Too Young

II.

Aiah is my home. She is my truth. She will forever be the one I love no matter how long the years pass by. I will always carry her love within me wherever I go. Even if I had hurt her, even if I was selfish for choosing her happiness for her. Because I will always be stupid just to give the best and what she deserves. Even if it's not me.

"Have you ever been in love, Mikha?" Amanda asked me seriously. She was sitting in front of me, wearing a thoughtful look.

I gave a small smile and nodded. "Yes, I have." I am still in love.

I can still remember the moments I spent with her. The day we got together, after her graduation.

"Aiah!" I finally saw her. I've been looking around for Aiah after the ceremony and saw her talking with her classmates.

Hearing my shout, she turned around. When she caught my gaze, I smiled widely. She waved energetically at me and excused herself from her friends. I laughed when she literally ran towards me and hugged me tight.

"Congratulations, my Aiah." I said softly as I caressed her hair.

"Thank you."

I unclasped from our hug and held her side. I stared at her, memorizing her features. Trying to sink it in that she was going away after this.

"I can still remember her face that day, Mands." I gazed away from Amanda's eyes and stared into nothing. I could picture Aiah's bright and smiling face, her precious laugh, her eyes that could fit a galaxy. I could still hear what she said to me.

She was looking at me with a confused smile. "Why are you staring?" I didn't answer.

"Stop staring." She laughed and poked my cheek. I dropped my smile. That laugh, I will surely miss to hear that everyday.

"Hey, Mikha? Okay ka lang? Bakit?" Her face turned into worry after seeing me with a serious look.

And at that moment, I wanted to say that I wasn't okay. That I will miss her and that I don't want her to go away. I couldn't hold it in so my eyes started welling up.

I bit my lip and shook my head. I tried backing away from her and tried turning around but she held me close.

"Mahal kita Mikha Lim." She said and I let my tears fall. She knew what I was thinking. She knew what I was crying for.

"I don't want you to go." I whispered. It was selfish, I know but I wanted to voice it out even just once.

"And I won't. I won't go now when I have something to ask." She was caressing my cheek and drying my tears. I looked up at her with a questioning gaze.

"What?"

Aiah grabbed something from her pocket and held out the necklace. A silver necklace with a ring pendant. It was the one that she was going to give to me to confess but didn't.

"Will you be my girlfriend? My dream and my everything?"

"Of course I said yes." I looked at Amanda and silently touched the necklace I was wearing.

"Of course you would, come on ang romantic din non noh, may panecklace pa si Aiah." She teased me.

"Imagine you were crying kasi you'd miss her and then she assured you by saying I love you tas tinanong ka maging jowa. Sinong 'di matutuwa!" Amanda exclaimed giddily but then looked cautious all of a sudden.

"But then what happened? Bat wala na kayo? If you don't mind me asking."

Aiah didn't continue abroad. She went to college here and changed her program. Her family didn't approve but supported her still. All of her friends were saying 'sayang bat hindi ka tumuloy.' She would always just smile at them and shrug her shoulders.