Ivan's POV
"She hugged you?!" sigaw ni Lea.
Mabilis kong tinakpan ang bibig niya. "Ssshh! Marinig ka ni Mikki"
She removed my hand and stared at me disbelievingly. "Seriously? Mikki hugged you?" she asked.
I nodded then shook my head. "I hugged her first then she hugged me back" I said then beamed after recalling what had happened earlier.
"Really? Tell me more! Bakit mo siya niyakap?"
Now, I don't want to talk about it. Ayokong masira yung moment namin ni Mikki. Tss.
"Ivan" Lea glared at me.
"Kasi.." I trailed off, dumating na kasi si Mikki.
Karga niya si Cutie na balot na balot ng towel. She sat next to Lea then stared at me. I immediately averted my gaze. It's awkward and im really shy to be honest. I cried in her shoulder, that was so gay.
I stood up. "Alis na ko" i announced.
They looked up at me. "Eat first" sabi ni Mikki.
I was stunned, never did I expect her to stop me from leaving. She did that before but I never thought it will happen again, is this my lucky day?
"Oo nga Ivan, dito ka na kumain mamaya ka na umuwi ang lakas pa kaya ng ulan" Sabi ni Lea at makahulugang ngumiti.
You know I can't resist Mikki so I sat back. "Okay"
**
"Cutie, jump!" sabi ko.
I was left alone in the living room. Lea was back to sleeping because she said she still has hangover. Mikki went to I don't know where. Kaya heto ako ngayon, naiwan kasama ang napakacute na aso namin ni Mikki. Yes, I was the one who gave it to her so technically, it's also my puppy.
"Good boy. Now sit here" I tapped the sofa beside me and he followed. Ang talino nitong si Cutie mana samin.
Dumating bigla si Mikki at inabutan ako ng kape. Tinanggap ko ito ng buong puso. "Thanks" i smiled then bit my bottom lip.
Coffee, perfect for the cold weather, made by Mikki so, it's also good for my heart.
I quietly sip my coffee with a smile on my face and my jumping in joy heart inside my chest. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala ang nagagawa ng power hug. I bit my lip to prevent my chuckles, baka kasi isipin ni Mikki nababaliw na ko which I think malapit na, konti na lang, mababaliw na ko sa kilig. Jeez. So gay but I don't care.
**
I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. She's reading again. I smiled and turned to face her. She's busy so I can finally stare at her. May hangover pa rin ako sa yakap nya at sa tingin ko hindi na ko makakamove on.
I just watched her. My eyes never gotten bored looking at her. She's an eye candy. The apple of my eyes, the center of my attention. I wouldn't mind worshiping the ground she's walking. Now, I just realized, im head over heels inlove with her. Is it possible? But I don't mind, though. I love the feeling of being in love with her. The moment i hugged her and she hugged me back it felt like home, a home I never felt I had.
She suddenly glanced up and caught my eyes. She raised her eyebrows then furrowed. I want to know what's on her mind when she's looking at me like that. Like I was a puzzle she's currently solving.
Just by looking at her makes every part of my body react. I looked away and sipped the remaining coffee on the cup. I looked at her in the corner of my eyes, she's not looking anymore so I stared at her again.
Funny right? I shook my head and chuckled.
She closed the book she's reading and her gaze directed on me. I immediately looked away but she stood up in front of me and leaned down to level our faces.
She stared at me. Our faces were just inches away. My heart skipped a beat, my eyes were wide open, my lips are parted as gasped escaped my mouth. "M-mikki?" I stuttered.
She cocked her head then her gaze fell down. She extended her hands to reach for mine and held it.
I frozed literally. I cannot move, can't utter any word and I literally stopped breathing as I stared at our hands. Hindi pa siya nakuntento dahil isa isa niyang pinag-intertwine ang mga daliri namin.
I stared at our entwined hands then I looked up at her to see her reaction. Parang may malalim na iniisip siya habang nakatingin sa magkahawak naming mga kamay. Then after a few seconds, she sighed and let go of my hands, stood straight and sat back on the edge of the couch.
I was left dumbfounded. What was that for?
**
Dalawang araw akong hindi nakatulog ng maayos sa dalawang dahilan; kilig at puzzled.
Kilig dahil hanggang ngayon, dinadama ko pa din ang yakap ni Mikki. Hindi talaga ako makamove on. Puzzled naman dahil sa random na paghawak sa kamay ko.
I sighed and smiled. At least she held my hands. It's an advantage.
I sat on my chair and waited for her. Hindi naman nagtagal at dumating na din siya sa classroom, yun nga lang kasama niya si Kerr. Ang hirap ng maraming karibal. Tss.
Tahimik ko lang silang pinagmasdan. Kerr's still clingy to Mikki. He still looked at her like she's one of a kind precious stone. Maybe that's the reason why I can't be mad at him. Hindi kagaya ni Mr. Sy. Tss. That professor. I shook my head to erase the memory of him in my head.
I bit my lip and kept my head bowed low and stared at my lunch. I felt uneasy because Mikki keep on staring at me. Wala pa naman si Lea. I heaved a sigh.
I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath then looked up at her. Her brows furrowed then shook her head as she shifted her gaze.
Now it's my turn to stare at her.
Her phone rang and she immediately stood up and fixed her mess. "I have to go" she didn't wait for me to speak before she leave. I sighed.
**
Tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa discussion, pero hindi ko maiwasang tumitig sa likod ni Mikki. Hindi ko naman nakikita yung mukha niya pero malaking distraction pa rin ang presence niya.
I sighed. I need to focus.
But the distruction's keeps on teasing me, this time, it's not about Mikki, it's about Kerr whom i'd noticed oftenly glanced at me. My brows furrowed. Then our eyes met, he threw me a blank stares then diverted his gaze in front. Weird.
"Class dismissed" mabilis na nagsilabasan ang classmates ko.
I took my time, I remained seated until Mikki and Kerr exited. I stood up and walked out the room, but my steps halted when Kerr blocked my way.
"Let's talk" he said and started walking. I followed suit.
The creased on my forehead persisted as i followed through. We stopped at the back of the building. He shoved his hands onto his pockets and stared at me.
He looked up and sighed. "I m not used to ask a favor but i'll do it for the sake of Mikki" he looked at me with a blank expression. "Take care of her when im not around" kumunot ang noo niya na parang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi niya.
Im speechless.
Pinapaubaya na ba niya sakin si Mikki?
As if he had read my mind, he glared at me. "I will go to L.A but i'll be back soon. I wont let her go, just so you know. Just keep an eye on her" sabi niya at bigla na lang umalis.
I shook my head and smiled. Kerr was very possessive to Mikki, and now, he's telling me to take care of her. Hindi ko alam kung anong iisipin ko but im thankful that he trusted me. Pero kahit naman hindi niya sabihin, aalagaan ko pa din naman si Mikki. Tss.
Nagsimula na kong maglakad papuntang parking nang makasalubong ko si Camille.
"Camille? Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ko.
"Babalikan ko lang yung libro ko sa classroom" she said.
"Ito ba?" biglang may nagsalita sa likod ko. Paglingon ko, nakita ko si Hans na may hawak na libro at inabot kay Camille.
I could feel the tension between them. Kung ako siguro si Hans, hindi ko na siguro kayang lapitan si Camille.
"Thanks" sabi ni Camille "I have to go" then she walked away.
Pinanood ko lang siya hanggang sa makalayo siya then i looked at Hans who was also looking at Camille's direction. He looked so serious which was very rare. Hans is a jolly person, ganito pala ang nagagawa ng pag-ibig. Napailing na lang ako.
**
This day was boring.
Absent si Mikki. Sabi ni Lea, masakit daw ang ulo. I was so worried so I insisted to go at Mikki's house.
Her brows automatically furrowed the moment she saw me. Tumayo ako pagkalapit niya at inabot ang brown bag na may lamang icecream. "Ice cream" I said and smiled.
Tinitigan niya muna yung brown bag bago niya kinuha saka mabilis na tumalikod.
"Thanks" sabi niya ng hindi lumilingon sakin at tumuloy na sa kusina.
I sat back on the couch and waited for her. Im glad she looks fine. She came back and placed the icecream bowl at the center table then sat at the armchair with the bowl in her hand. I frowned. Siguro sakin yung nasa table, pero bakit hindi niya na lang binigay sakin? Tss.
Silence.
Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Ang awkward tuloy. Tahimik lang siyang kumakain ng icecream habang nakafocus sa panonood ng tv.
I took a deep breath. Walang mangyayari kung mahihiya at tatahimik lang ako. Tumingin ako sa kanya. "How are you?" tanong ko.
"Fine" mabilis na sagot niya ng hindi man lang ako tinitignan.
"Migraine?" I asked again.
She shook her head. She stood up and went to the kitchen again. I just watched her until she came back with two glasses of water in her hands. Again, she didn't say anything, she just placed the glass on the table and sat back on her seat and watched tv.
Tahimik kaming nanonood, siya sa tv ako, sa kanya. I leaned my back against my seat as i stared at her. Then suddenly, she stood up. "You may go" then left me.
****
Mikki's POV
I glanced over my shoulder. He's still sitting there.
I frowned.
Weird feeling.