TAKE A CHANCE (MikhAiah AU)

12

Aiah’s POV

“What do you mean I should be the one to message Mikha?!” I stopped typing on my laptop and faced my friends who are sitting at the sofa in our office taking a break.

“Bakit hindi ikaw? Close naman na kayo ni Mikha Lim mo.”

“Yiee!”

I know it. They just want to tease me with Mikha. We are okay na naman but still messaging her feels like on another level.

“Ikaw na lang Stak.” I pleaded to Stacey.

“Kay Jhoanna na ako nakatoka. Kairita nga message ng message daming alam.”

“Si Gwen sa akin.” Inunahan na ako ni Sheena bago pa ako makapagsalita.

“I don’t even have her number.” 

“Don’t worry, hiningi ko na kay Colet send ko na lang sayo later.” Maloi winked at me while I just let out a sigh of defeat and got back to my laptop to finish my work.

After a long day, I finally got welcomed by the coziness of my condo, making me want to crash into the comfort of my bed as our work earlier in the student council office took a tool on my body a bit. Yet before the tiredness took control over me, I changed into my comfortable clothes and cooked a simple dinner. As I finished my food, my phone started to buzz, and as I reached it, I saw Kuya’s name requesting a video call, which I immediately answered.

“Ai, kumusta naman ka diha?”

“Okay ra man Ya.”

“Ai, nikaon na ka?” I heard Mom ask, then Kuya showed Mom, who is busy cooking.

“Ma!” I excitedly called as I saw Mom's face.

“Nikaon na ko ma. Gimingaw na kaayo ko sa imohang luto.”

“Akoang luto ra diay imong na miss?”

“Syempre ikaw pud.”

“Ako diay?”

“Pa!” Malakas na tawag ko nang makita ko si papa na mukhang kakagaling lang mula sa restobar namin.

“Aww, I miss all of you guys.”

“Kami pud Ai miss na kaayo namo ka.” Mom softly said.

“Basta pag-amping lang diha. Kung naay manguyab ingna mag pailaila sa sa amoa.” Sabi ni Papa.

“Dunggan nimo to Ai. Ingna daw si Mikha nga mag pa ila na kang papa.” Kuya teased.

“Kuya!” Besides my friends, I also share my life events, even random things in my life, with my Kuya, and I kind of shared also my encounter with Mikha and how we got acquainted. Kuya is my only sibling, and I can say that we are close to each other even though sometimes he likes to tease me like what he did, but Kuya is always supportive towards my life endeavors. My best Kuya.

“Kinsang Mikha?” Dad asked, waiting for Kuya’s response.

“Mikha is a new friend of mine, pa.” I answered Dad while Kuya just did a peace sign to me.

“Mangaon na ta.” Mom interrupted. Nice timing, Mom.

“Sige Ai mangaon sa mi. Kaon Ai.” Kuya said.

“Sige Ya. Amping pud mo diha. I love you guys.” I waved my hands at them while smiling widely, which they also did, and then we ended the call.

Moving and living alone in a completely new place is indeed not a walk in the park. Going home without someone waiting for you is sometimes too much to bear, and it hits you hard when you realize that it is really you alone trying to navigate life away from home. Beyond that, I’m still grateful that my family still checks on me from time to time, ensuring that I am okay and that I have all I need, and even when I am away, their love still reaches me. They are my greatest treasure in life, and I love them so much. 
While washing my dishes, I saw my phone screen flash at the kitchen counter as I received a message. I dried my hands and read the message from Maloi.

Maloi

+63909*******
Here’s Mikha’s number.

Baby time well ;)

I was contemplating about what I should message to MIkha. I don't even know how to start a conversation with her through text, as whenever we are with them, she's quiet, but she talks well naman noong magkasama kami sa sasakyan even though it was me who seemed to talk too much. Actually, she is quiet most of the time yet observant. My lips curled into a smile as I remembered how she offered to help me open my water bottle. Mikha seems to be a nice person, and even her friends are fun to be with, and I think my friends definitely think too, knowing that they are the ones who planned this whole thing.

I always asked them if they wanted to join me to jog, as I always do whenever I have free time, yet it was seldom for them to join me and always ask for a break, taking us hours to finish jogging. Doing physical activity and taking adventures are one of my hobbies, which my friends find to be extra challenging tapos biglang nag ayang mag jogging kasama sila Mikha. I’m really sensing that being physically fit is not their main goal. Surely not for this one.

Hi, it’s Aiah. I got your number from Maloi, who got it from Colet. I hope you don’t mind.

I type the time and location for our meetup tomorrow and click the sent icon, hoping for a reply. It’s been a few minutes now, yet there is still no reply from Mikha.

“Baka naman may ginagawa lang.”

“Or tulog na. Pero parang masyadong maaga pa naman.”

“Baka hindi siya free bukas.”

Thinking about it, I realized that she didn’t say anything about joining us like her friends did, so maybe she can’t really join us tomorrow, making me feel a little bit down. I’m still looking forward pa rin naman to hanging out with her friends, but sabi nga nila, the more the merrier. 

I entered my room and placed my phone at the bedside table, then prepared my nightwear as I took a shower. After taking a shower, I did my skin care routine and read my notes from my classes. Later on, I was done studying, and I dove into my bed, embracing the soothing warmth of the mattress. I was spacing out when I decided to check for my schedule for next week on my phone, so I reached out for it at the bedside table and saw that someone sent me a message.

+63909*******

Good evening, Aiah. I don’t mind naman.

And thank you for inviting us to hang out with you guys. See you tomorrow :)

My eyes widened when the information registered to my brain that what I had read was Mikha’s reply. For some reasons, knowing that she will be joining us tomorrow puts me in a good mood. I was about to send her a reply when I realized that she sent her message 3 hours ago. I was eager earlier for her reply when it was just a few minutes that I sent her the message, yet here I am, who takes 3 hours to reply.

You are welcome. See you tomorrow.

Even though I was debating whether to reply to her, I still sent her a reply and set her contact name as ‘Mikha Lim’.

It’s getting late na so I settle myself to sleep dahil maaga pa kami bukas para mag jogging when my phone screen flashed, and as I checked it, I didn’t expect that Mikha replied to my message when I literally sent her the message 1 minute ago.

Mikha Lim

Good night, Aiah.