Chapter 2

First Impressions

Nika was feeding Miko the crispy bits of her chili cheese fries while he's busy driving on the highway.

Apparently, Nika doesn't like the crisp on her fries. She likes it soggy which Miko couldn't seem to understand why.

Favorite niya naman kasi 'yong crispy.

"Minsan kasi matigas, ang sakit sa ngipin," sagot ni Nika nang subuan si Miko ng pagkain. She was feeding him his burger, too.

On usual days, Mikenzo can manage eating snacks while driving. Lalo pa dahil isang kamay lang naman ang gamit niya sa pagmamaneho na parating nasa manibela. His right hand only functions when he needs to change gears, pulling and pushing down the handbrake, both hands on the steering wheel when he's on the freeway, and a recently added bonus, when he wants to place his hand on her thigh (which is all the time). For some reasons, he finds it a comfortable resting place for his hand.

He was used to driving like that. But his parents and cousins could attest that they're at ease whenever he's the one behind the wheel.

At hindi rin naman nagrereklamo si Nika.

Ang lakas maka jowa, isip-isip niya. She took a bite off his burger too. Medyo naiinggit nga siya. Dapat pala um-order din siya no'n. But the fries is quite filling as well. Hindi niya rin naman mauubos kaya sinabihan niya rin si Miko na hatian siya.

"'Yong drink please," sabi ni Miko pagkatapos lumunok. Nika didn't think twice. Kinuha niya na lang din ang iced tea ni Miko na nasa cup holder sa side niya saka ito pinainom.

"Thanks, I'm good," he said after sipping on his drink.

"Ha? E may natira pa dito sa burger mo," sagot ni Nika.

Miko only had three big bites off his food. "Share din tayo d'yan. You can eat the rest. I don't want to fill up too much."

"Saan ba tayo pupunta ngayon?"

He glanced at her. "We'll stop by at my friend's art gallery . . . "

"Tapos? Feeling ko may karugtong 'yang sasabihin mo," she asked, taking a bite on the burger.

"We'll have dinner at home." 

Napahinto sa pagnguya si Nika. Mabuti na lang hindi rin siya nahirinan dahil kamuntikan din siyang maubo sa sinabi ni Miko.

"Home? As in sa bahay ninyo?" She's been to his home once before. Rather, it was his condo unit. Na minsan lang din uwian ni Mikenzo. Hindi rin naman sila nagtagal do'n noon dahil dumaan lang si Miko para magpalit ng damit papasok sa school.  

Miko nodded. "Yup."

Nika swallowed the food in her mouth. Her brain began to stream through different rivers, and it's a bit difficult to hide the panic rising up her chest. It was so evident with her uneasiness, her hands were even ice cold.

Nika cleared her throat, composing herself. "Hindi ba nakakahiya? Hindi ako prepared—"

"I know," he said, cutting her off. "I figured that one out. But to put you at ease, my parents are currently traveling abroad. Para sa wedding anniversary nila."

"At ease? Nakakahiya pa rin, Miko. Baka isipin nila saka mo lang ako dinala sa bahay ninyo kung kailan wala sila doon."

Although she's not yet ready to meet his parents, of course that's a part of being in a relationship. Hindi nga lang 'yon agad sumanggi sa utak niya ngayon dahil technically, hindi pa naman talaga sila. Letting his parents know about them is actually a big step.

At kahit siya rin naman na may iilan nang naging boyfriend noon, ni isa sa kanila e wala siyang pinakilala sa tita niya.

"I actually told my mom that you're coming over. She said it's okay and she wants to meet you soon. Nasabihan din kasi siya ni Andy tungkol sa 'yo kaya curious din si Mama."

"Oh . . . " Talaga? Medyo kilala na ako ng nanay niya?

Nika heaved a breath. Somehow she wanted to ask him what kind of impression his mom had of her. Of course, she wouldn't deny the fact that she wants his parents to like her for him.

Thoughts lingered on her mind even when there were countless paintings and sculptures catching her eyes at the art gallery. They were pretty. But her mind wouldn't allow her to fully grasp on their depth.

In the middle of being caught up, Miko placed his hand on her waist. He leaned towards her to plant a kiss at the back of her ear.

Nika shivered when his breath grazed on her skin. But the warmth of his lips and within a split of a second , she managed to release the breath she was holding for a while now.

"Sorry if I made you worry. But Andy was so fond of you. Binida ka niya no'n kay Mama. She asked me that time, too. I told her you're delightful to be around and I really like you. I recall she smiled that time. So I know just by listening to our stories that she likes you, too."

Nika turned to him with a crease on her forehead. "Sure 'yan, ha? Hindi mo ako inuuto?"

Miko chuckled. Tumango rin siya. "Yes, I'm sure of it."

"Promise?"

He nodded again, leaning forward just to bring his lips to her forehead this time.

"Promise," he said.

***

The art gallery wasn't that far from their subdivision. It turns out, Mikenzo asked his friend to keep the gallery open until 9 p.m. for their date night. They were supposed to close by 6 p.m., but Miko managed to convince his friend to extend and keep it open even if it meant he needed to pay extra for the staff who remained at the venue just for them.

"Bumibili rin ba kayo ng paintings at sculptures? Ang daming magaganda kanina doon sa exhibit ng tropa mo," sabi ni Nika.

"My mom is an art collector. Minsan bumibili sila ni Papa especially if 'yong proceeds ay para sa charity."

"Ah . . . " Napatango si Nika.

"Why? May nagustuhan ka bang painting kanina?"

"Halos lahat nga. Ang gaganda rin kasi no'ng gawa nila."

"But do you have a favorite?"

"Hmm . . . " Saglit na napahinto si Nika para mag-isip.

"'Yong may cottage house. Hindi ako magaling mag-describe basta 'yong cottage house na parang may bridge sa labas tapos may bulaklak sa paligid. Favorite ko 'yon kasi mukhang peaceful 'yong bahay. Feeling ko rin marunong mag-bake kung sinuman nakatira do'n tapos amoy tinapay 'yong bahay niya palagi. Ang bango-bango nakakatugom o baka gutom na talaga ako," dere-deretsong sabi ni Nika.

Natawa naman si Miko. He squeezed her thigh. "Don't worry, we're three to five minutes away."

He already anticipated she was hungry so he asked Manang Leya to set the table for them before they left the art gallery.

Nika couldn't help but roam her eyes around the joint property of Miko and Andy's family when they made it inside their driveway.

Alam niya namang mayaman pamilya ni Miko. But to actually see it right in front of her was different. May mayayaman din naman siyang kaibigan kaya dapat hindi na bago 'to sa kanya. There's Lana. She's been to their house countless times. But it's still surprising to actually see what money could buy to those who can afford.

It was never in her intention to compare. Pero bigla niya ring naramdaman 'yong agwat sa estado ng buhay nila ni Miko.

Their family was indeed, rich.

She could probably estimate the value of their house just by looking at the materials alone. The main door? Looks like it was made out of mahogany wood and so is most of the furniture inside with the floor made out of marbles. She even noticed the marine-grade polymer chair at their patio. She didn't want to peek too much, yet her eyes failed to ignore the granite countertops and the floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the garden. Even their gate operates through motion sensors.

But beyond the luxury, their house looked cozy. It was inviting. Perhaps it was due to the wooden furniture or the neutral color scheme and the small pot of plants inside. Somehow it didn't look too intimidating. She felt surprisingly at ease.

Miko led her to their dining area. Nakahain na rin doon 'yong mga pinaluto ni Miko para sa kanilang dalawa. "I thought of cooking steak and mashed potatoes for you. Pero alam ko gusto mo ng kanin kaya nagpaluto ako ng sinigang na hipon saka inihaw na liempo. I don't know how to make sinigang yet, so I asked Manang to cook for the meantime. Lulutuan kita ng version ko kapag tinuruan na niya ako sa susunod."

Nika smiled. "Promise mo 'yan, ha?"

He returned her smile. "Oo, promise."

And just like before, even if she could do it on her own, Miko removed the shell of the shrimp for her. Tumabi pa siya kay Nika para doon.

"Ang kulit mo. Sabi ko kaya ko naman," sabi ni Nika.

But he just shrugged. He still remembers that one time when they were in Bacolod for Jake and Lily's wedding. Hinimayan siya ng manok ni Nika noon. Well, it was to prove a point. Marami pa kasi talagang laman 'yong manok niya hindi lang siya marunong maghimay nang maayos.

But he still remembers how he felt that day. It was nice to know that she wants him to enjoy his food. It was nice to know that she cares for him.

And he wants her to feel the same way, too.

"Ayaw mo talaga ako pagbalatin?" tanong ni Nika sa kanya.

Umiling naman si Miko. "No. You can go ahead and eat. Tapusin ko lang 'tong tatlo pang hipon sa bowl mo."

Umiling din si Nika. "Ayaw ko nga. Ang daya ko naman kung kakain ako agad tapos pinagbabalat mo ako ng hipon d'yan? Hintayin na lang kita para sabay tayo."

He paused just to look at her. His eyes were gleaming under the incandescent light when a little smile formed on his lips.

"Gutom ka na 'di ba? You can eat first. Tatapusin ko lang talaga 'to."

But she was adamant. "Sabay nga tayo, e. Ang unfair kaya kung mauuna ako."

He sighed. "Kulit mo."

Nika sighed, too. Mocking him. "Kulit mo rin."

Nailing-iling si Miko bago ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa niya. Nika couldn't bear to watch him.

Ang daya talaga kung babalatan niya 'yong sa akin tapos babalatan niya pa 'yong sa kanya, she thought.

So to be fair, Nika reached for his bowl too. Just to peel the skin off his shrimp so they could eat together.

Nangunot ang noo ni Miko sa kanya. "You don't have to do that. Kaya ko naman."

"E kaya ko rin. Bahala ka d'yan," natatawang sabi ni Nika.

Matapos niyang balatan ang isang hipon ay saka niya 'yon nilagay sa kutsara niya kasama ang kaunting sabaw at kanin na galing sa pinggan niya bago ilapit kay Miko.

"Ito, kain ka na," she said.

A crease was about to form on his forehead. Pero pinandilatan siya ni Nika.

Hindi naman siya nakaungot kaya kinain niya na rin 'yong pinasusubo ni Nika sa kanya.

Miko did the same, too. But he cut a piece of the grilled liempo for her, trimming the rind and fats just as she requested. They didn't even noticed they were already sharing the same plate.

"Ang sarap ng pagkaka-ihaw, anong marinate ginawa n'yo d'yan?" Nika remarked.

"Right? These are my favorite kaya ni-request ko. Luto 'to lahat ni Manang Leya. Itatanong ko pa ingredients sa kanya."

"Nasaan si Manang Leya? Kumain na rin ba sila?" she asked, roaming her eyes around the area to look for Manang Leya.

Bahagya niya namang siniko si Miko. "Saan sila? Sabihin mo sabayan tayo. Ang sarap kaya nito saka ang daming ulam. Sure ako hindi natin mauubos."

Miko chuckled. "Of course they already ate dinner. Late na rin tayo dumating."

"Ay oo nga pala. Nakalimutan ko."

"It's already past ten-thirty."

Her eyes widened. "Seryoso ka?"

"Yes," he said, pointing at the wall clock near the bar.

"Hala! Baka hindi na ako makapasok sa dorm. Nakakahiya paghintayin si Kuya doon para lang pagbuksan ako ng gate."

"Why? May curfew ba kayo?"

Tumango si Nika. "Oo, ten-thirty curfew namin sa dorm. Pero ayaw ko naman umabot ng alas dose. Nakakahiya kay Kuya."

Miko noticed how she hurriedly drank the red wine he poured for her earlier.

"You can stay the night," he said.

Halos mahirinan naman si Nika sa narinig niya.

"Ha?"

"Stay the night."

"As in dito matutulog? Seryoso ka ba?"

He nodded. Promptly. "Yes."

Nangunot ang noo ni Nika. "Weh?"

"I'm serious."

"Saan naman ako matutulog?" tanong niya.

"In my room," Miko answered casually.