A week had passed since Mikha met up with Aiah at the park, and she was still processing the encounter. Their conversation replayed in her mind at the oddest times—when she was brushing her teeth, when she was zoning out at work, or when she was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
She wasn't sure how she felt about it all. On one hand, she'd apologized, gotten some closure, and taken steps toward salvaging some kind of relationship with Aiah—even if it was just friendship. On the other hand, it still hurt. Aiah's calm composure, her gentle "let's try to be friends," had been a stark reminder that she was no longer the center of Aiah's world.
But as painful as it was, Mikha had promised herself to keep moving forward. No more wallowing. No more letting herself drown in regret.
So, when Colet texted her out of the blue, asking if she wanted to join her for a morning run, Mikha surprised herself by saying yes.
It was a Saturday morning, bright and early, and Mikha already hated herself for agreeing to this.
She stood at the edge of the park's jogging path, wearing an old pair of running shoes she hadn't used in months and a hoodie she was already regretting because of the rising heat. She adjusted her ponytail and checked her phone, squinting at the screen as the sunlight hit it.
Colet was late.
"Hay naku, bakit ba ako pumayag?" Mikha muttered under her breath, already considering backing out. But just as she turned to leave, she heard Colet's voice calling out.
"Mikha! Hoy! Over here!"
Mikha turned to see Colet jogging toward her, dressed in a tank top and running shorts, her usual wide grin plastered on her face.
"Akala ko tumakas ka na!" Colet teased, stopping in front of her and resting her hands on her hips.
"Believe me, I thought about it," Mikha replied, her tone dry but light.
Colet laughed, shaking her head. "Well, too bad. You're here now. Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Mikha said, though she wasn't sure if that was true.
Colet led the way, starting with a light jog along the path. The park was busy but not crowded, the early risers out in full force—joggers, dog walkers, and a few families setting up for picnics. Mikha fell into step beside Colet, her breath coming quicker than she expected as they picked up the pace.
"So," Colet began, her voice casual but curious, "kamusta ka? After... you know, seeing Aiah?"
Mikha glanced at her, wiping sweat off her brow. She wasn't surprised by the question—Colet had a way of cutting straight to the heart of things—but it still caught her off guard.
"I'm... okay," Mikha said, though the word felt inadequate. "I mean, it was hard. Seeing her again, talking to her... it brought up a lot."
Colet nodded, her tone gentler now. "I can imagine. You didn't really tell me much about what happened. Ano ba nangyari?"
Mikha hesitated, focusing on the rhythm of her steps for a moment before answering. "We talked. I apologized. I told her how sorry I was for everything, and she... she said she could see I was trying. But..." She let out a sigh. "She said we're in different places now. That she's moving forward. And she's right. She's grown so much, and I'm still catching up."
Colet slowed her pace slightly, glancing at Mikha with a thoughtful expression. "That's tough, Mikha. But honestly? It sounds like you handled it well. Hindi madali ang ganun. A lot of people wouldn't have even shown up to face it."
Mikha smiled faintly. "Thanks, Colet. But it still hurts. I asked her if we could at least be friends, and she said we could try. But I don't know. I don't know if that's possible."
