No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 44- Priceless

"Oo na, oo na!" Colet chuckled, raising her hands in surrender. “Enjoy your honeymoon talk.”

One by one, they walked out, still giggling and whispering like kids up to no good. Stacey even blew us a kiss before closing the door.

The moment we were alone, I turned to Aiah with a raised brow. “Asawa?”

She grinned, reaching for my hand. “What? Gusto mo naman ‘di ba?”

I huffed, pretending to think. “Hmmm, depende. Kung may engagement ring na agad, pwede nating pag-usapan.”

Aiah laughed before pulling me closer. “Mahal kita, Mikha,” she whispered, her voice suddenly serious. “Totoo ‘yon. Prank or no prank, I meant it.”

I softened, squeezing her hand. “I know. Mahal din kita.”

She smiled, eyes twinkling. “So… ilang buwan mo akong papakainin sa dates?”

I sighed dramatically. “Gawin na nating forever.”

Aiah giggled, and just like that, everything felt right again.

I held Aiah’s hand tightly, as if letting go meant she would slip away again. My heart was still raw from everything—seeing her bleeding out, thinking I’d lost her forever, and then that stupid prank that almost gave me a heart attack.

With a shaky breath, I whispered, “Wag mo na akong iiwan ulit.” My voice broke at the end, the fear still lingering in my chest. “Wag mo na akong alisin sa buhay mo, Aiah.”

Her expression softened as she cupped my cheek, her thumb gently wiping away the stray tear that escaped my eye. “Mikha…” she whispered.

“I mean it,” I continued, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I can’t go through that again. I can’t wake up one day and not have you in my life. Hindi ko kaya, Aiah.”

She squeezed my hand, eyes brimming with emotion. “Hindi na kita iiwan, love,” she promised, her voice steady. “I swear, kahit anong mangyari, ikaw at si Aurora lang ang mundo ko.”

Hearing her say that made something in my chest loosen, like I could finally breathe properly again.

I let out a shaky laugh. “Paano kung magalit ulit ako sa’yo?”

Aiah smirked. “Then I’ll fight for you. Kahit magalit ka sa’kin ng isang libong beses, hinding-hindi kita susukuan.”

I blinked back tears, my heart swelling with love. “Ang cheesy mo.”

She grinned, tugging me closer. “Ikaw naman kasi ang mahal ko.”

I sighed, resting my forehead against hers. “Pano ‘yan? Mukhang wala na akong choice kundi mahalin ka habang buhay.”

Aiah chuckled, pressing a soft kiss on my lips. “Exactly.”

I traced slow circles on Aiah’s palm with my thumb, still soaking in the reality that she was here, alive, and in my arms again. But there was something else I needed to know—something that had been nagging at me ever since I first heard Aurora’s name.

I took a deep breath. “Aiah…” I hesitated for a second, searching her eyes. “Si Aurora… anak mo ba?”

Aiah blinked, looking surprised at the question. Then her lips curled into a soft, sad smile. “No, love,” she said quietly. “Aurora is Adrian’s daughter.”

My heart clenched. “What?”

Aiah squeezed my hand before continuing. “Aurora is Adrian’s child, but… tinuturing ko siyang parang anak.” She bit her lip. “When I found her, she was barely two years old. She didn’t have anyone else. And no matter how much I hated Adrian, hindi ko kayang pabayaan ang isang bata.”