No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 45- My endgame

Then, before I could even process what just happened, I felt hands on my back.

"Hoy—anong ginagawa niyo?" I protested as Sheena, Jho, and Colet suddenly pushed me forward.

"Go na, Mikha!" Gwen giggled.

Stacey gave me one last playful shove, making me stumble right in front of Aiah. My breath hitched.

Aiah smiled up at me, setting the guitar aside. Then, slowly, she took my hands in hers, her touch soft but firm.

"Aiah…" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the crashing waves.

She squeezed my hands gently. "Mikha… gusto ko lang malaman mo kung gaano kita kamahal."

I swallowed hard, unable to look away.

"For years, we’ve been through so much," she continued. "We lost each other. We found each other. We made mistakes, but we never stopped loving, did we?"

My lips parted, but no words came out.

She smiled again, this time with a hint of nervousness. "I’m done running, love. I don’t care about the past—I only care about now, about you, about us. Kaya… hahayaan mo ba akong mahalin ka ng buong-buo? Wala nang alinlangan, wala nang takot?"

I felt my chest tighten. This—this was everything I ever wanted to hear from her.

Tears pricked my eyes, but I let out a soft chuckle. "Aiah…" I whispered. "Ikaw lang naman ang gusto ko simula’t sapul."

Her eyes glistened as she lifted my hand to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss on my knuckles. "Then let me love you, Mikha," she said, voice shaking slightly. "Now and forever."

A smile broke through my lips, and before I knew it, I was already pulling her into my arms.

"Forever," I murmured against her hair, holding her tight. "Tayo na talaga."

And for the first time in a long time, I knew—this was it.

This was home.

Akala ko, iyon na ang lahat. Akala ko, tapos na ang surpresa. Pero nagulat ako nang maramdaman kong hinawakan ni Aiah ang mukha ko, pinaharap sa direksyon ng mga kaibigan namin.

"Love, tingnan mo sila," bulong niya.

Napakunot ang noo ko, pero sumunod ako. At doon ako natulala.

Si Sheena, Gwen, Jho, Stacey, at Colet ay nakatayo, hawak-hawak ang isang malaking banner na may nakasulat:

"MARRY HER, MIKHA!"

Parang tumigil ang mundo ko.

At bago pa ako makapagsalita, naramdaman kong may humila sa damit ko.

Lumingon ako at nakita si Aurora, may malalaking mata at inosenteng ngiti.

"Tita Mikha…" sabi niya, mahigpit na hawak ang kamay ko. "Marry my mummy."

Napasinghap ako, pakiramdam ko ay hindi ako makahinga.

Lumingon ako kay Aiah, at nakita kong nanginginig ang mga kamay niya habang may hawak siyang isang maliit na kahon.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumuhod sa harapan ko, binuksan ang kahon, at doon ko nakita ang isang simpleng, pero napakagandang singsing.

"Mikha…" tinawag niya ako, boses niya bahagyang nanginginig. "Matagal na akong takot magmahal ulit, pero dumating ka. Ikaw ang tahanan ko, ikaw ang mundo ko."

Naluha ako, napapahawak sa bibig ko.

"Alam kong hindi naging madali ang lahat para sa atin," she continued, "pero wala akong ibang gustong makasama sa habang buhay kundi ikaw. So… will you marry me?"