Chapter 7

Something Red

Nika was greeted by the smell of tapa and sinangag when they went to the dining area. Their breakfast were already waiting at the table. At mukhang bagong luto lang din dahil mainit-init pa ang fried rice na nasa bowl.

Halos kaladkarin na rin niya si Miko kanina para lang bumangon. Request kasi nang request ng additional five minutes. 'Yong five minutes niya halos isang oras ang katumbas.

"Sila manang ba kumain na?" tanong ni Nika nang umupo sila sa may hapag.

Miko nodded. "Yup. Nauna na sila sa atin."

"Oh . . . okay."

Nahihiya rin kasi si Nika. Especially when Manang Leya greeted them earlier when they passed by the pantry.

"Nakatulog ba kayong dalawa nang maayos? Naabutan ko kayo kanina dito natutulog sa sala baka nangalay kayo," sabi ni Manang Leya.

Nahihiyang tumango si Nika. "Opo, maayos naman po."

"Naku, mabuti naman. Kumain na pala kayo, may almusal na doon sa hapag at dederetso na ako sa may bakuran para maglinis," sabi ni Manang Leya bago magpaalam.

Saka niya lang din nalaman na si Manang din pala ang nagpalipat sa kanila kanina sa kuwarto. But Miko didn't wake her up. Instead, he carried her to the bedroom.

"Anong mas gusto mo? Coffee or hot choco?" he asked.

"Kape."

"Black or with milk?"

"Anong milk gamit mo?"

"Whole," sagot ni Miko. "Wala kaming non-fat if you want non-fat."

"Ay, hindi naman. Gusto ko kasi sana condensed milk," sagot ni Nika.

"Condensed milk nilalagay mo sa coffee mo?"

Nika nodded. "Oo."

"I see."

Sinabihan niya si Nika na umupo muna sa may lamesa habang nagtitimpla siya ng kape nilang dalawa. But she followed him to their kitchen instead. Somehow, she wanted to watch him prepare their coffee.

"Ser," she called.

Saglit na napalingon si Miko sa kanya habang binubuksan ang lata ng condensed milk na nahanap niya sa pantry nila.

"Hmm?"

"Ganito ba madalas routine mo kapag weekend?" she asked. Hindi niya rin kasi maiwasang isipin. She wonders how he operates every weekend, when he's off work and his schedule is a bit lax. She wonders what he does on his free days, what he likes to do and how he spends them.

And she wonders if . . . somehow, his routine became a little bit different because of her. That somehow, she also became a part of his schedule.

"Minsan. I usually wake up around six to get ready."

"Ang aga naman. Tapos late ka ba nagising ngayon kasi nandito ako?"

"Yes." He nodded. "Baka nag-stay pa ako hanggang ala-una kaso sabi mo babangon na," he mumbled while pouring coffee to their mug.

"Ha?" tanong ni Nika. "Ano 'yong sinabi mo 'di ko gaano naintindihan."

"Nothing. Kain na tayo ng breakfast," sabi ni Miko.

It didn't take a while for them to get ready for Nika's 3 p.m. appointment. She borrowed a white shirt from Miko and thankfully, Andy was around to lend her a pair of pants.

Nika neatly rolled the sleeve of his shirt while waiting for him inside the car.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal si Miko para kuhain ang charger niya sa kuwarto.

"Okay ka na?" Nika asked when he got inside the driver's seat.

"Yup," he said, handing her his phone and the cable wire.

"Pa-charge na lang sa powerbank mo please," sabi niya.

They were both expecting some traffic. But thankfully, hindi naman gaanong congested ang daan kaya sakto lang din ang dating nila sa ospital.

Miko held her hand while they were walking to the elevator. Medyo nagulat naman doon si Nika. She was used to holding hands with him before, but of course, it was part of their ruse.

Siya pa ang nagmamando noon kay Miko na hawakan ang kamay niya. Just so their set-up would seem plausible to every guest at Jake and Lily's wedding.

But it surely is different now. They were really doing this for real. She couldn't believe it somehow. Na tipong nasa elevator na rin sila ngayon kasi sasamahan siya ni Miko sa doctor's appointment niya.

It was a first time for her, too. That someone besides her cousin was accompanying her to her OB-GYN. And she's a bit nervous and surprised and comforted by what was currently happening. It was a mix of all those things and she couldn't wrap her mind around it.

I guess nasa ganitong point na siguro kami, isip-isip niya.

But her thoughts were interrupted when Miko squeezed her hand.

Nahalata ba niya 'yong kaba ko?

"Bakit?" tanong ni Nika.

"Alam kong personal matter pero, may masakit ba sa 'yo? Kanina ko pa kasi gustong itanong. But it's okay if you don't—"

"Walang masakit sa 'kin. Magpapa-depo shot lang ako," she answered.

"Depo shot? What's that?"

A little grin appeared on her lips. "Birth control."

"Oh . . . I didn't know," he said.

"Ayos lang. Pills gamit ko dati kaso minsan kasi nakakalimutan ko kaya mas okay para sa akin 'tong injection."

"How long does it last?"

"Three months."

"I see." He nodded. Si Nika naman ay sinusubukang kapain kung ano ang iniisip ni Miko. It looks like he was trying to think about it, too.

The elevator stopped to their floor and Nika noticed the two pregnant women sitting at the waiting area. They came with their husbands, too.

She took in a deep breath. It was suddenly cold in her stomach. Bahagya namang napalingon sa kanya si Miko dahil medyo humigpit din ang hawak ni Nika sa kamay niya.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Ah . . . oo," she said, smiling nervously.

Iisipin kaya ni doktora na buntis ako kasi saktong kasama ko rin si Miko ngayon? she thought to herself. Pero imposible naman 'yon. Papaturok nga ako ng depo e tapos buntis?

Taena, she was laughing at herself inside her mind. Nasa ganitong point na pala talaga kami ni Miko. Seryosohan na pala talaga 'to.

It was slowly dawning on her. Hindi ko pa 'to jowa pero nagkukusa na agad siyang samahan ako sa OB-GYN ko tapos ni isa sa mga ex-boyfriend ko dati, hindi ako sinamahan. Minsan sila pa nangungulit sa akin para bumili ng condom sa drug store kasi nakakahiya raw? Putek, mas lalo siyang natawa sa naiisip niya.

Wala ba talaga akong standard o rare breed lang 'to si Ser kaya nagugulat ako sa mga ginagawa niya? But at the same time naman hindi rin kasi pasok si Miko sa mga type ko.

Sure, she would notice how good he looks and how well he could dress and present himself. And that's it.

Because seriously on the surface? He looks boring. Guwapo pero masiyadong seryoso sa buhay. There was even a time where he responds like an automated email. Like everything's supposed to be professional and monotonous. Walang sense of humor at ginawang personality ang trabaho.

For her, he falls under that criteria.

If it wasn't for the favor she previously owed him, she wouldn't even try to meet his way.

And yet . . . here they are now. And it's as if it couldn't get any better than this. Even if it seems unnerving and unfamiliar to her. Even if it feels like the kind of treatment he was giving her was way too much than she deserves.

O baka hindi lang ako sanay? isip-isip niya.

Nika asked Miko to wait for her at the waiting area when she checked in with her doctor's assistant inside her office.

Sakto palang siya na rin ang sunod sa pila. Paglabas niya naman ay naabutan niya rin si Miko na may binabasa sa cellphone niya. He looked serious with his brows slightly meeting in the middle.

"Ano 'yan, Ser? Nag-aaral ka ba? Ang seryoso mong nagbabasa d'yan," tanong ni Nika nang umupo siya sa tabi ni Miko.

"No. I'm researching about Depo-Provera."

"Oh . . . "

"Do you still get your periods?"

"Oo, last week. Pero super hina. Parang spotting lang."

"Is that safe for you?" tanong ni Miko habang nakatutok sa binabasa niya.

Nika was about to answer him when followed up with another question. "How long are you on that birth control?"

"Twice pa lang ako naturukan. Pangatlo ngayon tapos five months din akong nahinto after no'ng second shot."

"Hmm . . . is it safe when your period stops?"

"Tanungin mo na lang kaya si doktora," sabi ni Nika.

Natigilan naman si Miko dahil sa sinabi niya. He locked his phone before turning his attention to her.

"Are you sure? Sasamahan kita sa loob?"

A smile slowly painted on her lips before nodding. "Oo. P'wede naman tapos si doktora na mismo tanungin mo para mas sure 'yong sagot."

"Sabi mo 'yan, ha? Because I really have a lot of questions," he asked to confirm.

She nodded again. "Oo nga."

***

And true enough, he really did have a lot of questions. Nika could tell Dra. Sevilla was also surprised with the amount of his follow up questions and concerns, too. Mas marami pa kasing tinanong si Miko kumpara sa kanya noon.

He asked if it's safe if her period stops due to the contraceptive, it's percentage of efficacy, if it wouldn't cause her any unnecessary pain and any longterm side effects she could probably suffer from, and if there's any other option for them to try. They even got down to the point where Dra. Sevilla cited some papers she read regarding the birth control to ease his worries.

Nagulat din si Nika dahil hindi niya inakala 'yong pagiging matanong ni Miko. Simple assurance like it's okay, it's nothing to worry about wasn't enough for him. He needed credible sources and evidence from proven studies to support those claims.

Because answers like okay lang and 'wag kang mag-alala wasn't reassuring enough.

"Lawyer siya 'no?" tanong ni doktora kay Nika habang binabayaran ni Miko ang bill niya.

"Law student po, doc," sagot ni Nika.

"I knew it. Iba ang line of questionings niya sa akin kanina. Hindi tumitigil hangga't hindi niya nakukuha 'yong sagot na gusto niya," Dra. Sevilla said with a smile lingering on her lips.

"Matagal na ba kayong dalawa?"

Nika smiled. Napaisip din siya bigla kung gaano na ba sila katagal magkakilala ni Miko. Somehow it feels like they already knew each other for a long, long time. Even if it was just last month.

"Feel ko 'yong genuine concern niya for you, Nika. You have a good one there," it was the last thing Dra. Sevilla said before they left her office.

And she couldn't let it go in her mind. You have a good one there, it kept on echoing.

The trance only disappeared when his hand took its rightful place on her thigh again. They were driving to the steak place Miko was telling her earlier when they were on their way to the parking lot.

Nika's eyes fell on his hand.

You have a good one there, the remark whispered on her mind again. It managed to paint a little smile on her lips, too.

Nika took his hand resting on her lap, lacing their fingers together. Miko glanced at her momentarily when she did that. His lips twitched on a corner as he took their intertwined fingers to his lips, planting a soft kiss at the back of her palm.

Nika sighed. She couldn't help but think that maybe, he was too good for her.

Kasi sana hindi. Sana naman fair lang din kaming dalawa.

Because he is deserving of the efforts and care and understanding he was giving her, too.

Sana napapakita ko rin.

"Do you want to go somewhere? After natin kumain," tanong ni Miko.

She nodded. "Oo, sa mall. May bibilhin ako."

"Ano bibilhin mo?"

"'Yong request mo."

"Request ko?" he asked seeming a bit confused.

"Oo, nakalimutan mo ba?"

Bahagyang nangunot ang noo ni Miko. "May ni-request ba ako?"

She chuckled softly. "Antok ka na siguro kagabi kaya hindi mo maalala."

"Ano ba 'yong request ko?"

"Something red."

"I didn't know you were serious about that," he said.

"Grabe," irap ni Nika. "Hindi kita tatanungin kung 'di ako seryoso do'n, Ser. Kaya samahan mo ako mamaya."

It was his turn to grin at her. "Okay, Ma'am."