I'll Be Back

23

Mikha

It was the day of my volleyball competition, and I woke up early to jog around the area. The motel we had booked was conveniently located near the covered court, nestled in a hillside spot that offered a peaceful view. After jogging for about 30 minutes, I passed by a huge hacienda, its grandeur catching my eye. As I continued, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live in such a place, surrounded by spacious lands and luxury.

Lost in thought, I pushed myself to jog further, enjoying the early morning solitude. On my way back, as I approached the hacienda again, I noticed a figure stepping out of the gate. The woman had her back to me, but something about her seemed oddly familiar.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I jogged closer, eventually tapping her on the shoulder. "Hey. Good morning. Hacienda niyo po ba 'to?" I asked.

She turned around. "Ay good morning po. Hindi po." she replied shyly, her face unfamiliar yet kind. I noticed she was pushing a stroller with a toddler sitting in it.

"Anak mo po?" I asked, crouching down to get a better look at the baby.

"hindi po, anak ng amo ko po." she clarified

I smiled at the baby, who giggled back at me. "ang cute naman" I said, genuinely charmed.

I stood up and bid the lady goodbye. As I jogged back to the motel, I couldn't shake off the image of the baby. There was something about her that reminded me of Aiah. The resemblance was uncanny, making me question if it could be more than just a coincidence. But then again, it seemed impossible. Aiah was in America, far from here. Yet, the thought nagged at me, lingering in the back of my mind.

Back at the motel, I was greeted by my playmates, who were busy preparing breakfast. I joined in, helping with the preparations while my mind wandered back to that child.

With the competition looming, I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the day's events. But as we made our way to the covered court, the image of the baby with Aiah's eyes stayed with me, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.

It was a scorching noon, and we were already practicing at the court. The sun beat down on us, making the air thick and heavy. Just as I was focusing on the drill, I noticed Julia waving at me from the bleachers. My eyes widened in surprise and delight at seeing her. Throughout my volleyball comeback journey, Julia had been a constant supporter, always cheering me on.

Without hesitation, I excused myself from the practice and ran over to where she was seated. Julia greeted me with a tight hug, completely ignored how sweaty I was.

"You came." I said, rubbing her hand, touched by her presence.

"Of course " she replied, pulling me into another embrace, her voice full of warmth and reassurance.

Just then, our coach called us to gather up. Reluctantly, I excused myself from Julia and rejoined my team. As we huddled together, I couldn't help but feel a surge of motivation. Julia's presence gave me an extra boost of energy and confidence.

As we gathered around the coach, he went over the game plan and emphasized the key strategies we needed to focus on. I listened intently, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

The coach split us into teams for a scrimmage match. As we took our positions, I glanced over at Julia. She gave me a thumbs-up and a big smile, which made me smile back. Her encouragement was like fuel, pushing me to play harder and smarter.

The scrimmage was intense, with both sides playing competitively. I could feel my skills coming back to me, each serve, spike, and block feeling more natural and precise. The energy from the team was electric, and we played with a unity and focus that felt intense.

During a brief break, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked up at Julia. She was watching intently, cheering us on with enthusiasm. It reminded me of how much I loved this game and how much I appreciated having someone who believed in me.

The rest of the practice flew by, and before I knew it, we were wrapping up. As we cooled down and gathered our things, I couldn't wait to go back to Julia. When I reached her, she gave me another hug, her smile brighter than ever.

"Galing naman!" she said, her voice filled with pride.

As we walked away from the court, we talked about the practice and the upcoming game later. Julia listened attentively, offering suggestions and sharing in my excitement.

Aiah

My daughter's birthday is in two days, and I've decided to host the party at the hacienda. It's an ideal location, perfect for the celebration. To finalize the details, I brought the coordinators to the venue on this sunny afternoon to visualize the setup.

As we were planning, loud cheering suddenly echoed from nearby. At first, I thought it would stop soon, but the noise persisted, making it hard to focus. Despite the distraction, we managed to finish our discussion, and the coordinators left.

Curious and slightly annoyed, I asked my cousins about the noise. Ali reminded me about the volleyball competition happening today, which she mentioned last night. She insisted we go watch it, and although I was reluctant, their enthusiasm won me over.

At the court, the crowd was overwhelming, and we struggled to find a spot. My cousins expertly navigated us to a prime viewing area. I wasn't particularly interested, so I spent most of my time scrolling through party design photos on my phone.

After minutes, I realized my cousins were missing. I tried calling them, but there was no response, which made me panic. I searched the crowded court with my eyes but saw no sign of them. Worried, I headed to the back area where players usually rest and change.

As I sat on a bench, I grabbed my hair in panic. Saan na ba yung mga yun? I tried calling them once again, but still, no answer. Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching, and my anxiety grew even larger. I carefully stood up to leave, but before I could go, a hand grabbed my arm.

"A- Aiah?"

I froze, recognizing the voice immediately. I felt my heart skip a beat. C-Could it be?

Turning around, i was not wrong, it was her. It's Mikha, looking surprised and slightly different with her new red hair.

"I-i missed you." Mikha said, her voice soft.

"Please, leave me alone." I said, my voice edged with frustration and a hint of desperation to end this encounter.

Mikha's grip tightened slightly, and she tried to pull me closer. "Aiah, can we at least talk?"

The insistence in her voice only fueled my anger. "Let go!" I snapped, jerking my hand free from her grasp. "Just leave me alone."

The intensity of my reaction left both of us stunned for a moment. I could see the hurt in Mikha's eyes, but I couldn't deal with the flood of emotions her presence stirred up. I turned and walked away, not looking back, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and unresolved feelings.

I saw my cousins, searching for me outside the covered court. I immediately joined them, acting like I was fine.

"San kayo galing?" I asked, panting in tiredness.

"Tinulak kami ng mga tao palikod, sensya na 'teh" Ali explained.

I gave them a soft giggle and we decided to go home. The brief encounter with Mikha lingered in my mind. The mixture of nostalgia, frustration, and tension was overwhelming, making me question what I had truly moved on from and what still lingered in my heart. Sabi ko na nga eh, sana 'di nalang ako bumalik dito.

Late upload. Nakalimutan😭
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