MIDDLE

xi

The moment I opened my eyes, inisip ko agad kung paano ko sasabihin kay Kiefer yung answer ko sa tanong niya. I've been thinking about that since last night and yet I still haven't come up with a good idea. Parang nag-iisip ako kung paano manligaw ah?

Pero I miss him already to the point na I wanna see him now as in right now right here. That's so clingy Mika, eww. Di man lang kasi nagtext since that day and sobra akong nalulungkot 'coz nasanay na ako na always niya akong tinetext.

But hindi talaga siya magtetext Mika kasi nga because of what happened. Maybe nag-iisip na yun na wag nang ituloy or ayaw niya na kasi he thought ni-reject ko na siya pero clear naman yung pagkakasabi ko na di ko pa alam so baka nag-ooverthink lang ako? Hay nakaka-paranoid.

I dialed Jessey to ask for help and to give me words of encouragement. Wow parang I'm having a test or something.

"Hello bf?"

"Mika Aereen why on earth would you call me at 6 o'clock in the morning? Wala tayong pasok today ah?"

"Sorry na bf, I'll ask something lang."

"You'll ask kung paano mo sasabihin yung decision mo no? Bf, just go with the flow. Kung ano gusto mong sabihin, say it. At matutulog na ko ulit bye." Then she immediately turned off her phone. Sleepy pa nga talaga si Jessey but tama nga naman na I should go with the flow na lang.

But wait, I need to text or call him muna pero mas okay siguro kung text na lang para kunwari pa-mysterious type.

To: Kiefer

Let's meet please?

Kinakabahan ako kasi baka i-reject niya ko but my phone beeped and I could not contain my happiness knowing na he replied fast at this time that means he still cares.

But to my surprise, the text wasn't from him, it was actually from globe saying my load has expired already. Fuck. Now I need to get up and walk to the nearest sari sari store just to have a load. Ugh sobrang bad trip. Mika, chill everything will be fine. Yeah okay.

After ko makapag-pa-load na muntik pa akong kagatin ng aso, I sent the message agad to him.

---

Kiefer

I don't know why I woke up this early kasi usually naman if wala akong classes or training, ten na ako nagigising or mas late but di ko talaga alam what's with this day and napa-aga ako ng gising. But six in the morning? So unusual.

I decided to have my morning jog na lang since I couldn't go back to sleep na din so might as well take advantage of it na lang din.

I put on my shoes and training clothes and I'm ready to go but biglang tumunog yung phone ko which means may nagtext. Who would text me this early tho?

From: Mika👸

Let's meet please?

And that three-word message made my day complete agad agad. I have a strong feeling kasi na she will say yes na. Really, how sure are you Kiefer?

I mean, I don't wanna spoil my self naman kasi I have to stay positive because who knows? And this is for my own happiness so why would I spoil it diba? Baka yes nga talaga yung sagot niya and I'm sure I would be the happiest guy here on earth if ever that's her answer.

But that's if she will say yes. What if mag-no siya? What should I do? Ugh this thing is hard. Stay positive na lang because kapag inisip mo na maganda ang kalalabasan ng isang bagay, it turns out na maganda talaga yung mangyayari. Well I hope it works this time tho 'coz I don't know what will I do if it won't.

So I replied to her message sabi ko "Okay." Plain and simple. Ayaw ko lang ipahalata na I'm too excited for this meeting kaya I'll be in my suplado mode muna. But for now, I'll jog muna and be gwapo as much as I can because dagdag yun sa criteria para mag-yes si Mika. Lels. Slight?

---

Mika

I'm on my way now to the restaurant where una kaming nag-hang out. I picked that place kasi I think we've shared a lot of memories there and that makes it more special.

And tonight it won't be the same dinner with a friend because it will be one of the most special dinners he will ever have. All these coming from a not-so-cheesy person like me? Very rare.

I arrived earlier than expected and alam ko naman na wala pa siya so ano pa nga bang gagawin ko? Edi mag-hintay.

15 minutes na wala pa din siya and I'm starting to sweat and feel nervous because he might ditch me and that's one thing I couldn't ever imagine.

"Sorry na-late ako, may nagka-banggaan kasi so nag-cause ng traffic and ayun. Sorry." I looked up and stared at him. He looks extra gwapo today ah?

"Okay lang buti walang nangyaring masama sa'yo." I said with a sigh of relief. Actually, he's also extra mabango today.

"So can we proceed to the part kung saan may sasabihin ka? Tama ako diba, you will say something?" He said and smiled. As if he doesn't know what will be our topic. Pa-innocent naman.

"Um. This is about last time, yung sa bahay niyo..." I started.

"Yeah I know, wag mo nang ulitin I know naman." He said plainly. Okay now I'm starting to feel the butterflies in my stomach. Wew.

"About the question you asked that time..." I added.

"What about it Mika?" He asked me. Why does he looks extra hot when he's serious?

"You know I'm not used to being dated sa isang fancy restaurant with a candle in the center of the table. Or someone who will hold my hand habang naglalakad. O di kaya tinetext ako every now and then just to check on me. Cause you know it creeps me a lot, I swear and I never felt that before. But Kiefer, I could get used to it and yes I am allowing you to court me." I said with so much sincerity and that's exactly how I want this to be, spontaneous.

I saw him smile widely and trying to hold his voice cause I think he's about to shout. I've seen him happy so many times already but I've never seen him this happy, just this time.

"Thank you Mika! Really! Thank you thank you! You don't know how much you made me happy tonight, Miks. Thank you and I promise I will do anything and everything just to make you happy." He hugged and hugged and hugged me. So basically, he's just hugging me while he's saying those words.

I'm really not used to this but I think I am loving it. Ang sarap pala sa feeling. It's like there's something inside your tummy na pa-ikot ikot lang and it feels good. This feels good. Thank you, Kiefer, thank you.