No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 22- Together again

I felt my chest tighten. Guilt, longing, and something else I couldn't quite name swirled inside me.

"Aiah..."

She shook her head, giving me a small smile. "I'm not saying na dapat suklian mo agad 'to. Alam kong nasa sayo ang desisyon. Pero gusto kong ipaalam sayo na hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi mo sinasabing wala na talagang pag-asa."

I looked down at my lap, gripping my hands together. I didn't deserve this. I didn't deserve her.

But damn it... a part of me wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, we could have another chance.

Silence filled the car once more, but this time, it wasn't heavy. It wasn't suffocating. It was filled with something else-something raw, something real.

I stared at our intertwined hands, my thumb brushing lightly over her skin. Then, with a deep breath, I finally let go of everything holding me back.

"I love you, Aiah."

Aiah's grip on my hand tightened instantly. Her head snapped toward me, her lips slightly parted in shock.

"Mikha..." she whispered, as if testing if she heard me right.

I smiled, a little nervous but determined. "Mahal kita. Kahit ilang taon ang lumipas, kahit ilang beses kong pilit na kalimutan ka... ikaw pa rin."

She exhaled sharply, like she had been holding her breath all this time. Then, she pulled our hands up and pressed a kiss on the back of mine, her lips warm against my skin.

"I love you more than you love me, Mikha," she murmured, her voice filled with so much certainty that it made my heart ache.

I opened my mouth to argue, but she shook her head, a soft smile on her lips.

"Sisiguraduhin kong this time, hindi mo na mararamdaman na hindi ka bagay sa mundo ko. Dahil ikaw at ako, Mikha... tayo dapat 'yon. At this time, hindi ko na hahayaang mawala ka ulit."

I felt my throat tighten. Her words were a promise-one I wanted to believe with all my heart.

I squeezed her hand. "Wala na ring alisan, Aiah."

She grinned, eyes shining under the city lights. "Good. Kasi kahit anong mangyari, hindi na kita bibitawan."

Aiah smiled at me before returning her focus to the road, but she never let go of my hand. My heart felt lighter than it had in years, as if a weight I hadn't even realized I was carrying had finally been lifted.

The rest of the drive was quiet, but it wasn't awkward. It was the kind of silence that felt right-comfortable, warm, and filled with unspoken understanding.

I traced small circles on the back of Aiah's hand, feeling the warmth of her skin. It still felt unreal that we were here, together, finally acknowledging what we both had been too stubborn to admit before.

"So," Aiah started, breaking the silence, "if tayo na ulit, does that mean I can officially call you mine?"

I rolled my eyes, chuckling. "Ikaw lang naman 'tong naghintay ng formal confirmation. Kanina pa tayo nag-a-I love you, Aiah."

She smirked, giving my hand a light squeeze. "Gusto ko lang marinig ulit."

I shook my head, smiling. "Yes, Aiah. Ikaw lang naman 'tong pinapatagal pa eh."

She let out a victorious laugh before bringing our joined hands to her lips again, pressing another soft kiss on my knuckles.

"I like hearing that."

I laughed, but I knew deep down, she deserved to hear it as much as she wanted. Because after everything we had been through, after all the pain and misunderstandings, we had found our way back to each other.

And this time, I wasn't letting go.

As soon as we entered Navarro Enterprises, I felt the weight of everyone's stares on us. Employees were subtly glancing-some whispering, some smiling, and some outright staring in shock.

Aiah, as expected, walked with her usual confidence, completely unfazed by the attention. Meanwhile, I tried my best to keep a straight face, but I could already hear the inevitable teasing before it even started.

And right on cue-

"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god!"

Sheena's loud voice echoed in the hallway as she rushed toward us, Stacey and Gwen right behind her, all three of them grinning like maniacs.

"Ayan na! Confirmed! Kayo na ulit! I can feel it!" Stacey dramatically placed a hand over her chest, pretending to wipe away fake tears. "Ang tagal kong hinintay 'to."

Gwen smirked. "So, paano 'yan, boss? Balik ka na sa taken club?"

Aiah chuckled, but before she could even answer, Sheena gasped. "Wait, teka lang! Ikaw, Mikha! Ngumiti ka ba? Did I just see you smiling?"

I rolled my eyes, groaning. "Ano bang problema niyo sa akin? Bawal ba akong maging masaya?"

"Hala! Aminado siyang masaya siya!" Stacey squealed, holding onto Sheena. "Diyos ko, this is history in the making!"

Gwen laughed. "Aiah, anong ginawa mo? May magic spell ka ba? Kasi parang blooming si Mikha."

Aiah smirked and pulled me a little closer. "Wala namang magic. She's just finally admitting how much she loves me."

I elbowed her playfully. "Ang kapal ng mukha mo."

"Pero hindi ka naman nag-deny," Gwen teased.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Ayoko na. Hindi na kayo titigil."

"Of course not!" Sheena grinned. "Now, tell us everything!"

Aiah laughed, placing a hand on my back as she started walking us toward her office. "Sorry, ladies, but my girlfriend is busy. Maybe next time."

And just like that, we left them still screaming in excitement.

Girlfriend.

I bit my lip to stop my smile, but I knew Aiah saw it. And from the way she smirked at me, she definitely knew she had won.

As soon as we entered Aiah's office, she turned to me with that familiar soft look in her eyes. The teasing, the playful smirks-it all faded into something more serious.

"Focus on your work, okay?" she said gently. "And don't stress yourself too much."

I blinked at her, momentarily caught off guard.

She used to tell me that all the time before. Back then, it was her way of reminding me to take care of myself, to slow down when I was pushing myself too hard. Hearing it now, after everything, made my chest tighten.

I smiled, a small, genuine one. "Na-miss ko 'yan."

Aiah tilted her head. "Anong 'yan'?"

I chuckled softly. "'Yang ikaw. 'Yang ganito mo ako kausapin."

For a moment, she just looked at me, her expression unreadable. Then, she sighed and reached out, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

"I never stopped caring, Mikha," she said quietly. "Kahit noong wala ka."

I felt my throat tighten. I didn't trust myself to speak, so I just nodded.

Aiah smiled and tapped my nose lightly. "So, focus on your work, Ms. Secretary. I'll handle the rest."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo."

She grinned. "You love it."

And the worst part? She was right.