MIDDLE

vii

I really don't have any idea where are we going pero I'm so excited 'coz I'll get to spend more time with Mika. I'm glad that I witnessed a different Mika today. I mean, nakita ko kung paano siya talaga. In her own self. Yung no pretentions, di na din siya masyadong nagho-hold back. She's really trying to open up, though napapansin ko na nahihirapan siya, pero she's doing her best para masabi yung mga gusto niyang sabihin.

Di din naman ako nagmamadali and hindi ko siya minamadali. I also want to take things slowly kasi nafe-feel ko na ganun din ang gusto niya. But I'm really looking forward sa mga pwede pang mangyari sa'min ni Mika. For now, I'll just enjoy our friendship muna and enjoy each other's company.

While steering, I can still imagine how she laughs. How she smiles. How she talks. Her expressions, her gestures, sobrang ganda lahat. It's as if she does it all gracefully and perfectly. And in addition, she's also a bully. Like really. Sobrang bully niya to the point na ikaw na mismo susuko but of course I'm doing my best din para manalo sa bully wars. Sobrang na-amaze ako sa kanya kasi she's really smart and alam mo yung may sense siyang kausap. Plus hindi siya boring. Okay before, when we first met, I really thought she's boring kasi nga diba di siya nagsasalita pero that was really wrong pala. I guess hindi lang talaga siya nakikipag-usap sa mga taong hindi niya kilala.

So habang nagda-drive pa din ako at sinusundan siya. Napansin ko na parang nasa Recto ata kami? So what will we do here? Baka naman kakain ulit kami? Or baka magma-mall? Ah basta, sundan ko na lang.

Bumagal naman na yung pagpapatakbo niya ng kotse so meaning malapit na kami sa destination namin. At bigla siyang tumigil sa isang bahay. What bahay? House nila 'to? I'm not ready for this. Seriously?

Bumaba siya then she opened the gate. Tapos sumenyas siya na i-pasok ko na daw yung car ko.

After namin mag-park, papasok na kami sa bahay nila. Sakto lang naman yung house nila. Di siya ganun ka-laki, di rin naman maliit. Sakto lang for the three of them since she told me earlier na only child siya. Sobrang simple lang din.

Kinakabahan ako kasi parang napa-aga ata yung meet the parents? I don't know. Although alam ko naman na ipapakilala niya ako bilang friend niya pero I'm really nervous. I hope this would turn out good.

Pagpasok namin ng bahay nila, her parents are there, busy manood ng tv kaya siguro di kami napansin. Pero malakas yung tunog ng car e, bakit di nila kami napansin?

"Busy niyo naman po." Mika said and lumingon naman her parents at ngumiti.

"Nandito ka na pala potch. Ahem sino siya?" Her mom asked. Di naman siya mukhang strict, actually magka-mukha sila ni Mika and sobrang amo ng face nila pareho.

"Ano ka ba darling, si Kiefer Ravena yan. Yung basketball player ng Ateneo. Magaling yan pero medyo sablay lang sa free throws. Pero magaling siya." And that's her dad. I don't know if I should take it as a compliment kasi he knows me and sabi niya I'm good or an insult kasi sablay ako sa free throws? But seriously, medyo sablay nga naman ako sa free throws so di na lang ako magrereact.

"Good Evening po ma'am and sir." I said in the most polite way. Kailangan maganda ang first impression nila sa'kin.

"You can call us tito and tita na lang." Her dad said.

"Wait lang ah. Papakilala ko pa lang, kilala niyo na pala. Well anyway, he's Kiefer Ravena, my friend." Mika introduced me to them.

"Friend lang?" Her mom and dad asked in chorus. Ang cute nila, sabay pa talaga sila.