a lot of places. Kumain kami ng seafood at mangga. At one point, she reached out and gently wiped a bit of bagoong near my lip using her thumb. I froze.

The touch sent a jolt straight to my core. She just giggled, but I was staring at her thumb, fighting the insane urge to lean into her touch.

Di namin namalayan yung oras palubog na pala ang araw. We walked at the seaside, smiling ear to ear.

Then, she naturally reached down and held my hand, locking her fingers with mine. My hand molded into hers perfectly.

Honestly? I don’t care. No, actually, I do care, because my heart was having a complete somersault. Kung ibang babae ‘to, I will feel uncomfortable, but si Aiah? Iba.

Holding her hand felt like finally finding the missing piece of a puzzle I didn’t even know I was solving. I felt safe. I felt home.

Nakauwi na kami sa bahay at itiningil ko na yung pickup niya sa garahe. I turned off the engine, and the sudden quiet magnified the heavy, cozy tension between us.

“Thank you, Aiah. Sobrang nag enjoy ako,” I said, turning to face her. I was looking at her like there was no tomorrow, my eyes tracing her lips, her nose, her eyes.

“Ako din, Mikha. Thank you so much. I hope to see you… see you more often.”

May laman yung pagkakasabi niya. It sounded like a heartbroken plea. And then I saw it again-yung malungkot na mata niya.

“Aiah… amm, can I ask you something?”

“Ano yun?” she whispered, her eyes flickering down to my lips before locking with mine.

“Are you alone here?”

Nagulat siya sa tanong ko.

“Naku, don’t get me wrong… I just-notice na malungkot ka, and nabanggit mo na you are bored.”

“Ammm… I was waiting for someone. Sabi niya kasi babalik siya agad, but till now…” Napahinto siya, tapos bumaba yung tingin niya. The sadness radiating from her was suffocating. “Hindi pa siya bumabalik.”

Then she looked up, her eyes glassy with unshed tears.

“Mikha…”

“Aiah?”

Pag-aalala kong sabi. My soul felt like it was tearing apart just seeing her like this.

“Can-can I hug you?”

I didn’t even answer. My body moved before my mind could consent. I reached out and pulled her into me, crashing her against my chest.

She hugged me so tight, burying her face in my neck. The moment her arms wrapped around me, a sudden, intense wave of familiarity rushed over me. It felt like breaking the surface of the water after drowning. I held her so tight, my hand automatically cradling the back of her head, whispering, “I’m here, I’m here,” without even knowing why those specific words came out.

I don’t know… I feel like gusto kong alisin lahat ng lungkot na meron siya. I am so confused. Why does her pain feel like my pain? Why do I feel like I’ve held her like this a million times before? I just know she needs me right now.

Pagkatapos nun, nahimasmasan na siya tapos nagpasalamat siya sakin. Sabi ko naman wala yun. Trying to keep my shaking voice steady, I cleared my throat.

“So… exchange numbers?”

Hindi ko na pinalagpas yung pagkakataon. She smiled and nodded. But even as we parted, my mind was spinning.

There is definitely someone with this girl… but why does my heart insist that it’s me?

Pag uwi ko sa amin, nagtataka si Jhoanna. I was holding a beer and opening it while pakanta-kanta pa, my heart still racing from the hug.

“Huy, Mikha, saan ka nanggaling? Teka, ang saya mo yata? You should ask me, sinamahan sana kita.”

I was smiling again. She has no idea the emotional rollercoaster I’m on.

“Well, everything is perfect, Jo… and yes, I was happy. Very happy… Ummm Remember Aiah?”

“AIAH??!!” Gulat na sabi niya, halos mabitawan yung baso niya. “Oh, a-ano meron sa kanya?”

“Well, I saw her again this morning, and surprisingly, we click. I think I like her, Jo.”

“Oh my ghad, Mikha.” Jhoanna looked absolutely terrified, rubbing her face.

“What? Masama ba? I know, I know, Jhoanna, sobrang aga pa… but you can’t blame me. I was happy. Sana lang talaga single siya, kasi may kutob ako na meron siyang someone else. But I felt like they are not in a good term, I don’t know.”

She didn’t say anything back. Umiling lang siya tapos bumalik na sa kwarto niya. Pero bago sumara yung pinto, I faintly heard her muttering to herself.

“You don’t have any idea, Miks.”

Napatawa nalang ako, though a small part of me wondered why Jhoanna looked so guilty.

Next day, maaga akong gumising. The moment I opened my eyes, Aiah’s face was the first thing I saw in my mind. It’s getting scary-how can someone occupy so much of my thoughts when I barely know her?

Then I remembered what she told me yesterday-na hindi siya magaling magluto, thats why she just gave me a simple sandwich.

So, I decided to cook for her. Just a friendly, totally-not-obsessed neighbor, right?

I prepared a wrap burrito, loaded with ingredients inside. I also baked a healthy banana cake, and since my chest felt warm just thinking about her, I added some homemade sinigang for her lunch.

Habang nilalagay ko sila sa mga containers, bigla akong napatigil, nakatitig sa kamay ko.

Teka, pano koba ibibigay ‘to? Baka ano isipin niya?

Baka isipin niya ang desperate ko naman, or masyadong mabilis. Kakakilala lang namin kahapon tapos may pa-catering na ako? Pero more than that… bakit parang nagawa kona to?

My heart started hammering against my ribs again, full of that heavy, confusing tension. I’m scared, but at the same time, I’ve never felt this alive.

“Ah, basta. Bahala na mamaya,” I whispered to the empty kitchen, gripping the lunchbox. If my heart wants to run straight to her, who am I to stop it?

.

Pagkalabas ko pa lang ng pinto, grabe na agad yung kaba ng dibdib ko. It literally feels like I have a mission-and my mission is my very beautiful neighbor.

​Inayos ko muna yung buhok ko. Tapos huminga ng malalim, dahan-dahan akong naglakad.

Pero dahil pakiramdam ko hindi pa pala ako ready, bigla akong napa-side step at nagtago muna sa likod ng malaking puno malapit sa gate nila.

​Mikha Lim, ano ba? Kaya mo yan. Magbibigay ka lang naman ng ulam, you know, as a good new neighbor. Pero bakit ba ako pinagpapawisan ng malamig?

​Para mas sure at hindi mautal, nag-practice muna ako sa harap ng puno, kunwari ito si Aiah.

​”Miss Aiah, delivery from your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.” Sinapo ko yung noo ko. “No, no. Ang corny, ghad.”

​Try ulit. Ayusin ang boses, Mikha. Dapat cool.

“Aiah, I heard that you like sinigang?” Napakamot ako sa ulo. “Wait, mali. Paano ko maririnig, e kahapon lang kami nagkakilala? Mukha naman akong stalker niyan!”

​One last try, yung pinaka-casual.

“Hey Aiah, napadaan lang ako kasi naparami yung luto ko sa bahay. Sayang naman kung mapapanis, kaya share tayo.”

​Okay, pwede na. Perfect. Nilakasan ko na ang loob ko, lumabas sa likod ng puno, at dire-diretsong naglakad sa gate nila tapos nag-doorbell.
​Ding-dong.

​Pero instead na lumabas yung prapractice ko… lahat ng script ko, parang biglang binura sa utak ko nung bumukas ang pinto.

​Si Aiah. She was just wearing a simple, White Tshirt, shorts her hair messy but in a cute way. Sobrang ganda, lalo na nung bigla siyang ngumiti nung makita ako. My brain completely short-circuited.

​”Mikha..”

​”Uh… hi!” I cleared my throat, my hands suddenly shaking habang itinataas yung bag ng pagkain. At doon na ako nabulol-bulol.

​”Ano… n-naparami kasi yung luto ko sa… sa sinigang ko? I mean, may saging ako-este, banana cake! Tsaka burrito. Kasi ano… ayaw kumain ni Jhoanna ng diet dahil nag-babanana… ugh.”

​Ghad, Mikha Lim, ano ba ang pinagsasabi mo?! Gusto ko nang lamunin ng lupa ngayon din.

​Natawa nang husto si Aiah, yung tawang abot hanggang sa mga mata niya na sobrang sarap pakinggan. Lumapit siya sakin para kunin yung bag, and our fingers brushed. That same, intense electric jolt hit my chest again, making me freeze.

​”So… pinapakain mo ako kasi nag-di-diet si Jhoanna ng saging?”

biro niya, her voice teasing but soft, looking up at me through her lashes.

​”Hindi! I mean-” I looked down, my cheeks burning red. “I just… remembered na hindi ka sanay magluto. So I made a lunch just for you- you know Friendly neighbor ?”

​Aiah looked at the food, then back at me. There was this quiet, deep warmth in her eyes that made the nervousness disappear, replaced by that heavy, comforting tension.

​”Thank you, Mikha.” she whispered with a small, knowing smile.

​Napakagat-labi nalang ako, feeling completely defeated by her beauty but deep inside, my heart was doing insane, happy flips. Ewan ko kung bakit, pero pakiramdam ko… hinding-hindi ko mapapanindigan ang pagiging ‘friendly’ lang sa kaniya.

​Nakatayo lang ako sa harap ng pinto niya, hindi pa umaalis, nung bigla siyang tumingin ulit sa akin nang may malalim na emosyon.

​”You know, bago ako lumabas ng pinto kanina, may hiling ako sa sarili ko,”

mahinang sabi niya, her voice suddenly dropping into a soft, loaded whisper. She locked her eyes with mine, giving me a tiny, beautiful smile.

“Sabi ko… sana ikaw agad ang makita ko pagdilat ng mata ko. I didn’t know it would happen this fast.”

​Nanigas ako sa pwesto ko. My breath hitched, my heart hammering furiously against my ribs. Ano daw? She wished to see me?

Bakit parang may mas malalim na ibig sabihin yung pagkakasabi niya? What did she mean by that?

​Bago pa ako tuluyang lamunin ng matinding pagkalito at kilig habang nakatayo lang doon sa tapat ng pinto, Aiah softly broke the silence. She pushed the door slightly wider, stepping aside to give me space.

​”Ano… aalis ka na ba agad?”

she asked, her eyes searching mine, almost hopeful. “Masyadong maraming pagkain ‘to para sa akin lang. Bakit hindi mo ako samahang kumain sa loob?”

​My brain was screaming at me to act cool, pero ang puso ko, sumuko na agad bago pa ako makasagot.
…….

🌈🌈🌈🌈

Qoutes of the Day!!

“You were the only person who could read my silence, understand my pain, and calm my chaos without me saying a word. That’s why becoming strangers hurts more than I can explain.”

How are you guys?? Hope you all the very best ♥️♥️♥️

But Be honest… may ganito na bang nangyari sa inyo? Yung someone who understood you deeply, then one day naging stranger na lang?