Chapter 17 (1/2)

¹Yakapsul - ”Yakap” means hug while the ”-sul” came from ”Capsule”

²Kisspirin - Kiss + Aspirin.

³Paracetamolove - Paracetamol + Love.

The above are famous ”medicines” for those who are love sick.

⁴Wiggle - Mentioned on 23:11's Chapter 70, 83, and 85 as

Miko's ”very emotional” song.

⁵Woman - According to research, the woman Jhing met in the

restaurant before and the woman she met in the washroom

today are two different people; they're twins.

Remember when Miko asked back then,

”Are you Raf? Or Sef?” The twins and Ulysses are both characters

from the author's another novel.

⁶Paper Dance - Each pair dances around a newspaper/manila paper/etc.

Once the music stops, the pair needs to be inside the paper's area.

If they stumbled out, they lose. The paper gets folded in half

every round and is repeated until one pair is left standing.

#DepthOfUncertainty

“Facing uncertainties in life is an exciting story to be told.”

-x-

Jhing was trapped inside her own cage with a key of a lock that didn’t exist. After all, since the beginning, the door was open for her. As she stepped near the exit, her grip tightened at the cage’s bars. The uncertainty was more frightening than the last time she checked.

“Yakapsul¹?”

July may or may not know Jhing could hear her…. or them.

“Kisspirin²,” Yayo who was sitting beside July laughed mischievously.

July followed. “Paracetamolove³!”

They are currently in their year-end party for the company. Even with the music banging their ears and the cheers from the people dancing on the floor were loud, Jhing can clearly hear Yayo's and July's voices. Obviously, their topic was her and how she managed to get better after being ill for a week.

They were seated next to each other, for Pete’s sake!

She should’ve just stayed at home.

Jhing was forced to see the Executive Director. July gossiped that he was hot, and she was right. Mr. Uriah Flynn Valentine was one h.e.l.l of a handsome man with authority aura screaming. He and his companies looked elegant at the table except for one: a woman standing beside Mr. Valentine who looked uncomfortable with this higher ent.i.ty.

Jhing wanted to pull the girl away from the higher crowd and tap the woman’s shoulder and say, I feel you because she can understand the awkward feeling when you're with someone filthy rich.

She got lost in her thoughts when the MC announced, “Please welcome, our own Pork, Chop, and Ketchup!”

A lot of people got excited thinking that the famous celebrities Vhong, Billy, and Vice Ganda came but everyone, including Jhing, stared dumbfoundedly at the men who appeared on the stage.

Ulysses, a guy she’s not familiar with…. and Miko.

Yayo almost made everyone on her table deaf when she screamed ”Oh G.o.d, I feel like my baby's coming out!! That's Miko! Our team! Go book team! And the two hotties whose name I don't know!”

Oh, that pregnant woman.

They all wore casual clothes; the unfamiliar guy in simple long sleeves and jeans, Ulysses in tight long sleeve polo with suspenders and skinny jeans looked like a s.e.xy star of some sort, and Miko was like walking in the park with his s.h.i.+rt, skinny shorts, and loafers.

And heck, girls were screaming!

Except for Jhing, of course.

She didn't want to watch whatever they will be doing but when the familiar music started to play, Jhing's world stopped for a second.

You know what to do with that big fat b.u.t.t

The three guys placed their hands on their hips and started circling their hips.

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle¹

No matter how Jhing tried to look away, she couldn’t take her eyes off of Miko. She watched as he moved his body, swayed, and circled like a professional.

He looked… manly.

Was that even possible!?

So the reason why this man is tone-deaf was that…

He was one h.e.l.l of a dancer.

Until the end of their dance number, Miko was all smiles and his eyes were on her. Her cheeks felt hot. Jhing was panicking so much that she accidentally drank wine. After talking with his friends, Miko walked towards the book team table. He sat down on the empty chair beside Jhing.

“How was my dance?” he asked as sweat drips on his face.

Yayo was fangirling when Miko nudged Jhing at the side.

“What?” Jhing frowned.

“Did you like it?” Miko grabbed her wine gla.s.s and drank from it before Jhing could stop him. After breathing deeply, he said, “Let me drink ah?”

“What's the use of asking?” she rolled her eyes. “I wasn't paying attention.”

“Oh? I think you were staring at me during the whole performance?”

Why were her cheeks burning?! “Wow.” She felt like slapping him. “I wasn't staring at you.”

Miko laughed. “Just staring at my body ah?”

Jhing was out of words! How could he? And why is he always making her speechless?

“Uyy, what's this? You created your own bubble again,” July teased which made the others look in their direction.

That was the cue for Jhing to excuse herself and go to the washroom to escape the spotlight.

Jhing saw Ulysses in the hallway. He smiled at her so she smiled back before entering the washroom. She stood in front of the mirror when a familiar woman went out of a cubicle and washed her hands beside her; the woman with Ulysses last time.

She wanted to smile at her, just for the sake of being friendly, but was weirded out when the latter didn’t even look at Jhing like they hadn’t smiled at each other before. As if they never met⁵.

Ugh. So much for trying to be friendly. That's why she doesn't like smiling at other people ah, she felt dumb.

Jhing could hear the MC talking when she entered the function room. While walking towards their table, her co-workers started pus.h.i.+ng each other to join the game which the host organized. Before Jhing can sit down, July pulled to raise her hand.

“Miss Zue!” July screamed. “Jhing! Jhing wants to join!”

Before Jhing can react, she was already pulled to the center to join a game. Her heart was beating so freaking fast. It almost died on her when she realized everything: They're doing paper dance game⁶ and her partner? Who else?

“Win this game Miko and Jhing! The Book Team is counting on you two!” Miss Zue cheered. “The book team needs the honor we can get from this game!”

Jhing was an awkward person with dancing, crowd, and everything. That's why she felt anxious when the music started. If only she can pretend as if no one was looking at her and that only Miko is in the room with her, Jhing can calm down. But of course, it wouldn’t. Who can calm down when you're in the presence of Miko? Not Jhing.

But Miko knew she was uncomfortable, so he held both of her hands and started wiggling it with his as if dancing.  They looked ridiculous! But at least, they both look ridiculous.

When the music stopped, Miko pulled Jhing inside the Manila paper. His grip on her hand tightened while Jhing’s heart was killing her. She couldn’t look at him and was lowering her head.

After the first round, Jhing removed Miko's hold from her before swaying her body just to look like she was dancing. When the music stopped, they both stepped on the folded paper. After three rounds, Jhing was sure the paper was too small for both of them to fit.

This is the moment where they will flirt as Miko would need to carry her just to win the prize of this silly game.

The music started again. Her eyes stared at Miko’s shoulder. The music played for a long time before Jhing's heart dropped. Miko was antic.i.p.ating he would carry Jhing, but Jhing didn’t move. Even an inch.

They stared into each other’s eyes.

Miko’s eyes begged jump in, while Jhing replied with I’m sorry.

They lost the game.

The Book Team didn't get the pride and honor they wanted but at least they won 1st place for the Successful Innovation award.

Jhing felt horrible, G.o.ds, what has she done?

When Miko went out of the function room, Jhing followed him on impulse. Maybe she can apologize? Miko went to the washroom so she waited for him. The man was really surprised to see Jhing standing in the hallway but still smiled.

“O, what are you doing here?” He asked while walking downstairs. “Are you finally admitting that you're stalking me?”

Jhing didn't reply so Miko waved his hand goodbye. However, when he went down, so did Jhing.

“You're going in this direction too?” he asked.

“I'm not following you.”

Miko’s smile was far from playful when he said, “That's not what I was asking but okay.”

Jhing was freaking out inside. Her lips couldn’t utter a single sorry, so she just started talking about Christmas to break the awkward silence.

“Where are you going for Christmas this year?”

And G.o.ds, she wanted to smack her head with the question. She suddenly felt embarra.s.sed! Who knows what this idiot will think of her? But she couldn't take it back anymore.

“It depends,” Miko smirked. “Where are we going?”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously. Where?”

“Just like last year, in my studio.” Miko was waiting for Jhing to ask again, but of course, what can you expect from Jhing? So he asked, “You? What about your Christmas?”

“My apartment.”

“You're not going back to your hometown? To your family? Quezon, right?”

He remembered.

“I was going to do a surprise-visit but because of my deadlines, I can't go.”

The two went out of the building. They started walking without knowing their destination.

“Awtsu. So we're both forever alone on Christmas,” Miko laughed. ”You know, right? When you're cold on Christmas…”

Jhing's forehead creased. “What?”

“Make it hot.” Miko laughed at Jhing’s arched brow. “The coffee I mean, to warm your body. What were you thinking?”

“Whatever.”

They went inside the Family Mart. Jhing bought bottled water and Maltesers chocolate while Miko bought green tea ice cream.

“Your favorite?” Miko asked before pointing at the chocolate.

“No. After buying, I usually throw it out.” in my stomach.

“Seriously!” Miko laughed. “My soul is broken into pieces because of your sa.s.siness.”

Jhing rolled her eyes. “How was your Christmas last year?” she asked to change the subject. The staffs are staring at them because of their noise ah. Or Miko's noise.

“Mama and Neph visited me in the studio.”

“Neph?”

“My sister who's as cold as you.”

Jhing shrugged her shoulders. She wanted to ask about the Dad but she couldn’t even say the word. It felt like poison on her tongue, and he didn’t mention anything about the Dad so… nevermind.

“How was yours?”

And that was the question she didn’t want to answer. Why the h.e.l.l did she ask him that question, anyway? Stupid. Christmas should be a day of presents, smiles, and family ties, but all she could remember was his anger, her Nanay’s pleads, and her sibling’s cries and questions. Jhing doesn't even remember what she did; did she fought back, did she kept quiet and tolerate like she always did, or did she cry with her siblings?

“None,” she answered as they went out of the store. “Same boring day.”

Miko shook his head and smiled. “Want some?” He offered his ice cream. He even lifted it closer to his lips which made her grimace. “Come on, try it. It's delicious.”

“The what? Your saliva or the ice cream?” Jhing asked with disgust before eating her own chocolate.

Miko laughed. “Both?”

“Yuck, you're gross.”

“What a hater ah.”

Jhing rolled her eyes; it was her subst.i.tute of her laughter for him.

They walked in silence, but both felt peaceful. Sometimes, Miko will comment about things they were pa.s.sing by as he licked his ice cream with gusto. Jhing can't understand what's so good about green tea ice cream… ugh.

“You really did follow me, no?” Miko suddenly asked. Jhing was about to rebut but was stopped. “Don't deny it. Because if not, we both won't be walking towards nowhere right now.”

“Whatever,” she said. But her mind kept panicking. He was f.u.c.king attentive. Why?! “The year-end party was boring.”

“That's why you followed me because I'm not boring? Is it like that?” Ahh, he was feeding his big ego as he finished feeding on his ice cream. “Let me drink.”

“I don't want to.”

“Come on.”

Miko forcefully took the bottle from Jhing. Before he could drink, Jhing stole it back which made few drops spill on her.

“Don't drink mine!” she scolded. But because she felt pity, Jhing used the cap of the bottle as his gla.s.s. “Drink here.”

Miko took the cap while feeling gloomy. ”Wow. This will really quench my thirst.” Even though he was complaining, he still drank for that very small and tiny gla.s.s. “Ah! The heck, the water only reached my tongue!”

“Who told you to eat ice cream?”

“Just let me drink ah.”

It was then that Jhing had an idea. She told him that she'll just pour the water in his mouth.

“What if I get drowned?!”

“Then it's fun.”

“Wow. Number sign bad girl.”

Jhing rolled her eyes. Miko continued to bother her but Jhing didn't bend. “Do you want me to pour this to your nose instead?”

“How cold.”

In the end, Miko bent his knees while Jhing tiptoed. She aimed the water at Miko's opened mouth…. He almost choked when a stranger pa.s.serby spoke: “Young people these days…”

They both looked at the woman, then to each other, and then to the woman again.

Miko shook his head. “Bitterness really don't choose any age. It seems like someone's forever alone for Christmas.”

Jhing pushed Miko for that comment. They walked for a distance before she noticed that Miko went silent. She glanced at him and saw his strange actions. Miko was wincing… as if in pain.

“Are you okay?”

“Ha? Ah, yeah.”

He wasn’t.

“Are you sick?”

Miko smiled before pointing at his chest. “This here is sick.”

“b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” she deadpanned. “Seriously though?”

“It's just uh… my stom—” Miko retched! “Uh… I'm okay.”

Jhing studied. He started retching again which made him groan. Miko was hurting yet he wasn’t saying anything.

“Do you want any medicine or anything?”

Miko couldn't reply. He couldn’t even stand properly. A few minutes later, he ran towards the nearest trash can to vomit.

“Hey—what happened to you?!” Jhing finally offered her bottled water to let him drink.