"Hey" tawag pansin ni Rachel kay Mika na malayo ang tingin.
"Hmm? Sorry. Did I zone out?" Tanong ni Mika na tinanguan naman ni Rachel bilang sagot.
Huminga naman siya nang malalim na para bang binabagabag ng kung ano.
"Is it okay if I ask why? Or would you rather have my mouth shut?"
At dahil magkatabi lang naman sila ay sinandal ni Mika ang kanyang ulo sa balikat ng katabi.
"I'm fine. I'm just feeling blue"
"Oh I get it"
Nanahimik lang si Rachel at hinayaang samahan ng presensya niya si Mika. Dahil minsan, ganun naman talaga ang tao.
May mga araw na parang ayaw natin kumilos, mga araw na pakiramdam natin ayaw natin makipag-usap. Mga araw na gusto lang natin ng katahimikan, lalo na sa magulong mundo.
Rachel took Mika's hand, intertwining their fingers— filling both gaps.
Wala namang kilig like how playful Mika usually is. She felt somewhat relieved knowing she can sit in silence with someone.
"Thank you"
"Let's go get your comfort food. Coffee is my comfy drink, we go get yours"
"Wala akong gana eh. Let's just stay like this"
"Okay"
Mika closed her eyes for a while with a smile on her face.
They stayed quiet until she felt fine— her usual self. Nag paalam na mag C-CR muna at pagbalik ay para bang walang nangyari.
"Chel"
"Yes?"
"Bili tayo fries"
Natawa naman si Rachel. "Ilang kilo ba gusto mo?"
"Grabe ka. Pero isang bff fries that's for me lang"
"Ang takaw mo naman sa fries Hindi mo naman mauubos yun"
"Di ka sure" malaking ngiti ang binigay ni Mika at uminom sa kape nitong natunaw na ang yelo. "Dali na. Ayan lang oh. Katabi lang natin."
"Dito ka na. Ako na bibili"
"Ayaw mo ako isama?"
"Dito ka nalang para may maupuan pa rin tayo. Kapag sinamahan mo ako, gugustuhin mo bang magstay dun? Maingay. It's a fast food chain."
"Okay"
"Do you want anything else?"
Umiling nalang si Mika at nginitian si Rachel. Ayaw naman din talaga siyang iwan mag-isa nito ngunit ayaw niya rin maoverwhelm si Mika sa dami ng tao lalo na't hindi naman siya okay na okay today.
She looks drained ngunit hindi na rin balak alamin ni Rachel kung sa trabaho ba iyo o sa pamilya.
Masaya naman na siyang makitang mukhang okay na si Mika. Bumili rin siya ng burger para sa kanilang dalawa.
It wasn't as eventful as it was like their past few Thursday meetups. Hindi madaldal si Mika, hindi rin marami ang napagkwentuhan nila, but Rachel felt okay with it.
She realized na si Mika pala talaga ang nagbubuhat ng conversation nila. And now that Mika isn't her usual self, she was lost for words.
And felt that life is boring without Mika.
Is she bored tonight?
No. Not really. Despite Mika being not okay, she was happy to be there for her friend.
"Friday na bukas" sambit ni Rachel.
"Yeah. Kaya nga tayo magkasama kasi Friday na bukas" sagot nito.
"Do you regret not having Vic's number that night?"
Mika raised a brow, scoffing like she heard something unbelievable— which it really was. "Are you asking me if I regret knowing you?"
Rachel squinted her eyes. "No?" Sinubukan niyang i-deny. It wasn't really what she meant pero ganun ang lumabas.
"Chel, it's one of the best mistake one could have ever done" Mika smiled at sinubuan naman ng fries si Rachel. "Bakit? You regret ba na dinaldal mo ako? Instead of just saying wrong number?"
"No." Mika's silly smile caught Rachel's eyes. "What?"
"Wala naman. I just feel like we're soulmates"
"Soulmates?"
"Oo. Like we suit each other. Uunahan na kita, it can be use sa friends" sabay irap nito na nagpatawa kay Rachel.
"I'm still talking to Peter and Jovs pala sa dating app. Naikwento ko yung nangyari and they felt bad it happened to me"
"Hmmm."
"I do plan on meeting them, pero kapag ready na ako"
"Take your time. If they really want to, makakapaghintay naman sila."
"Ikaw? Excited ka ba to meet Vic?"
Umiling naman si Mika. "Sakto lang. Don't mind me. I can handle myself naman"
"Nasabi ko din yan eh. I still had to call a friend. So if you ever need one, ring me up"
They continued talking about random things. Until it's time for both of them to go home. Hinatid naman ni Mika si Rachel sa condo nito. She even had the extra time para bumaba ng sasakyan niya just to give Rachel a big tight hug.
"Thank you."
Rachel lightly tapped her back. "You are as what I am to you, Mika. You would always have my back as you have mine."
Mika didn't want to explain herself. "Ingat ka, baka madapa ka e" she joked.
"Ikaw ang mag-ingat."
"Salamat. Bye"
"Mika"
She stopped at tiningnan si Rachel. "Hmmm?"
The girl walked near her and poked her shoulder. "We do not have to meet every Thursday. Lalo na if you get all cloudy. Maiintindihan ko yun. Sometimes we need a little space for ourselves"
"Wag ka magulo naiiyak ako"
Rachel chuckled and gave Mika a good pat in the head. "Whenever you're ready"
Mika nodded.
"Appreciate you lots, Chel."
"Ingat"
BINABASA MO ANG
One Message Received
Fanfic[An epistolary] Mika was given a different number. Rachel received the message.
