An Untold Story

Shirt

First published on: Dec 18, 2016

[ February 11, 2012 ]

Mika was lying on her bed, flat on stomach, when she heard someone knock.

"Pasok. Bukas yan." Mika said

The door to her room opened. Mika raised her head up and saw Ara standing by the door.

"Daks, peram ng t-shirt. Wala pa kasi yung pina-laundry ko e." Ara apologetically smiled.

"Sige kuha ka na lang dyan sa kabinet." Mika said and turned her attention back to the book infront of her.

It hasn't been long when Ara spoke again.
"Daks, peram neto ah."

Mika took a glance at Ara whose now showing her a red shirt with a Mickey Mouse design. And in an instant she was on her feet taking the shirt away from Ara's hold.

"A-ah ano, Daks. Wait may plain shirt dito." Mika said opening her cabinet finding a plain white shirt and handed it to Ara. "Yan na lang."

Ara looked at her with raised eyebrow and Mika knew she had to explain her sudden action. However they just both stood there looking at each other waiting for someone to speak first but the sound of the door opening was heard instead.

"Oh. Anong meron?" Kim said as she entered the room glancing back and forth between her two teammates that are currently standing, looking at each other.

"Ah. Wala Ate Kim." Mika said. "Nanghihiram lang ng shirt si Daks."

"Ah.." Kim said and sat on Mika's bed. "Oh. Wafs?, Okay ka lang? "

"Ha? Oo." Ara said to Kim "Sige peram na lang muna neto, Daks."

Mika nodded and Ara went out of the room. Kim was scanning Mika's book on her bed when she noticed the shirt Mika was holding.

"Oh! Yan ba yung shirt ni Aly?" Kim said taking it from Mika. "Di mo pa pala to nasuoli."

Mika took it back to her. "A-ano kasi n-nakalimutan ko di ko kasi alam kung pano ibabalik."

"Edi akin na ako na magbabalik. Magkikita naman kami ulit e." Kim said and was about to take the shirt again from Mika's hand when the latter pulled her hand back.

"Saka na lang. Ano. D-di ko pa kasi nalabhan." Mika said fidgety

"Ah... Sige." Kim said shrugging Mika's weird acts. She then walked to her side of the room, to her bed. "Abot mo na lang sakin pag tapos na."

"Sige po." Mika said and put the shirt back in her closet.

"Oh! Akala ko ba di mo pa nalalabhan? Bakit mo nilalagay mo dyan?" Kim said, she looked at her puzzingly.

"Ay! Oo nga pala. Hehe." Mika said scratching her chin and took it out of the closet, putting it in the laundry basket.

Kim's eyes followed Mika as she sat back to her bed. Kim took out her book from her bag.

All members of the team still has two to three exams left so everyone's still busy reviewing.

Though Kim's attention was solely at the book she was reading, she could feel Mika's gaze on her. Looking up she saw Mika drove her gaze away and it fell on the book infront of her.

"May sasabihin ka ba, Ye?" Kim asked

"Huh? Wala Ate Kim." Mika said and both faced their books again.

Mika, on the other hand has been thinking of the ways and for the perfect timing to get the shirt off the laundry basket without Kim noticing.

Mika lied about it not being laundried. It had, since the day she took it off her body but even so Alyssa's vanilla scent was still strongly attached to it like it was her who wore it. And ever since then she had it hidden at the back of her cabinet taking it out every so often when she can't fall asleep.

It all happened once during a night she had trouble sleeping, it helped her have a good sleep after accidentally falling asleep in the process of thinking of the ways how she could return it to Alyssa. Then it was followed by the same incident the next night and the week after that and so on. Until she found herself holding it to have a goodnight's sleep.

She was contemplating whether to return it or not. On wanting to see those dimples under her eyes but would mean that she'll be losing the shirt that became her favorite.

If she decided to return it, she could ask her out for coffee or lunch or maybe a dinner. Not like a date or anything just showing her gratitude in her kindness.

A friendly dinner would be fitting. It's not like she swings that way anyway.

If she decided against it, she could keep the shirt. As somehow Alyssa's scent had made her nights at peace and so it'll extremely upset her if that shirt would eventually have her smelly laundry add on it.

Kuwari maglalaba na lang ako tas kukunin ko.
O kaya pasimpleng kukunin ko kunwari nalaglag yung ballpen ko tas itatago ko sa loob ng damit ko.
Pero obvious naman kasi mukha akong buntis.
O kaya mag-a-ala ninja ako tas pupunta akong cr para isuot ko muna yun tas ipatong ko na lang tong damit ko ngayon.
Kaso pano ko naman malalagay ulit sa cabinet yun kung andyan si Ate Kim? Siguradong pagpapawisan lang ako bago ko mailagay.

Mika frowns at every thought she had has its con. She took a glance at Kim looking for signs of her leaving or fatigue that would make her sleepy.

A knock broke her thoughts followed by Abby peeking in.

"Hey, babies! May mga laundry ba kayo dyan? Magpapa-laundry kasi ako sabay ko na." Abby asked

"Oh! Sakto si Ye meron." Kim said and looked at her.

"H-hindi na po nakakahiya. A-ako na lang m-magpapa laundry." Mika said shaking her hands.

"Ano ka ba, Ye. Okay lang yun. Sus! San ba laundry mo?" Abby said, entering their room.

Mika's now panicking she has to think fast. Her laundry basket is next to the closet at the foot of her bed. Kim would notice her if she took the shirt out of the pile.

"Ay, Kimmy tawag ka pala ni Coach." Abby said facing Kim.

"Huh? Bakit?" Kim said, her attention half heartedly at Abby and the book she's reading.

"Hay naku. Tungkol sa play na binabago." Abby said now hands both on her sides

"Ay! Oo nga pala." Kim said as she scratches her head putting her books neatly aside.

"Dali na nagmamadali ata si Coach."
Abby said

"Salamat." Kim said and hurriedly walked out of the room.

Mika saw Kim and Abby's conversation as one and only chance. She immediately and secretly took the shirt that is in the top of the pile, throwing it to her bed, and put a pillow over it.

"Oh, Ye san na laundry mo?" Abby said, turning her attention to her

"Eto na po. Salamat." Mika said handing the laundry with a smile

"Sige na. Review ka na." Abby said and took Mika's laundry, turning her heel towards the door.

Mika went back to her bed looking at Abby's retreating figure vanish as the door closed. A few seconds after Abby left, she took the shirt under the pillow and sniffed it.

Buti na lang di nangamoy labahan. Mika thought and released a relieved sigh.

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