Mikha's POV
My heart pounded as I stood there, waiting for Aiah's decision. I kept my expression calm, composed, and exuding the cold confidence that had become my shield over the years. But inside, every second that passed felt like a dagger slowly sinking into my chest. I watched her, her eyes darting between Mark and me, torn between the man she had chosen and the woman she couldn't seem to forget.
"Aiah..." I said, my voice soft, almost pleading, though I kept my tone controlled. I couldn't let her see how much I wanted her to choose me. To show that kind of vulnerability was something I had learned never to do. Not after everything that happened with my family, with Mark, with her.
Her gaze shifted to me briefly, and I could see the confusion in her eyes. A part of her wanted me, I knew it, but she was trapped. She had allowed herself to be bound by promises made in the heat of love with Mark, but love doesn't always make sense. Sometimes it's raw, wild, and undeniable, like what I knew we had.
Nakikita ko kung paano humigpit ang hawak ni Mark sa kamay ni Aiah, a possessive gesture that didn't go unnoticed. Alam kong natatakot sya at ramdam nyang baka ako ang piliin ni Aiah. Kaya naman kampante ako ngayon dahil ito rin ang nararamdaman , naniniwala ako na sakin pa rin sya.
I stepped forward, my voice low and deliberate. "Aiah, you don't have to live in his shadow anymore. I know you feel trapped, but you deserve to be free to be with someone who understands you, someone who can give you more than just a life of routine and obligation. Nandito na ako Aiah, sabihin mo lang na itakas kita dito ay gagawin ko at wala silang magagawa dun. Alam ko naman na mahal mo'ko diba? Alam ko na ako yung gusto mo at hindi si Mark"
"Stop it, Mikha!" Mark shouted, stepping in front of Aiah, as if his mere presence could block the truth of what I was saying. "Matagal na syang nakapili mikha. She's my wife. Mahal nya ako. At hindi ikaw!."
I felt a flicker of anger flare up inside me, but I swallowed it down, keeping my face neutral. His words were meant to wound me, but I wouldn't give him that satisfaction. What if barilin ko nalang sya dahil sa mga sinasabi nya sakin ngayon?
I glanced past him, locking eyes with Aiah again. "Is that true, Aiah?" I asked, my voice cutting through the tension. "Masaya ka ba talaga sa kanya? Or are you just scared to admit the truth to yourself and to him?"
For a moment, I thought I saw something in her eyes, a glimmer of hesitation, maybe even a spark of what we once had. But then she broke eye contact, her face paling as if the weight of the situation was too much for her to bear. Ano bang nangyayari sa kanya? Parang may mali.
"Aiah," Mark's voice was stern but gentle as he pulled her closer to him. "Wag kang makinig sa kanya Aiah. Alam mo kung anong meron tayo. We're building a life together. Don't let her ruin that."
There it was. Fear. His desperation was seeping through every word he spoke. He wasn't as strong as he pretended to be. He was scared. Scared of losing her to me, because deep down, he knew there was a part of Aiah that still wanted me. He couldn't erase that no matter how hard he tried.
I crossed my arms, watching them both. "Mark, you're acting like I'm the enemy. But I'm not the one keeping her from living the life she truly wants."
Ang katahimikan ni Aiah ay syang kinakatakutan ko ngayon. I needed her to say something, anything, to tell me that I wasn't wrong about what we had. But she just stood there, her hand still in Mark's, her face a mask of indecision.
"Aiah," I said again, this time my voice soft and vulnerable in a way that I hated. "Do you still love me, mahal mo naman ako diba?"
Her breath hitched, and I saw her blink rapidly, fighting back the emotions that were clearly tearing her apart. But then she shook her head, taking a small step back, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke. "Mikha, I... I can't... I choose Mark."
