Chapter Text
Mikha was deep into her game, fingers flying across the screen as she maneuvered her character with precision. A good game of Call of Duty: Mobile was her favorite way to unwind after a long day. The soft glow from her phone illuminated her face in the otherwise dim room. She was so engrossed that she almost didn’t notice Aiah’s warm presence approaching.
Aiah leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on Mikha’s forehead. “Love, matutulog nako. I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow,” she murmured.
Mikha tore her gaze away from her phone, offering a soft smile. “Yes, love. Goodnight,” she replied, voice softened by Aiah’s touch. She knew she had to sleep soon too, considering she had a long day at work tomorrow. But her habit of staying up late was hard to break.
“Huwag ka na namang magpupuyat, okay?” Aiah chided gently. “You’ll be exhausted at work tomorrow if you stay up all night again.”
“Yes po,” Mikha promised, giving a small nod.
Once Aiah slipped into bed, Mikha tried to focus back on her game, but her thoughts kept drifting. Tomorrow was her birthday—the first one she’d celebrate with Aiah after they moved in together. It still felt surreal that they were sharing this space now, side by side every day, after three years together, two of which they spent in long distance. She considered Aiah agreeing to move in with her as the best early birthday present ever.
The clock ticked past midnight, and Mikha’s phone buzzed with messages from family and friends. She smiled as she replied to each one, feeling grateful for the people in her life.
But no gift, no greeting could compare to the one quietly sleeping beside her. She set her phone down, got up from her gaming chair, and carefully slipped under the covers next to Aiah. The soft rhythm of Aiah’s breathing was soothing. Mikha nestled close, spooning her from behind, and let herself savor her girlfriend’s warmth and familiar scent.
“I love you,” she whispered into the night, before finally drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Mikha was jolted awake by the gentle shake of Aiah’s hand on her shoulder.
“Love, gising na,” Aiah urged. “You have to get ready for work, baka ma-late ka.”
Mikha squinted, still dazed and disoriented, as she tried to shake off the lingering sleep. She watched as Aiah packed up her things, tucking her laptop into her bag and glancing at herself in the mirror.
“I have to go, love. Alam mo naman, rush hour,” Aiah said hurriedly. “Bye! Ingat ka sa work.”
Mikha waved, still groggy. “Bye, love…” she mumbled. But as Aiah disappeared through the door, a pang of disappointment washed over her. Aiah hadn’t greeted her a happy birthday. Maybe she was just in a rush and forgot? Mikha tried to push the thought away.
Throughout the day, she kept receiving tags on social media and messages from friends, each one lighting up her phone with warm wishes. Even her officemates surprised her with cake and a small lunch celebration. But still, no message from Aiah. Mikha tried not to let it bother her, reassuring herself that her girlfriend must be swamped with work. After all, during the years they were long distance, Aiah had never once forgotten her birthday. Now that they were finally living together, she wouldn’t, right?
By the time her workday dragged into the evening due to unexpected overtime, her worry had grown into a gnawing ache. She checked her phone again—still no call or message from Aiah. Finally, as she packed up her things and left, she sent her a message.
“Just finished work. Can we still go out for dinner to celebrate?” she typed, adding a small hopeful emoji at the end. But even after sending several messages and making a few calls, Aiah didn’t respond.
Frustrated and worried, Mikha made her way to the lobby of her office building. But her heart skipped a beat when she saw a familiar figure dozing on one of the couches.
“Love, wake up,” Mikha said softly, shaking Aiah’s shoulder.
Aiah blinked her eyes open, somewhat disoriented, but a smile quickly spread across her face. “Happy birthday, love! Surprise?”
Mikha chuckled, feeling a mix of relief and joy. “Magtatampo na sana ako kasi hindi moko gini-greet.” She tried to sound serious, but she couldn’t hold back her smile at the sight of Aiah’s sleepy, pouting face.
Aiah rubbed her eyes, laughing. “Sorry, love. Gusto talaga kita i-surprise, pero mukhang ako ang na-surprise.” They both laughed, and Aiah added, “Di ko inexpect na sobrang matatagalan kayo today.”
“Yeah, me either. Nagka-technical problem kasi,” Mikha replied, her mood lifting instantly.
Aiah stood up and held out her hand. “Let’s go?”
Mikha looked at her curiously. “Saan tayo pupunta?”
“You’ll see,” Aiah said with a teasing smile, taking her hand. Mikha felt a thrill run through her, loving how even after all these years, Aiah could still surprise her.
As they drove, Mikha finally asked, “So saan nga tayo pupunta this late?”
Aiah smirked, keeping her eyes on the road. “Patience, Mikha Lim. By the way, reach over the back seat. Just in case you’re hungry.”
Mikha leaned over and grabbed a small bag, opening it to find a cute lunchbox filled with sandwiches and fruit. Typical Aiah—thoughtful and practical.
“So talagang pinagplanuhan mo ‘to?” Mikha asked, her heart swelling.
“Of course, love,” Aiah replied. “It’s your day. I wanted to make sure you felt special, kahit medyo palpak ako kanina.” They shared a laugh, and Mikha’s excitement grew with each passing minute.
After a while, they arrived at a secluded, gated villa in Tanay, Rizal. A guard opened the gate and led them to a cozy, private area. Mikha was taken aback by the thoughtful gesture.
“So… is this where you kill me?” she joked, raising an eyebrow.
Aiah laughed, rolling her eyes. “Oo. Papatayin kita sa pagmamahal ko.”
Mikha cringed playfully. “Love, ang cringe! Last mo na ‘yan, ha?”
As they walked to the trunk of the car, Aiah opened it to reveal a small, beautifully decorated setup—balloons, a “Happy Birthday” banner, a bouquet of flowers and gifts. Mikha’s heart melted.
“Surprise! Happy birthday, love!” Aiah said with a wide grin.
Overwhelmed, Mikha wrapped her arms around Aiah. “Thank you, love.” Her voice was soft, tinged with the emotions she’d been holding in all day.
“Hey, hindi pa ako tapos sa surprise ko. Huwag ka muna umiyak,” Aiah teased, wiping away Mikha’s tears with a soft laugh.
Aiah handed her the flowers, and then, with a picnic basket in hand, she led Mikha to a cozy spot under a tree overlooking the night sky, where a mat and string lights set a romantic ambiance. As they sat, Mikha looked around, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of it all.
“Mikha Lim, ano ba yan. Stop crying or I’ll think na hindi mo nagustuhan ‘tong surprise ko,” Aiah said, smiling as she wiped another stray tear.
“Baliw! Syempre gusto. Gustong gusto,” Mikha said, pulling Aiah in for a heartfelt kiss. “Salamat, Aiah. Akala ko talaga nakalimutan mo.”
The two of them laughed, setting out plates as Aiah brought out a selection of Mikha’s favorite Japanese dishes. Mikha couldn’t help but watch as Aiah arranged everything with such care, always so thoughtful and attentive. It was moments like these that reminded her of just how lucky she was.
As they ate, Aiah lifted a piece of sushi with her chopsticks, holding it in front of Mikha. “Love, try mo ‘to. It’s something new sa menu.”
Mikha leaned forward, taking a bite and savoring the taste. “It's good,” she said, smiling as she returned the gesture, feeding Aiah with her own chopsticks.
“Sweet naman ng bebe ko,” Aiah teased, and Mikha rolled her eyes, though a smile betrayed her amusement.
After they ate, Mikha found herself staring at Aiah, watching as her girlfriend closed her eyes, enjoying the cool night breeze. Overwhelmed with emotion, Mikha reached out, taking Aiah’s hands in hers.
“Love, thank you for everything,” Mikha whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Aiah laughed softly, squeezing her hand. “Grabe naman maka-everything.”
“Seriously. Living with you, being with you—this is the best present ever.”
Aiah’s eyes filled with tears. Mikha let out a small laugh as she wiped them away. “Ikaw naman umiiyak ngayon. Birthday mo ba?”
Aiah smacks her arm. They shared a laugh as Aiah leaned into her, both of them savoring the closeness.
Suddenly, Aiah pulled something from her pocket—a small envelope. “Wait, love. I have one more surprise for you.”
Mikha took the envelope with a grin. “Isang milyon ba ‘to?”
“Sana, no? Baka makapulot tayo one day!” Aiah chuckled as Mikha opened the envelope, revealing a handwritten birthday card. She was used to receiving these during their long-distance days, but this time felt different.
“Could you read this for me?” Mikha asked, her voice soft.
Aiah looked taken aback. “Huh? You’re supposed to read that when you’re alone.”
“Please, love? It’s the first time I’m receiving this in person. Birthday ko naman eh.”
Aiah sighed, rolling her eyes but giving in. She took the card from Mikha’s hands, her cheeks flushing as she began to read aloud.
“Dear Mikha Lim,
Happy Birthday, love! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put into words just how much you mean to me, pero I’m going to try anyway…
It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it? From late-night video calls when we were miles apart to finally being able to come home to you every day—I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. You’ve taught me so much about patience, resilience, and what it truly means to love someone unconditionally. You’ve been my partner in all my highs and lows, my biggest supporter, my safe place, and my home.
Today, I want you to know that every little thing I did to make this day special for you is just a small fraction of what you deserve. You are, without a doubt, the most incredible person I know, and I feel so lucky to call you mine."
Mikha listened, hanging onto every word as Aiah’s voice filled the night. She felt her heart swell with gratitude, realizing just how lucky she was to have someone who loved her this much.
"Thank you for loving me, for staying, and for believing in us even when the distance made it hard. Thank you for all the smiles, the laughter, the hugs, and the quiet moments we share. Living with you, waking up beside you—these have become the best parts of my life.
I love you more than you’ll ever know. Here’s to many more birthdays, adventures, and memories together. Happy Birthday, my love. I’m yours, always.
Love,
Aiah"
When Aiah finished, Mikha didn’t say anything. Instead, she leaned in, capturing Aiah’s lips in a deep, tender kiss, pouring into it everything she couldn’t express with words.
This—being here with Aiah—was the only gift she ever wanted, the greatest gift she could ever receive.