A's Lullaby

Planting Flowers

[ The two decided to plant flowers on their garden — courtesy of Aiah — as they talk about their favorite flower. ]

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"So you know, I still can't believe we have a garden now." Mikha said after putting down a sack of fertilizer on the ground.

"Really? Ako rin di ako makapaniwala na finally we could afford to buy and grow flowers!" Aiah was excited, obviously. She has a big smile on her face as she worked and plow the soil.

"Akala ko we're more into dried flowers." Mikha chuckled.

"We are! Pero we're going to upgrade din to fresh flowers. Para hindi ka na bumibili tuwing valentine's or birthday ko." Aiah winked at Mikha.

"Ay ganon? You're so thoughtful naman pala, thank you ha." Mikha sarcastically said in amusement.

"Pero I also can't believe na you found sunflowers to plant here." Mikha continued while standing and looking at the flowers waiting to be planted. "Do you even know how to grow these?"

"We'll learn!" Aiah emphasized the word 'we'll.'

"Of course." Mikha mumbled.

"Besides it's your favorite diba? Kaya hinanap ko talaga yan, tinanong ko pa kuya ko."

Mikha shook her head. "You didn't have to."

"But I want to."

She couldn't do anything but smiled endearingly at Aiah. The girl was the epitome of effort. Always making effort just for her.

"So tatayo ka na lang ba diyan? Mikha Lim?" Aiah raised a brow at her.

Mikha scratched the back of her head. "Sabi ko nga po, eto na."

They were silently planting the flowers. Aiah especially was delicate with the sunflowers. Even searching the internet, making sure that it's planted properly.

"There! Ang pretty talaga nila." Aiah exclaimed after successfully planting the sunflowers. She turned to Mikha.

"Mikhs, ako na sa iba. You should rest." Aiah stood up and slid off her gloves. Mikha used the back of her hand to wipe off her sweat on her forehead.

"Okay pa naman ako." She said.

"Dun muna tayo sa bench, I'll get us some juice. May binili akong orange juice diyan." Aiah helped Mikha to stand up.

Mikha obliged and went to the bench to sit while Aiah went inside the house to get them juice.

"Ang sarap ng juice nato," Aiah said as she came back with two cups on hand. "Try mo, ang fresh."

"Thank you." Mikha uttered before drinking. 

"It's so ripe noh?"

Mikha abruptly stopped drinking and tried hard not to laugh while the juice is still in her mouth.

"Hoy mabilaukan ka diyan!" Aiah said.

She roughly gulped down the juice and laughed. "Ang arte nung ripe!"

"Ano ba dapat?????" Aiah couldn't help but laugh with Mikha.

"Ripe? eh juice na nga?" Mikha was still laughing as she put down her cup.

Aiah pouted, embarrassed. 

"Ang expensive ng ripe mo, kaya ka nasasabihan ng conyo eh." Mikha breathed out after laughing.

"Parang ikaw din naman sinasabihan ng conyo!"

Mikha chuckled. "Conyo tayo parehas."

Aiah shook her head. "Look ang ganda talaga ng flowers."

"Wehh change topic ka lang eh."

The girl slapped Mikha's shoulder. "Di nga, kainis!" 

"Joke joke," Mikha laughed and nodded at Aiah. "Ang ganda nga. Thanks sa sunflower."

"Why is it your favorite ba? I'm curious."

Mikha smiled at the question. "Alam mo ung kapag nag blobloom ang sunflowers?"

"They face the sun during the day."

"And when you face the sunshine the shadows stay behind you. It's a reminder to stay positive. Tsaka sunflowers are bright noh? Nakakagaan siya ng feels." 

Aiah nodded as she listened. "Ang ganda naman pala ng meaning sayo ng sunflowers."

"Uhuh, and you know what?"

"What?"

"Ikaw din ang sunflower ko." Mikha gave a confident look, like she was proud with her pick up line.

"Ah so ikaw ang sun ko? Kaya pala lagi akong nakatingin sayo." Aiah countered which Mikha did not expect.

It made the girl blush hard. Mikha couldn't look at Aiah's eyes. Sasabog ata ako.

"Ang corny!"

"You did it first!" Aiah laughed.

"Nye nye."

"Anyways, what about you? I actually don't know your favorite flowers. I just randomly choose which ones to give." Mikha frowned remembering that she really doesn't know Aiah's favorite flower.

"Well, weirdly I think I don't have one." 

"What? Really?"

"Yeah. I like all. Diba dati I'm not really into flowers tapos nagkainterest na lang din ako sa dried flowers. And you like sunflowers so parang I started to like them too as well." Aiah grinned at Mikha. "So baka ayun na din fav ko."

Mikha smirked. "Gaya gaya."

"Bakit ba." Aiah chuckled.

"Maybe I should plant some santans too, what do you think?" Suddenly, Aiah blurted out.

"Santan? Ung red flower na maliliit?"

"Yes, tas gawa tayo ng bracelets." Aiah clapped her hands in excitement. "Ginagawa yun na bracelets diba? Search ko nga kung san makabili non."

Mikha laughed while shaking her head. "Mapupuno tong garden natin. Baka hanggang pati loob ng bahay may flowers na."

"Great idea!"

She stopped laughing when Aiah said that. Mikha groaned, "Aiah please, no. Mawawalan ng space ang bahay."

"Ang laki laki ng bahay! Besides, tayo lang naman tao dito."

"Mali ata na sinabi ko un."

"Checkmate ka na Mikha Lim. We're going to fill this house with flowers!"