Take my Hand | MIKHAIAH

CHAPTER 6 - A Little Communication

Mikha took a big bite of her apple as her eyes were focused on the movie that was playing. It was Sunday afternoon. Her first relaxed Sunday afternoon after weeks of non-stop work. She wore her pyjamas and her socks and her feet were on the table. She misses this– to have absolutely nothing to do around.

"Mikha." She rolled her eyes at the shouts of her name but she didn't budge an inch. It was her Sunday morning. No one can disturb her. Not even the 'loud' woman. She ignored it and kept watching the movie.

"Didn't you hear me?" Aiah stood in front of the TV, arms crossed on her chest with an unhappy look on her face.

"Don't you see I am watching?" she pointed at the flat screen. "Move!" she shooed the latter.

"Nope, no more TV for you." Aiah turned it off, earning a disapproving look from Mikha. "You have to get ready. We're going to your parents' house for lunch." The lawyer took away the remote from Mikha and put it neatly at the table. "And we have to buy wine as a gift."

"Why must we have dinner with my parents?" she groaned. "Can't we just order pizza or something?"

The thought of her parents and Aiah being in the same room somewhat made her uneasy. She'd be in big trouble should Aiah tell them about her mistresses and she can't stand to hear her parents blabbering about her childhood and her teen phase to Aiah– which is apparently a compulsory task for every parent ever to their soon to be daughter in law.

"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Your mother asked us to get lunch with them and she told me literally to drag you out of the house if I have to."

"Wait a sec, she asked you? Did she call you?" she frowned.

"No, she came to my office yesterday. Now, come on!" Aiah pulled her hand forcefully. "Don't be such a baby, Mikhs!"

"Wait, why didn't she call me? Her own daughter?"

"You'll turn her down and she doesn't want to do a long speech because it won't work on you anymore. We got two hours, make it quick, Mikha."

The red-haired girl sulked all the way to her room and took the longest bath in her life. Aiah knocked on the door countless times – nevertheless, she sang even louder. When she got out of the bathroom, the raging Aiah was siding on her bed with a furious look.

"You should know by now that I'm not afraid of you. Not even a slight bit. Now, would you excuse me? I want to get dressed or well... I don't mind if you want to stay and watch." she smirked.

Aiah's eyes widened at the statement and she went out with reddened cheeks. She'll wrath at Mikha later.

- - - - - - - -

"This wine is really good. Thank you, my dear." Mikha's mom reached out to hold Aiah's hand as she squeezed it.

"You're very welcome, Mrs. Lim." she smiled brightly.

"Now, now, would you stop calling us Mr. and Mrs. Lim? That sounds so distant." The old guy chimed in.

"That's right, Aiah honey. You should call us mom and dad. Just like Mikha did. You're also our daughter after all."

"Okay, mom." she said awkwardly.

"And dad too." Mr. Lim playfully glared at her.

"And dad too." Aiah said with her gummy smile.

Mikha ate in full silence mode as she observed the interaction surrounding her. Her mom and dad were obviously happy with Aiah. she couldn't really blame them. Aiah is pretty, kind, friendly and smart. She was practically stealing everybody's heart effortlessly. Meanwhile, Mikha was a reserved, moody, gloomy person to begin with. She won't start a conversation if the others didn't make the first move. People would easily judge her as an antisocial kind of person.

Well, yes she'd go to parties her fellow friends threw. And of course, she went to the finest club full of people she didn't even know existed, but she mostly drank when she went clubbing. She just wanted to drown her sorrow and let loose. She didn't need to introduce herself or talk about her private life. She checked in then checked out the first thing in the morning after.

The way her parents treated Aiah was nothing to compare with her previous lover– no, her precious girl– no, her ex was more like it. She didn't want to remember her as her girl let alone her lover. She was just an ex.

Anyway,

Mikha's parents didn't really welcome her ex. They were plainly flat at her. Even her father was having a hard time to accept that she was in love with her but at least he was civil. Don't bother to speak about her mom, she was frankly unable to hide her objection towards her.

Mikha knew from the look on her parents' eyes, from the way they praised Aiah and how comfortable they were with her– this was the real deal. There was no way to get out of this mess without not disappointing her parents.

"Hey, you're awfully quiet. Is everything okay?" Aiah's whisper brought her back from her reverie.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. Was just thinking." she said in a lowered voice. Her parents were busy with some kind of old jokes that weren't even funny at all.

"So, Mikha, honey. How was work?" her dad asked.

"Umm... good." she replied shortly. She shoved another cutlet into her mouth.

"Just good?"

"Yeah, everything is good."

"We're expecting some details, actually." the oldest woman said sarcastically.

"I'm making a proposal to do research on growing a heart." she answered nonchalantly.

"Really," Aiah tilted her head– asking her to verify. "Woah! That is so cool!"

"Yep, kinda cool." she chuckled.

"You have to make it, darling. I'm so proud of you!"

"Wait," her mom spoke sternly, making everyone shut up in an instant. "Aiah didn't know about it? How come you don't tell her?"

Mikha frowned at the statement. Why would she tell Aiah about it? What did it have to do with her?

"Well?" Her mom pressed. "I uh– I don't think it would be interesting for her." she tried to reason.

"Are you uninterested, Aiah, darling?" her mom asked.

"Who would be uninterested? That is a really great thing. Even unimaginable for me before." The lawyer said truthfully but earned a sharp glare from Mikha anyway. Aiah gave her the 'what?' look at her face.

"See? And what is your problem, Mikha, to not tell your spouse about it?"

"Well—"

"This will affect you in one way or another. She needs to understand why you couldn't get home on time or if you have to work at home so you'd spend less time with her." she said. "This is not just about you alone anymore, my dear. You have to think about Aiah too."

"Your mom is right, baby girl."

"Don't call me that, dad." Mikha sulked.

"I think your communication is not good enough." she shook her head. "The foundation of building a great family is communication. You talk and she'll listen. She talks and you will listen. That's how you open up to each other. Relationships don't work in a quiet, silent environment. It won't survive. I know that is not easy considering you guys probably just started warming up to each other but..." she took a long breath. "Try, okay? All you have to do is try, my children." She finished her long speech and continued on doing her lunch leaving the two enemies dumbfounded.

Yep, just adding up another reason why she hated the idea of meals with the parents.