Chapter 1: Unexpected Encounters

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Aiah's POV

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Aiah's POV

I was strolling around through the peaceful streets of our hometown, and hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa ganda at aliwalas ng lugar na to, alam mo yung feeling na nalalanghap mo ang fresh na hangin at may freedom ka pang maglalakad kahit saan pero sa kabila ng lahat the uneasiness is still visible, hindi ko pa din maiwasang hindi isipin ang mga obligasyon at mga pasan ko sa buhay sa bawat hakbang ko. I adjusted the strap of my bag at patuloy na sa paglalakad.

Habang papaliko na ako sa may corner, I noticed a small café na napagitnaan sa dalawang stores din. Parang natigilan ako sa paglalakad at nalipat na yung atensyon ko dun sa café, kahit nasa labas lang ako, kita namang ang cozy ng café with matching warmth lights pa siya sa loob. Well, I was craving for an iced coffee so I decided to enter the café na muna.

The air of the cozy café was filled with soft murmur of conversations, after I took a glance from my surroundings I went to the counter na to order an iced americano. My eyes roamed the area again, looking in the various variety of artwork hanging on the walls while I'm waiting for my drink.

Then suddenly my eyes locked with the empty eyes of a red-haired woman sitting alone at a nearby table. Hindi ako assuming pero parang may kung mga ano sa mga titig niya saakin, hindi ko lang alam kung ano yun, parang bumilis nalang bigla ang tibok ng puso ko, agad ko namang iniwas ang mga tingin ko sakanya at biglang naramdaman ko nalang yung mga pisngi kong nag liliyab.

Nung ready na yung drink ko, agad ko itong kinuha sa may counter at naghanap na ako agad ng table sa may corner, medyo malayo sa mga tao at tahimik ang napili kong mapwestuhan. Nakaupo na ako pero hindi pa din mawala wala sa isip ko ang babaeng pula yung buhok kanina na na caught ng attention ko.

This is so weird lang kasi i found myself stealing glances at the woman again kanina, she was across the room. When our eyes met, hindi ko maiwasang hindi isipin yung feeling na sense of familiarity na para bang matagal na kaming magkakilala, it's like we shared a connection that transcended the boundaries of us being strangers.

I was lost in my thoughts na hindi ko na namalayan na nasa harapan ko na pala siya not until she spoke. "Mind if I join you?" She asked, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Dagdag mo pa yung boses niya parang kulang nalang luluhod ako para sakanya, it was like she was seducing na isang pitik niya lang hawak kana niya sa leeg.

At syempre hindi na nag pa hard to get ang ate mo girl, go agad at agad akong tumango sakanya at tinuro ang empty na chair sa harapan ko. Pinilit ko pa ding kumalma at sinabing "Please, be my guest," Grabe ang tibok ng puso ko parang sasabog na, and I was feeling butterflies in my stomach as of the moment.

Umupo naman yung red haired girl sa harapan ko, yung presensya niya ang lakas mang hatak tapos ang bango bango pa parang Miss Dior. I found myself again captivated by the soft curve of her smile and the gentle sincerity in her eyes.

"I'm Mikha," The red-haired girl said, extending her hand across the table

Bai kulang nalang mahilis nako dani, tabang... attractive kaayo siya

"Aiah," I replied, returning the gesture and smiled.

Habang nag shashake hands kami, para bang kumeryente bigla yung mga kamay namin, it's like igniting a spark of connection that seemed to leap between us. Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba between us ang nakaramdam neto, hindi ko kasi matandaan na nakaramdam ako ng ganito sa ibang tao, na ganito ka effortless.

She pulled her hand back, pero yung kuryente nandun pa din, "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room," she confessed, samahan mo pa sa deep at seductive voice niya "There's something about you that feels... familiar." Dagdag niya

My heart skipped a beat sa sinabi niya, sa mukha niya ngayon para bang her mind is racing with a million of unspoken questions. So, was it possible that Mikha felt the same connection between us?

"I know it sounds strange," Mikha continued, her cheeks flushing slightly, tama ba 'tong nakikita ko? Namumula siya? "But I can't shake the feeling that we've met before, somehow."

My pulse suddenly quickened sa mga sinabi niya, a sense of excitement was coursing through my veins. Could it be true? Possible ba na nagtagpo na kami dati pa?

"It does really sounds strange because I do feel the same way too, parang I can already feel that there's this existing connection between us even before,"

"I don't know but magaan yung pakiramdam ko sayo, parang ang comfy ko na sayo even though ngayon lang tayo nag meet," She answered

Our conversation flowed effortlessly, as if we were some old friends catching up after years apart. We talked about everything na in one sitting such as our favorite things to do, our dream in the future. Kahit sandali man lang naiwan yung mga pasanin ko sa labas ng café before ako pumasok dito tapos nakilala ko pa siya.

Hindi ko na din namalayan na napapatawa niya ako ng walang kahirap hirap. Ang saya lang sa feeling na nakakapag express ako sa sarili ko sa taong hindi ko pa gaanong kilala pero parang ang tagal ko na siyang kilala. This is a feeling na hindi ko pa na experience before, you know a sense of connection and comfort that left me longing for a long time.

Before we parted ways, we exchanged each other's numbers making sure that we still get to be in touch and meet again soon after this unexpected encounter. This is just a beginning of something extraordinary and I'm glad this happened.






— to be continued.

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