It had been a few days since Mikha's unexpected visit to Aiah's apartment. Everything on the surface seemed back to normal, but something had undeniably shifted. Mikha found herself distracted more than usual—thinking about Aiah's easy smile, the way she had looked at Mikha when she brought her arroz caldo, and, of course, waking up with her curled up beside her.
Her friends, however, had started to notice.
"Okay," Colet said one afternoon as she barged into Mikha's office without knocking. "Kailangan na nating mag-usap."
Mikha sighed, already bracing herself. "Colet, office 'to. Pwede bang kumatok muna?"
"Knocking is for strangers," Colet said, waving off the comment as she plopped into the chair across Mikha's desk. "I'm your friend, which means I don't need permission to tell you when you're being stupid."
"Stupid saan?" Mikha asked, raising an eyebrow.
Colet leaned forward, her elbows on the desk. "Aiah. Ano na, Mikha? Are you going to ask her out for real or what?"
Mikha blinked, caught off guard. "Anong ibig mong sabihin, for real? We're fine."
"Fine?" Colet repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Mikha, you've been orbiting each other for weeks. Months, even. And okay, fine, slow-burn, cute. Pero kung di ka gagawa ng move soon, someone else will."
Mikha frowned, sitting back in her chair. "Ano na naman 'tong sinasabi mo?"
"Gusto mong marinig to?" Colet said, crossing her arms. "Aiah has always had a line of people waiting for their turn. Laging may pila, Mikha. Pero for some reason—some weird cosmic miracle—you skipped it. Ikaw ang may VIP pass, Mikhs. Don't waste it."
Mikha stayed quiet for a moment, the idea of Aiah's so-called "line" making her stomach twist uncomfortably.
"Di naman siguro ganun extreme," Mikha muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.
Colet let out a dramatic sigh. "Ikaw talaga. You know I'm right. Bakit, anong hinihintay mo pa? Confirmation na gusto ka niya? Mikha, wake up! Kung may nakakuha ng VIP pass sa puso nya, ikaw na yun."
Mikha stared at the desk, her fingers lightly tapping on the edge. She knew Colet wasn't wrong. The idea of someone else stepping in while she was still figuring herself out...
She exhaled slowly. "And kung hindi niya gusto?"
Colet raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Mikha. Di naman siya mag entertain kung wala siyang gusto sa'yo. Alam mo yan. Stop being stubborn."
Mikha hesitated again, and Colet's expression softened. "Naalala mo yung sinabi ko nung una kang nagtanong about Aiah? Yung warning ko?"
Mikha frowned slightly. "Yung sinabi mong wag ko siyang kursunadahin?"
Colet smirked. "Yup. That was a test. And guess what? You passed."
Mikha's eyes narrowed. "Test? Test? Ginawa mo akong guinea pig?"
Colet laughed, leaning back in her chair. "Of course. I had to make sure you were serious. Aiah deserves someone who's all-in, Mikha. Alam mo naman kung gaano siya ka-special. And honestly, di ko alam kung kaya mo nung una. Pero you've surprised me. And obviously, you've surprised her."
Mikha shook her head, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Ikaw talaga..."
"Relax," Colet said, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Kung di mo siya tanungin soon, ikaw din ang magsisisi. You've got this, Mikha. Magtiwala ka na lang sa sarili mo."
Mikha didn't respond as Colet left, but her words lingered long after the door clicked shut.
/
Later that evening, Mikha stood outside Aiah's apartment building once again. This time, she wasn't holding a bag of groceries. Instead, she clutched a carefully chosen bouquet of soft blush and white flowers—elegant, but not over the top.
