Chapter 9

It had been a week since the accident—the IVF was accidentally injected into the wrong person.

Lahat ginagawa ni Mikha para mahanap si Aiah. Wala man siyang alam sa buhay nito—ilang taon na rin simula nung pangyayare sa Egypt. May asawa na ba siya? May anak na ba? 

Ang alam lang niya kailangan niyang mahanap ito.

Ang tumatakbo sa isip niya ay: may bata bang nabuo sa sinapupunan nito?

Pangalawa: paano niya sasabihin ang lahat kung sakaling mag kita ulit sila?

Pangatlo: kung nagbunga nga, papayag ba siyang ipagpatuloy o ipapa laglag niya ba to?

Habang lumilipas ang oras, mas dumadami ang problema sa isip ni Mikha. Aksidente ang nangyari—walang may gustong. Pero isang bagay ang malinaw: hahanapin niya si Aiah at irerespeto ano man ang desisyon nito.

(Ang muling pagkikita…)

Isang gabi, dahil sa sobrang stress at pagod, napagpasyahan ni Mikha na mag-bar hoping kasama si Joanna.

Pumunta sila sa isang sikat na bar sa Makati na ni-suggest ni Joanna.

“Buddy, by the way, I already transferred 1M to your account in case you need another IVF set,” sabi ni Joanna habang umupo sa bar.

Mikha took a sip of her ice-cold drink.
“Am I really this poor? Jo, I know you’re my best friend, but you don’t need to do this much,” sagot niya.

“Ano ka ba? You’re already facing a lot, and hindi kita hahayaang mag-isa. Isa pa, remember the car gift and travel expenses you gave me before. Compared to this, this is nothing. Remember, I love you bro—not romantically, pero kapatid na turing ko sayo.”

“Pucha… I might cry….I’m glad you’re here…Actually, I have a bigger problem. Remember that girl in the CCTV? Hindi ko maatim na di sabihin sa kanya na may nangyaring pag kakamali sa hospital. Meron man o walang nabuo sa sinapupunan niya.”

“May point ka, pero you have her name and address—why don’t you go there?” Joanna asked.

“They live in some penthouse in Makati, but ayokong makasuhan ng trespassing. May security at tap card. I can only ask at the lobby, pero ayokong magmukhang stalker. Actually, I waited there last Friday for five straight hours, but I couldn’t see her,” sagot ni Mikha.

The night was slow, almost too slow… until someone bumped into her.

Her drink spilled all over Mikha’s white clothes.

“I’m sorry,” said the girl.

She wiped Mikha’s shirt, but intentionally poked her abs. Actually she’s Badass. Pretty girl. Definitely flirting.

“It’s okay…” Mikha said coldly.

“I’m really sorry… if you want, I can lend you some—”

“It’s okay. I don’t need your clothes,” Mikha cut her off, then turned around and walked back to her seat with Joanna.

Joanna watched everything, eyes wide.
“Dude… what was that?”

“I don’t know. I’m just tired… I just want to drink… and nakakasawa din yung… puro  flirt,” sagot ni Mikha.

“Woah woah, are you saying you want a real relationship now?” Joanna teased.

“No… yes… I mean, I really want to change. You know, kung magkakaroon ako ng anak, at least I want to be a good example,” sagot ni Mikha.

Joanna’s jaw literally dropped.
“Are you for real? So Am I as  Ninang Joanna.”

Later, Mikha excused herself to go to the parking area and change. Luckily, she had a spare shirt in the car. Since the windows were tinted, she changed inside.

But all of a sudden habang nag papalit siya ng damit.

From the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar face.

Cold ran down her spine.

It was Aiah, with her friends, heading toward the same club.

“Holy cow, its was her” Mikha whispered, then quickly followed the group.

The nerves hit her all at once. How could she even approach the girl?
This was definitely not the right place…

Mikha POV

Dali dali akong sumunod sa kanila

At the club, Aiah’s group was already at the side of the bar. Nakahanap agad sila ng upuan and they looked like they were ordering food and drinks.

She was stunning in that simple black dress.

But that’s not my mission.

I need to talk to her.
I just need the perfect timing.

So I did what I could—I sat at a table near them. Para marinig ko na rin kung anong pinag-uusapan nila, what kind of person she is, what her vibe is.

“Gurl, KKB tayo tonight… hoy Stacey, yung utang mo sa akin last clubbing natin, bayad-bayad din!” sabi nung girl with orange hair.

“Akala mo naman to si ate Maloi  di babayaran. Ohhh Ito, pera ako na bahala sayo tonight. Chill,” sagot ni Stacey.

“Aba aba, good mood yata tayo, daiii,” the girl name maloi said

“Ikaw ba naman, Ma, heart sa IG ng ex—magogood mood ka talaga!” sabay tawa.

That voice… no doubt, that is Aiah. I still remember it.

“Hoyyyyy ano yan, Ate Aiah! Wala pang, na kukwento sakin si Staks. Anda daya niyo!”

“Later spill ko gurl, wait lang muna natin yung drink natin, baka mawalan tayo ng topic.” its was stacey 

“Staks, hanggang anong oras ba tayo dito? Konti lang iinumin ko ah, alam mo naman nagbabagong buhay na ko,” sabi ni Aiah.

“Ito naman si Uwi! Gusto mo now na! Hanggang 12 lang tayo here, don’tcha worry mga beb,” sagot ni Stacey.

“Owkeyy,” sagot ni Aiah.

Maya-maya dumating ang waiter, dala na yung drinks ng girls. Are they gonna drink vodka?

No my baby… I mean, bawal sa baby yun. I need to do something.

Maya-maya, tinawag ko yung waiter at pinadala agad sila ng food—any kind, basta madala agad.

Dumating naman agad sa table nila. They all looked confused. “Saan kaya galing ito?”
Pero sabi ng waiter, it’s free, kaya agad silang kumain.

Three courses of mouth-watering snacks.

“Hala be, sino kaya nagpadala nito? Ang haba ng hair natin!” sabi ni Stacey.

“Baka bigay ng ex mo… baka andito nagtatago lang somewhere,” sabi ng isa.

Si Stacey naman, hindi mapakali. Hinanap niya kung may naka-titig sa kanila o nagmamasid. Tiningnan niya rin kung saan ako nakaupo, buti hindi niya ako kilala nag poker face ako, then kunware umiinom ng wine.. teka kaninong wine ba to pakalat kalat pwe.

“Okay guys, isa-isa… ako muna, pangalawa si Stacey, pangatlo si Ate Aiah. First shot!”
It was Maloi. She downed one cup of vodka straight.

“Okayy, me naman. This is for my ex na patay na patay pa rin sakin! Shot!” It was Stacey. She drank the vodka.

Next… it was Aiah. No, she can’t drink.

“Alright, it’s my turn,” Aiah said, huminga ng malalim. “This is for my UTI na di maalis-alis!”

Out of nowhere, bigla nalang akong napatayo at napa sigaw:

“No!!”

Hindi nag-iisip, inagaw ko yung shot at ininom yung vodka na dapat sa kanya.

They all jaw-dropped.
like “What the f—who is she?!”

Back to No One’s POV…

Everyone was stunned.

In Stacey’s mind:
Who’s this handsome girl?
She looks like a model.

In Maloi’s mind:
Hala bakla, ang poganda naman ni ate mo, girl.
Kilala ba siya ni Ate Aiah?

In Aiah’s mind:
hala ka, buang ba ’to?
Why did she steal someone’s drink?
Maganda pa naman siya… may sayad lang.

While everyone was still processing Mikha’s sudden scene…

“Ahh—eh, Hi. So-sorry, narinig ko kasi na may UTI ka. By the way, I’m Doctor Janna Lim.”
Then she gently extended her hand to Aiah.

Pero si Maloi agad ang kumamay.

“Hi! I’m Maloi. You can call me babe.”
She was smiling ear to ear, parang nakakita ng Prince Charming.

Maya-maya, si Stacey naman.
“Hi, I’m Stacey. You can call me love, hehe.” sabay kinilig.
 

“By the way, you can join us, Doc. Para naman ma-share mo sa amin kung anong mga bawal sa friend naming may UTI, diba Ate Aiah?”

“Can I join you guys? I’m alone actually. It’s my pleasure if I can stay here for a bit,” Mikha said softly.

“Sure…?” alanganing sagot ni Aiah.

In her mind, she was still shocked.
The girl was kinda weird… but somehow, she felt familiar.

Umupo agad si Mikha sa tabi ni Aiah, para mabantayan niya ito.
Kinakabahan siya, kasi sa unang pagkakataon muli, nakausap niya at nakita niya ito.
And she couldn’t think straight.

Pano niya sasabihin dito ang lahat?

“By the way, girls… order all you want. It’s my treat.”

Everyone clapped and cheered—except Aiah, na hindi alam kung ano dapat niyang maramdaman.

Pero naging comfortable agad sina Maloi at Stacey.
They talked about random things, laughed, and kept ordering food.

Meanwhile, Mikha carefully fabricated her story—
that she was a doctor, and her name was Janna.
Well… she is Janna. Her second name, at least.

Nag-order siya ng safest drink for Aiah.
Then she lied, saying, “There’s a  alcohol here it was the best for her,” but the only true is it’s safe for someone with UTI also for pregnant woman.

And every vodka shot that was meant for Aiah…
Mikha drank it herself.
Walang lusot. She just act like she’s so thirsty or any lame excuse just to steal the vodka from aiah.

From time to time, she would gently slide the food closer to Aiah.
“Eat muna. Masama sa tiyan yung puro drinks.”

Her tone was calm, almost caring, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Everyone was getting drunk…
except Aiah.

And for some reason,
she felt strangely… safe sitting beside this “Doctor Janna.”

Maloi and Stacey were so wasted, they could barely walk.
Tawa sila nang tawa, halos mag subsob na sa kina uupuan.

Si Mikha naman, medyo tipsy na rin.
Her head was spinning, and her vision was slowly getting blurry ikaw ba naman sumalo ng ilang basong vodka.
Pero pinilit niya pa ring asikasuhin si Aiah.

 Aiah’s safety was her main goal.

Paminsan-minsan, tinitingnan niya ito.

“Okay ka lang? Nahihilo ka ba?”
Sabay abot ng tubig.
“Drink this instead.”

Sa isip ni Aiah,
Ano ba ’tong babaeng ’to?
Siya na nga ’tong lasing… bakit ako pa yung tinatanong niya?
  Weird for a stranger ngaun lang ako naka meet ng ganitong tao… ang alaga niya masyado.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit parang may kakaibang concern ang babae para sa kanya.
Weird… pero hindi nakakatakot.
More like… gentle.

Bago pa siya tuluyang malasing, tinawagan na ni Mikha si Joanna.

“Jo… pumunta ka dito… please,” mahina niyang sabi.
“Nakita ko na siya… yung babaeng hinahanap ko.”

Napakunot ang noo ni Joanna sa kabilang linya.
“What? Kanina pa kita hinahanap Where are you?”

“Nandito parin sa bar sa main lang… pero Jo…”
Humawak si Mikha sa ulo niya.

 “Hindi ko na kayang maghatid. Nahihilo na ’ko. Please take care of them nalang… especially Aiah.”

Pagdating ni Joanna sa bar, she immediately spotted them.
Pero laking gulat niya nang makita kung sino ang kasama sa grupo.

It was her ex-girlfriend… si Stacey.
Mabuti na lang at lasing ’to,

“Anak ka ng! Kung minamalas ka nga naman ” bulong niya, naka-busangot.

She helped the group stand up, one by one.
Si Maloi, halos nakapulupot na sa braso niya.
Si Stacey masama sa loob niya inakay at sinakay sa sasakyan niya.

Joanna made sure they were all guided safely to the car.
Lalo na si Aiah.

“Seatbelt,” she said softly, then secured it for her. 

She also made sure to get Aiahs number just incase mikha need it. 

Nahatid niya naman sila ng peaceful at walang aberya. Nag pasalamat si aiah at nag sorry na din sa storbo lalo na sobrang lasing ng mga kaibigan niya.

Pagbalik niya sa loob ng bar, nakita niya si Mikha na nakasandal sa couch, tulog na.
One arm hanging loosely, face relaxed, completely drained.

“Grabe ka talaga,” bulong ni Joanna.
“You finally found her… pero hindi mo man lang nakausap ng maayos.”