Chapter 30

Fifteen Minutes

"Ser, sa'n ka na?" Nika asked over the phone. Kanina niya pa sinisilip sa salamin kung pantay ba 'yong pagkakalagay niya ng eyeliner. It's half past three, nakabalik na rin sila Lana at Mithi ng dorm galing sa huling klase nila para magpahinga sa ilang oras na vacant period. Although Lana went out again to meet with Laslo.

"Stoplight na," he answered.

Ngumuso siya. "Layo mo pa."

"Don't worry, wala namang traffic."

"Alam ko. Pero ang layo pa rin." Nika sighed. How many times does she need to remind herself that she knows he's busy?

Parang may sirang plaka na rin sa isip niya na maya't mayang bumubulong na 'wag siyang magtampo dahil busy lang si Miko. Hindi dapat siya nagtatampo, nagtatrabaho lang si Miko. Wala siyang karapatang magtampo, una pa lang nasabihan na siya ni Miko.

She was made aware since the first day and it wasn't necessarily new, but Nika couldn't help herself from wanting a little time with him. And it hasn't been that long, but all she really wanted for the past few days was his company. O kaya kahit kaunting silip lang kay Miko kasi huhugot lang siya ng lakas.

Nakakapanghina na kasi, ilang araw na siyang walang tikim ng double whiskey. Puro sama pa ng loob nakukuha niya sa nanay at kapatid niya.

His grin made a sound on the other line. "It's okay, I missed you, too."

Napairap si Nika. "Miss daw pero ang tagal-tagal mo naman?"

"Give me twenty-minutes, okay?"

"Promise twenty-minutes lang?"

"Yup," he answered.

"Ser, bawal mag-extend ng isang minuto d'yan sa twenty-minutes mo, ha? Hindi p'wedeng pinaghihintay 'tong pagka-miss ko sa 'yo."

"Nika?" Mithi gave her a look after hearing what she just said.

"'Wag mo 'kong i-judge d'yan, Mithi. Ganito ka rin kapag nagka-jowa ka."

Mithi winced. "No, I don't think so."

"'Wag ako! Sinabi ko rin 'yan sa sarili ko dati."

"Hey, do you want something? I can stop over to buy some snacks," Miko asked on the other line.

"Ikaw gawin kong snack."

"Nika!" Mithi sounded so scandalized from her bed.

She laughed, not minding Mithi. "Hindi na, Ser. Pumunta ka na lang dito. Kain na lang tayo mamaya, okay?"

"Okay."

"'Wag mo 'to ibaba, ha? Magtatampo na talaga ako sa 'yo," Nika warned him when she stood up to change her top.

"Yes, I won't hang up."

He arrived on time as promised. Three minutes early pa siya doon sa twenty-minutes na sinabi niya kanina. And the first thing that Nika did was to claim her needed dose of double whiskey.

His hand nestling her cheek was now angling her head to kiss her better and her lips managed to muffle his gasp.

She grinned. That was it. Her favorite sound.

Gaano katagal na ba? Ilang araw na silang hindi nagkikita? Hindi na rin niya alam. But all Nika knew was his lips tasted the same way. Felt the same way.

His lips, calming her senses, and his kisses, effortlessly reminding her of warmth and sunshine.

"Tama na, Ser. Baka abutan tayo dito, tapat pa ng dorm, o. Uhaw lang talaga ako," she said. Pero nakuha pa ring humabol ni Nika ng isa pang kiss bago sila umalis.

She settled on the passenger seat, relaxing away, and there goes Miko, relaxing his right hand on its rightful place—her thigh.

"Anyway, do you like sushi? I know a good sushi place."

Nika rested her back on the seat. "Sige. Do'n tayo."

Miko took a short glance at her direction. "Can I ask?"

"Ano 'yon?"

"Are you feeling much better? Kahit slight lang?"

She smiled. "Oo. Kiss mo lang talaga katapat ng lungkot ko."

It made him grin and squeeze her thigh. "Okay, but really? Do you feel at least a little bit better?"

"Oo nga, ang kulit! Kiss mo nga lang kasi katapat ko. Akala mo ba nagbibiro ako do'n?"

"Talaga? Just my kiss? Do you swear?"

Nika raised her hand. "Oo. Promise, peksman, cross my heart. Isang halik mo lang, sapat na."

Nailing-iling si Miko. His grin still lingering along his lips when he decided to tug it with his two front teeth. Of course, Nika saw it all and it made her breathe twice, her legs trembling.

Tangina, ang pogi!

He squeezed her thigh again. "Stop staring at me."

"Tangina talaga," she cursed beneath her breath.

"Huh?"

"Ikaw, tumigil ka rin."

"Tumigil? Anong ititigil?" Miko asked, confused.

Ang galing talaga! Kunwari hindi alam? The churning doubled when Miko gripped on her thigh again. She doesn't know why she was easily reacting. Baka miss na miss niya lang talaga si Miko. But he has to stop squeezing her thigh. Hindi talaga siya makakatiis.

Nika pointed at his lips. "'Yan. Ititigil mo 'yan o ako kakagat d'yan?"

"What—"

"Tapos ito." She pointed at his hand on her lap. "Itigil mo kapipisil mo, baka abutan talaga tayo dito."

"Why?"

"Anong why?" Tumaas ang kilay ni Nika. "Tanong-tanong ka d'yan as if 'di mo alam ginagawa mo."

He squeezed her thigh again. "Don't worry . . . later."

Pabiro siyang umirap. "Tagal."

"We have to eat first."

"Ah . . ." She nodded with a playful smile etched on her lips. "Oo nga, kung sabagay. Kailangan natin ng energy."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sus! Kunwari pa siyang hindi niya alam!"

They both laughed and it didn't take long for them to arrive in front of the restaurant. Saktong kapaparada lang din ni Miko nang mag-ring ang cellphone niya.

He answered when his phone was still hooked on the bluetooth.

"Hello, Andy?"

"Kenny! 911!" his cousin said on the other line.

"911? What for?"

Nika licked her lips before pressing them together. Ayaw niya namang makinig sa pinag-uusapan n'ong dalawa. Pero wala naman siyang ibang choice lalo na kung naka-connect 'yong cellphone ni Miko sa bluetooth at rinig na rinig niya ang sinasabi ni Andy.

"Atty. Miranda wants us to stop by at the office for next week's hearing. Ang dami niya ring inuutos sa 'kin, p'wede pasalo kahit one lang, please? You just need to send an email then kahit punta ka na sa office. He wants us there not later than four-thirty."

Nika hitched her breath when she heard it. Not later than four-thirty? E mag-aalas-kuwatro na. Paano 'yon?

"Andy, you realize I'm out with Nika? Can I tell him this is of short notice—"

"Ayos lang," Nika intervened. Napalingon naman si Miko sa kanya at napailing.

"No," he mouthed.

"You can try to tell him, Kenny. Maybe he'll consider. But he sounded pissed kasi kanina so I have no choice. Pupunta ako before he scolds us all," sabi ni Andy.

"That's unfair. Free time natin today," he said.

"I know. Pero I have to go na rin. I have to do my errands na," Andy said before the line went off.

Silence immediately buzzed inside his car. Nika knows he doesn't want to go, but she also knows it's urgent and he's needed by his mentor.

"Sige na, Ser. Balik na tayo."

"No." Umiling si Miko. "I want to spend the day with you. I don't want to go to work."

"E kaso kailangan ka nila. Kawawa rin si Andy kung mag-isa siyang sasalo ng lahat. Baka mapagalitan ka rin," Nika said, reassuring him.

"But you said you wanted to be with me today . . ."

She tried to smile. "Oo nga. Nakuha ko na rin. Na-kiss na kita. Nakapag-drive tayo kahit saglit lang. Nag-uusap na rin tayo ngayon."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Oo." Tumango si Nika. "Sure. I-send mo na muna 'yong email na binanggit ni Andy tapos ihatid mo na lang ako."

"No."

Her forehead wrinkled. "No?"

"We'll order somewhere. Take-out. Let's at least eat some snack together before I drive you back sa dorm ninyo. Please?"

"Pero kailangan ka ng four-thirty doon sa office ninyo 'di ba?"

"I know. But kahit fifteen minutes lang, please? I don't care if he yells at me later for being late. Short notice ang meeting niya. Let's at least grab some snack together."

Nika sighed. She doesn't want to admit that it made her happy for a little bit. Lalo pa kasi ayaw naman niyang mapagalitan si Miko. But knowing that he'd like to spend some time with her, even for a mere fifteen minutes, might just be alright.

Hindi na siya magrereklamo do'n.

"Okay, ikaw bahala."

He smiled, leaning in closer and nestling her cheek in his hand for a kiss. A soft one. The kind that wants to stay for a little bit longer. One that's telling her how sorry he was for leaving too early.

"Sige na, Ser. Tama na," she managed to say in between their kisses. "Baka 'di na kita pakawalan d'yan. Ikaw din, mapapagalitan ka lalo ng boss mo."

"I don't mind," he said breathily, leaning in one more time before they finally drive off.

Their dorm was empty when Nika got back from their date. Everything was dark and quiet, and hollow, and she doesn't have anyone to talk to. All she could do was slip out of her dress and pull her hair back into a ponytail before throwing herself on the bed.

A deep and long breath escaped her lips. She couldn't hear anything else but her breathing and it suddenly dawned on her how lonely she feels.

Over and over again.

And the thought that she couldn't make anyone stay was ringing so loudly inside her mind.

Nakakapagod na palaging patak-patak at tira-tira lang 'yong para sa kanya. From her mom, her dad, and now, even Miko.

She was so excited to see him. So excited to spend some time with him only for it to cut short. 

"Hindi, tama na," she said out loud trying to convince herself. Miko didn't want to go either, she's the one who made him go, it's on her. Ayaw niyang mapagalitan si Miko at mas importante rin 'yong trabahong aatupagin ni Miko. She can wait.

Nika was reasoning out with herself when her phone pinged and a message from her mother came in.

A stinging revisited her eyes when the last person she wanted to hear from had suddenly given her the attention she supposedly didn't want.

She sniffed, wiping her cheek.

Noella Clark
Anak
Alam kong galit ka
Pero gusto ko lang din magsorry
Kausapin mo na si mama please

It must've been her worn out heart hanging at the seams. But Nika types in and replies:

Nika
Sige