Bound by Destiny: The MikhAiah Chronicles

Chapter 2: Unlikely Friendship (8)

Colet's POV

I rarely see Maloi taking her meals on time, kaya ang ginagawa ko na lang, ako na mismo ang nagdadala ng pagkain at niyayaya ko siyang kumain. Everytime kasi na papasok ako sa hotel, lagi ko siyang nakikitang tutok na tutok sa laptop. Busy na busy si Maloi sa schedule nila ni Mikha—lalo na ngayon, sobrang daming events at commitments ang hinaharap ni Mikha.

*Knock knock*

"Maloi?" I called out softly, knocking on the door.

"Sino 'yan?" she responded, her voice slightly muffled behind the door.

"Colet 'to, pwede bang pumasok?"

Saglit na katahimikan. Narinig ko na lang ang paglakad niya papunta sa pinto. "Oo, papunta na." she said, opening the door just enough to see me.

She looked up at me with that familiar focused expression. "Oh, anong ginagawa mo rito? Akala ko naka-off ka ngayon?"

"Eh gusto kasi kitang makasama." I said with a small grin. "Alam kong hindi ka pa kumakain kaya eto, may dinala akong pagkain para sa ating dalawa. Samahan mo na ako para naman makakain ka na." Sabay abot ko sa container ng paborito naming pagkain—Sinigang.

She glanced at the food but shook her head lightly, "Mamaya na ako, may tatapusin lang ako." she said, already turning back to her desk.

Parang tinusok ng kaunti ang puso ko. Alam kong busy siya, pero siyempre, I wanted to spend time with her. Napatigil siya saglit, napansin niyang nalungkot ako. Tumayo siya bigla at bumalik sa harapan ko.

"Oo na." she said with a sigh, "Eto na, sasabayan na nga kita." Agad namang umupo si Maloi sa harap ko at ibinaba muna ang laptop. Finally, I thought, she's taking a break.

"Salamat, Let," she muttered quietly, grabbing a spoon.

I raised an eyebrow, a bit confused. "Salamat? Saan? Pumunta lang naman ako rito na may dalang pagkain para pagsaluhan natin."

She smiled faintly, her shoulders relaxing a bit as she took a sip of the soup. "Hindi mo lang alam, pero kailangan ko 'to. Kailangan ko ng kasama ngayon. Pagod-na-pagod na rin ako sa buhay, Let."

May bigat sa boses niya na bihira kong marinig. My chest tightened at her words. She was always so composed, so in control, but now, she sounded... vulnerable.

"Alam mo namang one call away lang ako, 'di ba?" I said softly, trying to comfort her. "'Di mo naman kailangang magtago sa'kin, Loi. Andito lang naman ako para sa'yo..." I paused, a little hesitation creeping in before I quickly added, "este para sa inyong dalawa ni Mikha."

She chuckled lightly, shaking her head, "Sus, kunwari ka pa. Alam ko namang gusto mo 'ko."

I nearly choked on my spoonful of sinigang. My face felt hot, and for a second, I thought my heart stopped. "Ano ka ba? Saan mo naman nakuha 'yan?"

She laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Halata naman, Colet. Lalo na kung paano ka mag-alala sa'kin, and the way you look out for me. Hindi lang basta trabaho para sa'yo, eh."

I bit my lip, unsure of what to say. Sure, I cared about Maloi—more than I'd probably admit. She had this way of making everything feel easier when she was around. But hearing her call it out so directly made me flustered.

"Eh ikaw kaya," I mumbled, shifting awkwardly in my seat. "Parang ikaw din, nagmamalasakit ka naman sa'kin."

She raised an eyebrow at me, her lips tugging up into a teasing smirk. "Oo naman. Sino bang hindi? You're not exactly easy to ignore, Let."