Chapter 25

Impending Approval

His lips lingered on her skin, and she was breathless underneath him.

"Hmm . . ." Nika smiled when he nibbled on her collarbone before collapsing on top of her. And with every beating in sync, their pulse and breathing gradually became steady.

Miko remained on top of her. He wasn't heavy, it was just the perfect amount of compression that was easing enough to blur every strain she had to endure for the day.

Nika ran her fingers through his hair, and if she could only pick a favorite part each time they collide, it was this. The silence and the stillness—like every little particle existing in the world had stopped moving, and the only thing left is him . . . his warmth, his scent, and the soft strands of his hair brushing through her fingers.

"Why weren't you wearing your dress?" he asked.

"Ha?"

"Your dress. Bakit hindi mo suot and bakit nakasabit?"

Her eyes followed where he was looking. Kaya pala, she thought. Her black dress was in his sight.

"Kasi ayaw kong magusot kanina kaya nagpalit ako. Sakto may bathrobe sila, e."

"Oh . . . I see," he said.

"At least naka-easy access ka do'n sa bathrobe, 'di ba?"

Miko chuckled. Silence lingered again and they remained cuddled inside the chilly room, and Miko would sometimes plant soft little kisses in the hollow of her neck and below her jaw.

"Can I ask why you suddenly got a tattoo?"

"Gusto ko lang," she replied shortly. Kasi totoo naman. Gusto niya lang talaga at curious din siya kung masakit din magpalagay.

"Gusto mo lang?"

"Oo. Bakit?"

Miko heaved his head. "And you just thought of my name?"

Nika grinned, nodding. "Oo."

"Why?"

"Kailangan ko pa sabihin, Ser?"

"Yes."

"Hmm . . ." Nika lightly traced his lower lip with her fingertip, leaning closer just to kiss him.

She wouldn't deny that sometimes it feels so overwhelming, and she couldn't think of any words that could exactly tell him just how much he means to her.

So her lips did another way of talking instead.

They decided to spend the night at private room again. Barely sleeping from all the activity and catching up that they did.

"My mom wants to meet you."

"Ano?"

"I said my mom wants to meet you. Ever since they got home from their trip, palagi ka niyang tinatanong. She was asking a lot about your hobbies, your program, and whether you like a certain thing or not."

"Teka." Nika blinked. "Totoo?"

"Yup." He smiled. "She can't wait to meet you."

"Totoo talaga?"

"Yes. Dalhin daw kita sa bahay sabi niya. I think may pasalubong din siya sa 'yo. She told me siya raw mismo magbibigay."

"Ah . . ." She nodded.

Nika doesn't quite know if she needed to be nervous about it.

"Are you free today? Mom's at home."

"Teka, ngayon agad? Kasasabi mo pa lang, ah?"

"Only if you're free. May gagawin ka ba ngayon?"

"Ano, nag-aaya lumabas nanay ko pero . . ." Napahinto si Nika't napa-ismid.

Iniisip ko pa lang talaga na kailangan kong makisama sa kanila, nasusura na ako, sa isip-isip niya.

"Pero?"

"Ayaw kong sumama."

"Okay." Miko nodded. "Do you have other plans for today?"

"Ano, free naman ako ngayon tapos free mama mo 'di ba?"

"Yup. But if you're not ready to meet her yet, it's fine. We can schedule it next time."

"Hindi, ayos lang. Tunog mabait saka welcoming naman mama mo. Kaso hindi kasi presentable suot ko. Pang night out 'tong black dress, o."

"Gusto mo ba dumaan tayo sa dorm ninyo or do you want to buy something?"

"Sa dorm. Hindi ko kaya magsuot ng 'di nalalabhan," agarang sagot ni Nika.

Miko smiled. "Okay."

***

It was half past twelve when they arrived at his parents' house. Hindi rin naman sila nagtagal sa dorm kasi nagpalit lang si Nika ng damit at sapatos.

She wore a simple black corset on top of her white long sleeves matched with a pair of high waisted denim jeans and her white sneakers.

"Ser, 'wag ka dadaan sa may lubak, ha? Maglalagay ako ng eyeliner," she said while applying her makeup in his car.

"Sure. Pero wala naman ata tayong madadaanan."

"Malay mo lang," sagot ni Nika.

It didn't take long for them to arrive. Buti na lang din at hindi gaanong traffic sa dinaanan nila kaya sumakto sila sa usapan na lunchtime.

"Ser, wait," sabi ni Nika. He was about go out of the car when she halted him.

"Okay lang ba itsura ko? Mukha na ba akong presentableng jowa?"

Miko chuckled. "Why? You always look exceptional—"

"As in jowang deserve na ipakilala," she said, cutting him off.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Wala lang."

His eyes squinted. "Nika?"

"Basta mukha ba akong presentable? Na kapag pinakilala mo 'ko magiging proud din magulang mo sa akin?"

Nika was holding her breath. It wasn't really her first time. May ilang beses na rin naman dati na pinakilala siya. It doesn't really matter to her before whether they like her or not, but right now, she was nervous. Especially because what they currently have was also her first serious relationship.

Alam kong hindi ako pang serious type, pero sana naman pasado ako sa parents niya. Lalo pa kasi ako pinaka-unang girlfriend na ipakikilala niya, Nika thought.

"Of course they would be," Miko replied.

"Paano kung hindi?"

"Are you asking me if approve sila sa 'yo or hindi?"

Nika shrugged. "Siguro?"

"I'd be delighted if they do, and I'm sure they'll like you. My mom already does dahil na rin sa k'wento ni Andy. They're quite close. But if it goes south, do you want us to try something else or let it be?"

"Try something else?" Medyo nangunot ang noo ni Nika. "Ayaw ko namang mamilit kung ayaw nila sa akin."

"Okay. So we'll let it be?"

"Oo, siguro? 'Di naman nila ako bibigyan ng sobre na may sampung milyon para layuan ka 'no?"

"What?" Miko laughed. "Why would they do that?"

"Uso kaya 'yon sa mga mayayaman. Nag-aabot ng sobre 'yong magulang do'n sa jowa ng anak nila para lumayo."

"I'm sure my parents aren't like that."

"Malay mo? Only child ka pa naman."

"Hmm . . ." Miko leaned closer to her give her a reassuring kiss on the cheek.

"Basta sure ako na okay sila sa 'yo. If not, at kung abutan ka talaga ng sobre, I'll probably ask you to runaway with me."

"Wow! Itatanan mo 'ko? Sigurado ka?"

"Yes. But accept the money first. Para mas settled tayo kasi baka i-cut off din ako."

Natawa si Nika. "Tama. Talino mo talaga, Ser."