Unwritten Strings

Chapter 7 🔒

Chapter 7 – Aiah’s POV

The Departure

“Alis na kami mamaya,” sinabi ni Miguel habang nag-aayos ng mga gamit sa kanilang maliit na kwarto. "Kailangan ko na talagang magtulungan sa project sa Amerika."

Ako naman, hindi ko alam kung paano susubukan itong tanggapin. Alam ko na ang trabaho namin ni Miguel ay mahalaga, at hindi ko na kayang pigilan siya. Pero sa puso ko, hindi ko maiwasang mag-alinlangan.

Ang puso ko—gusto ko sanang sabihing ‘hindi’, pero ang isip ko nagsasabing kailangan ko ‘to. Para sa future namin.

Pero si Mikha—si Mikha hindi ko kayang iiwan. Hindi ko kayang lumayo sa kanya ng walang pagkukulang sa mga nangyari sa amin.

Habang nag-aayos ako ng mga gamit, ramdam ko ang bigat ng presensya ni Mikha sa likod ko. Hindi ko siya tinitignan, pero nararamdaman ko ang mga mata niya na tila nagmamasid, nag-aalala. Hindi ko kayang ipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko sa gabing ‘yon, at alam kong malabo na ang lahat ng iwas ko.

I turned around, and there she was—standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with uncertainty. It wasn’t just the distance. It was more than that. It was the feeling of losing something that had already slipped away.

She stepped closer, her face so close to mine, ang bawat titig niya parang sinasabing kailangan kong magdesisyon. Her hand reached up to touch my arm, her fingers warm against my skin.

“Aiah, hindi ba pwedeng hindi ka pumunta?” Mikha’s voice was soft, almost pleading, and it tugged at my heart. “Please, hindi ko kayang mawala ka. Alam kong kailangan mo yung trabaho, pero—”

Mikha’s words were so desperate, so full of emotion, and for a moment, I thought I might lose control of everything. Pero ako… alam kong hindi ko siya kayang piliin sa lahat ng ito. Hindi ko siya kayang gawing dahilan ng sarili kong pangarap.

“I have to go,” I said, my voice breaking as I spoke. “Mikha, I don’t want to leave you. But I have to do this… for us.”

She shook her head, her eyes glistening as she reached for me. “Don’t leave me.” Her voice cracked, and I felt my own heart shatter into pieces.

“Please…” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I cupped her face gently. “I will come back, Mikha. I promise. I will. You’ll see. Hindi kita iiwan. Hindi ko kaya.”

Her hands tightened around my arms, pulling me closer as her lips parted in a silent plea. She didn’t want to hear it, but she needed to. She needed to believe that I wasn’t walking away from her—at least, not forever.

And before I could think, before I could even stop myself, I kissed her.

It wasn’t a kiss that was quick or fleeting. This kiss was everything—every moment of longing, every hesitation, every unspoken word between us. My lips moved gently against hers, pouring every ounce of love and regret I had into it.

I wanted her to know that this wasn’t goodbye. That this wasn’t the end.

Mikha kissed me back, just as passionately. I could feel the desperation in her, the unwillingness to let go, and I couldn't blame her. I felt the same way. But I had to let go, even if it hurt.

I pulled back, my chest heaving with each breath. “I’ll be back. I swear.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and I wiped them away with my thumb. “I promise, Mikha. Hindi kita iiwan.”

She clung to me one last time, her voice trembling. “Don’t take too long, Aiah. I don’t know if I can wait forever.”

“I won’t make you,” I said, my voice steady but full of emotion. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

And with that, I left.

But I carried her with me. Every step. Every moment. Every promise I made. I’d come back. For her. For us.