Work Text:
It started out as a normal day. Aiah just got out of her class ready to go home but one problem is that her car was in the shop and she had only commute to work, and she didn't want to commute again with all the people and traffic. Fortunately, for her she had another option, a way better option. Mikha
The perks of being in the same college as your girlfriend, she basically has an emergency driver ready, but as she called her the second time with no answer, she started to wonder where she was.
She knew that Mikha was free for the day since she was excused due to her participating in a volleyball tournament this morning, so the possibility of her going back home and dozing off is high.
Aiah sighed in frustration, but like a miracle, help arrived—in the form of Colet, her best friend.
“Colet,” Aiah called out, catching her friend's attention.
“Oh nandito ka pa?” Colet asked.
“Yea, yung car ko nasa shop pa may sira kasi, and I've been trying to get a hold of milkha but she's probably home already.” She explained.
“Sige, sabay ka na lang sa amin ni uyab” Colet offers
“Really?! You're a lifesaver” Aiah exaggerated.
“Eto talaa, para di tayo magkaibigan. Tara na!, nasa canteen daw si Maloi”
As they made their way to the canteen to meet Maloi, Aiah’s eyes caught sight of someone familiar: Sheena, one of Mikha’s friends.
“Hala ka, Ate Aiah!” Sheena exclaimed the moment she saw her.
Aiah frowned, confused. “Huh? Why?”
“Si Mikha, nagtampo sa’yo!” Sheena teases.
“What? Bakit?” Aiah asked, alarmed.
“Aba, malay ko! Siguro bad mood lang yun, kasi may sakit,” Sheena replied, half-joking.
“May sakit?”
“Ewan! Basta, mag-sorry ka na lang doon!” Sheena said, her tone playful but with a hint of warning.
“Colet, ihatid mo na ako sa place ni Mikha, please,” Aiah said, already worried about her girlfriend.
Aiah knocked on the door, but no one answered. She didn’t want to just barge in, especially if Sheena was right and Mikha was upset with her. However, after a few minutes of waiting, her worry and impatience got the better of her.
With a deep breath, Aiah punched in the code to Mikha’s door.
The condo looked normal. There were a few small messes here and there, but nothing unusual. She made her way to Mikha’s room and found her lying on the bed, fast asleep.
“Babi, wake up,” Aiah said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and gently shaking her shoulder.
Mikha stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “Hmm?”
“May sakit ka daw?” Aiah said, her voice tinged with concern.
“I’m fine,” Mikha replied groggily, then turned away.
“Pero galit ako sa’yo.” She added her voice soft, it didn't seem like she was mad all.l
Aiah froze. But stayed calm “Why? What did I do?”
Mikha frowned, burying her face in her pillow. “See? You don’t even know.”
“You could just tell me,” Aiah said, her tone a mix of frustration and worry.
But Mikha stayed stubborn, lying back down and refusing to answer.
Aiah sighed, leaning back as she tried to think. What could it be?
It wasn’t their anniversary.
It wasn’t Mikha’s birthday.
She didn’t miss a date.
She even said “I love you” before leaving that morning.
What could she have forgotten?
Her thoughts drifted to Mikha’s volleyball tournament earlier in the day. Mikha had assured her it was fine that she couldn’t come, knowing Aiah had class. Could it be about that?
Seeing that Mikha was still half-asleep and possibly sick, Aiah decided to let it go for now. She tucked the blanket around her girlfriend gently and stood up. She still wanted to take care of her, upset or not.
Grabbing a sticky note, she quickly wrote a message:
‘Babi, I’ll be out buying something real quick. Just in case you wake up and wonder where I am. I love you. – Aiah’
Sticking the note where Mikha could easily see it, Aiah left the condo and headed to the grocery store.
As she wandered the aisles, she couldn’t stop replaying their brief conversation in her head. What could she have done wrong? What had she missed?
Maybe it was just the sickness talking. Maybe Mikha wasn’t actually upset, and she was overthinking things. Still, she wanted to be careful—mahirap na baka lalo pang magtampo si Mikha.
For now, Aiah resolved to just focus on what she could do: make sure Mikha felt better, even if it meant putting her worry on hold.
A few hours later…..
“I made your favorite,” Aiah said softly, trying to wake Mikha.
“I’m not hungry,” Mikha mumbled, turning away.
“I know you’re upset, but you have to eat something, Babi,” Aiah urged gently.
Reluctantly, Mikha sat up and walked to the kitchen. The sight of sinigang, her favorite dish, made her heart flutter. She could see the effort Aiah had put into it, but she wasn’t ready to let go of her frustration just yet.
As they ate, Mikha noticed something odd. “Aren’t you gonna eat?” she asked.
“I’m not hungry,” Aiah replied.
“Did you eat without me?” Mikha asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.
“What? No!” Aiah panicked, shaking her head. “I’ll eat later. I’m just not hungry yet, Babi…it’s still 4 p.m. But ikaw, you haven’t eaten anything yet.So you better eat so you feel better nah”
Mikha stayed quiet and continued eating. The silence hung in the air until Mikha spoke again, her voice soft and hesitant.
“Are you mad?”
“Mad? No, bakit ako magagalit? Wala ka namang ginawa,” Aiah answered, genuinely confused.
Mikha just shrugged, still not meeting her gaze.
“Ikaw?” Aiah asked
“Me?” Mikha asked, her expression unreadable.
“What’s upsetting you?” Aiah pressed, her eyebrows raising in concern.
Mikha hesitated, a small grin tugging at her lips. “It’s silly.”
Aiah smiled, but she had to know. “Really, what is it? Tell me,” She urged.
“No. You’ll laugh,” Mikha said, pouting.
“I won’t laugh. I deserve to know…alam mo kanina pa ako nag-o-overthink,” Aiah admitted with a light laugh, trying to ease the tension.
Mikha finally looked up at her. “Kasi ikaw…”
“What about me?” Aiah asked, leaning forward slightly.
“This morning… I waved at you at school, and you ignored me,” Mikha said, her pout deepening and avoiding eye contact.
Aiah froze, trying her best to hold back a laugh.
“See! You’re laughing! I’m sick, and you’re laughing,” Mikha complained, crossing her arms.
“I’m not laughing! I’m sorry!” Aiah said quickly, trying to sound serious but failing as a smile crept onto her face.
“I guess… I just wasn’t wearing my glasses, so I didn’t see you. I’m really sorry, Babi.”
Mikha gave her an unimpressed look but sighed. “Fine. Bati na tayo.”
“Really?” Aiah asked, her face lighting up.
“Hmm,” Mikha murmured, her pout fading. “But next time, wear your glasses!”
Aiah chuckled. “Deal. Now, finish your sinigang, or I’ll get mad for real.”