All Roads Lead Back to You

Chapter 9

Mika

Nawala na sa paningin ko ang kotse ni Aly, pero nakatayo pa rin ako sa sidewalk. I slowly touched my lips. That soft brush on her lips was heaven. I felt that. Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo Mika? Bakit ka nagkakaganyan? Baka isipin ni Aly ang manyak mo. First was spooning, and then now this sort of stolen kiss? 

I was taken back to reality when Mikole called me, "Ate, bakit nakatayo ka lang jan?" Makulit na tanong niya. "Kanina mo pa ko inaasar ha, lagot ka sa akin," sagot ko naman at tumakbo papasok sa bahay. Bigla naman tumakbo rin si Mikole papasok ng bahay dahil  alam niyang kikilitiin ko siya.

Umakyat na rin ako sa kwarto ko at nagayos ng gamit. I have to go back to Manila na rin, pero nahiya na ko kay Aly sumabay pabalik. And I need to get my car. While fixing my things, hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang mga nangyari. The Ilocos trip was nothing short of amazing. Her presence was indeed a surprise. It may started horrible but Aly made me do things that I thought i could not. First, siya ang may gawa kung bakit ako nakapag zipline finally. Then, she made me snorkle even for a short period of time. Small steps nga, sabi niya. And lastly, ito. She made me feel this. This weird feeling. Feeling that makes me want to be with her all the time. This is definitely a first. I never felt something like this towards a girl. 

Is this the same as I have felt when I met a cute guy? Ganto rin ba ako nung kami ni Rico, yung ex kong gago? I dont know. But what I know is i want to be with her more and to know her more. Nababaliw na ko sa kakaisip. I need to tell someone about this.

I took my phone and called my bestfriend, Jessy. I cannot tell this kina Wafs, tiyak walang katapusang pangaasar lang aabutin ko. I know Jessy would understand and hopefully would know what to do.

Ang tagal din namin nag usap ni Jessy. And it took me a while before I was finally able to admit to her everything. Hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan yung kwento ko sa kanya. But eventually, I was able to tell her. "Bes, bakit ganto? Anong nangyayari sa akin?" tanong ko sa dulo. She laughed. Not because she was making fun of me, more on because she was amused. "Pasensya na natawa ako," sabi ni Jessy, "It's just that ngayon ko lang uli narinig ang bestfriend kong nagkakaganto," patuloy niya. 

"I think hindi pa naman romantic yan, maybe you just like her company. Or baka dahil you've been pitted against each other since your UAAP days, you find it amusing to know her more," dagdag pa ni Jessy.

Hearing these from Jessy makes a lot of sense. Oo nga naman, wag ka kasi mag overthink Mika. Pero nagulat ako sa sunod niyang sinabi.

"Pero what if romantic attraction na nga yan? How would you feel?" marahan niyang tinanong.

I was not able to answer. I dont know. Una sa lahat, ang alam ko straight ako. How would I be attracted to Valdez? Yung smile niya na nawawala ang mata sa pagka singkit at lalong nagiging prominent ang dimples niya? Yung abs niya na hindi na makatarungan dahil ang hotness? Yung kabaitan niya? Yung kanyang pagiging naive na parang bata? Yung pagiging maalalahanin niya at maasikaso? So ano tong mga to Mika?

Nang hindi na ko umiimik, nagsalita na muli si Jessy. "You dont have to answer right away, bes. Just enjoy your time with her. Get to know her more as a friend. Hindi naman kailangan romantic agad. Okay?" ramdam ko sa boses ni Jessy na nakangiti siya while saying these. 

"Thank you bes! I love you. It feels good to tell this to someone," sabi ko sa kanya. "Anytime bes, basta wag mo ko pagpapalit kay Valdez ha. Baka mamaya siya na best friend mo," makulit na sabi ni Jessy. "And please, wag mo manyakin si Aly sa susunod. Baka layuan ka na nun, hahahaha" pangaasar pa niya.

We ended the call eventually. Our talk helped me not to overthink. Tama si Bes, enjoy lang. And please Mika, behave naman when with her. After lunch ay umalis na rin ako ng bahay at nagdrive pabalik sa Taft.

Alyssa

Five pm pa ang meeting namin with endorsement, but tita Vania met with me around lunchtime para daw magusap. She ensured that she was not with Kiefer. Ako lang daw ang kakausapin niya. We met in a quaint cafe para wala masyado tao.

Nang nagkita na kami, I told her that I went to Ilocos Norte but did not tell her that I saw Mika and her friends. Baka lalo lang maging complicated. She also briefed me with the possible endorsements na i-meet namin later that day. But mostly, we talked about the situation of me and Kiefer.

Kiefer cheated on me. Inamin niyang he had a fling while he had his training abroad. There were already tell signs about it. Madalang na kami mag-usap, though naiintindihan ko naman kasi alam kong busy siya sa training. But there were a few people tagging me or DMed me telling that they saw Kiefer with another woman. Hindi ko naman pinansin ang mga yun. Pero nagsimula akong magduda nung na-wrong send siya sa akin. 

"Baby, i'll pick you up after my training. See you in a bit." Imposibleng para sa akin message na yan dahil nasa Amerika siya that time at ako ay nandito sa Pinas. I asked him about it and he denied it. Sabi niya typo daw yun. Bobby daw yun, tropa niya dun. Nasundan pa yun ng ibang pangyayari. Eventually, umamin din siya. According to him, he just got lonely. Sabi niya, lalaki siya na may pangangailangan. Pero ako pa rin daw ang mahal niya. Gago diba? Nagmakaawa din siyang huwag makipag break at wag sabihin sa magulang niya. Hindi alam nina Tita Mozzy at Tito Bong ang ginagawa niyang kalokohan doon. Kaya ako pumunta sa Ilocos para mag isip. 

And I cannot believe that my manager wants me to be with Kiefer again. Wag daw kami mag break. For endorsements purposes at wala na issue. May image daw kaming inaalagaan, lalo na si Kiefer. Hindi daw pwede masira ang image niya dahil may contract siya with other endorsements to exude good character. Like yung Milo, dapat role model daw siya. So once na may lumabas na issue ng cheating, baka mawala ung endorsement niya, plus kasuhan siya ng breach of contract dahil hindi dito.

I asked tita Vania if pwede bang mag break lang kami discretely without the details. Pero may mga endorsement na daw na naka line-up na para sa amin dalawa as a couple. 

With all these talks, nanlumo ako. I was happy and energized when I left Mika's house. Tapos ngayon bigla akong nainis at nalungkot dahil hindi pala ako pwede basta makipag break sa unggoy na yun kahit ginago niya ako.

Tita Vania assured me that Keifer would change. Sabi niya nagsisisi na naman daw si Kiefer sa ginawa niya. And would make up for it. 

I heaved a deep sigh and just accepted everything. I dont want to argue anymore. A part of me still hoping that Kiefer and I could work it out. Ayaw ko rin naman masayang ang pinagsamahan namin.

After our meeting with for the endorsements, dumiretso na ako sa condo. I was exhausted. I was barely able to wash-up. Nakahiga na ako sa kama nang bigla tumunog yung phone ko. Nagmessage si Mika. It made me smile. Sa sobrang stressful ng araw na ito, isang short message kay Mika nawala lahat yun.

Mika: Good night

Aly: Good night agad?

Mika: I dont know kasi kung gising ka pa. hehe

Aly: Was about to sleep na, actually. 

Mika: Sige, sleep ka na

Aly: Bawi ako bukas ha? I'm just too tired tonight.

Mika: Noproblem. Good night phenom. 

Tuluyan nang nakatulog si Alyssa nang may ngiti sa labi.

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Guys!!!