"Never have I experienced being completely happy with him. Do you know that he cheated on me for five years? He lay his hand on me. He never gives me money. What he always tells me is that I don't need money in my wallet because he feeds and clothes me. I never once thought he was that bad. He's different compared to the attitude he showed when we were in high school," Mia continued telling the story while her head remained bowed.
Erik just listens quietly. He didn't know if he couldn't think of anything, so his brain wasn't working at that moment. Or maybe it's like he's just having a hard time accepting that that's the truth.
"That's why I'm quiet is because, for me, I don't need to reveal to others what I'm really going through. Do you know that life has not been fair to me since childhood?” at the end of what she said, the smile that broke Mia's lips was bitter and at the same time she was wiping away her tears.
"I was only happy when I was with Nana Rosita. Because only with her did I feel the true love that I have never seen and felt for any other person," after saying that, the young lady's voice broke again.
"It's okay, if you want to cry, do it. Whatever I hear and see, I promise, I won't judge you," Erik said when he thought Mia was trying to suppress her emotions and that was causing her difficulty speaking.
"You know, the truth is," Mia spoke again with her head down. "Even if I die, it's okay. Because I'm just so tired," she said, raising her head and turning to him.
Mia looked him straight in the eyes. That's why he was able to freely observe the edge of her tears which gave him a very heavy feeling.
He felt like he was being strangled at that moment.
It's hard to accept that a woman like her who after all is not difficult to love has been treated unfairly by the world.
“But that's over, isn't it? You are here, you are home. And I'm with you, I won't let all that happen to you again. I won't leave you," he knew it was too early to tell Mia all that but that was his true feeling, and he wasn't lying.
A dry laugh escaped Mia's throat as she lowered her head again and started playing with her fingers.
"You don't have to do that. I'm glad you gave me a job. And one more thing, I don't have any assurance that Bernie won't come here. You know he knows this is the only place I can go. He also knows my house, so I won't be surprised soon, one day he will be here in Manila to pick me up," continued Mia.
"Don't come along. You don't need him in your life, as I told you, I'm willing to help you. Continue your studies, then I'll take you to Canada," that was true inside him.
"Thank you for your concern, Erik, you know since Nana Rosita died aside from Nanny Ising, you are the other person who made me feel this way?" then Mia dried her face again then smiled at him.
Erik couldn't stop smiling at what his younger self had done. "You are a good person, Mia. The truth is that Bernie is very lucky to have someone like you in his life. Maybe that's why I can't stop myself from feeling angry with him since I saw how you knocked on my house," he said truthfully.
Mia laughed before she stood up and spoke again. That's when Erik stood up and followed the young lady to the door.
"Tomorrow I’ll be here, early. Is that okay with you?" that was Mia who held the doorknob and then turned to her.
Erik then smiled then laughed softly as he remembered something. "Just a moment," he said, turning back for a moment and immediately returning carrying a familiar bag.
"Finally," Mia laughed softly. "The tomato is still good and not spoiled, thank you," she said looking up at him.
But the smile on Mia's lips immediately disappeared when she probably noticed the emotion on his face.
"Mia," he said then carefully held her hand.
*****
Mia's eyes looked up at Erik as if asking questions. And then she let out a deep sigh one after the other.
She couldn't deny the intense electricity that she felt running through every fiber of her body because of the young man's warm palm while holding one of her hands.
She tried to take it back from him but she felt that his grip on her hand only got tighter because of her attempt.
"E-Erik," she said then tried to take her hand from the young man but he didn't really let go.
“I know it's too early, but if you say the world has never been fair to you. I think I can fix that, for you," Erik said as he stared intently at her.
Mia opened her mouth to ask, but she was unable to say what else she wanted to say when Erik suddenly bowed to her. Her entire body immediately seemed to be paralyzed when the young man unexpectedly claimed her lips.
Mia expected that kiss for a moment. But she was wrong.
She knew Erik could feel her trembling. But instead of letting go, he deepened his claim on her lips at the same time as he turned to her in a way that seemed as if he was afraid that she would run or push him away.
Mia stood like a statue behind the door and let Erik kiss her.
She didn't understand, maybe if someone else did this to her she knew she would be angry. But with Erik, why didn't she seem to have any anger in her chest and instead just let the young man do what he wanted? Even if that kiss was long compared to other first kisses, she knew, or to make the story short, the first kiss she and Bernard had.
"Tomorrow, I will wait for you here. Shall we have breakfast together?” Erik's eyes were shining as he gazes all over her whole face.
Mia just nodded like she was not in her usual self.
"Do you want me to walk you home?" Erik asked softly again then gently caressed her cheek.
Mia shook her head. "I-I'm fine," she said, her voice shaking.
Erik nodded then smiled again and placed a simple kiss on her lips and then took the second one on her forehead.
The young lady closed her eyes again.
She had a strange lightness in her heart that she had not experienced since her Nana Rosita left her. And that's what she sees as the reason why she feels like crying now. But she held back her own emotions.
"I have to go, see you tomorrow," she said goodbye when the man released her.
Erik nodded again and then he opened the door for her. The young man followed her to the gate and he even waved at her with a smile.
Mia just waved back smiling and started walking without looking back. While in her mind, she feels that even during that very moment she can still feel Erik's lips gently kissing her lips.
It was a very good kiss.
The way it was able to calm her troubled mind and feelings.
Back then, she wondered what it felt like to be kissed by Erik. And that's because of her secret feelings for him. But now, she didn't think that after many years that question would be answered. And at an unexpected time.
Mia smiled. Even though she knows she still has feelings for the one she used to be with.
Erik makes her happy and she is happy in his company. And if this continues, she knows that it won't be long before everything changes. As he said, he could make the world fair, for her.