The victory party just ended when mika approach him.
"Kief, can we talk?" She said.
"No" he plainly said.
"...not here" he added.
She just smiled.
They're now in the garden, sitting at the bench near the pond, under the starry night and moonlight. Mika was nervous as she sat there beside him, silence fill the air as she continuous to heave deep sighs.
Kiefer is silently losing his patience so he decided to break the silence.
"Di ba may sasabihin ka?"
"Ah, oo, hmmm. Ano kasi..."
Tumingin siya kay mika, he knows that he is now near at the end of his rope of patience.
Mika gulp. She can feel the cold sweat in her face. Mas lalo siyang kinabahan nung tumingin si kief sa kanya.
"Kiefer, im sorry" she managed to utter bago yumuko. Nahihiya siya rito because the last time that they were together, she embarrassed him.
"Why did you that Mika?" He asked her calmly.
She looked up upon hearing him saying those words. She meets his gaze and pursed her lips. She's in the edge of crying again. "No, not in front of him" she said to herself.
"We've been friends for a long time kief and i realized that i enjoy your company more than anyone else. You're nice, caring and gentleman, that's why i fall" she managed to utter looking up at the night sky. She sighed. She's having jitters right now. Ramdam niya na nakatingin sa kaniya si kiefer.
"Everyday im with you, i fell deeper. Every night before i sleep, im looking forward to my tomorrow with you by my side. Every morning i wake up that you're the first thing in mind. Its all you kief, its all you"
She's waiting for response, pero wala. So she continued.
"That day, i gathered all the courage to do that. I risk our friendship because i think that what we might have after i did that is worth taking the risk. The feeling is not mutual pala. Namis-understood kita. I thought you like me too, but nature mo lang talaga maging sweet, caring and all. I misjudge you. But after that day, that you know, you reject me, i think i should lay low first. I should take it slow and that's what i did for the last 3 years" she smiled to him and that smile makes his heart skip a beat.
"I won't give up kiefer. I'm done being in the shadows silently loving you" she said looking directly in his eyes.
"Mika, don't ..."
"Please don't say it just yet. Let me do what I want" she replied voice cracking.
"You better stop it Mika" Kiefer stood up then leave.
Mika froze upon hearing it. She prepared herself for this day to come. Naisip niya na yung magiging reaksyon ni kiefer sa mga sasabihin niya pero masakit pa rin. She's hurt but not losing hope. She won't give up, not yet. Hindi niya pa nakukuha ang gusto niya.
"Kaya mo yan Ye. Wag kang susuko. Girl power para kay Kiefer" she said to herself to cheer up.
---
After the conference, kiefer had 3 weeks vacation. Pinagpahinga muna sila ng management since kakatapos lang ng conference. They knew they deserved it as well.
Kiefer spent his 3 weeks together with his family. He knew that when another conference starts, mawawalan na naman siya ng time for his family kaya sinusulit niya ang bawat sandal.
They were now in Palawan. Napagdesisyunan kasi nila na doon na lamang magbakasyon dahil hassle kung lalabas pa sila ng bansa. At least doon, makakapag-relax talaga sila dahil malapit lang. Aside from thirdy and dani, kasama rin nila si pauly at gabe. Wala ang mom and dad niya dahil busy sa business.
Upon entering the lobby of the hotel, there's a bunch of girls at the reception area. It was lings plus jessey. Kilala niya ang mga ito dahil naghahang-out rin naman sila minsan.
"Hi mga ate's. Hi ate mika" dani said then kissed the girls. She also kissed mika and hugs her tight. Super close talaga ni dani kay mika.
While thirdy, pauly, gabe and him waved at the girls as an acknowledgement. The girls said their hello's and hi's to them as well.
"Hi thirds, paul, gabe" Mika said to them. Bakit siya di binati? Di ba siya nakita nito? Ang laki niya kaya para hindi mapansin. Then mika turned her way towards him, akala niya babatiin na siya pero hindi pala.
"Hi miks, long time no see ah" thirdy said. Ang tagal na rin ng huling nagparamdam si mika sa kanila. Nung victory party nila, that was the last time they saw her and after that, wala na.
"Oo nga eh, busy lang. Magbabakasyon rin kayo?" mika utter.
"Yes" kiefer butted in then proceeded to the receptionist to check in. Iniwan na niya sila. Biglang uminit ulo niya. Dapat masaya siya dahil tinigilan na siya ni mika pero bakit ganto? Naiinis siya dahil hindi man lang siya binati ni mika. Hindi naman siya invisible para balewalain. I won't give up I won't give up pa siyang nalalaman eh susuko rin pala. Tsss.
"Anong nangyari dun?" he heard dani mumble probably talking about him.
The group behind him just chuckled. "Badtrip" he utter to himself.
The company enjoyed their whole stay in Palawan. It's such a paradise. And their vacation there is definitely one of a kind. For keepers keep indeed.
Pero naguguluhan siya. Iba yung kinikilos ni mika. She's acting as if she doesn't know him. Ano ba nangyayari dun? Naiinis siya. Pero dapat masaya siya because tinigilan na siya ni Mika. She already gave up Kiefer, di ba yun naman yung gusto mo? Eh anong inaarte mo ngayon? Kagulo mo.
