Hindi ko alam kung bakit nung sinabi yun ni Mikha eh biglang kumabog yung dibdib ko. She looked serious and for the first time, Mikha seemed as if she matured in just a span of seconds. The smile that she had a while ago was suddenly gone. I nodded.
Nilabas niya yung camping chair niya and she asked me to sit down habang naka-upo siya sa trunk ng kotse niya. She wasn't speaking but we both were just looking out into the water. I can only hear Mikha's heavy breathing but she wasn't speaking.
Malakas yung hangin and I'm actually worried na baka umulan, pero the sky was clear. Nagulat ako kasi sinandal ni Mikha yung ulo niya sa balikat ko mula sa likod. She still wasn't saying anything at kung mapapalingon ka, iisipin mo na nakatulog lang siya.
"Mikha Lim, what's wrong?" tanong ko sa kanya. Wala naman siyang sinabi.
I felt something weird down my spine when she moved her head and I can now feel her breath on my neck. Pinipigilan ko yung sarili kong makiliti kasi masyadong malapit yung lips niya sa leeg ko.
"Kapoy." sabi niya.
I gave her head a light scratch and I just held her head there.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Inayos lang ni Mikha ulit yung pagkakasandal niya sa 'kin.
"No."
I continued scratching her head and she was still unmoving.
"You know, my best friend and I, kapag gusto niya ng hug or ng comfort whenever she has a problem, sasabihin lang niya sa 'kin, Kins, payong please. Cause it means that it's raining on her side and she needs me to comfort her. We never really talk about all our problems. Minsan just sitting beside each other is enough. So whatever it is that's bothering you, you don't need to tell me, but if you want to unload, just let me know how to make you feel better, okay?"
"Thank you Ate Aiah."
"I'm always here for you, Mikha Lim. Don't forget that."
Mikha was still unmoving. Instead, she kept her head buried on my neck. I just continued giving her head scratches. Something must have happened during their tour, or baka sobrang napagod lang din talaga si Mikha.
"Ate Aiah?" tanong niya.
"Hm?"
"Payong please."
When Mikha said that, I felt a light tug in my heart.
"Of course. Get out of that seat so I can hug you properly."
Naramdaman kong umalis na si Mikha mula sa likod ko and so I turned around and hugged her tightly. She still hasn't spoken and I'm just letting her stay there.
I know that feeling. Yung masyado kang maraming iniisip at masyado kang maraming problema na ayaw mo na lang din magsalita. Sometimes just keeping things to yourself and processing it by yourself helps. But I also didn't want Mikha to feel like she's by herself and hugging her is the only way I know to help her.
I heard my phone ring but I've decided not to pick up. Mas kailangan ako ni Mikha ngayon. Pero when Mikha heard my phone ring, she then let go of me.
"Sorry, they're probably looking for you." sabi ni Mikha. "Let's head back."
"Are you feeling better?" I asked habang nagliligpit si Mikha at habang nilo-lock niya yung pinto.
"Yes. Thank you." sabi niya.
As we were walking back, Mikha still looked uneasy kaya I held her hand and gave it a light squeeze. Mikha finally smiled.
Nung makapasok na kami sa hotel, habang pabalik na kami sa restaurant, nag-ring ulit yung phone ko. When I checked, andami palang missed call sa 'kin ni Kara.
