The next day was basically a repeat of yesterday. The three of them just hung out at Kim's condo and talked just like old times. Just like when everything was simple and they were just three friends who never had to think of what the world were saying about them.
Mika avoided talking about her problem with Alyssa though so they talked about anything and everything except that.
On the fifth day though, Kim had to leave the two of them but they still decided to hang out. She was hesitant about it because, like she said before, she would rather not cause trouble between Alyssa and Mika by giving Alyssa a reason to be jealous of. But Mika wanted to hang out so they did. There was no way she could say no to Mika.
They settled on getting a take out and parking their cars side by side somewhere along Roxas. They sat on the hood of their cars while facing Manila Bay.
They ate silently for a while.
"Daks," Mika called her.
She turned to look at Mika on her right. The way Mika was looking at her made her feel special. It was like her importance was reflecting in Mika's eyes.
"Thank you sa pagsama sakin," Mika continued. "And I'm sorry kasi ikaw pa rin ang tinatakbuhan ko ngayong may problema."
She frowned. "Bakit ka nagsosorry?"
Mika looked away.
"Kasi baka nahihirapan ka na makasama ako. Kasi diba sabi mo..."
She waited for Mika to finish her sentence but the way Mika was fidgeting and avoiding her gaze told her that Mika wasn't going to do that.
"Mahal kita?" she asked if that was what Mika really was thinking.
Mika nodded.
She sighed. So that was why Mika was holding back from her. Leave it to Mika to consider her feelings before her own.
Yes, it sometimes truly was difficult to be around Mika because it still hurt. But she never wanted Mika to feel like she could not come to her. She will always be there for Mika.
"Daks, oo, mahal kita l," and maybe she was imagining the tint of red on Mika's cheek but it still made her smile. "At minsan mahirap at masakit pa rin na di mo ako mahal. Pero best friend mo ako bago iyon at 'yun ang hindi magbabago. Kaya wag na wag kang magsosorry sa paglapit sakin. Mas magtatampo ako kung lalayuan mo ako dahil sa mahal kita."
Mika stood up to sit beside her on the hood of her car before giving her a hug.
"Salamat, Daks. Sobra," Mika whispered.
She felt like her heart was going to burst because of the feeling of holding Mika inside her arms. And before she did something stupid like turning her head to steal a kiss from Mika, she decided to use a her masochistic sense of humor.
"Saka wala namang forever, Daks, eh. Pwede naman kitang hintayin."
Mika moved away from her and she kept a teasing smile plastered on face that Mika rolled her eyes at her and lightly punched her on the shoulder.
"Gago ka, Daks. Kapag talaga kami nagbreak ni Alyssa, wag na wag kang magpapakita sakin. Mahal ko 'yun kahit ganoon 'yun!"
She laughed even though she was dying inside.
She couldn't help but wonder how it would have felt to hear Mika proudly say she loves her. She would probably never know. And Alyssa was too dumb for not knowing just how lucky she was.
