I'll Be Back

10

After a two-week vacation that felt like months, Mikha was finally getting back to work. She woke up early and made breakfast for herself and Aiah. Since that school field incident, they had started talking and were slowly healing.

Mikha cooked a meal for her and Aiah. After that, she didn't waste any time and got ready for work. She didn't bother to tell Aiah that she was leaving.

Aiah woke up and immediately went downstairs. She saw the meal already prepared for her and roamed around the house looking for Mikha, but she wasn't there. She started to feel nervous and decided to call Colet.

- Call -

A: Good morning, Cols. Do you know where Mikha is? She's not here sa bahay.

C: Good morning, Aiks! Nag-work na ata si Miks eh. Di niya ba nasabi sayo?

A: No... Anyway, thanks, Cols. I was so worried.

C: Grabe naman 'yan. Worried as a friend? with benefits?

A: Huh? What? No?? Ugh, bye na.

C: *Chuckles* Okay, bye miss praning!

- End of Call -

"Am I really praning?" Aiah murmured to herself. She sat at the dining table and ate the meal Mikha had prepared. The house felt uncomfortably silent. She missed Mikha's raspy morning voice. She wasn't sure if she could survive a day without someone to talk to, or without Mikha.

Deciding she needed company, she headed to Colet's house and knocked on the door. She was greeted by Sheena.

"Aiks? Bakit nandito ka?" Sheena asked.

"Mikha is off to work kasi. I got bored and decided to come here. Is it okay?" Aiah replied.

"Oo naman, tara pasok ka" Sheena said, opening the door wider for Aiah to enter.

They walked to the living room where Colet was lounging on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.

"Uy, Aiks! Ano balita?" Colet greeted her with a smile.

"Nothing much, just bored and alone at home. I miss Mikha" Aiah admitted, plopping down on the sofa.

Sheena joined them, sitting on the armchair. "Ok lang ba kayong dalawa? I mean, after everything that happened?"

Aiah nodded slowly. "Yeah, we're talking and trying to move past it. It's just... hard. But we're getting there"

"Getting saan?" Sheena asked.

"Moving on. Healing." Aiah replied.

"Normal lang 'yan," Colet said. "Healing takes time. At least you're both making an effort."

Aiah sighed. "I know. But sometimes, I feel like I'm too much for her. Like I'm always worrying and she's so independent."

"Yan talaga ang life," Sheena chimed in. "Give and take. You both balance each other out."

"Correct ka jan sis" Colet agreed.

Aiah smiled, feeling a bit lighter. "Thanks, guys. I really needed to hear that."

They spent the rest of the morning talking, laughing, and reminiscing about old times. Aiah felt grateful for her friends, who always knew how to make her feel better.

As the day went on, Aiah couldn't help but glance at the clock every now and then, wondering how Mikha was doing at work. She hoped Mikha was having a good day and wasn't too stressed.

By late afternoon, Colet's phone buzzed with a message. "Nasa bahay na daw nya si Miks. Hinahanap ka nya Aiks"

Aiah felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Mikha was looking for her? She thanked Colet and Sheena for letting her hang out and headed back home to wait for Mikha.

When Aiah finally walked through the door, Mikha was there to greet her. "Hey. I didn't know na pumunta ka pala sakanila ni Colet."

Aiah got intimidated. "Need pa pala mag update? Joke, sorry. I got bored kasi"

"Oh no, no. I didn't mean it that way. Pero, nice din ang idea mag update. I got worried lang you know" Mikha replied, taking Aiah's bag and setting it aside.

"Okay Ms. Lim. Are you hungry? I'll cook dinner" Aiah said, giving Mikha a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I missed talking to you."

"I missed talking to you too" Mikha said with a smile.

A strange silence settled between them, a silence that felt heavy and charged with unspoken thoughts. They had shared countless conversations before, but this felt different, almost as if acknowledging a deeper connection. Mikha's eyes met Aiah's, both searching for an understanding of what had just transpired. The usual comfort of their closeness was tinged with an unfamiliar tension. They both looked away, trying to brush off the feeling. As they headed to the kitchen and continued to share stories about their day, the house felt both warm and unsettling, as if something new had been added to the fabric of their relationship.

As they sat down for dinner, the clinking of utensils and the soft murmur of their conversation filled the room. The aroma of the adobo Aiah had cooked wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of steamed rice. They settled into a comfortable rhythm, talking about the mundane details of their day.

“Ang sarap naman ng adobo mo” Mikha said, smiling as she took another bite.

“Thanks. I’m glad you like it” Aiah replied, her eyes softening.

As they continued eating, the initial tension began to melt away, replaced by a warm familiarity. However, a lingering curiosity remained, unspoken but felt by both.

After dinner, they washed the dishes together, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. Once the kitchen was clean, they made their way to the living room, where they continued talking late into the night. They reminisced about old memories with their friends, shared dreams for the future, and laughed at inside jokes only they understood.

Eventually, the weight of the day began to settle on them. They decided it was time for bed. As they stood at the doorway of their respective rooms, the earlier tension seemed like a distant memory.

“Goodnight Aiah” Mikha said softly, her voice tinged with affection.

“Goodnight, Mikha. Sleep well” Aiah replied, giving her a warm smile.

They lingered for a moment, the silence between them now comfortable and familiar. Then, they turned and entered their rooms, the house settling into a peaceful quiet as they both drifted off to sleep.