Chapter 37

Walking in Circles

The heat has been scalding and running around back and forth to some offices weren't helping her case. Kung 'di ba naman kasi sobrang ilap ng mga professor ni Nika, edi hindi sana siya pagod na pagod sa kahahanap sa kanila ngayon?

Parang dati lang umay na umay siyang makita 'yong mga professor niya. But now that she needs their signature for approval and clearance, do'n naman sila hindi nagpapakita. Pagod na pagod na rin siyang mag-akyat-baba mula first floor hanggang fourth floor. Buti sana kung may elevator sa building nila pero wala naman.

She checked her phone if one of her professor had already replied, kaso wala rin.

Nika swiped up to open their message thread just to check on him.

Nika
Ser
Lunch na
Kumain ka na?
Wag mo kalimutan ha
Sabi ni andy wala raw kayong kain kahapon

"Nikalat!" Her attention was caught by Lana waving at her across the hallway. Her friend ran to her direction when her phone pinged from a reply.

Miko
We're about to eat outside.
Our client's going to treat us to lunch.
How about you? Kumain ka na?

A curl instantly paints her lips. Nika was about to type in a reply when Lana snakes her hand around her arms. "Sa'n ka na? Are you done na ba? Pabalik ka na sa dorm?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

"Hinihintay ko na lang si Dean para sa pirma niya. Kaso lunch break, e. Kakain na lang din muna ako," she says after typing in a quick reply.

"Tara! Let's eat muna. Gutom na rin ako," sabi ni Lana. And as an early treat, manlilibre daw 'yong kaibigan niya ng lunch kasi malapit na raw siyang makalaya sa uni jail.

They went back to the dorm and ordered in. Nika wanted to lay in bed just to rest her limbs for a while. Pakiramdam niya kasi, mababaklas na 'yong hita niya sa kalalakad. And it's been almost a week of running around just for her to complete their signatures.

And it was so ironic that she's been dreading her clearance more than her pre-boards. Hindi niya rin gets kung bakit parang mas madali pang ipasa 'yong exam.

"Kailan daw sched ng grad n'yo?" Mithi asked while munching her curly fries.

"Ah, basta deadline ng mga ipapasa hanggang October 21 tapos December ata graduation. Wala pang exact date." Her phone buzzed just as when she placed her pizza slice down on a paper plate.

Miko
Are you free tonight?
I'll take you out to dinner.

Her eyes marbled right after reading his message.

"Talaga?" Nika blurted, running her eyes through the words he sent her.

"Bakit?" Lana asked in curiosity.

"Ah, si Miko kasi." She tilted her head, reading his message for the third time. Baka kasi mali lang siya ng pagkakaintindi o baka naduduling na siya at iba na nababasa niya sa pagod.

Nika
Shore?
Anong oras ser

"Why? Ano meron kay Miko?" Lana drizzled the ranch dressing all over her salad, and Nika couldn't help but wonder if enough ba 'yong lunch niya. Kasi tinitingnan niya pa lang, nagugutom na siya ulit.

"May date daw kami mamaya." A smile formed on her lips. "He'll take me out to dinner daw."

"Wow! Finally?" The sarcasm laced on the surprised tone of her friend reeks out. Of course, Mithi and Lana knew the current state of her relationship. Ever since they saw her cry about her mom, her friends usually checks up on her once in a while. At kahit hindi niya gustong magsabi sa kanila tungkol kay Miko, Nika couldn't hold herself from relenting to her friends when she needed an outside and fresher perspective to rationalize things for her. Or she would go crazy.

"Sa'n daw kayo? May reservation ba siya? Susunduin ka ba dito?" mausisang tanong ni Lana. A sudden switch flipped her perspective towards Miko.

Her friends' opinion were split in half with Mithi understanding both of their situation, and Lana straight up running to Nika's corner.

"'Di ko sure. Hinihintay ko pa reply e," Nika answers back, glossing her eyes through the screen again. She'll admit it's a bit surprising of him to ask her out on a date. After all, it's nearing two months of them not (quite) seeing each other. Bilang na bilang ni Nika kung ilang beses niya lang nakita at nakausap si Miko sa loob ng dalawang buwan. Their conversations doesn't even last for ten minutes. Their meet-ups doesn't last for an hour.

Pero ayos lang naman sa kanya. She knows how busy and exhausted he was with work and law school and Nika's also busy with pre-boards and her clearance. But she wouldn't deny that she misses him. A lot.

"Sayang. Mag-aaya din sana ako ng dinner kaso may dinner date ka pala." Lana rolls her eyes. "Mithi, tayo na lang mag-dinner date."

MIthi smiled, shaking her head in disapproval of Lana's distaste towards Miko. "Okay."

"If ever 'di matuloy dinner date ninyo, sunod ka na lang sa 'min," Lana added. "I'm craving blackbean noodles and kimchi."

"Order din tayo cheese kimbap, Lana," Mithi chimed in.

Tumango naman si Lana. "Sure!"

Miko
Pick you up at 6:30?

Wow. Her eyes marbled. Ang aga? He normally picks her up around eigth or nine due to the heavy traffic. Saktong Biyernes pa naman kaya sigurado si Nika na mas mabigat 'yong traffic sa rush hour ngayon.

It painted a grin on her lips. "Mukhang tuloy naman. Susunduin daw ako dito, e."

Lana rolled her eyes again. "'Wag siyang magpapakita sa 'kin, I swear!"

Nika ignored her best friend's remark. Instead, she stood up to check her closet when an idea lit up in her head.

Nika
Wag mo na ako sunduin ser
Send ko na lang sakin location

Miko
Why?

She grinned, pulling out the red dress from her closet.

Nika
ckret :p

Miko sent her the location, and Nika took her time to prepare herself after eating lunch. Naligo pa siya ulit dahil amoy na amoy niya 'yong araw sa sarili niya.

Buti na lang, wala ring afternoon class si Mithi. She asked her friend to help her wax her legs while she tended her underarms and eyebrows.

It was a two person job lalo pa dahil mabalbon siya, and she also took her time to dye her hair black, flattering her complexion.

"Nika!" Mithi's eyes were sparkling. "You look so pretty! Bagay din pala sa 'yo super straight hair tapos nakalugay lang."

"Ayan!" Nika smirked. "Gan'yan ang tamang reaksyon."

She applied some perfume on her hair to cancel out the strong chemical scent from the box dye. Halos ibabad niya rin sa conditioner 'yong buhok niya kanina.

"Ang ganda-ganda mo talaga! Wala ka bang plans bumalik sa modeling?"

"Naku!" She chuckled. "Hindi nga ako model."

"May photoshoots ka nga," Mithi argued.

Hindi na lang nakasagot si Nika dahil busy na siya sa paglalagay ng eyeliner. It took two hours for her to get everything done. Naka-ilang double check pa siya sa sarili niya ay sa bag niya kung wala ba siyang nakalimutang dalhin.

"Powerbank mo?" Mithi asked while watching her organize her bag again.

"Ayon! Oo nga." Nika unplugged the powerbank from the socket. Sabi na nga ba may nakakalimutan siya.

***

Nika arrived fifteen minutes early at the restaurant. Per his instructions, all she had to do was mention his name so they could guide her to their table, which she did. There were only a few tables around the restaurant, and each one was filled.

She was offered a basket of freshly baked focaccia bread drizzled with olive oil and a side of balsamic vinegar.

Nika nibbled on her bread while typing in a message for him.

Nika
Ser dito na ako

Miko
Okay.
I might be late.
Maybe 10 min?

Nika
Okeiii
Ingat u

Ten minutes lang naman, she thought. Nika busied herself by catching up on Klein if nakapagpapirma ba siya kanina after lunch. Apparently, he stayed until 4:30 but to no lock, their dean left for a conference and he'll come back next week. Buti na lang pala hindi na rin bumalik si Nika kasi wala rin siyang mapapala.

The clock ticked and the minutes flew so quickly. Tapos na 'yong ten minutes, halos nakalahati na rin ni Nika 'yong complimentary bread na binigay kanina.

The waiter also asked for her order but she decided to stall, telling them that she's still waiting for someone.

Nika decided to check her phone again only to read a different message.

Noella Clark
Nak kumain ka na?
Uwi ka ba ngayon?
Nagluto ako dinner

Nika
Okay na po
Kumakain na

Noella Clark
Ok
May money ka pa?
Sendan kita dagdag ng allowance mo

Nika
Sige po
Medyo kulang na hehe

Kahit kasya pa naman hanggang bukas 'yong pera niya, hindi rin sigurado ni Nika kung makakauwi siya agad sa kanila sa sobrang ilap ng mga professor niya.

Noella Clark
Sent na
Check mo nalang nak

Nika
Kita ko na po
Thank you

A smile unconsciously paints her lips. Nika didn't have the best relationship with her mom growing up. But she can tell that she's been making up for all the years they missed. Like her friends, her mom also checks up on her once in a while. She would ask if she had already eaten lunch or dinner. Kung may damit pa siya o kung kasya pa pera niya, kasi kung hindi, padadalhan daw siya.

There were times her mom would also ask her to come home because she cooked her favorite ulam for dinner, and Nika couldn't miss a warm home-cooked meal. Kaya kahit ang haba ng biyahe papunta sa bahay nila, Nika would come home just to eat dinner with her family.

She'd prefer it than any fast food or convenience store meals she often eats. Sulit naman para sa isa't kalahating oras na biyahe niya pauwi.

Nika
Ser
San ka na?
Twenty minutes na

Nika chewed slowly while waiting for the three dots to appear on his end. It did 'til it's gone by the next second.

Nangunot 'yong noo niya. Akala niya ba ten minutes lang? Hindi rin siya nag-abiso agad na may extension pala 'yong ten minutes na sinabi kanina.

Ten minutes times two pala. Okay, she thought. 'Di naman nauubusan ng ten minutes sa mundo.

Miko
Sorry may new evidence kasing sinubmit kanina. On the dot before our time out kaya hinold kami ni atty. Today kasi yung deadline for that before the hearing so we're studying the paperwork for our defense

Napangiti na lang si Nika habang binabasa 'yong message niya. Where on earth did he think na enough 'yong ten minutes para do'n?

She knew it. Nika locked her phone, placing it face-down on the table. She picked a piece of bread from the basket, chewing it slowly as she convince herself that there's nothing to be mad about.

Busy lang siya, she thinks to herself as she recalls everything she did to prepare before heading to the restaurant. She dyed her hair black, plucked her brows, she even asked one of her friends to help her wax her legs and style her hair.

And she was so excited to finally breathe after the countless reviews and endless errands for her requirements . . .

Nika heaved a breath, swallowing the lump forming in her throat. It has been two months, and this was supposed to be their first proper date . . . pero busy ulit siya.

Tama nga, hindi nauubusan ng ten minutes sa orasan. Pero mukhang aabutin hanggang bukas 'yong sampung minuto na sinabi ni Miko.

A cold line draws from her chest down to the pits of her stomach and it settles there as she slowly shrivels in her seat.

Two months . . . ten minutes . . .

Busy lang siya. Busy lang siya. Busy lang siya. Busy lang siya, Nika kept convincing herself when her phone buzzed.

Miko
Nika?
I'm sorry hindi ko na-anticipate.
Please let me make it up to you?
Order everything you want for dinner.
You can ask one of your friends to join you.
It's still on me.

Her mind kept shunning the words as the pit in her stomach grew wider.

Miko
I'll send some money to your account.
Please? Let me treat you to dinner.

Nika
Kaw bahala

She sent the text before turning her phone off. She didn't want to hear or read anything from him anymore. She had already established it in her head. Busy si Miko kaya hindi makakapunta, and she has no other choice but be okay with that. Because what he does matters more than their date.

They can have dinner another time. She can wait, his work and their clients can't.

It was supposed to be a five-course meal, but Nika asked if she can only have the appetizer because her appetite can no longer finish the rest of the course. Hindi niya alam kung nabusog ba siya sa tinapay o sa sama ng loob na kanina niya pa pinipilit itanggi sa sarili niya.

She wanted to laugh at herself. This is rather a whole new circle of idiocy she has placed herself into. But Nika didn't want to fault herself from looking forward to their date. She missed him, she wanted to spend some time with him, and it's not her fault for looking forward to those things.

It wasn't his fault either when his job was too demanding.

Nika paid the bill with her own money before she left the restaurant. Iniisip niya pa kung babalik na siya sa dorm pero alam niyang magtataka 'yong mga kaibigan niya kung bakit ang bilis niyang umuwi.

Baka nga mas magtataka sila na umuwi rin siya.

And she doesn't want Lana to think worse of him.

Hindi naman kasalanan ni Miko . . . she sighed. Busy lang siya.

Nika walked in circles at the unfamiliar garden outside the restaurant. Her feet ached from the three-inch stilettos she (unfortunately) decided to wear, but she'd rather keep her mind focused on her aching feet rather than being stood up to dinner.

The night breeze pricked her skin and Nika failed to grasp the chill in the air when her eyes and her cheeks were too warm.

She bit her lip as she drags her feet to walk another mile so she wouldn't think that he no longer thinks of her as anyone special nor worth his time.

Because she knew deep down her heart could no longer brush this off.

Busy lang siya, Nika convinced herself once more as her reasoning faded at the back of her mind.