After ng show nila Mikha, palagi pa ring napapag-usapan yung relationship namin ni Mikha. Though dahil alam na ng girls na kami na, they are also trying their best to keep my identity as a secret. Pero mas natatawa ako kasi andaming pinapartner kay Mikha sa internet. Kahit mga simpleng fan na feeling ko nakasabay lang ni Mikha somewhere, inaakala na nila agad na siya yung girlfriend niya.
They also went to another tour at ilang buwan na naman kaming hindi nagkikita ni Mikha. This time however, is much easier, kasi dahil alam naman na ng girls, she's now able to talk to me kapag sila-sila na lang yung magkakasama. Lalabas sana ako para bumili ng dinner, pero halos mapatalon ako nung bigla na lang sumulpot si Mikha sa may pinto.
"Surprise!" sabi niya.
"Bubby! What are you doing here?"
"I can't wait to see you eh." sabi niya.
"Magkikita naman tayo tomorrow since merong intimate gig di ba?" tanong ko.
Direk Dan has organized a small gig in one semi-private events place to celebrate yung anniversary ng Lakanbini girls. Ininvite niya rin kaming girls to perform so he asked us to be there.
"Yes, but it's still one more day." sabi ni Mikha. "I just want to spend tonight here. Have you had dinner?" she asked.
"Hindi pa. I was just heading out when you —"
Biglang tumunog yung phone ni Mikha and it was an unknown number. When she saw the number, nakita ko na biglang namutla si Mikha.
"Wait lang, Ate Aiah." sabi niya then she moved away from me para sagutin yung tawag.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako biglang nakaramdam ng kakaiba sa ginawa ni Mikha. I guess because she was so intent on keeping her voice down while talking. On a normal day, she's going to excuse herself when someone calls her, pero she'd be talking with her normal voice.
"Sorry Bubby. Let's have dinner?" she asked.
"Sino yung tumawag sa'yo?"
"No one. Bank." sabi niya.
"At this hour?" I asked.
"Yeah. For an offer or something. It's not important." sabi niya.
We then went out for dinner and we tried looking for a restaurant na wala masyadong tao. Mikha still seemed to be pre-occupied pero wala siyang sinasabi.
"Mikha Lim."
"Hm?"
"What's wrong with you?" I asked.
"Nothing. Why?"
"You seem distracted."
"Sorry, Bubby. Pagod lang siguro." sabi niya.
"Hindi ka na kasi dapat umuwi ngayon. Let's just go home then after dinner." sabi ko sa kanya.
"But I wanted to see you." sabi niya.
"Mikha Lim, it's not like you won't see me tomorrow."
"Malay mo."
"Mikhaela."
"O joke lang, joke lang." sabi niya. "I really just want to be with you tonight. Hindi ba pwede yun?"
I sighed. We just had our dinner tapos bumalik na rin kami sa condo ko. When we got back, mabilis din namang nakatulog agad si Mikha. Which was actually quite strange kasi most of the time, pag ganitong oras pa lang, and whenever she'll only be staying for a few hours, sisiguraduhin ni Mikha na late siya matutulog. I guess she really was too tired.
The next morning, nagising ako sa alarm which I thought was Mikha's cuddle alarm, pero when I checked, she's no longer in bed. Napakunot yung noo ko. When I went out of the bedroom, Mikha's already dressed up and awake.
"You're up so early." sabi ko sa kanya.
"Yes Bubby. Sorry. I have an urgent errand to do lang today. I'll see you later. I'll ask the service van to pick you up. Alam naman ng girls na I have something to do today."
"Mikha where --"
"I love you, Bubby. Bye." mabilis na sabi ni Mikha then she went out the door.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagmamadali si Mikha. This was the first time that she had to leave so hurriedly. Pero nagulat pa ako nung bumukas ulit yung pinto.
"I'm sorry I just left like that." sabi niya tapos binaba niya ulit yung gamit niya then she held me by the waist and pulled me closer to her.
"Mikha, should I be worried?" I asked her as I tucked the loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"No, no." sabi niya. "I really just need to be somewhere this morning. Pero I love you, Bubby. Please don't forget that." sabi niya then she gave me a kiss.
I think I swooned after she kissed me and my head spinned. Pero mabilis din naman akong binitawan ni Mikha tapos umalis na siya. Mikha looked like she was really in a hurry.
At para madistract ako, I just cooked breakfast then I went on a jog. I kept thinking kung ano kaya yung gagawin ni Mikha this early. Normally if there's a show, she'd be leaving this early for rehearsals, pero since intimate event lang naman, walang rehearsals.
According kay Direk Dan, he really just want to celebrate the girls' accomplishment over the past year that he met them. Kaya hindi naman kailangan na full prod yung prep. Isa pa, hindi naman daw televised.
Nung hapon na, I just prepared para dun sa show. I messaged Mikha if she's already done with her errand pero hindi naman siya sumagot. After a few hours, dumating na rin yung van.
Pagsakay ko, andun na yung girls, except kay Mikha.
"O, di mo kasama si Miks?" tanong ni Staku.
"May urgent daw siyang gagawin today. Akala ko sabi niya alam niyo na may errand siya." sabi ko.
"Akala ko kasama ka niya?" tanong ni Colet.
"No, she said may gagawin siya eh."
"Sinabi ba niya kung ano?"
"Actually wala."
"Should we call her?" tanong ni Staku. Staku also looked worried.
"Girls, baka naman dederecho na si Miks sa venue. Or baka nga andun na yun." sabi ni Jho.
She then turned to look at me. I know that look. Jho just wants me to relax and not to overthink. Pero ang hirap.
Habang nasa byahe kami, I can't help but feel anxious. Mikha has not been behaving like herself lately and I'm also starting to worry. She has been acting strange since the phone call she had yesterday.
I was scrolling my phone when I saw a post about Mikha and a girl walking papunta sa parking lot. Someone captioned na Mikha was spotted with her "girlfriend", with other people commenting they saw them too. What's funny is that they're sharing photos of them together from different days. Another post showed Mikha and the girl laughing while they were right outside Mikha's car -- a photo that seemed to be taken today. Then there was another photo of them hugging. Kumunot yung noo ko.
Naramdaman ko na uminit yung tenga ko and I gritted my teeth. It wasn't long until the girls saw the photo too.
"Do you know her?" I asked the girls.
"Hindi. Ngayon ko lang din siya nakita." sabi ni Staku.
"Hindi ba siya kaibigan ni Mikha?" I asked them.
"Hindi ko siya kilala." sabi ni Gwen. "Pero baka random fan lang naman yan."
"Wait, parang nung isang araw kasama nga ni --"
Kumunot yung noo ko. Nakita ko na siniko ni Jho si Colet. I think Jho saw the worried look on my face kaya pinatigil niya si Colet.
"Delulu na naman ang mga fans ni Mikha." sabi ni Maloi. "Wag mo na lang sila pansinin Ate Aiah."
Pero it was hard for me not to. I can see how Mikha looked so happy in the photo and how it really was so easy to assume that they were together. I don't know who that girl is, and Mikha never mentioned about meeting up with a friend or a relative.
When we reached the venue, wala pa rin si Mikha. I tried calling her multiple times pero hindi siya sumasagot. Tinatawagan na rin siya ni Staku pero hindi rin niya sinasagot.
Aba Mikhaela. Nasaan ka?
