Chapter 36

Over Dinner

It has been three days since they last talked to each other. None of them were bothering to reach out, and Nika wouldn't deny she's in between being angry and scared and missing him a little.

Okay, probably a little too much.

Pero hindi rin kasi niya sigurado kung gusto ba siyang kausapin o makita ni Miko. Especially when their last conversation didn't end well.

Nika
Andy? Pwede ba ako makibalita?
Musta si miko?

Her eyes lit up when Andy read her message on the dot. Hindi niya tuloy napigilang mag-isip. Pareho namang busy 'yong dalawa. Pero bakit si Andy nagagawang mag-reply sa kanya agad? Bakit si Andy kayang magbigay ng time para sagutin 'yong mga tanong niya?

Why can't Miko do the same thing? She's not asking for too much anyway.

Andy
Hi nika!!!!!
He's really grumpy
Ilang days na siyang mukhang ganito: 😠

Nika
Hahahahaha
oks oks

Nika sighed. She wanted to think he was grumpy due to his multiple work loads. But a voice was whispering at the back of her mind that maybe, he was grumpy because of their little fight.

She's just praying it's not the latter. Ayaw niya namang magalit si Miko sa kanya.

Andy
Are you both okay?

A bitter pill sprawled all over her tongue. Are they?

Did she really have to think twice about it when she knows very well that they're not? Mukha rin namang hindi niya matatago kay Andy 'yon. Grumpy nga raw si Miko. And it's so obvious they're not okay when she's asking for updates about him from his cousin. Doon pa lang, 'di na niya mapagkakaila.

Nika
Hindi eh

Andy
Ohh :(
Sorry to hear about that

Nika chewed inside her lip. She exited her message thread with Andy for a while. Binuksan niya 'yong sa kanila ni Miko. She wanted to say hi, but the swirling inside her stomach made her hit backspace.

Maybe it's best to just ask for his cousin's opinion.

Nika
Tingin mo ba ayos lang na dumaan ako dyan? Kahit idrop off ko lang yung lunch ninyo tapos alis na ako? Di ko kasi sure kung gusto niya akong makita eh

Andy
Of course!!! Stop by please i miss you so much!
If ayaw ni kenny, i'll eat lunch with you
Bahala siya dyan! He can baby his grumpy ass

Nika
Hahahaha gesi
Mag ayos lang ako

Buti pa si Andy, she thought, gusto akong makita.

Mabilis siyang naligo at nagbihis. Nakasalubong niya pa si Klein sa may hagdanan. Siguradong makikitulog na naman 'yon sa dorm nila.

"Alis ka? Sa'n punta?" he asked.

"Miko."

"O?" His eyes narrowed. "Okay na kayo? 'Di ko na ba sasapakin?"

"Gago." Nika chuckled. She didn't mean to let them know last time. Pero alam na alam kasi ng mga kaibigan niya na nanlilibre lang siya tuwing mababa ang nakuha niya sa finals o tingin niya masisingko siya, o kapag badtrip siya.

She shrugged. "Hindi pero bahala na."

He clicked his tongue. Napailing din siya kay Nika. "Ayan ka, e."

"Ganito ka rin sa susunod, gago!"

Klein laughed, raising her a finger.

Alam naman niya ibig sabihin ng kaibigan niya. Maybe she was being dumb, but maybe it's just how it really is sometimes.

Wala siyang choice kundi magpakatanga.

But what's there to lose? Her pride?

She snorted. Pride lang naman. She'd rather have that one graze than lose him forever.

Their office was a buzz. Parang hindi lunchtime sa dami ng teleponong tumutunog. She thought landlines were no longer a thing. But apparently, marami pa rin pa lang gumagamit n'on.

"Nika!" Andy beamed, running to her in a black three-inch stilettos for a hug. "I missed you so much! I hate Kenny."

A smile drew to her lips. "Na-miss ko rin kayo. Gutom ka na ba? May dala akong steak tapos mashed potato tapos Thai milktea."

"Of course! I could really eat, hindi ako nakapag-breakfast kanina ang grumpy kasi ng kasabay ko."

"Kenny?"

Andy rolled her eyes. "Who else?"

"Ano . . ." Nika chewed inside her lip. Her words hanged in hesitation. "Nasaan pala siya? Ibigay ko lang 'tong pagkain niya."

"Oh! I think he went kanina sa comfort room. You can wait sa cubicle niya." They both walked to Miko's cubicle that was also next to her cousin. Some files and paper clips were everywhere. May ilang staples pa na nakakalat sa desk ni Miko.

But one thing that struck her most was his phone. It was left there. And when it lit up from a reminder, her picture suddenly flashed on the screen.

It was an archived picture from a photoshoot she did before. Isa sa mga Miko exclusive picture na binigay niya noon. Nika was standing in front of a window wearing a fitted white sheer dress that hugged her curves in the right places.

She didn't like that picture before because of the feather earrings she was wearing. Hindi talaga siya mahilig do'n. But she looked pretty in the picture regardless.

Nika swallowed when her eyes glossed through the reminder on his phone.

It says, "Text her and apologize."

"Nika?" A familiar voice called. It sent shivers down her spine.

Napalunok siya. Hindi na niya kailangan mag-isip kung kanino galing 'yon. She missed hearing that voice too much to even wonder who it belongs to. He was the only one who could thaw her so easily just by calling her name.

She turned her head, finding him in a powder blue dress shirt with his hair a little disheveled. Medyo halata rin 'yong pangingitim sa ilalim ng mata niya.

Guilt instantly streamed through her veins.

"I'll leave you two muna. Text me na lang, Nika, ha?" Andy said before leaving the two of them to talk.

Nika blinked, hitching her breath. "Dinalhan ko lang kayo ng lunch. Aalis na rin ako—"

"No," he said, cutting her off. Miko licked his lips, closing in a few steps towards her. "Let's eat together please, in the car."

Her brows raised at the invitation. "Ha? Hindi ka ba busy?"

"It's my break so I'm not busy."

"Ah . . ." She nodded. "Sure ka?"

Miko's hand reached out, landing on her elbow. "I'm pretty sure."

They went to the parking lot to eat lunch in his car. Nika couldn't seem to contain the rapid pounding in her chest. Especially when his hand never left his waist. Simula elevator hanggang sa makarating sila sa parking lot, Miko's hand remained around her.

The air conditioning was on. Malamig naman sa loob ng sasakyan ni Miko. The ignition makes up for some noise. But their silence was clawing her lungs and she's afraid her ribs were too small to handle such pressure.

"Ser," she called, finally breaking the silence between them. She huffs before meeting his eyes.

"Sorry."

"I'm sorry." They said at the same time.

A faint smile lit his face. "I'm so sorry. I'm very sorry."

Her eyes left his gaze, dragging to the brown paper bag on her lap. "Pero bakit hindi mo sinabi agad 'yan? Kung hindi ba ako pupunta dito, hindi ka magso-sorry?"

Miko shook his head. "It's not like that." He paused, reaching for her cheek. "I've been meaning to apologize."

Nika shut her eyes closed feeling his palm on her cheek. It was so warm, engulfing the mayhem in her stomach. Hindi napigilang sumandal ni Nika sa hawak niya.

Failing to hold her anger for long.

"I was afraid. You were so upset with me after our phone call, ayaw kong dagdagan." Miko gently stroked his thumb along her skin. "I don't like you upset with me, hindi ako makatulog."

"Kaya ba ang lalim ng bagahe mo d'yan sa mata mo?" Nika couldn't help herself from cracking up a bit. "Kasi hindi ka makatulog dahil sa 'kin?"

"Yes." Miko nodded. "'Wag na tayo mag-away, please."

"Okay."

"I'm so sorry," he said, tilting her chin up so their eyes could meet.

A pained smile was etched on his lips and there was also a gloss in his eyes. "I love you so much, I'm sorry. I'm not tired of you. I'll never get tired of you."

Her eyes were almost pooling but her tears ceased to exist when Miko leaned in for a kiss.

Her heart immediately settled when their lips found each other.

"I'm sorry," he said in between the tiny kisses he was leaving her. "I'm so sorry."

***

Nika feels lighter. It seems like a huge load was taken off her shoulder after spending lunch with him. Miko was so tempted to skip class to spend the afternoon with her but Nika insisted for him to go to school.

Hindi rin naman siya papayag na baka bumaba grades ni Miko dahil sa kanya.

Noella Clark
Uuwi ka ba ngayon anak?
Nagluto ako ng favorite mo

Nika
Uuwi po

She's been going home a lot. Sakto rin dahil tapos na ang OJT niya at isang subject na lang ang inaatupag niya bago ang pre-boards nila sa school. It was the last requirement before her graduation. Kaya mas maluwag ang schedule ni Nika ngayon at nagagawa niya ring makauwi sa bahay nila.

"Ate!" Chrisha beamed when she opened the gate for her. "I have something for you! I baked red velvet cupcakes earlier, they're in the fridge!"

Her eyes sparkled. Favorite flavor niya 'yon ng cupcake. "Talaga?"

"Yup! I've been saving it 'til tomorrow. I thought you're going home tomorrow pa but I'm glad you're here! I'm gonna frost it later." Chrisha helped her carry her bag filled with dirty laundry inside the house.

"Hindi ba nasabi ni Mama na uuwi ako?"

"No. But Mom's upstairs. She's resting for a bit."

"Ah." Nika nodded. "Okay, kaya pala."

"I'm so excited for dessert! I can't wait for you to try my cupcake!"

Medyo natawa si Nika. Rinig na rinig nga niya 'yong excitement sa boses ng kapatid niya. No doubt. But maybe because it was the first time she baked for her. Nabanggit naman ng tita niya dati na baking naman daw ang hobby ni Chrisha. Pero wala siyang paki no'n.

Her sister could be a ventriloquist for all she cares. Wala naman siyang paki.

But maybe, that was before the winds change its course. Nika may not admit it out loud, but she's also looking forward for dessert.

Nika finished cleaning up just in time for dinner. Tinulungan niya na rin ang tita niya sa paghahain sa lamesa.

"Ang blooming mo ngayon, ah?" her tita commented when she was laying out the silverware.

"Po?"

"Oo nga," her mom agreed.

Nangunot naman ang noo niya. "'Wag n'yo 'ko utuin. Puro stress nga ako."

"Stress?" Napapamaywang ang tita niya pagkatapos ayusin 'yong mga pinggan. "'Di ba tapos na OJT mo? Bakit ka stressed?"

"Ah . . ." Umiling siya. "Wala naman po."

"Boy problems?" Her mom intervened and Nika's eyes immediately widened at her guess.

"I'm right!"

"Hindi po—"

"'Wag mo na itanggi, ito naman, o!" Tita Nala chuckled. "Okay lang 'yan. Dalaga ka. Normal lang na may boyfriend ka o na may problema ka sa lalaki. Sa edad mong 'yan namomroblema din kami nitong mama mo noon."

Her mom and her tita laughed. The conversation immediately shifted to their past lovers and eventually, to Nika's dad.

He has always been an off limit topic. "Naalala ko noon sinuntok pa ng tatay nito 'yong pader no'ng nakipag-break ka, e. Ang drama! Mambababae lang din naman pala," her tita commented over dinner that made her mom crack up.

"True! If alam ko lang na gano'n, sana pala hindi ko na binalikan."

"E kaso tanga ka," sabi naman ng tita niya.

Nika tried her best to listen intently in her best effort to collect some pieces about her father. He has always been a stranger. Pangalan lang ng tatay niya 'yong alam niya and even a couple pictures from back then.

Aside from that, she doesn't really know him.

"Ikaw, Nika?" Her tita called

Napaangat naman siya ng tingin galing sa pinggan. "Po?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Her mom asked. "How is he?"

"Ah . . ." She smiled. "Meron po!"

"Sabi ko na nga ba!" Her tita beamed. "Kaya ang blooming mo, e."

"Pero stressed nga po ako," she corrected.

"Hindi obvious," her tita said with a huge smile plastered on her lips.

"What's his name? And okay naman ba siya? Tinatrato ka ba nang maayos?"

Nika nodded. "Opo."

"Anong pangalan nang ma-search ko," Nala asked already with a phone in her hand.

"Mikenzo Nikolai Alegre po."

"Mikenzo?" Her mom repeated.

Tumango naman si Nika. "Opo." She paused to quickly roam her eyes around the table. Oddly enough, she has never thought for one second she'd be going home to have dinner with her family when the word family was so farfetched in her own dictionary.

She never had one. She never belonged to one.

But right now, it seems as if she might be.

"Okay naman siya?" tanong pa ulit ng mama niya.

"Opo." Nika smiled. "Ipakilala ko po siya sa inyo next time."