The President's Daughter (Major Editing)

Chapter 17 - We and us

After the game, the players headed straight to their locker room and took their showers.

Almost all of them were finished and had left, but Mikha was still there, alone, tidying up her things in the locker room. The sound of her movements echoed softly in the empty space as she gathered her things, lost in thought.

Aiah's POV:

Colet and Gwen already freshened up. We are just waiting for Mikha to finish doing her after training routine.

Stacey: "Grabe yung friend niyo, nagcoconcert pa yata sa banyo." Inip na sabi nito na ikinatawa namin.

Jhoanna: "Learn how to wait naman." Sabay irap nito.

Stacey: "Ayyy may sumasapaw." Pagpaparinig nito.

Gwen: "Heto na naman sila."

Jhoanna: "Ate Colet! 'Wag na nga nating isama toh!" Pagsusumbong nito.

Colet: "HAHAHA hindi naman ako yung manlilibre eh." Sambit nito kaya napasimangot nalang si Jhoanna.

Tuloy-tuloy lang sa pagbabangayan ang dalawa ngunit hindi pa rin lumalabas ng locker room si Mikha.

Maloi: "Tagal ni Mikha, puntahan nalang kaya ng isa sa atin."

Sheena: "Ako na po, ate!" She gladly volunteered with her right hand raised above her head. While Colet seems to be puzzled on why Sheena is getting more comfortable with Mikha.

Colet: "Si Aiah nalang magsusundo kay Mikha. Sumabay ka na sakin Shee since wala kang dalang car. Si mikha na bahala kay Aiah. Jhoanna sumabay ka nalang kela Stacey, Maloi, at Gwen." Sambit nito at biglang hinila si Sheena papunta sa sasakyan nito.

Gwen: "Grabe naman 'yon! Kala mo mangangain."

Stacey: "Katakot si Ate Colet. Unstan ko na siya." Pagbibiro nito.

Maloi: "HAHAHHA for da selos naman pala ang Nicolette niyo."

Jhoanna: "Sige na ate Aiah, puntahan mo na si Mikhs para makasunod kayo agad. Alam naman na namin kung saan eh."

Colet's POV:

I have no idea what's happening to me, but one thing I'm sure of, I'm not happy with what I am seeing. Since last Wednesday nagiging close sina Mikha and Sheena sa isa't-isa.

Hindi ko dapat naramdaman toh. Magkaibigan lang sila. Arghhh ano ba Nicolette!

Sheena: "A-ate Cols." Her soft voice broke the silence, stopping me in my tracks. Hearing her words shaky, I froze, still facing away from her, and I felt her hesitation to speak. "A-ate... m-my hand."

At her words, I released her hand and turned to look. My heart sank when I saw the red mark on her wrist from my grip. I immediately looked up at her face, and there she was—the girl I wanted so badly to protect—tears welling in her eyes, fear written all over her expression.

"S-Shee..." I whispered, but she quickly hid both hands behind her back, taking a step away from me.

"Sheena... I-I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to." I stammered. Swallowing my pride, I closed the distance between us and pulled her into a tight embrace, hoping she could feel the sincerity in my apology.

Iyak lang ito ng iyak. "Shhh, sorry na po. 'Di ko sinasadya na umakto ng ganon. Sorry my Shee." I tried my very best to stop her from geting scared and crying.