Take my Hand | MIKHAIAH

CHAPTER 7 - Valentine's Day and a Gift

She opened the door, stepped off her shoes and hung her jacket then walked inside the living room. She put her back on the couch and made her way to the kitchen.

She set down her take away Chinese food, took the chopstick inside the plastic bag then began to chew. The cook was really tasty. The place was her favorite restaurant near the hospital.

It was still a few hours before Aiah came home. The thought of it somehow troubled her. The stillness was creeping her out. A few hours in this house without her was – in one way or another – way too long. She was unaccustomed of being alone in her house ever since Aiah moved in – at least not for five hours long.

'I'll be home after 8. Don't skip meals.'

She read the message over and over again. After eight she said. She sighed inwardly. She got home early because she planned to do her proposal in a peaceful place. Hospital definitely wasn't a peaceful place to stay. There were too many heart postcards, pink stuff and all since it was Valentine's day. She got a headache just looking at it.

But who would've thought that she felt weirder in her house just because the person who she said loathed was absent.

She took back her bag, turned off the lamp then stepped out of her apartment back to her second home– the hospital. She'd locked herself in her office to prevent the headache.

- - - - - - - -

The horn from her back made her turn around. A familiar car approached her not far from where she was standing. She stood with her hand in her jeans pocket waiting for the car to stop perfectly in front of her.

It was really cold. Her nose and cheeks are reddened by the weather.

The driver lowered the window. "I thought you'd be home by 3?"

"Don't feel like going home at 3." she lied through her teeth.

"Come on in, it's freezing outside." She clicked open the lock.

"Whew!" she sighed relieved. "You're right. It's really cold."

"You shouldn't be walking at this hour." Aiah said as she drove away.

"Aiah, it's 9 p.m. nothing to worry about."

"Just don't argue with me. We both know how unsafe it is."

"I learned taekwondo when I was in junior high school."

"Yeah, like I believe it!" the lawyer snorted.

"Hey! I'm telling the truth!"

"Show me then." She challenged her.

"I will, just you wait and see!" she huffed cutely, not aware of the smile Aiah made because of her act. "Can we buy ice cream first?"

"It's cold! Why would you eat ice cream in weather like this?"

"I just want it. We ran out of it, we need to buy another bucket."

"We? You mean you?"

"Whatever. Just stop at the nearest ice cream shop, okay?"

"Have you had dinner?"

"Yes I have. There, there, stop there, I'll be quick." she pointed at the Baskin Robbin sign.

Aiah pulled up the hand brake and stopping the excited Mikha before she could escape.

"We can eat here if you want." the lawyer offered.

"Really? You're not tired?"

"Not really. Let's just eat it here. But only one scoop, Mikha. One scoop."

Both of the women walked out of the car then stepped into the shop earning a warm welcome from the staff. They nodded a little as they reached the counter and ordered.

"Hmmm, I'll have milk ice cream and..."

"One chocolate flavored ice cream, please" Aiah cut her. "Only one, Mikha. We can buy a bucket later."

"Fine. You're such a dictator. Geez"

They sat at the table that's closest to the window so they could see people doing whatever they were doing. There were a few people at the shop though it wasn't that packed. Most of them were couples, real couples, from all ages.

Mikha busied herself in digging her ice cream. Aiah had to diffuse a laugh every time she watched Mikha eat her favorite food in the world. She secretly liked the moment because it was just pure. The girl in front of her right now wasn't an annoying, arrogant girl. She was just Mikha Lim and her ice cream. Pure and innocent Mikha Lim and her ice cream.

"Mikha."

"Hmm?"

"I got something for you."

"Hmm?" She's still occupied with her thing, and did not notice what Aiah had pulled out from her bag.

"Here you go."

Mikha glanced at the red box then to Aiah. she actually stopped eating, tilted her head– thinking.

"What's this for?" she finally asked.

"Don't you want to open it first?" she kept her voice steady, in spite of the fact that she was afraid Mikha would reject it.

"Is it for Valentine's? Because I don't celebrate Valentine's Day." her tone was cold.

"No, no that's not for Valentine's." she quickly said. "I went to the mall today and I saw that, I thought yours is already–you know it has a lot of stains and kind of ripped here and there so I just bought it." she rambled. Mikha's reaction totally took her by surprise.

"What's this?"

"Phone case." there was no use to play since Mikha seemed too distant.

"Oh." Mikha took the box and opened the red wrapped paper and withdrew the content.

She stared at the clear red phone case on her hand. She quietly removed her old phone case and changed it to the new one.

"Thanks." She looked closely at the latter. "It looks good, thanks." she said, still reserved.

"No problem." Aiah said coolly. Mentally noting to herself to never give Mikha impromptu presents on common celebration days ever again.

The situation was unpleasantly quiet for Aiah's liking. She cursed herself for being too forward and unfortunately, Mikha wasn't even that delighted receiving her gift.

"I'm done." Mikha leaned against the chair, stroking her tummy. "I'm so full." she said cheerfully, grinning satisfied-ly.

Okay, now Aiah is confused again. Mikha was gloomy one minute ago and now she's acting like nothing happened.

"Are you done with that?" she pointed at the leftover cake. "'Cause if you are, I can finish it."

Mikhaela, I can never understand you.