Aiah's Pov

Currently, nagbibigay na kami ng meryenda sa mga bata. Mikha is still with the kid. I asked the staff what's the name of the kid, and they said her name is Iris. I decided to bring the snacks to them. I heard their conversation.

"I think no one is going to adopt me," Iris said.

"Why would you say that?" Mikha asked.

"Because some of the kids say that I'm a monster, that's why my mom left me here," Iris said.

"Being a monster is not bad," Mikha said.

"Not bad po?" Iris asked.

"Not all monsters do monstrous things; some are actually protectors," I said.

"Aiah," Mikha said.

I sat beside them and gave them the snacks.

"They say monsters are bad," Iris said.

"Others may say that, but there's always a good monster. Believe me, I know some people," I said.

"I'm afraid the other kids will be more scared of me," Iris said.

"Don't let them get in your head. Always remember what I said. Some monsters are good," I said.

"Thank you po," Iris said.

"Your welcome, Iris. Let's eat these snacks," I said while smiling.

While eating, Iris asked my name.

"I'm your Ate Maraiah Queen, but my friends call me Aiah," I said.

"Your name is beautiful po," Iris said.

"Yes, she is beautiful," Mikha said.

Napaubo ako sa sinabi ni Mikha. Inabutan niya ako ng tubig. Ayan ka na naman sa mga galawan mo eh.

"Tama ka po Ate Mikha," Iris said.

"Mikhs kung anu-ano tinuturo mo sa bata," I said.

"I'm just saying the truth," Mikha said.

Mikha and Iris continued talking while I just watched them. After a few minutes, pabalik na kami sa court kasama si Iris.

"Iris, remember what I told you," I said.

"Don't let them get in your head po," Iris said.

I patted her head, then she went to one of the staff. One of them came close to us.

"Thank you for making Iris smile. It's the first time that we saw her smile like that," Staff said.

"Mikha was the one who made her smile first," I said.

"We made her smile," Mikha said.

"Well, isa si Iris sa mga bata na matagal na dito. She doesn't have many friends, but she's really a nice kid," Staff said.

"I hope someone will adopt her," I said.

"We're hoping for that too," Staff said.

"I have a feeling that soon she will be adopted," I said.

The staff went back to the kids while Mikha and I went to our friends. Oh no, not their mapang-asar look.

"We just made Iris smile," I said.

"Siya pala yung bata na kwinekwento ng mga staff samin kanina," Sheena said.

"She always helps them; kahit sabihin nila na makipaglaro nalang siya sa mga ibang bata," Maloi said.

"I know she's a good kid," I said.

"Aiah's right," Mikha said.

Napatingin naman sila Colet kay Mikha.

"Let's go to the garden. I heard the staff say that we'll harvest vegetables and flowers," Mikha asked.

Nauna na maglakad si Mikha.

"Pasimple talaga ang manok na pula," Jho said.

"Trip niyo na naman siya. Sundan na natin siya," I said.

Pagkadating namin sa garden; hinati kami sa dalawang grupo. Kasama ko si Mikha, Maloi, and Colet na mag-harvest ng gulay kasama mga iba pang students. Extra food daw ng mga bata ang mga gulay, then mga bulaklak binebenta ng mga staff pang-extra income ng orphanage.

"Ang daming gulay," Maloi said.

"Sigurado ulam natin yan mamaya lalo na green vegetables," Colet said.

"Hindi kumakain ng green vegetables si Aiah, hindi siya mahilig," Mikha said.

Alam na alam talaga ni Mikha ang mga gusto at ayaw ko.

"Sigurado naman may iba pang iluluto na gulay mamaya," Maloi said.

"Magpakabusog ka mamaya uyab," Colet said.

"Uyab??" Mikha and I asked at the same time.

"Maloi is already my girlfriend. May problema kayo?" Colet asked.

"Loi sure ka ba kay Colet? Madami din siya mga fans na crush na crush siya," Mikha said.

"Oo nga Loi, ang dami niya binibigay samin nila Sheena na bigay ng mga fans niya," I said.

"Ganda ng support niyong dalawa ah," Colet said.

"Wag niyo asarin girlfriend ko, 100% sure ako kay Colet. Kaya back to work na tayo," Maloi said.

Ang lowkey naman pala ni Colet, sila na pala ni Maloi. Napansin ko na naka-smile si Mikha naka-tingin kila Colet.

"Bagay na bagay," I said.

"I already trust Colet. I know she will always be there for Maloi," Mikha said.

"Colet is now in her lover era," I said.

"Well, Maloi is her only exception," Mikha said.

Mikha smiled, then patted my head.

"I'll just bring these vegetables to the staffs," Mikha said.

"O-Okay," I said.

Did I just stutter? Bigla ba naman kasi nag-smile at nag-pat pa ng ulo ko si Mikha Lim.

"Uy may naka-smile," Colet said.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Kita namin yun," Maloi said.

"Wala yun. Ituloy na natin pag-harvest," I said.

I know I'm smiling. We're starting to talk, even if it's just casual talk again. After harvesting the vegetables, nagpahinga kami magkakaibigan sa ilalim ng puno, pero hindi namin kasama si Mikha.

"Nasaan pala si Mikhs?" Jho asked.

"Hindi din namin alam, sabi niya punta lang siya sa staffs," I said.

"Ay nag-usap na kayo? Sa wakas," Sheena said.

"Casual na pag-uusap palang," I said.

"Let's do operation: Captain-Captain," Jho said.

"Ano pinaplano mo Robles? Siguraduhin mo lang na gagana yan," Stacey said.

"Sure ako gagana. Let's make Mikha jealous," Jho said.

"Kanino naman siya mag-seselos?" I asked.

"The first name starts with a letter F," Jho said.

"The surname starts with letter R," Sheena said.

"Wag niyo siya idamay," I said.

"Malay mo lang sa kanya mag-selos si captain namin," Jho said.

"No, walang madadamay," I said.

"Well, Aiah kahit hindi natin siya idamay. Mukhang damay na talaga siya," Colet said.

"Bakit naman?" I asked.

"Kasi papalapit siya ngayon satin," Colet said.

Colet pointed Fons using her eyes. Naglalakad nga papalapit samin. Inutusan daw siya na magtawag na ng mga students, kasi kakain na. Sabay kami naglalakad ni Fons sa likod nila Colet.

"Napasubo ka ata bigla sa trip na ito," I said.

"Okay lang, I'm enjoying this trip," Fons said.

"Why?" I asked.

"It's fun with the kids and with other students like you, Aiah," Fons said.

"It's really fun giving joy to the orphanage," I said.

"How about your joy?" Fons asked.

"My joy is just nearby," I said.

We arrived inside the orphanage cafeteria. Since madami kaming students at kasabay namin din kumain mga bata, inuna namin binigyan ng food ang mga bata.

Kukuha na din kami ng pagkain, after nabigyan lahat ng mga bata. Kukuha palang sana ako ng pagkain, pero may naglagay ng dalawang plato na may laman ng food sa table kung saan kami nakaupo. It's Mikha, tumabi siya sakin.

"Here's yours," Mikha said.

"Thanks, Mikha," I said.

"May food na pala si Aiah, mabuti hindi natin kinuhanan," Jho said.

Umupo na din mga friends namin. Habang kumakain, hindi nawawala kwentuhan.

"Mikhs nasaan ka pala galing? Iniwan mo kami sa garden kanina," Maloi said.

"I was helping cook in the kitchen," Mikha said.

Napatigil ang lahat, kahit ako gulat. I mean, alam namin nagluluto na siya kasama si Colet sa Papi House tapos ngayon nagluto siya ng hindi kasama si Colet.

"You cooked?" Colet asked.

"Yes, I'm the one who cooks the curry," Mikha said.

I taste the curry, then look again at Mikha, who was already looking at me. I know her eyes are asking, How is the taste?

"Mikha, it's so delicious," I said.

"Thanks for the compliment, Aiah," Mikha said.

"Wait Mikhs, seryoso paano mo alam magluto ng curry?" Colet asked.

"That's my secret," Mikha said.

"May pa-secret pa nalalaman," Gwen said.

"Kain na tayo," Mikha said.

Mag-sasalita sana si Jho, pero sinubuan agad ni Mikha ng pagkain. Napatawa nalang din kami kasi parang back to normal except hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap ni Mikha about that night.

After eating lunch, what we did the whole afternoon was help around the orphanage while having fun with the kids. Then at night we did a singing jam session in the court with some of the kids.

"Aiah, you have a great voice," Fons said.

"I don't sing that much," I said.

"Well, your voice is really great," Fons said.

"Oo na Fons, thanks for the compliment," I said while laughing a bit.

Nagkwentuhan pa kami ng saglit bago pumunta sa sari-sariling tent. Nakatayo sa labas ng tent si Mikha at Belle. Gabi na, Hindi pa sila matutulog. Bumati pa din ako kay Belle except kay Mikha bago pumasok sa tent.

Maglalatag na sana ako, pero nakalatag na pala si Mikha. Naguguluhan ako sayo Mikha Lim. Kausap at kasama mo si Belle, pero pasimple naman pagiging caring mo sakin. Nag-chat si Sheena sa group chat namin kikay line. Kung sila Mikha ay papi line, samin kikay line.

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Kumuha na muna ako ng damit at towel. Hindi na ako nagpaalam kay Mikha at kausap niya pa si Belle. Hinihintay ako ni Sheena sa harap ng tent nila ni Gwen. Malapit lang ang bathroom, pero may konting layo din kasi. Mabilis kami nakapag-shower lalo minsan matakutin si Sheena.

"Shee hunter ka," I said.

"Hindi ba pwede matakot pa din minsan? Pero syempre strong pa din ako," Sheena said.

Pabalik na kami sa tents, pero may napansin kami anino sa isang puno.

"Aiah," Sheena said.

"Shee, get ready," I said.

Palapit na kami ng may biglang lumabas na bata sa likod ng puno at yumakap sa legs ko.

"Iris," I said.

"Ate Aiah, help," Iris said.

"Ano nangyare? Bakit nandito ka sa labas?" I asked.

"I slept early, then I just woke up behind that tree po," Iris said.

"Baka nag-sleepwalking siya," Sheena said.

"I think so too. Ihatid na muna natin siya," I said.

"Can I go with you, Ate Aiah? I'm afraid to go back inside tonight," Iris said.

"Okay, Iris. You can come with me," I said.

"Paano pag hanapin siya?" Sheena asked.

"I'll just inform Ma'am Ica," I said.

"Malapitin ka din talaga sa bata," Sheena said.

Sheena is right. The moment I saw the kids earlier, I wished to give them joy, even if just for the short time that we're here. Nakabalik na kami sa labas ng mga tent, nauna na si Sheena sa tent nila ni Gwen. Pumasok na din kami ni Iris sa tent, nagbabasa si Mikha ng book.

"Mikha, we have a roommate," I said.

"Roommate?" Mikha asked.

"Hi Ate Mikha," Iris said.

Lumapit agad si Iris kay Mikha.

"What is she doing outside?" Mikha asked.

"I think Iris was sleepwalking. She's afraid to go back inside tonight," I said.

"Well, it looks like we have a little roommate for tonight," Mikha said while smiling.

Naglagay ng extra pillow si Mikha. Humiga na kami then nagpa-music ng pampatulog si Mikha para kay Iris. Mukhang hindi lang ako ang malapitin sa bata.

Nag-scroll muna ako sa phone at nag-iba ako ng pwesto ng paghiga. Nasa gitna namin si Iris, nasa left side ako at nasa right side si Mikha. Nakatalikod siya samin ni Iris.

"Mikha tulog kana ba?" I asked.

Hindi siya sumagot. Tulog na ata, kilala ko si Mikha mabilis talaga siya makatulog.

"These past few weeks, I know that I may look happy, but I'm not. I know that I got scared that night, but I realized that I was concerned for you. I was scared to lose you. There's a missing piece in my life, and that's you. I'm still waiting for that ice cream treat. I missed you, Mikha Lim," I said.

I want to say more, but I can't find the words to say. I was about to go to sleep when Mikha talked.

"I missed you too, Aiahkins," Mikha said.

Wait, she's still awake.

"If your scared to lose me, then I'm more scared to lose you. I'll always risk my life to protect everyone, especially you," Mikha said.

That's Mikha Lim; she will always prioritize others before herself. Wala na siya ibang sinabi, nakatulog na talaga.

When I woke up the next day, Iris and Mikha weren't beside me anymore. I look at my phone. Dami message nila Maloi sa kikay group chat.

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