Mikha's Pov
"Thanks for coming with me aiah." I said.
"Ako dapat magpasalamat, i had fun." Aiah said.
We're now in front of her house, gabi na din.
"Honestly ngayon lang din ako nakapunta ulit sa bgc." I said.
"Next time yayain kita lumabas para makapag-enjoy ka din. Wag lang din work masyado." Aiah said while smiling.
The door of their house opened, nasa pintuan si tita cathy at jho.
"Aiah sakto pag uwi niyo." Tita Cathy said.
"Mikhs let's go inside." Jho said.
Hinila ako ni jho papasok sa bahay. Nakita ko si kuya bryan nasa dining area.
"It's good to see you mikhs." Jho said.
"Jho parang hindi tayo nagkita kahapon sa restaurant ko ah. In english pa talaga." I said.
"Ang galing ko kaya mag-english. By the way, nakita ni mom car mo sa bintana, dito kana daw mag dinner." Jho said while smiling.
Alam ko yan smile mo jho. Oo pala sinabi ko kay tita cathy na next time mag didinner ako dito. Lumapit samin si kuya bryan.
"Good evening kuya bryan." I said.
"Good evening too mikha glad you could stop by. Have dinner with us, we're having sushi." Bryan said.
Nasa dining area na kami, nakaupo ako sa gitna ni aiah at jho. Sa harap namin si kuya bryan at tit cathy.
"Mikha the last time i saw you was in baguio." Bryan said.
"Naging busy lang din po ako ngayon sa pag-prepare sa new branch dito sa qc kuya. Malapit na ang grand opening." I said.
"That's great, mag-dinner kami nila tita cathy next time sa restaurant mo." Bryan said.
"Their food is so delicious." Aiah said.
"Sama ako." Jho said.
"Bawal ka daw sumama jhoanna robles." Aiah said.
"Bakit naman?" Jho asked.
"Gusto mo lang makita si stacey." I said.
"Syempre future gf ko siya." Jho said.
"Tita oh ang anak mo." Aiah said.
"Jho anak uso umamin muna bago angkinin si stacey." Tita Cathy said.
"Ouch galing pa sa mother ko." Jho said.
"Gusto ko po pala kayo iinvite for dinner sa grand opening." I said.
"It's decided then we'll soon have dinner at your restaurant." Bryan said.
Aiah put some sushi on my plate. I smiled at her but deep inside kinikilig ako.
"Aiah nabalitaan ko na your boyfriend gelo is now a head chef at one of our hotels." Bryan said.
"Ex-boyfriend." Aiah said.
"Ex? Kailan pa?" Bryan asked.
"Since last week, nakipag-break na ako sa kanya." Aiah said.
"Okay lang ba sayo na he works at our hotel?" Bryan asked.
"Hayaan mo nalang siya kuya." Aiah said.
"Mikha saved your sister from gelo. Sasampalin niya sana si aiah." Tita Cathy said.
"Thank you so much mikha." Bryan said.
"Your welcome kuya, i don't like guys who hurt ladies." I said.
"Always the humble mikha, just like how you worked as head chef at our hotels before." Bryan said.
"Next time when aiah and bryan's parents come home, iinvite ka namin mag-dinner dito." Tita Cathy said.
Naramdaman ata ni aiah na kaba ko pagkabanggit ni tita cathy sa parent's nila aiah. Hinawakan niya kamay ko sa baba ng table, she changed the topic. After dinner, nagpaalam na din ako kasi maaga pa ako bukas pupunta sa restaurant. Sa bahay ako umuwi, hindi sa condo.
"Hi mom, papa." I said.
Niyakap ko sila mom.
"Someone's blooming lately." Mom said.
"Maybe it's because of arceta." Papa said.
"Papa." I said while pouting.
"Si maloi nag sabi." Papa said, laughing a bit.
"Nakauwi na po siya?" I asked.
"Pauwi palang siya. Kumain kana ba? I'll heat some food for you." Mom said.
"No need na po mom, i already ate dinner at aiah's house." I said.
Mom and papa look at me, halata sa mata nila inaasar ako. Alam ni mom na crush ko si aiah since high school, si papa tanggap niya na maloi and i like girls.
"Punta na po ako sa room ko, medyo inaantok na din. Good night mom, papa." I said.
Pumunta ako agad sa room ko, tumunog phone ko. May nag-message, si aiah. How did i got her number? Hiningi ko kay jho. Nakalimutan ko kasi hingiin nung hinatid ko siya sa bahay nila ng umaga bago ako pumunta sa restaurant. Tinawagan ko din kasi siya nung sinundo ko siya sa law firm bago kami pumunta ng bgc.
Text Conversation:
Aiah: Nakauwi kana mikhs?
Me: Yes, i just got home.
Aiah: Sorry about tita and kuya, it's been a while since i had a friend come to dinner.
Me: Okay lang aiah, it's fun at naasar ko din si jho.
Aiah: Sure ka? Kinabahan ka ata ng nabanggit ni tita ang parent's ko.
Me: Mga boss ko dati, tagal na hindi ko sila nakita.
Aiah: Thanks mikhs for the whole day.
Me: I hope i didn't make you uncomfortable.
Aiah: Mikhs i really had fun.
May kumatok sa door, si maloi. Pumasok siya sa room ko, binato ko agad siya ng unan.
"Hi mikhs, blooming ka daw sabi ni papa." Maloi said.
"You told them about aiah." I said.
"Nagtanong sila, kilalang-kilala nila tayo. So how's the date?" Maloi asked.
"It's not a date. We just went to bgc as friends." I said.
"Swerte mo kaya na nayaya mo lumabas sumakto hindi siya busy." Maloi said.
"Hindi ko din naman ine-expect na sasama siya sakin." I said.
"Gulat lang ako na hindi ka nahimatay sa harap niya." Maloi said.
"The old me would faint." I said, laughing a bit.
"Serious question mikhs, how was your day with aiah?" Maloi asked.
"It was amazing, we talked about different kinds of topic while eating, walking and playing in the arcade." I said.
"I'm glad that you had fun, maganda na start yan." Maloi said.
"Start of what?" I asked.
"Of you making your moves. Fate has now given you a chance mikhs." Maloi said.
I smiled at maloi, tama siya. I didn't noticed i was already making my moves.
"I won't waste this chance, i'll try my best to finally confess to her." I said.
"Sabihan mo lang ako if you need help, we have your back. Lalo na kapatid mo din ako." Maloi said.
"Thanks maloi, thankful ako sa pag-aalaga mo sakin kahit hindi tayo magka-dugo." I said.
"I'm thankful too. Get some sleep, sigurado magiging busy ka para sa grand opening. Nandito lang kami lagi family mo." Maloi said, smiling at me.
Lumabas na siya ng room ko. I look at my phone, nag text pala siya. Mag-rereply palang sana ako pero aksidente ko napindot yung call.
Call Conversation:
Aiah: Hi mikha lim, akala ko tulog kana.
Me: I just talked with maloi, ikaw ba antok na?
Aiah: Medyo pero hindi makatulog.
Me: Maybe someone is thinking of you.
Aiah: Naniniwala ka ata sa mga ganyan kasabihan.
Me: I don't know if i want to believe.
Aiah: What kind of answer is that?
Me: We don't know if who might be thinking of you, either it's a friend, bestfriend or someone who has a crush in you.
Aiah: I'm curious then who might be thinking of me right now.
Me: Maybe me.
Aiah: Huh?
Me: Nothing, iniisip ko lang yung grand opening.
Aiah: I'm sure it's gonna be a success mikhs. Sobrang sarap ng mga foods niyo.
Me: Thanks aiah for the support.
Aiah: I'm looking forward to eat your dishes again.
Me: Kung gusto mo lutuan kita spicy food.
Aiah: Sabi mo yan ah mikhs, promise?
Me: I promise.
We talked more for a bit bago kami natulog. The next two days ay super busy ako. Nandito ako sa bahay, paalis palang sana ako pero tinawag ako ni maloi na paalis na din.
"Mikhs paalis kana?" Maloi asked.
"Yes, why?" I asked.
"Would you mind giving this file to atty. Bryan in their firm on your way? Kailangan na kasi ako sa office." Maloi said.
"Sure basta bilhan mo ako ulit ng isang jar of dark chocolate almonds please." I said.
"Wala na ba stocks si mom dito?" Maloi asked.
"I just finished the last jar yesterday." I said while smiling.
"Bilis mo naman naubos." Maloi said.
"Isa din kasi sa nagbibigay energy pag super busy ako." I said.
"Ay akala ko si aiah nagbibigay energy sayo." Maloi said.
"Aga mang-asar yves, alis na ako. Don't forget my jar of chocolate." I said.
I took the file then went on my way to the law firm. Pumasok na ako sa building nila.
"Chef mikha lim?"
"Hi jaz, dito ka nag wowork?" I asked.
"Yes, secretary of atty. Maraiah. Ano ginagawa mo dito?" Jaz asked.
Jaz was one of the students i met in culinary school when i was a substitute teacher for one week, for one of my chef colleague.
"Meron na ba si atty. Bryan? May pinapabigay na file si detective ricalde." I said.
"Wala pa pero baka paparating na din siya. Pwede ka maghintay sa office niya kung gusto mo." Jaz said.
"Sure, may time pa naman ako." I said.
Tinuro ni jaz saan office ni kuya bryan. I went inside and sat at the sofa. Nag-chat ako kay maloi na nandito na ako sa law firm, binaba ko muna phone ko sa table. Napansin ko yung picture frame sa table, it's a picture of the arceta family.
"Aiah's really beautiful, like a queen." I said.
"Really beautiful?"
That voice, it's aiah. I'm frozen while still holding the picture frame. Narinig ko footsteps niya papalapit sakin. Bakit hindi ko siya narinig pumasok? Napa-tulala ata kasi ako sa picture. She taps my shoulder, i calmed my heart then turned around to face her. She's smiling at me.
"Good morning mikha lim." Aiah said.
"Good morning aiah." I said.
"You said i'm really beautiful while looking at the picture frame of my family." Aiah said.
"Uhm yes, syempre you are really beautiful especially ikaw ang nag-iisang maraiah queen arceta." I said talking fast.
"Thanks for the compliment mikhs." Aiah said.
She's still smiling at me. The office door opened, pumasok ng office si kuya bryan. Be professional mikhaela lim.
"Hi atty. Bryan, detective ricalde wants me to give this file to you. Their office already needs her, she ask me to give this file bago ako pumunta sa restaurant." I said.
"Thanks mikha. Looks like your sister is gonna be busy again these week." Bryan said.
"Siguradong-sigurado. Alis na po ako, see you tomorrow at the grand opening." I said.
"See you mikha." Bryan said.
I quickly left the law firm then drove to my restaurant. Muntik na ako mamula sa kilig lalo na sa smile ni aiah. After a few minutes nandito na ako sa restaurant.
"Mikhs pinagpapawisan ka ata." Stacey said.
"Mainit sa labas." I said.
"Maulap sa labas." Stacey said.
"Uhm let's check our supplies." I said.
"Already been checked." Stacey said.
"I'll just go to my office." I said.
I went upstairs to my office.
"Huh? Where's my phone?" I asked myself.
I double checked my pockets, walang phone. Pumunta ako sa car ko, wala din. Bumalik ako sa loob ng restaurant, stacey is talking with lorraine.
"May problema boss?" Lorraine asked.
"I don't know where my phone is." I said.
"Baka naiwan mo sa bahay niyo." Stacey said.
"That would be impossible, i always put my phone in my pocket." I said.
"It was the only place before you went here." Stacey said.
I remembered i went to the LawVoyagers firm. Umupo ako sabay napatulala sa pader.
"Lagot, sobrang lagot." I said.
"I guess now you remembered where it is." Stacey said.
"It might be in the LawVoyagers firm." I said.
"LawVoyagers firm? Bakit ka naman pumunta dun ng ka-aga aga?" Stacey said.
"I gave maloi's file to kuya bryan, i might have left my phone when i quickly left." I said.
"I know why you quickly left, the nickname starts with letter A." Stacey said.
"I got flustered, paano ko makukuha phone ko dun?" I said.
"Just go there." Stacey said.
"Pakuha staku please." I said.
"Ay busy pala ako sa mga staffs." Stacey said.
I took a deep breath and pouted.
"It's my first time seeing boss like this." Lorraine said.
"You'll see more of her like this." Stacey said while laughing.