No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 39- I see you again

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "So... you really have no idea?"

"Wala, Mikha. As in, zero," she confirmed. Then, a teasing lilt entered her voice. "Pero teka... bakit parang ang affected mo?"

"I'm not," I snapped too quickly.

"Gaga ka, Mikha," she laughed. "Selos ka pa?"

"Tangina, hindi ako nagseselos!" I groaned, running a hand through my hair.

"Talaga lang, ha? Bakit parang hindi ka mapakali?"

I stayed silent, jaw tightening.

"Thought you moved on?" Stacey added, her tone playful but laced with curiosity.

"I did," I said through gritted teeth. "I have Ethan now. I'm happy."

"Uh-huh. Kung talagang happy ka, bakit ka pa tumawag sakin para pag-usapan 'to?"

I groaned. "Putangina, Stacey."

"Mas gago ka," she said, laughing. "Pero seryoso, Mikha. If you're really over her, then why does this still bother you?"

I didn't answer.

Because deep down, I already knew why.

"Hoy, Mikha, aminin mo na kasi," Stacey teased, her laughter ringing through the phone. "Hindi ka lang basta nagulat. Na-trigger ka, gaga!"

"Tangina mo, Stacey." I pinched the bridge of my nose, inhaling deeply.

"Ano? Gusto mo akong murahin? Ganyan ka talaga 'pag tinatamaan, eh!" she cackled. "Ikaw pa 'yung may boyfriend ngayon, pero parang ikaw 'yung naiwan sa altar!"

"Putangina ka talaga," I groaned. "Hindi ako naiwan sa altar. At hindi ako triggered-nagulat lang ako, okay?"

"Nagulat o hindi pa rin makamove-on?" she taunted, dragging out the last word.

"Tangina, Stacey, I have moved on!" I insisted, but my voice cracked at the end.

"Ay, gago! Ba't parang hindi ako convinced?" she teased. "Kasi kung totoong moved on ka na, dapat ang una mong sinabi sakin ay 'Uy, nakita ko si Aiah, may anak na siya. Good for her!' Instead, ang una mong sinabi? 'Stacey, nakita ko si Aiah, may anak na siya'-pero yung boses mo? Tunog ex na hindi nakahanap ng closure!"

I rolled my eyes even though she couldn't see me. "Ikaw naman kasi yung tinawagan ko! Syempre magugulat ako, hindi ko naman inaasahan 'yun!"

"Uh-huh, sure," she drawled out, obviously not buying it. "Alam mo, Mikha, kung talagang wala ka nang pake, dapat nga masaya ka para sa kanya. Pero anong ginagawa mo ngayon? Nagpapasama sa pag-rant!"

"Hindi ako nag-rant," I muttered.

"Then anong tawag mo dito? Reflection time?" she snickered.

I sighed, shaking my head. "You're enjoying this too much."

"Siyempre naman! Kailan pa huling pagkakataon na nakita kitang ganito ka affected? Parang college days natin 'to, nung una mong narealize na may gusto ka kay Aiah!" she laughed again. "Baka naman kasi sa lahat ng taong linoko mo, ikaw lang ang niloko ni Aiah?"

"Fuck you," I shot back, my face heating up. "She didn't even lie to me, okay? She just-"

I stopped myself before I could say more.

"She just what, Mikha?" Stacey prompted, her voice suddenly softer. "She just left? She just chose someone else?"

I swallowed hard.

"Five years, Mikha," she said gently. "Dapat wala ka nang nararamdaman. Pero bakit parang hindi pa rin tapos 'to?"

I exhaled shakily. "Hindi ko alam, Stacey."

"Maybe it's time to figure it out."

I stayed silent. Because as much as I wanted to deny it, I knew she was right.

"Mikha, you already have Ethan," Stacey reminded me, her tone shifting from teasing to serious. "He's a great guy. He loves you. And you're happy with him, di ba?"

I leaned against the balcony railing, staring at the city lights. I knew what she was trying to say. I knew she was right.

"Oo naman," I replied, forcing a smile. "I am happy with Ethan."

"Then why does Aiah still bother you this much?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

"Alam mo, Mikha, wala namang masama kung nagulat ka, kung na-shock ka sa nakita mo kanina. Pero ang tanong, bakit parang may kirot pa rin? Bakit parang may unfinished business kayo?" Stacey continued.

"Wala na kaming unfinished business, Stacey," I insisted. "Tapos na 'yun."

"Then why are you still thinking about her?"

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "I don't know, okay? Maybe because I never thought I'd see her again. And then out of nowhere, there she was-standing in front of me, with Adrian, with a fucking child. It's just... a lot."

"You didn't expect her to move on."

"No, I did," I corrected. "Pero hindi ko inexpect na may pamilya na siya."

"And that stings, doesn't it?" Stacey's voice was gentle now.

I gritted my teeth. "No. It's just... surprising."

"Hmm," she hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Look, Mikha, I love you, okay? And I'm saying this because I care about you. You need to figure out what you really feel. Because if you're still holding onto something-kahit konti lang-then you need to deal with it before it affects your relationship with Ethan."

"It won't," I said quickly. "Ethan is different. He's good for me."

"I know," she agreed. "But are you being good to him?"

That question hit differently.

"Mikha, mahal ka ni Ethan. But he deserves someone whose heart is completely his. Hindi yung may parte pang nakatali sa isang alaala," she added.

I stayed silent, my chest tightening.

"Figure it out, Mikha," Stacey said softly. "Before it's too late."

Then she hung up, leaving me alone with my thoughts.