"Where have you been?" sabi ko kay Mikha when she finally showed up. Pawisan siya at hinihingal habang palapit siya sa 'kin. Staku and I had been calling her non-stop pero hindi siya sumasagot.
"I have been calling you but you're not answering. Kaninang umaga nagmamadali kang umalis. Where have you been?"
"I'm sorry. Sinundo ko kasi sila Mama kanina and then we went out. Naka-silent yung phone ko so I wasn't able to hear you calling." sagot niya.
The thing about Mikha is that she never lies to me. And this time, I'm certain that she is lying. Hindi siya mapakali and she looked like she's thinking about something.
"Mikha Lim." sabi ko then she finally looked at me. "What's going on? Should I be worried?"
She just took a deep breath to catch her breath then she held my shoulders.
"Let's talk about this after the event, okay?" sagot niya tapos naglakad na siya papunta dun sa glam team niya.
"Mikha Lim!"
Hindi siya lumingon at nagmamadali lang siyang naglakad palayo. Susundan ko pa sana siya pero nakita ko na hinarang na rin siya ni Jho.
I don't know what has been happening kay Mikha dahil ilang araw na siyang parang laging may iniisip at hindi siya lagi mapakali whenever we are talking over the phone. I tried talking to her pero palagi din niyang iniiba yung usapan.
"Everything okay?"
Napalingon ako nung narinig kong may nagsalita sa likod ko and nakita ko na nakatayo si Colet sa likod ko at nakakunot yung noo niya. I sighed.
"Honestly, Colet, hindi ko alam. Something's up with Mikha and hindi niya sa 'kin sinasabi. Hindi naman siya ganyan eh. So I don't know what's happening."
"Relax. It's probably nothing. Wala rin naman siyang sinabi sa 'kin. I know Mikha. If there's a problem, sasabihin niya yun." sagot ni Colet. Ako naman 'ata yung kumunot yung noo.
"Well maybe she thinks it's not a problem." sabi ko kay Colet. I remembered the girl in the photo.
"Aiah, look at me." sabi ni Colet as she tried to catch my eyes. "Mikha's a good kid. Pula lang buhok niya, pero green flag siya. Ngayon ka pa ba magdududa? I know what you're thinking. She's not going to do that to you."
"Col, di ko alam kung anong iisipin ko."
"What you should be thinking is, how much she loves you. Q, don't ever doubt her. She loves you and she's not gonna hurt you. Okay?" sabi ni Colet.
I took a deep breath. Tama naman si Colet. Maybe Mikha is just not ready to talk about whatever it is that's troubling her. And whoever that girl in the photo is, I'm pretty sure Mikha has a good explanation about it. And she better have a good explanation about it. Tumango lang ako and nginitian lang din ako ni Colet.
"Just enjoy the event, okay?"
"Pero ang hirap kasi ng ganito, Colet. I know --"
"Aiah, smile. Relax. Pag niloko ka nyan ni MJ sabihin mo sa 'kin!"
"Bakit, anong gagawin mo kay Mikha?"
"Aagawin kita."
"Boang."
"Char lang. Di ko magagawa yun kay Mikha at kay -- sa'yo."
"Hoy. Ano yan?"
"Wala, wala. Basta, relax ka lang Q. Deal with whatever that is after. Maaayos din yan."
I sighed and tumango na lang ulit ako. Maya maya tinawag na rin ako para ayusan. Nung naka-ayos na kami, tinawag na kami ni Jho para mag-soundcheck.
I glanced at Mikha and she looked calmer. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong dapat kong isipin at kung anong mararamdaman ko. She suddenly looked at me and our eyes met. Ngumiti lang siya sa 'kin. Nako Mikhaela tigilan mo ako dyan sa pag ngiti mo.
She finally walked towards me habang bitbit niya yung mic niya.
"I'm really sorry, Bubby."
I sighed. Ang hirap naman magmatigas dito kay Mikha. She sounded very sincere and I can tell from her face that she really is sorry.
"Mikha Lim, you need to tell me what's going on with you."
"I promise, I would let you know. We can talk after. Okay?"
Tumango na lang ako.
"Smile ka na." sabi niya. "I don't like it when you're looking like that."
"And whose fault is it?"
"Sorry na." sabi niya then she pouted. Hay nako Mikha. I pressed her cheeks.
"Alam mo buti na lang talaga cute ka." sabi ko sa kanya. "Pero you have to promise me that you'll tell me everything after."
"I promise."
