It Was Always You

XVI

Kiefer Ravena

We won the FIBA Asia Cup! All set for our flight back to Manila. Since last night, my things were already packed because excited to see my love.

"Di ka naman ganun ka-excited umuwi?" Von teased me.

"Mabilis lang talaga ako magprepare no! Bilisan nyo na nga para makauwi na tayo!" He just laughed.

-

Way back to Manila was just exhausted. The moment I stepped out of the plane, the media were everywhere. As usual, the team and I accommodated them nicely as well as our fans. When it got a little less crowded, I looked for my family. There I saw mom together with Dani and Thirdy.

"Si Mika po?" I asked them.

"Napaka-warm naman ng welcome na yun, kuya." Dani sarcastically turned to me.

"Welcome back, manong!" Mom hugged me.

"Thanks ma, feels different here." I said, my head kept on swinging sideways, trying to find Mika.

"Tara let's go na." Thirdy will drive for us. I put my luggages at the trunk when somebody blinded me with their bare hands.

"So, nakauwi na pala yung FIBA Asia champions?" She said.

"Mika?" I tried to guess.

"Aww! Kilala mo ako agad? Kainis naman, tinry ko kayang maging anonymous para suspense!" She removed her hands and I faced her.

"Siguro kabisadong kabisado ko lang talaga ikaw." Mika blushed.

"I missed you, MVP." I held her closer after saying those damned words. Mika even gasped when I locked here in my embrace.

"Well, I missed you even more." She leaned in and sealed our remaining distance with a kiss.

***

Mika Reyes

We prepared a surprise welcoming party for the Gilas Pilipinas players and staff. Ara, Alyssa, and Laura helped me organize this before the coming of our loved ones.

Kiefer was sleeping soundly inside the car. He thought that we'll just head home for him to rest. The other players thought of the same thing too. Ara and Aly told Thomas and Jeron that they won't be able to fetch them in the airport because they were busy for PH team. Laura told Von that she has commitments today.

Meanwhile, those girls together with their family and friends were already in the said venue. My phone beeped and it was Laura calling.

"Mika? Kasama mo na ba si Kiefer?" She said after I picked up the line.

"Oo, papunta na kami dyan. Yung iba nasaan na daw?" I asked with my lowest voice.

"Si Thomas daw sinundo na ni Axel. Si Jeron naman umuwi daw sa condo nya kasama nila Jeric. Si Von sinundo ng family nya." Laura explained.

"Sige basta 7 PM nandyan na kami." I dropped the call afterwards. Kiefer moved slightly and tilted his head towards my shoulder. Akala ko nagising na.

"Di pa ba tayo nabibisto? Hahaha!" Thirdy said.

"Mag-ingay ka pa sige at malalaman na ni Kiefer." I hissed.

"Mika, nagtext na sa akin si Ara. Magkikita na sila ni Thomas." Billie informed me.

"Ah okay. Si Aly at Jeron?"

"Si Jeron naman daw pupuntahan na si Aly. The same with Lau and Von." I nodded as my response.

Kiefer moved again but this time he was already up. I let him sit up straight.