Mikha Lim prided herself on being untouchable. Whether it was her leather jacket slung casually over her shoulder or the way she leaned against her motorbike like it was part of her body, she oozed confidence. Her “maangas” image had earned her a reputation as the campus cool girl, the type people admired but rarely approached.
But that day, everything about her untouchable façade came crashing down.
Mikha stood in front of the university fountain, holding a bright pink balloon with “I’m sorry, my OA queen, please take me back!” written in glittery script. Beside her was a bouquet of sunflowers—Stacey’s favorite. Students passing by stopped and stared, whispering among themselves. A few even pulled out their phones to record the rare sight of Mikha Lim, the girl who never bent to anyone, looking undeniably awkward.
“Lim, anong nangyayari dito?” one of her friends, Colet, called out from the crowd, holding back a laugh.
“Walang pake, Colet,” Mikha muttered, clutching the balloon tighter as her eyes scanned the crowd for one person: Stacey Sevilleja.
It wasn’t long before she spotted Stacey near the library entrance, animatedly chatting with her friends. Stacey, in her usual loud and overly dramatic way, threw her hands in the air, laughing at something her friend said. Her energy was magnetic, a force Mikha had been drawn to from the moment they met.
Taking a deep breath, Mikha marched toward her. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder.
“Stace, wait!” Mikha called, her voice cutting through the noise.
Stacey turned, her laughter fading as her eyes landed on Mikha. Her brows furrowed. “Mikha? Ano ’to?”
Mikha stopped in front of her, the pink balloon bobbing slightly in the wind. “This is me saying sorry. For everything. For being stubborn, for messing up… for losing you.”
The crowd around them seemed to collectively hold its breath. Stacey blinked, glancing at the balloon and bouquet, then back at Mikha. “Lim, are you serious right now? Ikaw ba talaga ’to? The Mikha Lim who doesn’t care about anything?”
“I care about you,” Mikha said without hesitation. Her voice softened, losing its usual edge. “And if I have to ruin my image to prove it, okay lang. Gusto lang kitang bumalik.”
Stacey’s friends exchanged amused looks as she crossed her arms, trying to suppress a smile. “Balloon and flowers lang? Is this supposed to make up for everything?”
“No,” Mikha said quickly. “This is just the start. Let me prove it to you. I’ll do whatever it takes, Stace.”
The crowd erupted into whispers again, but Mikha didn’t care. Her entire world was focused on Stacey, who stood there, lips twitching as if she couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry.
Finally, Stacey grabbed the bouquet and balloon, holding them up like trophies. “Lim, ikaw na talaga. Pero you better work hard. Hindi ako cheap, ha?”
Mikha grinned, a real, unguarded smile that melted away her usual cool demeanor. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
The next week, Mikha went all out.
It started with little things. She would leave Stacey’s favorite snacks on her desk in the journalism room with sticky notes that read “For my pretty pink princess. –Mikha.” She showed up to Stacey’s classes with iced coffee and used the excuse, “Nadaanan ko lang sa cafeteria, naisip kita.”
But the most dramatic effort came when Stacey’s student org was hosting a fundraising event. Stacey had volunteered to help, of course, because she loved being the center of attention. The event involved a small singing contest, and Stacey was busy managing the contestants.
Mikha walked into the venue late, wearing her signature leather jacket and shades. She looked like she didn’t belong, which only made heads turn. Stacey, who was setting up at the front, spotted her and groaned.
“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Stacey hissed, approaching her.
Mikha took off her shades and smirked. “Contestant ako.”
“Contestant?!” Stacey’s voice rose an octave. “Mikha, marunong ka bang kumanta?”
Mikha shrugged. “Hindi. Pero gusto ko kasi ikaw ang judge.”
Stacey gaped, completely caught off guard. The event host called Mikha’s name, and before Stacey could protest, Mikha was already on stage.
Mikha grabbed the mic, looking uncharacteristically nervous. She scanned the small crowd until her eyes landed on Stacey, who was standing frozen near the side of the stage.
“This one’s for you, Stacey,” Mikha said into the mic, her voice echoing through the venue.
The room erupted into cheers as Mikha began an off-key but heartfelt rendition of “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko.” Her voice cracked on some notes, and she stumbled through the lyrics, but she never took her eyes off Stacey.
Stacey, for all her dramatic flair, was speechless. Her friends nudged her, whispering, “Grabe, Lim’s down bad for you, girl.”
When Mikha finished, the audience gave her a standing ovation—not because her performance was good, but because her effort was undeniably sweet.
Mikha stepped off the stage and approached Stacey, who was still clutching the clipboard she’d been using to organize the event. “So… what do you think?”
Stacey stared at her, then let out a laugh so loud it echoed through the venue. “Lim, that was awful.”
“Yeah,” Mikha admitted, scratching the back of her neck. “Pero at least I tried, ’di ba?”
Stacey rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “You’re ridiculous, Mikha. Sige na nga. I’ll think about it.”
Mikha grinned, the kind of grin that lit up her usually serious face. “That’s all I’m asking for.”
It took another week of grand gestures and small, thoughtful moments before Stacey finally gave in.
Mikha found herself waiting outside Stacey’s dorm one rainy evening, holding an umbrella in one hand and a bag of Stacey’s favorite empanadas in the other. When Stacey opened the door and saw her, she sighed.
“Lim, alam mo bang may buhay ako? Hindi ka pwedeng mag-camp out dito every day.”
“I’m not camping out,” Mikha said, handing her the empanadas. “Gusto ko lang makita yung ngiti mo bago matapos ang araw ko.”
Stacey groaned, but her cheeks turned pink. “Ang cheesy mo talaga lately.”
“Because I love you,” Mikha said simply.
That was all it took for Stacey’s defenses to crumble. She stepped outside, grabbed Mikha by the collar, and kissed her, the rain falling softly around them.
When they pulled apart, Stacey smirked. “Fine, Lim. You win. Pero tandaan mo—this doesn’t mean you can slack off, ha?”
Mikha chuckled, pulling her closer under the umbrella. “I wouldn’t dream of it, my pretty pink princess.”
The weeks that followed felt like a blur of late nights, spontaneous surprises, and Mikha’s relentless pursuit of winning Stacey back. Each day, Mikha showed up in some new, unexpected way—sometimes loud and over the top, and other times quietly thoughtful. Every gesture, every action, was a piece of her heart laid bare. And each time, she saw a flicker in Stacey’s eyes—a brief moment where the walls she had built around her heart seemed to soften.
But it wasn’t easy.
It was another Friday afternoon when Mikha decided to surprise Stacey once more. The weather was warm, the sun blazing overhead, and Mikha had gotten an idea after overhearing Stacey and her friends talk about their plans to visit the local beach.
“Baka gusto mo sumama,” Colet had said, “kailangan mo ng break, Stace. You’re always on your feet.”
Stacey had groaned, agreeing only half-heartedly. “Sige na nga, baka nga. Pero hindi ako magpapapicture ng walang filter!”
Mikha had overheard that conversation from the hallway. She smiled to herself, a bit mischievous.
That afternoon, Mikha stood outside Stacey’s dorm, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of sunglasses. She had a cooler bag slung over her shoulder, and the sight of her standing there made some of Stacey’s friends do a double-take.
When Stacey opened the door, she froze for a moment. Mikha was standing there, looking every bit the picture of carefree fun.
“Hindi ka ba dapat may ibang schedule, Mikha? Bakit andito ka na naman?” Stacey asked, crossing her arms, though Mikha could tell she was fighting a smile.
Mikha tilted her head, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “You were talking about going to the beach, right? I thought I’d join you, princess.”
Stacey blinked, eyes widening. “Seriously?”
Before Mikha could answer, she handed her the cooler bag. “I got snacks—tuna sandwiches, chips– super crunch your favorite, coke, and your favorite sunblock, the one you like that smells like coconuts.”
Stacey took the bag from Mikha, her mouth slightly agape. “Bakit ba ganyan ka? Kung hindi ka pa seryoso, nakakahiya na.”
Mikha shrugged nonchalantly, but her heart was racing. “What can I say? You’re worth it. I want to spend the day with you, Stace. No gimmicks, no games.”
Stacey hesitated, glancing at her friends who were quietly observing. Mikha could see her thinking it over, weighing her options. But then, just as she was about to turn away, Stacey surprised her.
“Sige na nga,” she said, a grin breaking out across her face. “Pero only if you promise not to steal all the chips, Lim.”
Mikha smirked. “I’ll let you have your share. For today, at least.”
At the beach, Mikha’s cool exterior melted away completely. Stacey’s friends had long given up on trying to get Mikha to stop being so charmingly aloof—her usually intimidating presence was softened by the way she interacted with Stacey. Every now and then, Mikha would find ways to make Stacey laugh: a goofy dance move, an offhand comment about the ridiculousness of the other tourists, or even making an overly dramatic show of slathering sunblock on Stacey’s arms.
But the moment that truly made Mikha feel like she had gotten somewhere was when Stacey finally opened up.
They were sitting by the shore, the sand cool under their feet as they watched the sun dip into the horizon. The sky was painted with hues of orange, pink, and lavender.
Mikha glanced at Stacey, who was staring out at the ocean, her expression unreadable.
“Stace?” Mikha called gently.
Stacey turned to look at her. “Hmm?”
“I know I messed up,” Mikha said quietly. “And I know it’s hard to trust me again. But… I just want you to know, I’m not the same person I was before.”
Stacey raised an eyebrow. “Ang bigat ng usapan mo, Lim. What’s going on?”
Mikha swallowed, then nudged her lightly. “I’m not saying I’m perfect, or that I deserve a second chance. But… I’ve realized that the things I thought were important before—like my reputation, my image—it all means nothing if I don’t have you. You’re… you’re the one who makes me want to be better.”
There was a silence between them as the wind swept around them. Stacey was quiet, but Mikha could see the small flicker of something in her eyes—something softer, less guarded.
“Bakit ba ganyan ka? Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka magkamali ka ulit?” Stacey asked.
Mikha shook her head. “I used to be afraid of failure. But now, I’m more afraid of losing you. If I make a mistake, then I’ll fix it. I’ll work for it.”
Stacey was quiet for a long time, staring at Mikha. Her lips parted, and for a second, Mikha thought she was about to say something harsh, something that would push her away again. But instead, Stacey took a deep breath and sighed.
“I’ll think about it,” she said softly. “But… for now, let’s just enjoy the sunset, okay?”
Mikha smiled, feeling something settle in her chest. “Okay. But just so you know, I’m going to keep trying until you say yes.”
Stacey rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth in her smile. “You’re hopeless.”
“But I’m your hopeless case,” Mikha teased, nudging her again.
The next few days passed in a blur of small moments—shared meals, late-night conversations, and Mikha showing up unexpectedly with yet another surprise. Stacey was still cautious, still hesitant, but Mikha was nothing if not persistent.
One afternoon, Mikha arrived with a giant teddy bear, way bigger than anyone would ever expect someone like her to carry. As soon as she saw Stacey, she tossed it at her dramatically.
“Gusto mo ‘to? I swear, hindi ko na kayang ipaliwanag kung bakit ko binili ‘to, pero it’s for you. Wala lang, keri mo ba?”
Stacey stared at the bear, then at Mikha, before breaking into laughter. “Lim, you’re insane.”
“I know,” Mikha said, walking toward her. “But you love it.”
“I’m starting to think I do,” Stacey admitted, her voice softer now. “Fine, fine. I’ll admit it. You’re… making progress.”
Mikha’s eyes lit up. “Is that a yes?”
Stacey looked at her with a raised eyebrow, biting her lip, and for a moment, Mikha was sure she’d lost again. But then, Stacey stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Mikha’s neck, pulling her into a hug.
“You’re still an idiot,” Stacey whispered, “but I think I can deal with you again.”
Mikha grinned, lifting her up slightly as she spun her around. “So… that’s a yes?”
“Of course it is,” Stacey said, laughing. “You had me at the giant teddy bear.”
And that was all Mikha needed—Stacey was back. For good this time.