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NNM: 3 AM talks

"Hindi ka pa ba inaantok?" Tanong ni Mika kay Rachel.

"Inaantok. But your voice is keeping me awake. Isa pa, hindi bat' ikaw ang unang nag goodnight?" Paalala ni Rachel.

Mika smiled on the other end of the phone. "Stahp. Sabing wag na ipaalala eh"

Mika was malfunctioning after reading Rachel's text. She called telling Rachel to shut up, don't speak and they just shared unknown silence.

Unknown for Rachel dahil wala siyang clue kung bakit tumawag si Mika.

Now it's 3 AM. They've been talking for hours.

"Cute mo."

"Alam ko" sagot ni Mika. "Chel, I'm still wondering; why me? Wala lang baka kasi feeling mo lang gusto mo ako dahil tayo nga ang laging magkausap"

"Are you invalidating my feelings for you just because you yourself is unsure?"

"Medyo. I'm scared"

"Scared?"

"That this is all too good to be true"

"Hindi ko alam paano ka i-aassure, Mika. Hindi naman ikaw ang una, so I definitely know what love is" sabay tawa ni Rachel. "Sigurado naman ako sa nararamdaman ko. I don't mind sounding foolish telling you this— pero sigurado akong ikaw ang gusto ko makasama sa araw-araw. That spending time with you every after work is my kind of relaxation. Pero ang gastos na natin masyado sa mga thursdate natin" natatawang puna ni Rachel but it's true.

"Ang takaw kasi"

"Sino kaya nag-aaya ng ibang cravings. Dati naman coffee date lang masaya na tayo. Kailangan na natin magtipid, inflation" natawa silang dalawa.

Huminga naman si Mika nang malalim. "Ano naman kinakatakot mo sa age gap natin?"

"Is this our honest hour? Akala ko 3 AM is soft hours?"

"Di mo naman alam yung 3 AM talks, Chel. Maaga ka natutulog eh"

Natawa nalang si Rachel. Mika is right, hindi naman siya nagpupuyat. Depende nalang sa sitwasyon kagaya nito, Mika calling and talking about herself.

She must have been crazy in love to be able to stay awake. Ganun din naman talaga, if love is genuine, we keep notice of the little things.

"Ang sama mo"

"Hindi naman, real talk yon. Kaya sagutin mo na ako"

"Sige! Tayo na"

Tumawa si Mika. "Hindi yun. Yung tanong ko about our age gap"

"Ah that hmmm" huminga muna si Rachel nang malalim. "You're too young. You wouldn't want to settle with me right away if you ever say yes to me" Napapikit naman si Rachel. "It might take you 5 years bago mo gustuhin magsettle. And then what? Ako pa rin ba gugustuhin mo by that time? 5 years from now I'll be what? Turning 40?"

Natawa si Mika. "You're old"

"Shut up"

"I get you tho. It's really the uncertainties. Backout ka na?"

"Hindi. Not enough reason to stop liking you."

"Good" Mika chuckled. "Hoy, hindi sapat yung mga araw na magkasama tayo for you to say na gusto mo magsettle with me. What if may pet peeve ka pala na nagagawa ko, or hobbies ko na ayaw mo. Need mo pa rin ng time to know me."

"Why am I running out of time?"

"You're not. Pinepressure ka lang nila. Let's take this one step at a time"

"Mika"

"Yes?"

"Wala lang. Cute mo. Pero inaantok na ako"

Natawa sila parehas.

"Sorry, past your bed time na" asar ni Mika.

"Fuck you"

"Oh, nagiging angry na. You're not you when you're hungry. Want mo McDo?"

"At this hour?"

"Yeah, I'll drive"

"Mika, baka makatulog ka sa daan"

"Keep me accompanied. Talk to me till I get there"

"Alam mo, you're weird."

"I know I am, Miss Rachel Anne" sabay tawa ni Mika. "So ano, G? Lagot ako kay mommy pero iwanan ko nalang siya pamalengke"

"Huuuy" Natawa nalang din si Rachel. How could she give up something like this? Mika's humor is just the type of humor suited for her. "Sige na"

"Yun. I'm gonna grab jacket and my keys," Mika walked around "There you are"

"Drive safe. Stop kapag inaantok, okay?"

"Yes, Chel. Don't drop, talk to me"

"I'm here. Making sure you're okay kahit ang stupid ng idea mo. You're tired, we just met— but here you are again"

"There's no such thing as tired for you. Di nga ako uminom eh. Sumama lang ako at humingi ng smoothie. I was really planning on ditching them. Maaga pa daw, pero pinilit ko na"

"I like your effort." Natawa na lamang din si Rachel. "Why are you making an effort ba. I am trying to win you here, Mika. Not the other way around"

"Rachel, ginagawa ko 'to kasi hindi lang naman ikaw ang gusto ako makasama. Gusto din kita makasama. So shut uppp. What do you want? Fries, spaghetti or chicken nuggets"

"I want you with a ribbon"

Napailing nalang si Mika. "Wala pang pasko to wrap myself as present"

"Joke lang, ano ba sa iyo?"

"Fries lang siguro. Bff fries for me only"

"Ang takaw mo sa fries!"

"I know, Chel. Kaya nga bff bibilhin ko eh. Kasi kulang yung extra large"

"Bibili nalang ako nung frozen fries for you. Pati na din powder for flavor. Mas mura yun"

"Tipidtips by Rachel 101"

"Gamitin naman natin Airfryer ko"

"Ang taray. Ay may banana milk ka dyan?"

"Wala. I'll buy you this week. For now, mag kape nalang tayo"

"May plano me matulog"

"Not when you're eating lots in the wee hours of the dat, Mika. Need mo magpatunaw."

"Okay, inay."

They continued talking about random thing hanggang makarating si Mika sa kanyang pupuntahan.

"I'm here na. Ano iyo?"

"Fries and chicken sandwhich I guess?

"I'll buy one mcdo franchise please"

"Siraulo" Rachel laughed her out heart with that one.

Dumating naman din si Mika at inabot kay Rachel ang pinabili nito. They happily ate and watched romcoms

Sumandal naman si Mika kay Rachel, even side hugging.

There's no denying that Mika likes her too for real. Hindi naman sa assuming si Rachel, but the deeds and gestures, no doubt about it. It's different from when Mika was flirting, she's way sincere this time.

Just that ayaw niyang ilagay si Mika sa sitwasyon na hindi niya pa kayang harapin. If Mika isn't ready to tell her yet, okay lang naman. Madalas naman din masaktan ang tao sa pagiging assuming, sa mga bagay na walang label. But Rachel is hopeful na darating din ang araw na yun.

Sinuklay lang niya ang buhok ni Mika at hindi namalayang nakatulog na ito.

Rachel could only smile and kiss Mika's forehead goodnight.