No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 31- I love you

She stepped closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear. "You're nothing, Mikha. And people like you? They don't win."

I felt my chest tighten, my breath catching in my throat.

Aiah grabbed my hand, holding it tightly. "Mom, stop," she pleaded. "I love Mikha. Hindi ko siya iiwan."

But her mother only smirked. "Then be ready to watch her suffer."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving behind the weight of her threat like a storm cloud over us.

As soon as her mother walked away, I turned to Aiah, my grip on her hand tightening as if letting go meant losing her forever. My vision blurred with unshed tears, my chest tightening with emotions I could no longer contain.

"Aiah, please," my voice cracked, my fingers trembling as I held onto her. "Sabihin mo sa akin na pipiliin mo ako. Sabihin mo na hindi mo ako iiwan."

Aiah looked at me with so much pain in her eyes, but that pain only made me more terrified. It was the kind of look that screamed of helplessness, of resignation.

I shook my head furiously, my tears finally falling. "Don't do this, love. I don't care kung sino ang kalaban ko, kung ano ang kaya nilang gawin. I'll fight for you. I'll fight for us. Please, just... just don't let me fight alone."

Aiah swallowed hard, cupping my face gently. Her hands were warm, but they weren't steady. "Mikha..."

"Tell me you love me," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "Tell me that you won't leave me no matter what."

Aiah closed her eyes, and for a moment, I felt like I was losing her already.

But when she opened them again, they were filled with tears, with longing, with a love I knew was real.

"I love you," she said, her voice breaking. "I love you more than anything."

"Then stay," I begged. "Piliin mo ako, Aiah. Please."

She bit her lip, her entire body trembling. "I want to. I do. Pero Mikha... hindi ko alam kung paano."

Her words shattered me.

I let out a sob, shaking my head. "Just love me, that's all you need to do. Just love me."

Aiah hugged me tightly, burying her face in my neck, and I felt her tears soak into my skin.

"I do," she whispered. "I love you, Mikha. I love you."

But even as she said it, even as she held me, I felt the fear creeping in.

Love was never the problem.

It was the world trying to tear us apart.

I pulled away just enough to look at Aiah's face, my hands still gripping her arms, afraid that if I let go, she'd slip away completely. My chest felt tight, my heart pounding painfully.

"Aiah... bakit?" My voice wavered, filled with hurt and confusion. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Bakit ko pa kailangang malaman mula sa iba? Mula sa nanay mo?"

Aiah swallowed hard, guilt clouding her tear-filled eyes. "Mikha, I-"

"You what, Aiah?" My voice cracked, my frustration rising. "You didn't think I needed to know? You thought it was okay to keep this from me?"

She ran a shaky hand through her hair, her breathing uneven. "I was going to tell you. I just... I didn't know how. I didn't want to hurt you."

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "Hindi mo ako gustong masaktan?" My eyes burned with unshed tears. "Aiah, mas masakit 'to. Mas masakit 'yung malaman ko na lang bigla, na pinili mong itago sa akin!"

Aiah reached for me, but I stepped back, my body going rigid.

"Love, please," she pleaded, desperation evident in her voice. "I was scared. Alam kong masasaktan ka. Alam kong magagalit ka."

I wiped my tears harshly, my hands trembling. "So you chose to lie instead? Para lang hindi ako masaktan? Para lang hindi mo maramdaman ang bigat ng totoo?" I took a deep breath, my voice barely above a whisper. "Aiah... akala ko tayo. Akala ko we promised to be honest with each other."

She looked away, guilt written all over her face. "I was trying to protect you..."

"Protect me?" I repeated, my chest tightening. "No, Aiah. You were protecting yourself."

She flinched, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out.

Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to believe that she was just as lost as I was.

But more than anything... I wanted to know if we still had a chance.

"Aiah," I whispered, my voice barely holding together. "Please tell me... this isn't the end for us."

Aiah held my hand so tightly, as if letting go meant losing me forever. Her eyes, filled with desperation and love, searched mine for an answer-for reassurance that I was still here, still hers.

But I was tired.

Not of loving her, no. Never.

But of fighting a battle I didn't even know we were in.

"There's no ending, Mikha," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Ikaw at ako... tayo habang buhay."

A part of me wanted to believe her. To fall into her arms and let her fix everything with those words. But I wasn't naïve. Love wasn't just about promises; it was about choices.

And she had made a choice not to tell me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Then prove it, Aiah," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "If there's no ending, then hold my hand forever. Hindi lang ngayon. Hindi lang hanggang gusto mo." My grip on her hand tightened. "Forever."

Her breath hitched, and for a second, I saw fear in her eyes. Not fear of her parents, not fear of what they could do-fear of losing me.

She nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I will, love. I swear."

My heart clenched painfully. I wanted to believe her. God, I wanted to believe her so badly.

But trust wasn't built on words. It was built on actions.

I lifted our joined hands and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles, letting my lips linger.

"Then don't let go, Aiah," I whispered, closing my eyes. "Kasi ako... kahit anong mangyari, hindi kita bibitawan."

(Happy 2k readers in just 8 days!!! Tapusin ko na 'tong i-edit para wala nang iisipin haha stress na sa research. Tapusin ko lang 'to then baka pahinga muna sa pagsusulat)