No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 22- Together again

I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling exposed. "A bit of both," I admitted, trying to laugh it off.

Aiah, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. She lifted our intertwined hands slightly and said, "Pero andito na ulit kami, Tita." She turned to me with a small smirk. "Right?"

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. "Yeah, we're here."

Tita Linda grinned knowingly. "Ay naku, basta tandaan niyo, kahit anong mangyari, dito lang ang café ko. At sana... hindi na kayo mawawala ulit."

She walked away, leaving me and Aiah in a comfortable silence.

Aiah tilted her head, studying me. "So... officially courting you again, ha?"

I smiled, shaking my head. "Of course, ikaw na yan e."

Aiah laughed softly and lifted my hand to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss on my knuckles. "Then I won't waste this chance."

After we finished eating, Aiah paid for our meal despite my protests. She just gave me that smug smirk of hers and said, "Ako ang nanliligaw, 'di ba? Ako dapat taya."

I rolled my eyes but let her win this time.

As we stepped out of the café, she turned to me, hands in her pockets. "So, saan mo pa gustong pumunta?"

I glanced at her, a little surprised. "Hmm? Wala namang specific... bakit? May plano ka?"

She grinned. "Wala namang specific... pero gusto kitang kasama pa ng mas matagal."

I felt my cheeks warm at her words, but I quickly masked it with a playful scoff. "Ang smooth mo talaga, no?"

She shrugged. "Always."

I sighed, pretending to think. "Hmm... kung wala ka namang ibang plano, gusto ko lang muna mag-drive around. Gusto ko lang ng... tahimik na lugar."

Aiah nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. "Got it. Tara."

She opened the car door for me before hopping into the driver's seat. As she started the engine, she glanced at me with a small smile. "Kahit saan mo gusto, pupuntahan natin."

As Aiah drove through the quiet streets, the city lights casting a soft glow on her face, I found myself watching her. The way her fingers drummed lightly against the steering wheel, the slight furrow of her brows as she focused on the road-it was all too familiar.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the thoughts swirling in my mind before finally speaking.

"Aiah... bakit?"

She glanced at me briefly. "Bakit ano?"

I hesitated, but I needed to ask. "Bakit gusto mo pa rin gawin 'to? Bakit mo pa rin ako gustong ligawan kahit... kahit sinaktan kita noon?"

For a moment, she didn't answer. She just kept driving, her expression unreadable. I thought maybe she'd brush it off, make a joke like she always did when things got too serious.

But then, she sighed. "Dahil ikaw pa rin, Mikha."

I turned to her, surprised by the softness in her voice.

"Kahit ilang beses kong subukang lumayo, kahit sabihin ko sa sarili kong tama na... ikaw pa rin yung hinahanap ko," she continued. "And yeah, nasaktan ako. Sobra. Pero hindi ko kayang ibura lahat ng pinagsamahan natin dahil lang sa sakit na yun."

She finally looked at me, her eyes full of emotions I wasn't sure I was ready to face. "Kung may chance pang maibalik kita sa buhay ko, bakit ko hahayaan na mawala ka ulit?"