I'll Be Back

3

The next morning, Mikha woke up early, her sleep restless and filled with fragmented dreams of the past. She moved quietly around the house, making coffee and preparing breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, but it did little to soothe her lingering unease. She hoped the routine tasks might help clear her mind, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Aiah.

A little while later, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Aiah appeared, looking just as tired and conflicted as Mikha felt. Their eyes met briefly before Mikha quickly looked away, focusing on the pan in front of her. "Good morning" she mumbled, trying to keep her voice neutral.

"Morning" Aiah replied softly, her voice still carrying the weight of their conversation from the night before. She hesitated by the kitchen doorway, unsure whether to stay or leave.

"I made some coffee. Gusto mo?" Mikha offered, not turning around. She busied herself with flipping the pancakes, her movements tense.

"Oh, okay" Aiah answered, walking over to the table and sitting down. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unsaid words and unresolved feelings.

As Mikha set the coffee in front of Aiah, she couldn't help but steal a glance at her. The sight of Aiah's tired eyes and the sadness etched on her face made Mikha's heart ache with guilt. She knew she had to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she sat down across from Aiah, the silence stretching on.

"Look, about last night" Aiah began, her voice shaky.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I reacted that way. I was just a bit of overwhelmed from what's happening lately." Mikha said before Aiah could.

"I understand. But, can we talk? Anytime. When you're ready."

Mikha sighed, finally meeting Aiah's gaze. "sure" she said softly. "I hope you can wait. It's just, hard. you know."

Aiah nodded, understanding. "I'll wait for you"

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension slowly giving way to a tentative sense of understanding. Mikha took a deep breath, feeling the tiniest bit of the heavy weight lifting off her shoulders. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

"Mikhs, thank you for the coffee" Aiah said, trying to offer a small smile.

"You're welcome." Mikha replied, her own lips twitching into a faint, hesitant smile.

Time Skip

The two were in their rooms, each lost in their own thoughts. Mikha lay on her bed, scrolling aimlessly through her phone, the conversation from the morning replaying in her mind. She felt conflicted, the guilt gnawing at her but not knowing how to bridge the gap between her and Aiah. In the other room, Aiah was similarly distracted, her thoughts tangled with regret and hope.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, jolting both of them out of their reveries. Mikha got up and went to her balcony, peering down into the yard. She was surprised to see her friends gathered there, looking up expectantly.

"Guys? What are you doing here?" she called out, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and curiosity.

Colet looked up and saw Mikha. "Hi, Miks! Tambay lang kami dito, pwede ba?" she asked, smiling brightly.

Mikha nodded and the girls let themselves into the house. She felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. She was glad for the distraction but also worried about the awkwardness with Aiah.