No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 20- finally home

Mikha's POV

"Drew, sinabi ko naman sa'yo, you don't have to come all the way here," I said, crossing my arms as I leaned against the doorframe.

"Alam ko," he replied with a small smile, handing me a paper bag. "Pero sabi mo last time, you've been craving this."

Napatingin ako sa hawak niyang bag-isang takeout mula sa paborito kong ramen place. Napabuntong-hininga ako at kinuha iyon. "You didn't have to, pero... thanks."

"Anytime." He shoved his hands in his pockets, giving me that same easygoing smile. "So, how have you been? You seemed a little out of it last time we talked."

I forced a chuckle. "Busy lang sa work. You know how it is."

Drew nodded, but then he hesitated before speaking again. His expression turned more serious, something I wasn't used to seeing from him.

"Mikha..." he started, his voice softer this time. "Can we talk? Like, really talk?"

Nagtama ang mga mata namin, and suddenly, I felt uneasy. "Ano na naman 'to?" I tried to joke, pero ramdam ko ang kaba sa dibdib ko.

Drew let out a deep breath. "I like you, Mikha. No-" He shook his head. "I really like you. And I know you're not exactly looking for something right now, pero hindi ko na kaya itago 'to."

Parang nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. "Drew..."

"I know, I know," he said quickly, raising his hands. "I know your heart is still with Aiah. Pero Mikha, hindi ba pwedeng bigyan mo rin ng chance ang sarili mo? A chance to move on. A chance... to be happy with someone else."

Napalunok ako, hindi alam kung anong isasagot. Alam kong gusto kong makalimot, gusto kong bumitaw sa sakit. Pero kaya ko bang palitan si Aiah?

I looked down, unable to meet his gaze. "Drew... I don't know."

"That's okay," he said gently. "Hindi kita pinipilit. Gusto ko lang malaman mo na... nandito ako. At hinding-hindi kita iiwan, Mikha."

His words were sincere, but they only made the weight in my chest heavier. Because no matter how much I wanted to let go of the past... Aiah still had her hold on me.

Napabuntong-hininga ako habang pinagmamasdan ang papalayong likod ni Drew. His confession was unexpected, but I appreciated his honesty. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman.

Tatalikod na sana ako papasok nang mapansin ko ang isang paper bag na naiwan niya sa sofa. "Ano na naman 'to?" bulong ko sa sarili ko bago ito dinampot.

Binuksan ko ang gate ng apartment, at doon ko nakita si Drew na naglalakad pa lang papalayo. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko, pero bago ko pa mapigilan ang sarili ko, tinawag ko siya.

"Drew!"

Huminto siya at lumingon, kita sa mukha niya ang gulat. "Mikha?"

Mabilis akong lumapit, inabot ang paper bag. "Nakalimutan mo 'to."

Tumingin siya rito bago bumalik ang nakangiti niyang expression. "Oh. Akala ko sa'yo na 'yan."

"Seriously? Ni hindi mo alam na naiwan mo?" Umiling ako, bahagyang natatawa.

Kinuha niya ang bag mula sa akin, pero hindi agad umalis. Instead, tiningnan niya ako na parang may gusto pa siyang sabihin.

"Salamat," he said, but his voice carried something deeper.