Aiah's Pov

"Girls, you can do this okay? No pressure and enjoy the game," Ma'am Ica said.

It's the archery team's first competition for this year. Stacey, Sheena, and I are the players for today's game.

"Captain, take the lead," Ma'am Ica said.

"Yes coach," I said.

Nag-huddle kaming tatlo.

"Relax girls, breathe, and just think that we're in the practice area. We can do this," I said.

"Yes, captain," Sheena and Stacey said at the same time.

The first game is the team event, then the individual event. Sheena and Stacey are the first archers before me. I looked at the bleachers, seeing Colet, Jho, Gwen, and Maloi holding a cheering banner. Mikha is not with them yet.

"Where is she?" I asked myself.

"Captain, you're next," Sheena said.

I nodded, then started to stretch my arms.

"Kanina ka pa ata may hinahanap sa bleachers," Sheena said.

"Ang dami pala nanunuod kahit first day of the competition," I said.

"Kunwari ka pa eh ayun na siya oh kakarating," Sheena said.

Sheena pointed at Mikha using her eyes. She just arrived, and she's holding a small banner with my name on it.

"Okay, the captain is smiling. We're going to have a great game today," Sheena said.

"Sit down, Catacutan," I said.

"Yes, captain," Sheena said.

Stacey just finished her turn, and I stood behind at the waiting line. I looked at Mikha. She did a sign language of I believe in you. I nodded, then focused my mind.



"Archers to the shooting line," Range Captain said.

I picked up my bow and stood in position.

"Begin shooting," Range Captain said.

I began shooting until I had shot all of my arrows. I take a step back from the shooting line, place my bow on the rack, and stand behind the waiting line.

Parang ang bilis ng oras. In the end, we won. Hinintay kami nila Mikha.

"Girls, congratulations," Colet said.

"Very supportive naman ng volleyball team," I said.

"Syempre hindi mawawala support namin sa inyo," Maloi said.

"Ang galing niyo," Gwen said.

"Ang galing ng princess ko," Jho said.

"Kung pwede lang sayo ko itama pana ko Robles," Stacey said.

"Dati mo na ako napana sa puso Staku," Jho said.

"Ayun bumanat," Gwen said.

"Hephep tama na kayo dalawa," Colet said.

"Aiah, you did well," Mikha said.

"Thanks, Mikha Lim and everyone," I said.

"Iba talaga ang galing niyo," Mikha said.

"Mikhs, lakas maka-compliment," I said.

"What I'm saying is true," Mikha said.

"Ehem tara kain bago uwi," Sheena said.

"Basta ikaw manlibre," I said.

"Uwi nalang pala tayo," Sheena said.

"Ako manlilibre guys," Gwen said.

"Halatado tayo Gwen ah," Colet said.

"Syempre deserve nila ng treat lalo na si bebe," Gwen said.

"Okay, tara na. Sino magkaka-sabay?" Stacey asked.

"Sabay na sakin si Aiah," Mikha said.

"Samin na sabay si Aiah." Colet said.

Sabay nag-salita si Mikha at Colet.

"Wala ni isa sa inyo na sasabay si Aiah. Sakin sasabay silang tatlo. Jho car keys," Maloi said.

Jho gave Maloi her car keys.

"Since dala ni Mikha ang motorcycle niya. Jho and Gwen sasabay kayo kay Colet. Gutom na lahat kaya tara na," Maloi said.

Wala talaga angal sila Mikha pagdating kay Maloi. Sa isang restaurant na ang may-ari ay family ni Maloi kami pupunta.

"Mikhaiah o colaiah," Sheena said.

"Mikhaiah ako," Stacey said.

"Eh di colaiah ako," Sheena said.

"Ano na naman trip niyo dalawa?" I asked.

"Ang ganda ng eksena," Maloi said.

"Nadamay kana sa pagka-delulu Maloi," I said.

"Aiah haba kasi ng hair mo," Maloi said.

"The captain and vice captain," Stacey said.

"The childhood bestfriend and bestfriend," Sheena said.

"Ikain niyo nalang yan maya ah, sigurado napagod lang kayo," I said.

Tinitignan nila ako.

"Bestfriends ko silang dalawa kaya tigilan niyo ako," I said.

"May bestfriends pala sabay mag-sabi na sabay ka sa kanila," Sheena said.

Kinurot ko balikat ni Sheena.

"Hehe titigil na captain," Sheena said.

May bestfriends naman siguro na ganun sabay nila sasabihin na sabay ka sa kanila. After ten minutes, nakarating na kami at Ricalde restaurant. Hinihintay kami nila Mikhs sa parking lot. Pumasok na kami sa loob.

Seating arrangement:

Me - Sheena - Stacey - Maloi Mikha - Gwen - Jho - Colet

Nag-order na kami, almost same lahat ng orders.

"Looks like you'll have time to rest from practice," Mikha said.

"One week siguro, makakatulog ako ng maayos," I said.

"That's good. You deserved the rest," Mikha said.

"Walang rest-rest, papanuodin ko si bebe sa practice niyo Mikhs," Sheena said.

"So damay kami sayo?" I asked.

"All for one, one for all," Sheena said.

"Ano yan parang musketeers din katulad samin," Mikha said while laughing a bit.

"Musketeers?" Sheena and I asked.

"That's the musketeers motto. All for one, one for all. I mean, just like the punishment when I lost against you in dodgeball. The four of us did the punishment instead of only three. We did it as a team," Mikha said.

"Well, I like to watch my sister Sophia too. So I'll go watch your practice," I said.

"Can you bring us cookies?" Mikha asked.

"I thought bawal muna," I said.

"We really missed cookies," Mikha said.

"I agree," Gwen said.

"Okay, but minsan lang at baka magalit si Maloi sa inyo," I said.

Mikha and Gwen did a fist bump while smiling. I really like that Mikha's smiling. It's like her smile when we were bonding as kids.

After eating, hinatid ako ni Mikha. Sakto na nasa labas ng bahay si dad.

"Hi dad," I said.

"Good evening, Tito," Mikha said.

"Good evening too, Mikha. Thank you sa paghatid kay Aiah," Dad said.

I hugged dad.

"Nak, congratulations on your team's first win for this year," Dad said.

"Thanks, dad," I said.

"Tito, she did so well," Mikha said.

"Well, she's an Arceta," Dad said while smiling.

The front door opened, and someone I know just came out.

"She's the best," Kuya Bryan said.

"Kuya Bryan!" I said.

I went to Kuya Bryan and hugged him. Since we were kids, halos nasa ibang bansa na siya. Minsan lang kasi siya umuuwi, especially like holidays.

"Ang laki mo na sis at gumanda na din," Kuya Bryan said.

"Kakauwi lang ni Kuya mo kanina, sayang daw hindi niya naabutan game mo," Dad said.

"Kuya nuod ka sa next game ko," I said.

"Oo naman sis. Wait, ipakilala mo naman ako sa kasama mo," Kuya Bryan said.

Oo pala si Mikha, hinila ko si Kuya malapit kay Mikha at dad. Nabanggit ko na dati kay Mikha na may Kuya ako, pero ngayon palang niya makikilala.

"Kuya Bryan meet Mikha Lim, my childhood bestfriend and classmate," I said.

"Nice to meet you, Mikha," Kuya Bryan said.

"Mikha meet Kuya Bryan, my one and only brother na sinasabi ko noon nasa ibang bansa," I said.

"Nice to meet you po," Mikha said.

They shook hands for a bit.

"So she's the one you're telling me pag umuuwi ako dito," Kuya Bryan said.

"Huy Kuya," I said.

"What? Totoo naman sis. Ay hindi ko pala dapat sinabi," Kuya Bryan said.

"Kuya tara pasok na tayo," I said.

Tumingin ako kay Mikha.

"Mikhs, thank you sa paghatid, goodnight," I said.

Pumasok na kami ni Kuya Bryan sa bahay at iniwan namin si Dad sa labas.

"Nagbubuhat ka ata ng mabibigat, ang lakas mo manulak sis," Kuya Bryan said.

"Ano nangyare?" Sophia asked.

Nasa sala pala si Sophia.

"Aiah introduced me to Mikha, and I just said that she's the one that our sister here was always telling me every time I came home," Kuya Bryan said.

"Ate Aiah baka pwede pasabi kay captain namin na dahan-dahan sa practice," Sophia said.

"Papanuodin kita sa practice mo since may one week rest ang archery team," I said.

"Ayun pwede mo i-distract captain namin," Sophia said.

"Ay hindi pwede, magdusa kayo ng volleyball team lalo na malapit na din first game niyo," I said.

"Naunsa mani oy," Sophia said.

"Ikaw naman Kuya, childhood bestfriend ko si Mikha, kaya malamang ikwekwento ko siya sayo," I said.

"Okay, sis," Kuya Bryan said.

"By the way, hanggang kailan ka dito?" I asked.

"Maybe a few months," Kuya Bryan said.

"Treat mo kami ni Sophia, pambawi mo samin," I said.

"Well, before I treat you girls, I have to see first how your skills as hunters are," Kuya Bryan said.

"Challenge accepted," Sophia and I said at the same time.

"Wow, bilis talaga pag dating sa libre ah," Kuya Bryan said.

"Kahit ano naman mangyare ililibre mo pa din kami Kuya," Sophia said.

"Okay tama na muna yang topic sa libre at let's eat na," Dad said.

Kakapasok ni dad at ginulo niya mga buhok namin magkakapatid.

"Dad talaga oh," I said.

"Kahit malalaki na kayo, mga babies pa din namin kayo," Dad said.

"Honey wag mo sila iyakan. Sabi mo kain na," Mom said.

"Sunod po ako, ipunta ko lang mga gamit ko sa taas," I said.

I went upstairs to my room. I decided to message Mikha if she's already home, then I went back downstairs.

Dinner was great. I can still eat lalo na luto ni Mom. After eating, I went back upstairs. I checked my phone to see if Mikha replied.

Chat Conversation:



I placed my phone on the nightstand and looked at the ceiling. I remembered looking at her while she's doing the hand sign I believe in you. Gosh, Mikha Lim, what is this I'm feeling? Itulog ko na nga lang ito.



The next few days, after class, we went to the gym to watch the volleyball team practice. Also, I secretly give Mikha cookies for them to eat.

Well, this time nahuli silang apat ni Maloi sa locker room.

"Loi kahit ngayon lang, please," Gwen said.

"Promise mabilis kami mananalo sa first game namin," Jho said.

"We will cook dinner for you," Mikha said.

"Yves sayang yung cookies pag hindi agad kinakain," Colet said.

Natawa naman kami nila Sheena.

"Wow, kaya niyo ako lutuan Mikhs?" Maloi asked.

"Yes, kahit ngayong gabi pa sa house namin," Mikha said.

May house si Mikha na kasama si Colet, Jho, and Gwen. Malapit lang sa school. Kakabili lang daw nila since tinatamad daw sila umuwi sa mga bahay nila after practice. They called the place Papi House.

"Oh sige magluto kayo pero pang-walong tao. Isasama ko sila Aiah. Pwede na din sleepover lalo wala pasok bukas at rest day niyo," Maloi said.

"Game kami," Sheena said.

"Uso magtanong muna Shee," I said.

"All for one, one for all," Sheena said while smiling.

"Tsaka hindi pwede na hindi ka sasama Aiah," Stacey said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Para matikman mo din luto ni Mikha," Stacey said.

"Advance warning, magdala kayo ng gamot girls," Maloi said.

"Grabe Loi, masarap luto namin," Jho said.

"Siguraduhin niyo lang talaga na masarap luto niyo lalo na kasama sila Aiah," Maloi said.

"Y-Yes, Loi," Mikha said.

Ang cute ng pagka-yes ni Mikha. Ano kaya lasa ng luto niya? Nagpaalam na ako agad kila dad na may sleepover kami. Kay Sophia ko sana ipapasabi kaso baka mang asar pa ang kapatid ko.

Nauna kami sa Papi House kasama si Jho, nag-grocery si Gwen, Colet, and Mikha. Ang laki din ng nakuha nila, isang two-storey house. Tag iisa nila ng rooms, may guest room pa.



"Lakas din trip niyo at bumili kayo ng bahay," I said.

"Humingi din kami permission sa parents namin. Pumayag naman sila lalo na parents ni Gwen din naman ang guardian ni Mikhs," Jho said.

After thirty minutes, dumating na din sila Mikha. Magluluto sila habang nanunuod kami.

"Hindi pa maayos ang guest room, meaning by pair with them," Maloi said.

"Kay bebe na ako," Sheena said.

"No choice kay Jho ako," Stacey said.

"Kay Colet na ako," Maloi said.

"Teka-teka lang," I said.

"Wag ka mag-alala Aiah mabilis makatulog si Mikha, hindi yun malikot sabi nila Gwen," Sheena said.

"Pinagplanuhan niyo ata itong gabi eh. I know mabilis siya makatulog," I said.

"Hindi ah, coincidence lang," Stacey said.

"Imposible naman hindi kayo nag-sleepover nung bata kayo," Maloi said.

Sarap sana pag-kukurutin itong tatlo ngayon.