Chapter 18

Phone Call

Nika took a couple of days off to tend to him. Natuwa naman si Andy doon dahil masyado raw demanding si Kenzo as a patient na tinawanan naman ni Nika.

Kenzo was there and he argued that he wasn't demanding, Andy just doesn't know anything about patient care.

"Can you at least be thankful na I took care of you?" Andy said, rolling her eyes at her cousin.

"Please. As if you did it out of the goodness of your heart? May kapalit naman."

"Of course! I'm very skilled and talented to offer my services for free 'no! Wala nang libre ngayon and I deserve to be compensated for my services."

"Fine!"

"Nag-aaway na naman kayo," Nika intervened.

"She started it." Turo ni Kenzo kay Andy.

"Why me? Ikaw kaya."

Natawa't nailing si Nika habang pinanonood ang dalawa. "Oo na. Sige na, tama na 'yan."

She prepared lunch for the three of them. But Miko had to eat in his room because he was having a hard time sitting up.

"I'll leave you two na, ha. Sa dining na ako kakain, samahan mo na lang 'yang maarte na 'yan dito, Nika," sabi ni Andy.

Nika chuckled. "Okay, okay."

"Hindi naman ako maarte," pabalang na sabi ni Miko.

"Totoo ba 'yan?" pang-aasar na tanong ni Nika saktong pagkalabas ni Andy ng kuwarto. Making the crease on Miko's forehead deepen.

"You know I could still do things? Kaya ko pa naman himayin 'yang chicken," sabi niya habang pinanonood si Nika.

"Alam ko. Pero gusto ko 'to gawin kaya wala kang choice. Saka 'di ka marunong kumain ng manok. Daming laman na natitira sa 'yo."

"Isa ka pa," Miko remarked.

"Ano? Ako pa ngayon? Wala naman akong ginagawa sa 'yo. Ikaw nga 'tong 'di nagsasabi sa akin ng ganap mo."

"Inaasar mo rin kaya ako. It's even painful for me to stand, you know. 'Di ka na naawa sa akin."

"Ay, nagpapa-awa ka pala?" She chuckled. "'Di kasi halata. Sorry, ha?"

He didn't say anything else. Nika just continued what she was doing but she could feel his gaze on her skin.

"Bakit mo ako tinititigan, Ser?" she asked.

"Nothing. I just missed you. Bawal ba?"

"P'wede naman. Sinabi ko bang bawal?"

He smiled. "No. You didn't."

"Kuwentuhan mo ako mamaya kung ano nangyari sa debate n'yo, ha?" sabi ni Nika.

"Okay," he replied. Miko placed his hand on top of her lap and Nika immediately recognized his touch. It was a bit baffling how it easily became something so familiar. Samantalang dati, nagugulat at naninibago siya tuwing ginagawa 'yon ni Miko.

"Can you say it again?"

Napaangat ng tingin si Nika. "Hmm? Ang alin?"

"That you love me."

She grinned. "Ayaw ko nga."

Agad na napasimangot si Miko. "Please?"

"Ayaw ko. Bahala ka d'yan."

"Bakit? Didn't you mean it?"

Nangunot ang noo ni Nika. Tingin ba niya hindi totoo 'yon? Halos buwan nga inabot ko bago masabi sa kanya tapos iniisip niyang hindi totoo?

Napasinghal siya. "Ano 'yon? Sinabi ko kasi trip ko lang?"

"You know that's not what I mean."

Napairap si Nika. "Hindi, wala."

"Kasi first time mong sabihin sa akin 'yon. Gusto ko lang marinig ulit," sabi ni Miko.

There were momentary pauses in Nika's movements because it stumped her, too.

She sighed.

It's true. It was the first time she said it, but definitely not the first time she felt it for him. Matagal niya na rin namang gustong sabihin 'yon kay Miko. She wanted to return those words whenever he says it, too.

But she wasn't used to it. She rarely writes and says those words, and it was rather a long long time ago ever since she felt that way.

That's why it was so unusual and unnerving and she doesn't know how to say it. And the thing was, she didn't mean to let those words roll out of her tongue so easily earlier.

Maybe she just felt so much and it was already flooding her system, but at the same time, she doesn't regret saying it. Not even a bit.

It actually felt a little freeing that he knows now.

Inayos niya ang laman ng pinggan ni Miko pagkatapos niyang himayin ang manok. His eyes were lingering and a smile easily appeared on her lips.

Tumayo siya para pumunta saglit sa banyo para maghugas ng kamay.

But Nika stopped, crouching down so she could reach for his lips for a soft kiss.

"I love you," sabi niya. Her smile turned to a grin especially when she noticed the bit of surprise in his eyes.

"Kumain ka na, Ser. Inulit ko na pero 'di ka naman mabubusog do'n. Lalamig na 'yang pagkain mo."

***

Nika was smoothing out the crease on her sheets. Hindi niya namalayang nakatulog na pala siya kanina. She just wanted to lay her back after doing some laundry. Buti na lang hindi pa madilim sa labas.

Sana hindi pa traffic pabalik sa dorm, she thought. Linggo naman ngayon.

It's been a while since she visited their house in Fairview. Madalas kasi siyang nasa dorm dahil mas malapit doon ang office niya para sa internship. And when she's free, she'd rather sleep in or spend the day with her friends or Miko if he's not busy.

His schedule became even more hectic than before. Lalo na no'ng pagbalik niya sa office. He said a senior partner in their firm took him and Andy under his mentorship. And it was definitely a big deal for Miko. Lalo pa dahil nabanggit niya rin noon na gusto niya ring maging mentor si Atty. Miranda.

Nika's also been avoiding going back to their house. Especially that her mother's about to come home in a week.

Tuloy pala talaga, she sighed. Napapailing siya habang inaayos ang mga unan sa kama. Their upcoming arrival was so evident. Especially when her aunt redecorated the living room and dining area. May mga bagong biling unan, toiletries, tuwalya, at bed sheets din para sa kanila.

But there are still a couple more days for her mother to flake and postpone. Tutal, gano'n naman nangyayari palagi. And she's been expecting that call to happen any time soon.

Nika arrived at their house earlier to get some clothes. Nauubusan na rin kasi siya lalo pa't corporate attire ang kailangan niyang isuot papasok sa office palagi. She's tired washing and repeating the same three outfits. Nauubusan na rin siya ng combination kaya naisipan niyang umuwi ngayon sa kanila para maglaba at kumuha ng damit.

She just finished packing her stuff when her cousin knocked.

"Ate, dito ka na raw mag-dinner sabi ni Mama. Magluluto daw siya ng kaldereta," sabi ni Kaycee.

"Baka mahirapan na ako umuwi mamaya," sagot niya.

Partly, it was true. Pero ayaw niya ring makasabay kumain ang tita niya dahil siguradong mangungulit 'yon para sumama sa kanila sa airport.

"Ihahatid ka na lang daw para hindi ka na mag-commute." And there it was.

Mabuti na lang madaldal ang bunsong kapatid ng pinsan niya. Kahlil hogged the conversation by talking about the new kid show he was watching on TV.

And because halloween was approaching, his cousin also insisted he goes trick or treating as the character he likes on the show. Si Nika naman ay tahimik lang na kumakain sa tabi nang magpaabot si Kaycee ng kanin sa kanya.

"Ate, hindi ka ba talaga sasama next week?" mahinang tanong ni Kaycee. But it was enough for everyone to hear.

"Oo nga, Nika. Bakit 'di ka sumama? Sigurado ako mas matutuwa si mama mo kapag nando'n ka," Nahla, her aunt, intervened.

Ito na nga ba sinasabi ko! Ang galing din magtanong nito ni Kaycee, 'di na nga nila ako napapansin, e, she secretly groaned.

"May pasok po ako. Ayaw ko rin mag-absent sa office para matapos na ko na rin 'yong OJT. Sabi pa naman ni Mama kailangan ko na tapusin college kasi 'di niya raw kaya pagsabayin tuition namin ni Chrisha," Nika answered before taking a spoonful of her food.

"Gano'n ba? Pero isang araw lang naman. Sakto namang lunchtime dating nila. Hindi ka ba p'wede lumabas saglit sa office n'yo ng lunch?" tanong pa ng tita niya.

Nika took her time to chew her food, making them wait for her response. Sinadya niya ring bagalan para mainip sila at iba na ang pag-usapan.

But she was wrong.

Kahlil took over again but their conversation picked up in the car ride to her dorm.

Sabi ko na sana hindi na ako pumayag dito, e, isip-isip ni Nika.

She was clutching her phone at the backseat, wanting for someone to possibly call her. Just anyone.

Nika
Ser?
Sorry alam kong busy ka mag-aral
Pero tawagan mo naman ako pls?
Kahit 3 min lang sige na
Highly appreciated

"P'wede ka namin daanan ni tito mo sa office para sabay-sabay tayong apat sa airport. Ayaw mo ba?" dagdag pa ng tita niya.

Nika sighed, shaking her leg and chewing her inner lip.

"Baka ma-traffic pa po tayo 'pag gano'n," sabi niya.

She checked on her phone and Miko hasn't read her message yet. He's immersed on his readings.

Pero p'wede bang silipin niya cellphone niya kahit saglit lang?

Nika
Lanaaaaa!
Tawagan mo nga ako kahit saglit lang pls

Lana
Why?
Okay ka lang?

Nika
Fake call
Kelangan ko

Lana
Ha? For?
Di mo naman need tumakas sa date ah?

Nika
Sa iba
Basta please?

Lana
Okay fine!

"Nagpa-reserve pala ako ng dinner do'n sa favorite na restaurant ng mama mo—"

Her tita was cut off when Lana's call came through.

Finally, pagdidiwang ni Nika sa kaloob-looban niya.

"Hello, Lana? Bakit?"

"K'wentuhan ba kita tungkol sa bebi ko?"

"Sige," pagpayag ni Nika kahit umay na umay na siya kay Laslo. Lana knows she can't stand her stories about Laslo but it's probably better than talking about the arrival of her mom.

Buti na lang din mabilis ang biyahe at hindi sila naipit sa traffic kaya nakarating siya agad sa dorm.

Miko
Hi, sorry!
Do you still need me to call?

Nika
De
Oks na ser

Miko
Sure?

Nika
Oo

But he still called anyway.

"I'm on my thirty-minute break. Are you okay?" Miko asked on the other line.

"Oo. Ayos lang."

"What's wrong?"

Nika sighed loudly. Naupos talaga siya kanina dahil sa mga tanong nila sa kanya.

"Napagod ako," she answered."

"Saan?"

"Puwede ba mamaya tayo ulit mag-usap? Kasi napagod talaga ako kanina."

"Okay. Do you want me to call again later?" Miko asked, and she could recognize the hint of worry in his tone.

"Kahit message na lang siguro. Napagod talaga ako, sorry."

"Hmm . . . okay. Pahinga ka muna."

"Miko?"

"Yes?"

"Gusto ko ng yosi."