CHAPTER 26
Time skip, it's been three years since nagkaroon na ng kanya-kanyang buhay ang walang magkakaibigan. All of them got into business industry except for Mikhs who pursued being a sport specialist.
Aiah is flawlessly managing their hotel in Manila, Sean is busy on his business with Gian and they are into real estate industry, Staku is also managing her own restaurant, Maloi is in her forte about being an interior designer with her side job as a web designer. While Cole is having a hard time starting his own business.
Aiah is in her office right now. She decided to message Cole to invite him for dinner.
To: Uyab (Cole)
Love are you free tonight? Let's have dinner I miss you.
It's been two days since they last saw each other. Cole is busy earning some investor's trust dahil wala pa ni isa ang nag iinvest sa business nito.
From: Uyab (Cole)
Sure, I'll pick you up at 7 o'clock. I love you.
Aiah smiled as she reads the message from Cole. Finally a bebe time for them.
Tulad ng napag-usapan Cole picked up Aiah who's currently waiting at the lobby of the hotel.
"Ma'am Aiah, andito na po si Sir Cole." The guard said.
Aiah immediately got up to go at Cole's finding the latter's car parked in front of the entrance.
"Hello love, I missed you!" masiglang bati nito kay Cole.
"I missed you too love. Ready to go?" Cole said coldly.
"Yes let's go." Aiah said then smiled.
They are silent throughout the drive until they arrived at the restaurant.
"Love okay ka lang ba? Kanina ka pa tahimik?" Aiah asked as they sat on their table.
"Yes love I'm fine." Matipid na sagot nito.
"Are you sure?" Aiah said then frowned.
Cole let out a deep sigh before speaking, "Three years Aiah... three years." Cole said in frustration.
Aiah can see the tiredness and frustrations on Cole's face.
"What happened?" alalang tanong ni Aiah dito.
"Three years and I still got no progress, it feels like I am wasting too much time in this damn business." Cole said at napahilamos nalang ng kamay nito sa mukha niya.
"Love why don't you try another thing? I mean there's a lot of things to—" Aiah was stopped nang biglang sumulpot si Cole nang pagalit.
"No! I wanted this. I have to prove them that I can establish a business on my own." Cole said.
"Them? who's them? my dad?" Aiah said.
Natigilan naman si Cole sa sinabi ni Aiah.
"What? Tama ako? Cole you've been trying hard since the very first day to win my father's trust." Aiah said.
"Yun na nga Aiah eh, three years pero parang walang nangyayari." Cole.
"You're focusing too much on my dad to the point na you're forgetting about why we're here." Aiah said.
"Love I'm sorry. I'm doing this for us okay..?" Cole said then held both of Aiah's hands.
"Then make me feel it. Make me feel na para sa atin to." Aiah said.
On the other hand, Maloi and Mikhs are celebrating their third anniversary as a couple. They're seating at the restaurant eating their lunch, it is just a quick time for them before they go back to their respective jobs.
Mikhs noticed that Maloi isn't in her usual self right now. She looks tired and pale.
"Love hey, are you okay?" Mikhs asked.
"Yes love. Bakit mo natanong?" Maloi said then looked at Mikhs.
"You look so tired. Are you sure kaya mo pa workload mo? You can leave one of your jobs." Mikhs said.
"I love both of my jobs Mikhs plus malaki ang gastos natin dito sa states unlike sa Pilipinas." Maloi said.
"Love, libre naman ang house natin dito. We only have to think about the bills and stuffs. Wag mo naman abusuhin katawan mo." Mikhs said in his worried voice.
"Love I appreciate your concern okay? Wag ka na mag-alala masyado diyan." Maloi said then held Mikhs's cheeks.
"Basta if hindi mo na kaya. Quit one of your jobs okay?" Mikhs said then kissed Maloi's fist.
Maloi just nodded and smiled at Mikhs. She can't deny that sometimes she feel super tired to the point that she takes every opportunity to sleep wherever comfortable.
Luckily for her their office have sleeping quarters for the employees to sleep in para sa mga night shifts at break time.
She notices it too but she just shrugs it off. Mikhs on the other hand got promoted into assistant Coach because Coach Benison retired already. Coach Aki replaced Coach Benison as a head coach and Mikhs replaced Coach Aki.
Mikhs already contributed championships for their team and a lot of teams are recruiting him to be their head coach but Mikhs chose to stay in falcons dahil malaki ang utang ng loob niya dito.
After their working hours, sabay silang umuuwi ni Maloi. Sometimes Mikhs will wait for Maloi's at her office's lobby dahil nauuna itong matapos.
This day they went home straight to their house and as they rest on their couch watching a movie. Mikhs suddenly received a phone call.
"Hello? Who is this?" Mikhs said as he received the unknown phone call.
"Kuya..." the woman on the phone said while sobbing.
"Mia?" Alalang sabi ni Mikhs. Maloi looked at Mikhs who are in total shock right now.
"Why are you crying? What happened?" Alalang tanong ni Mikhs.
"Kuya I'm here at the airport." Mia said while crying.
"What do you mean? You're here?" Mikhs said at napatayo ito.
"Mikhs what's going on?" takang tanong ni Maloi at pati ito ay nag-aalala na din.
"Mia is here." Mikhs said to Maloi.
"Mia, wag kang aalis diyan wait for me I'll pick you up." Mikhs said at dali-daling kumuha ng susi ng sasakyan.
"Wait love, sasama ako." Alalang sabi ni Maloi.
"Wag na love, stay here and take a rest okay? Mabilis lang ako." Mikhs said then gave Maloi a kiss before running outside.
Halos hindi naman mapanatag si Mikhs dahil sa takot. Kung ano ano na din ang tumatakbo sa utak nito habang nag mamaneho.
He immediately arrived at the airport and called his sister once again.
"Mia hello? Where are you? Kuya's here already." Mikhs said while looking for his sister in the crowd.
"Kuya I am here at the gate." Mia said while still crying.
Mikhs said then run para pumunta sa entrance ng airport. Then he saw her sister crying and is holding a 2 years old kid.
"Mia!" Mikhs said as he came running to hug his sister.
"Kuya" Mia said then bursted into tears.
"What happened?" Mikhs asked while wiping his sister's tears.
"It's dad." Mia said.
"Wait. Wear this and come with me. Is this your son?" Mikhs said as he looked at the innocent little boy.
"Yes. His name is Kyler." Mia said.
"Hello bud, how are you? I am your uncle Mikhs." Mikhs said as he knelt to level the little boy.
"Daddy!" Kyler said and then gave Mikhs a hug.
"Kuya I'll explain..." Mia said.
Mikhs guided them to his car and drove them home. Maloi is waiting at their front door at halatang hindi ito mapakali.
When she saw Mikhs's car about to pull over, she immediately went out para salubungin ito.
"Hey Love..." Mikhs said then hugged Maloi.
"Where's Mia? How's Mia?" Alalang tanong ni Maloi dito.
"Ate Maloi!" Mia said then hugged Maloi. Mikhs carried Kyler on his arm para makilala ito ni Maloi.
"Love this is Kyler, our nephew." Mikhs said.
"Hello baby, I'm your tita loi. How are you? You're so cute." Maloi said then smiled at the little kid.
"Pasok muna tayo sa loob malamig dito." Mikhs said at sabay-sabay na silang pumasok.
"Love ako na muna bahala kay Kyler okay? Mag-usap muna kayo ni Mia." Maloi said.
"Baby go play with tita maloi first. Alright, there you go." Mikhs said as he passed Kyler to Maloi and they went to the living room.
Mia and Mikhs went to the guest room para ipasok ang mga gamit nila Mia at para makapag usap na din.
"What happened?" Mikhs said as soon as they entered.
"Kuya, daddy found out I got pregnant by Mikko. The guy he hated the most." Mia said.
"And then?" Mikhs asked.
"He told me na hiwalayan ko siya but he didn't know that Mikko left me the moment he found out that I was pregnant with Tyler. Remember when you found me crying at the bench that night? Dun ko nabalitaan na umalis na ng pinas si Mikko." Mia said while crying her heart out.
Maloi is listening in the living room as Mikhs and Mia speaks.
"Nalaman din ni Dad na I dropped out college. Nabalitaan niyang nag trabaho ako sa pamilya ni Mikko. Nag babakasakali akong maabutan pa siyang bumalik." Mia added.
Mikhs fist clenched as he listens to his sister telling the whole story. Hindi niya maiwasang magalit sa Mikko na iyon dahil iniwan at sinaktan niya ang kapatid nito.
"Kuya I don't know where to go. Dad asked me to leave, you're the only person I know I could run to." Mia said while crying.
"Hey I know, I am here. Kuya's here don't worry." Mikhs said as he hugged his sister.
"Kuya please don't him na i'm with you. Ayokong malaman ni dad na andito ako ngayon baka madamay ka pa sa galit niya." Mia said.
"He'll know about this anyways but I promise you na I will protect you okay? Kami na munang bahala ni Ate Maloi mo sayo." Mikhs said while hugging his sister.
He can feel the pain in his sister's voice and eyes never lies. Mikhs looked at Maloi with "what are we gonna do?" look habang inaalagaan nito ang anak ni Mia sa sala.
Mia settled down at nag pahinga na ito sa kwarto kasama ang anak niya. Maloi and Mikhs also went upstairs to their room para mag-usap.
"Loi, sorry if iniwan kitang mag-isa dito kanina." Mikhs said as he sat on their bed.
"Ano ka ba? Why are you saying sorry? I totally understand love okay?" Maloi said while she's finishing her night routine.
"Ano nang plano natin? Paano kung mag tanong si tito kung nasaan si Mia?" Maloi said then looked at Mikhs.
"I'm sure hindi niya iisipin na andito si Mia sa atin." Mikhs said.
"I feel bad for the kid. At his young age he's suffering already." Mikhs added.
"Alam mo ba ang gaan ng loob ko sa batang yun. Pati kay Mia, I wonder why they have to suffer and endure this kind of pain." Maloi said.
"Okay lang ba sayo kung dito muna si Mia?" Mikhs asked.
"Oo naman no? Mas safe si Mia dito love. Ayokong ipagkatiwala sa iba ang kapatid mo." Maloi said.
"I am so lucky to have an understanding girlfriend like you." Mikhs said then stood up to approach Maloi.
"Love, ang pamilya mo ay pamilya ko din okay?" Maloi said then kissed Mikhs's lips.
"Thank you so much mahal ko. Mahal na mahal kita." Mikhs said while smiling at Maloi.
"Mahal na mahal din kita mahal ko." Maloi said and they gave each other a passionate kiss. Mikhs held Maloi's waist and pulled her closer so he could feel his body and.... The rest is history hehe.
On the other side of the planet, there goes morning. Aiah and Cole slept together at Aiah's condo. The alarm rings at 7am pero tulog na tulog pa rin si Cole.
Aiah got woken up by the sound of the alarm. She took a look at it and there she read the alarm's note.
"Meeting at 10am today."
"Love wake up. Your phone is ringing na." Aiah said as she gently kissed Cole to wake him up.
"Five minutes babe." Cole said while his eyes are closed.
"Babe?!" Gulat na tanong ni Aiah dito.
"HOY COLE VERGARA GUMISING KA! KELAN MO PA AKONG TINAWAG NA BABE HA?!" Aiah said furiously.
"COLE ANO BA GUMISING KA!" Aiah said at hinataw nito ng unan si Cole.
Cole covered his face with a bed sheet instead and while Aiah is furiously mad. Cole's phone rang, Aiah picked it up and there she saw a girl's name.
"Chynna? Who the fuck is Chynna?" Aiah said.
Agad naman na bumangon si Cole at hinablot ay phone kay Aiah.
"Hello Ma'am Chynna?.... Yes this is Cole Vergara.... Now na po...? Okay ma'am I am on my way." Cole said at dali-dali itong nag bihis.
"COLE VERGARA YOU OWE ME AN EXPLANATION." Galit na sabi ni Aiah dito.
"Love please not today, I've been waiting for this call. I love you okay? And i'm sorry." Cole said then kissed Aiah's forehead instead of lips.
Aiah is so mad to the point that she wanted to punch someone's face so she called Staku.
"Hello? Why did you call I'm driving." Staku said.
"Where are you headed?" Tanong ni Aiah dito.
"Sa restau malamang where do you think I'm going?" Staku replied.
"Can I meet you there?" Aiah asked.
"Sure, why not? Malapit na ako dun dumiretso ka nalang sa office ko." Staku said and then ended the call.
Aiah fixed herself and her things as well para dumiretso na ito sa office niya sa Manila. She got her keys and drive herself down papunta sa restaurant ni Staku.
She is so mad to the point that hindi na niya napapansin ang bilis ng takbo niya and out of nowhere she finally reached her destination.
"Good morning Ma'am Aiah..." bati ng isa sa mga staff dito.
"Ma'am Staku mo?" Aiah asked.
"N-nasa office na po." The staff nervously said.
"Huy Arceta ano ba yan pati staff ko inaaway mo? Anong nangyari sayo?" Staku said as she peaked on her door.
Aiah walked angrily and entered Staku's office. She slammed her things on Staku's desk at halatang badtrip talaga ito.
"What's the matter with you oy ang aga aga." Staku said at umupo sa office chair nito.
"I was waking up Cole kanina and he called me babe." Aiah said.
"Oh tapos?" Staku said.
"Di ba pwedeng gusto niya ng bagong endearment?" Staku added.
"Staks three years na kami. That's the first time he called me babe. Tapos may tumawag na babae sa kanya. Chynna pangalan, sa alarm di nagising pero sa tawag ang bilis bumangon? Nag mamadali pang umalis." Aiah said in frustration.
"Did you give him time to explain?" Staku said.
"Oo sana kung di siya nag mamadaling umalis." Aiah said.
"Nako Aiah kung may ginagawang kalokohan yan si Cole talagang tatapyashin ko panga niyan." Gigil na sabi ni Staku dito.
While they're talking they suddenly heard a knock from the door.
"Come in!" Staku shouted para marinig siya nung kumakatok.
"Madam nandito na po si Sir JR." the staff said.
"What is he doing here?" takang tanong ni Aiah dito.
"Sa sobrang subsob mo sa trabaho wala ka nang alam." Staku said then smiled.
"Papasukin mo dito." Staku said then stood up.
Aiah looked at her friend and there she saw Staku who greeted JR with a peck on his cheeks.
"SINCE WHEN?!" Gulat na tanong nito sa dalawa.
"Uy Aiah andito ka pala?" JR said in surprise, he approach Aiah to greet her with a beso.
"Care to answer my question?" Aiah said at nakataas ang dalawang kilay nito.
"We celebrated our anniversary last month Aiah..." natatawang sabi ni Staku sa kaibigan.
"You looked surprise Aiah what's wrong?" JR said.
"Nag babangayan lang kayo dati ngayon kayo na?!" Aiah said in shock.
"Wala eh nahulog." Staku said then pointed at herself.
"Sinalo." JR said at nag mayabang ito.
"HOY ANG YABANG NAMAN NITO!" Staku said at pinalo si JR sa braso.
Three years, a lot of things happened to them. Sa sobrang bihira nila mag kita, ang daming nag bago. Mikhs and Maloi lost communication with them. Gian and Sean are also with their own lives.
Madaming nag bago pero isa lang ang siguradonghindi umuusad.