Silk & Cologne | Miguel O'Hara

Chapter 24 - Confrontation

Warnings: ANGST. JUST ANGST.

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Miguel's P.O.V.

Miguel stood there. He just stood there. He couldn't move. Still as a statue. His lips parted, wanting to speak, scream, say something. But words were failing him.

She kissed me. Lisa kissed me.

"Miguel?" Lyla spoke up, her AI form slowly hovering towards him. "Are you okay?"

Miguel took a deep breath, and sighed heavily, letting it out. He took another deep breath, and let it out. He repeated the action several times, his chest rising and falling as he tried to calm his thunderous heart beat.

He reached a hand out, interacting with the holographic controls of the projection as he rewound the video and played it back from the beginning. Miguel didn't pay attention to anything else in the recording. He focused everything on Lisa. Her movements, her voice, he studied it all.

When it came to the part showing the kiss, Miguel paused the feed as their lips touched. He studied her blemish, the way her hands gently cradled his face. He rewound the feed and watched it again, and again, and again.

The hand at his mouth curled into a loose fist as his gaze stare intensely at the projection. Something was pulsing in his stomach, like butterflies. But in his chest. . .

"Miguel?" Lyla gently called for him again.

His thundering heart fluttered, a fire burning in his chest. At recognition, passion, but also. . . betrayal.

Why did Lyla lie to me? Why would she cover this up?

Why would Lisa lie to me?

His eyes flickered briefly to its ruby blood red iris as he narrowed his gaze towards the AI. Lyla was digitally sweating bullets on her forehead as Miguel managed the strength and courage to take a step forward.

"Lyla. . ." The words were right there, but Miguel had trouble getting the full sentence out. All he could manage was a low growl as he spoke, "Why?"

"I promised Lisa I wouldn't tell you," She gulped as her body flew over towards the projection, enhancing the image of Lisa and Miguel together.

"But why would Lisa think I'd treat her differently because of that ?" Miguel asked her.

Unless–?

Then it hits him. Like a splash of cold water was dumped on him and woke him up. His eyes go wide as Miguel stumbles back before catching himself. His heart thundered harder in his chest.

What if Lisa liked me?

"Oh, shock-!" Miguel cursed as he began to pace.

"Miguel, look at me!" Lyla flew around him, trying to catch his gaze but Miguel kept pacing. "Miguel–!"

"Le gusto a Lisa. ¿De verdad le gusto? " Miguel's low grumbled voice rambled on as he continued to pace, his breathing becoming more staggered. - Lisa likes me. She actually likes me?!

"Will you listen to me?!" Lyla yelped. "I won't order extra empanadas for you for dinner if you don't stop pacing around!"

All the teasing he did and the compliments. Deep down he knew that he wouldn't be able to pursue her in that kind of relationship. The risk of triggering another dimension shattering anomaly was convincing enough for him. He thought a little cute flirting here and there would be fine, but now that he has the knowledge that she genuinely liked him back?