I'll Be Back

28

Mikha

We stayed up so late last night, and I can feel my body shivering from the fatigue from all that dancing. It's 7 AM, the first morning in Siargao, and I’m up earlier than the others. I made some coffee and stepped out onto the balcony. The serene view that greeted me was exactly what I needed—the cool breeze of the morning air and the soft, warm light of the sun on my skin. I took a sip of my coffee, my thoughts already drifting to the day ahead.

Just as I finished my last sip, a knock on the balcony door caught my attention. I turned to see Jhoanna motioning for me to come inside. I obeyed and greeted her with a soft Good morning. After setting my coffee cup down, I sat on my bed, scrolling through my phone while Jhoanna and Sheena made their own coffees. We chatted casually as we went about our morning routine.

“Ang ganda dito. Parang ayoko nang umuwi” Sheena said while stirring her coffee, her eyes reflecting the beauty of the place.

“Pag kami ni Stacey magka pamilya, dito kami titira” Jhoanna added with a dreamy look.

“Delulu!” Sheena teased, giving Jhoanna a playful slap on the arm.

I watched them banter, unable to hold back my laughter. Just then, the three other girls arrived at our room. We greeted them, and soon enough, we were all scattered around the room, chatting and enjoying the morning. The sound of waves crashing outside became too tempting to resist, so we each got ready and headed downstairs.

As we made our way to the beach, the cool sand under our feet and the salty breeze in our hair, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of peace. The ocean stretched out endlessly before us, its waves crashing in a rhythmic, soothing pattern. We laid out our towels, set up a small umbrella, and settled in for a relaxing day by the sea.

The sun was warm, but not too hot, and the water looked inviting. Sheena and Jhoanna were the first to run into the waves, their laughter echoing across the beach. The rest of us followed, letting the ocean’s cool embrace wash away any remaining fatigue from the night before.

As we played in the water, I felt a sudden pang of emotion, thinking about Aiah. I wondered what she was doing right now, if she was thinking about me too. I pushed the thoughts away, not wanting to dampen the lightness of the moment, but the feeling lingered in the back of my mind.

time skip

We’re now sitting in a nearby restaurant, surrounded by lively chatter and the clinking of dishes. The girls are engrossed in conversation, their laughter filling the air, but my mind is somewhere else entirely. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about Aiah. Our last encounter keeps replaying in my head, leaving me unsettled. I’d do anything to mend what we had, but it feels like she doesn’t want to. The thought weighs heavily on me, and I find myself lost in it, staring blankly at my plate.

Suddenly, the noise around me shifts, and I’m pulled back to the present as the girls stood up, ready to leave. I quickly gather myself and follow them out of the restaurant. As we step back into the warm Siargao sun, I feel a mix of emotions—trying to shake off the thoughts of Aiah but finding it hard to completely let go.

we decide to take a walk along the shore, the soft sand crunching beneath our feet. The rhythmic sound of the waves and the soothing ocean breeze help to calm my restless mind, at least for a little while. The girls are talking about our plans for the rest of the day, but I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness lingering in the background.

As we walk, Sheena nudged me playfully, breaking me out of my thoughts again. “Miks, okay ka lang?” she asked with a concerned look.

I forced a smile and nod. “Mhm, just thinking about something.”