01/27/2017
I hated her even less today.
She dropped off Jollibee food in my office with a note saying:
Thank you for spending time with me last night. - Babe 💚
I laughed at her effort of using green pen for the heart that she wrote.
I shook my head and decided to think of the whole thing as amusing. After all, I did tell her I'd set aside the fact that she was blackmailing me.
For a moment, I forgot again the pain I was feeling because Den was still gone.
01/28/2017
She made me laugh today.
I wasn't sleeping. It was 12 a.m. I couldn't believe it was already the 28th but Den and I were still not okay.
3 years and 5 months. That's how long we were supposed to be together but she was no longer beside me. I tried calling her, texting her, and seeing her but Den ignored me.
In fact, I knew that she was travelling with LA now. It fucking hurt. I could feel hot tears forming on my eyes.
But then, my phone rang.
My heart was filled with hope thinking it was Den. But it got crushed when I saw Mika's name instead. Still, I answered.
She was singing on the other line. Horribly. On purpose.
"Are you drunk?" I asked, stopping her.
"Grabe. Sinusubukan ko na ngang i-cheer up ka. Sama mo sakin," she said.
"I-cheer up dahil?"
"Nag-stalk ako, Babe."
I rolled my eyes at that even if she couldn't see it.
"Monthsary niyo ni Den dapat?"
My heart clenched, reminded of how painful Den's absence was making me feel.
"Y-yeah," my voice was breaking.
"Kaya nga kinakantahan na lang kita."
I frowned. "How's that supposed to help me?"
"Sa ganda ng boses ko, makakalimutan mo ang sakit."
I laughed when she started singing. She sounded so serious. But her singing was horrible.
"S-stop," I said, holding back my laughter. "Ang sakit mo sa tainga."
"But at least, I made you laugh."
I smiled fondly. She did. She made me happy even just for a while.
She wasn't so bad after all.
01/29/2016
She kept me entertained today.
I didn't see her or anything but she kept sending me cat and dog videos. Sometimes panda. Really cute! Super duper cute!
The animal videos! Not Mika!
Okay. Maybe Mika was cute.
But just a little bit. A super tiny bit.
Cute.
01/30/2017
Oh, God. An image of her got stuck in my head.
I was on my way home when I got a message from her.
From: Mika Witch
I'm hungry. Bring food. Please? Please? Plsssssss.
I chuckled.
I considered it for a moment.
Well, I had nothing better to do. I would probably just cry and sulk once I got home. Ella and the others were with Dennise, having some bonding time and I wasn't invited because Den didn't want me to be there. I didn't want to push because I knew our friends were torn between me and Den. I didn't want that. I didn't want to involve our friends in this. I realized how small my circle of friends were. I sighed.
Okay.
I texted my reply to Mika. I didn't want to be alone after all.
From: Mika Witch
Yay! Thanks, Babe! See yah!
I smiled. At least someone still wanted to see me. Even though Mika was the last person on Earth I expected it to be.
I was near Mika's condo anyway so I just bought some doughnuts and went straight to her unit. I rang the doorbell but she didn't open the door. Not yet. I think I rang it around 5 times or so before she opened the door.
And when she opened the door, oh, God.
What do you do when you are suddenly face to face with Mika Reyes clad only in a towel with shampoo on her hair and with water dripping all over her body?
Fuck. I had to swallow hard. It felt like the temperature became a couple degrees higher.
"Sorry, sorry! Ang bilis mo naman kasi. Pasok ka!" she said.
She had to pull me inside because honestly I stood there like a stone. And when she touched my wrist, I stopped breathing.
I closed my eyes and tried to erase that picture in my head and the weird feeling she gave me. But God, I couldn't! It was just there. Fuck.
"Make yourself at home! Tapusin ko lang paliligo ko."
I heard her steps going farther and farther from me and when I heard the bathroom door closed, that's when I was able to breathe properly.
I put the doughnuts on the table and headed to her fridge. I needed something cold. Seriously.
I drank some very cold water but it wasn't enough so I opened her fridge and checked what else could be there. Mika said make myself at home anyway so I did. Plus, it was her fault I felt hot. Damn it.
I saw a Magnum ice cream bar and took it. I brought it with me to the living room and enjoyed it, completely trying to forget what happened earlier.
I was on my last few bites of the ice cream when Mika got out of the bathroom.
Thank God she was wearing a loose shirt and shorts. She was also wiping her head with a towel but she stopped when she saw me.
Her eyes turned saucers and I got confused.
"Please, tell me na hindi 'yan ang magnum ko sa ref," Mika whispered that I almost didn't hear.
"I-ito nga 'yun. Sorry, sabi mo naman kasi feel at home, eh," I said before taking another bite of the ice cream bar.
"Alyssa!" she suddenly shouted and I dropped the ice cream on the floor. Shit.
"Ice cream ko 'yan, eh!" Mika whined while flailing her hands.
I couldn't help but smile at that cute gesture as I reached for some tissue to wipe off the ice cream on the floor.
"Ngingiti-ngiti ka pa! Sipain kita jan, eh!" Mika said coming closer to me.
"I-I brought doughnuts. 'Yun na lang kapalit," I stuttered as she towered in front of me.
"Ice cream over doughnuts."
I scratched my head.
She bent down and I had to move back because she was so close!
"I-I'm gonna buy you another one."
She was staring daggers at me.
"Then, let's go."
She pulled me up and I was left with no choice but to follow her. Not really follow. She held my hand all the while. Her hand was really soft.
Which reminded me of her in nothing but a towel.
Fuck. I was so distracted I didn't realize we were already at a convenience store nearby.
"Ice cream ko," she said while squeezing my hand. I flinched.
I bought her a lot of ice cream because she kept on glaring at me and squeezing my hand not so gently.
Apparently, she was crazy for ice cream and she goes crazy when someone takes away her ice cream. I kept that in mind. Mika was scary, I tell you.
We went back to her unit and her mood greatly improved when she was finally eating ice cream and doughnuts.
"Thanks for the food. How much do I owe you?" she asked when she was finished eating.
I smiled. "No, it's fine. Treat ko na lang 'yun and apology for eating the magnum without your permission."
"Bakit mo ba naman kasi naisipan kumain ng ice cream kanina? Eh nakatodo 'yung AC ko. Balat kalabaw ka ba?"
I flushed, reminded of the scene again. I shook my head to get rid of the image.
"W-wala naman. Mukha kasing masarap," I said as an excuse.
She seemed to have bought it because she just shrugged.
We kept talking about little simple things.
I admit. It was fun.
01/31/2017
We danced to Westlife and Backstreet Boys today.
I was once again already done with my tasks when I got a message from her.
From: Mika Witch
Music party at my place!
I replied:
I'm busy.
From: Mika Witch
BMDC. Come here.
I frowned. What?
You said I could say no if I'm busy.
From: Mika Witch
You're not supposed to be too busy for me, Babe.
But I didn't wanna go. I wasn't really busy but I would rather cry myself to death right now than be with Mika. That image of her still pops up in my head from time to time. Damn!
From: Mika Witch
Sige na. Please? (I'm asking nicely for now but I'm reminding you that I still have the audio recording.)
Just when I thought we could actually get past that. Ugh.
Fine. I'm going. Against my will.
From: Mika Witch
Doesn't matter to me. See yah!
I shook my head. It was kind of amazing how Mika's behavior changes easily. I was seriously considering if she had some kind of mental or personality disorder.
Truthfully, fate was probably playing a sick joke on me. I couldn't get my girlfriend back (Den was still with LA in God knows where. Fuck.) And soon after losing Den, I was left in the company of an insane Mika Reyes. I couldn't help but think I was being punished for something.
Anyway, I went to Mika's place. I heard the music blasting through the walls from the elevator. The woman has no consideration for her neighbours.
I rang the doorbell and it was opened soon after. Thank God, Mika was wearing short shorts and loose blouse. Cute.
She ushered me inside and I swore my eardrums ruptured with how loud the music was!
"Mika!" I shouted. I wanted to tell her off about the music and what her neighbours might be thinking.
Mika was moving her head to the beat in her living room with her eyes closed.
"Mika!" I screamed again.
She opened her eyes and screamed back, "Di kita marinig."
I searched for where her speakers were and lowered down the volume before glaring at her.
"Di pa rin kita maririnig kahit hinaan mo 'yan," she said.
"Ano?"
"Mika ka ng Mika eh parang hindi naman 'yan ang usapan natin."
I just looked at her, baffled.
"Sinabi ko sayo 'yung samin ni Jerome kapalit ng?"
Oh.
Oh, shit. I almost forgot. I felt my self redden with embarrassment.
"So?" she quirked her brows.
"Babe," I whispered.
Shit. My heart thumped for an unknown reason.
She beamed.
"Yes, Babe?" Mika asked.
I avoided her gaze. "'Yung tugtog mo malakas. Baka nakakaabala sa mga katabing unit?"
She laughed.
"Hindi 'yan. Nagsabi ako sa mga unit sa floor na 'to saka karamihan sa kanila wala."
She started turning up the volume.
"Pero dahil malakas ka sakin, medyo hihinaan ko na 'yung volume."
She winked. I blushed.
True to her words, the volume was kind of bearable. And that's when I realized the song was "Quit playing game with my heart". I laughed. Who dances to Backstreet Boys at this time?
"Ito na 'yung music party mo?"
"Yep."
She was jumping and swaying and dancing to the beat like a kid. I found it amusing.
"Sayaw ka rin," she said while pulling my hand.
"No, I don't dance."
"You do."
I really don't know how she got me to do it but after a few more songs of Backstreet Boys, I was dancing with her. We absolutely looked stupid, I was sure.
We were laughing and teasing about each other's bad dancing skills but it was really enjoyable. We weren't even getting tired.
The mood changed when it turned into a slow song. "Queen of my heart" by Westlife.
She stopped dancing and closed her eyes for the first few lines of the music, savouring the music.
When she opened her eyes, she looked at me intently.
"Can I hug you?" she asked.
It was so out of the blue but it seemed like she needed it so I nodded.
She stepped towards me and put her arms around my neck and buried her face on her arms right beside mine, our cheeks touching.
I put my hands around her waist. I wasn't thinking. I just did what felt right.
We started swaying, just moving one step at a time as we listened to the music.
It didn't feel awkward at all. Holding her in my arms. In fact, it felt like my heart was racing and yet I also felt calm. Her presence was calming.
We finished the sweet and sad song in that position.
Sweet and sad. Just like her at that moment. It was just a feeling. I wondered what was making her sad.
But when the song ended and she moved back, she looked at me like I was a blessing in her life.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
She leaned and kissed me softly on the cheek.
Did it linger?
Or did time just slow down?
I was confused. My heart was pounding inside my chest.
All I knew was that she didn't seem affected at all. She moved on from one song to another, dancing to her heart's content. I did the same.
I couldn't dwell on it. I knew though that Mika had this effect on me that I didn't want her to have.
I... Den...
-
Author's notes: Advance Happy New Year everyone! I am hoping na last UD ko na 'to for the year. Will go on a writing break! Yaaaaaay. Need to get some work done at irereorient ko muna ang sarili ko sa reality. Hahaha. Maglalaro muna ako ng playstation at manunuod ng anime. I think. I hope.
Let me know what you think kahit na medyo sabog 'tong chapter! Thank you!!!! Happy New Year!!!!
Oh, and leaving this here theheftycollector! Hahaha.
The Captain is Out!