Mic Drop Harmony (BINI_Aiah & Female!Reader Fanfiction)

CHAPTER 27 - PR

Fury coursed through you as you watched Joao's unwelcome kiss land on Aiah's cheek. You stormed past them, shoving the apartment door open with enough force to make it slam shut. The jarring sound echoed through the hallway, a physical manifestation of the anger simmering within you.

Inside the apartment, you bumped into Colet, who was enjoying a cup of tea. "Problema?" she inquired, concern lacing her voice. You were about to unleash your frustration when the apartment door creaked open once more. Aiah and Joao entered, Ling-ling nestled in Aiah's arms.

"Ah, kaya," Colet remarked, a knowing chuckle escaping her lips.

Maloi appeared at the top of the stairs, drawn in by the commotion. "Sino ba yang nagbabagsak ng pinto?" she asked, her voice laced with annoyance.

Colet gestured towards her tea. "Halika dito, loi. Maiinit init pa ang tsaa."

Maloi descended the stairs, spotting you, Aiah, and Joao in the process. She grabbed the teacup from Colet, taking a hasty sip. "Mainit nga!" she exclaimed with a smirk.

It wasn't lost on you that neither Colet nor Maloi acknowledged Joao's presence, a silent yet powerful display of solidarity. Their focus shifted to the overflowing paper bags and the tiny creature nestled in Aiah's arms.

Colet offered her help, and together they ushered you towards the living room. "Ang dami naman neto para kay Ling-ling," Maloi remarked, amusement dancing in her eyes as she peeked into one of the bags.

The atmosphere started to lighten as Maloi pulled out a pink harness adorned with a playful ribbon. "Hala, ang cute!" she squealed. "This would look perfect on you, Ling. Very coquette."

Maloi's laughter filled the room as she playfully addressed the kitten. Ling-ling, for his part, seemed captivated by the attention, his gaze fixed on Maloi.

"Oo nga," Colet chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Parehas kayo."

A tense silence followed as Aiah spoke up. "Alam niyo ba sabi ng vet, lalaki pala si Ling." You immediately glanced at her, and your eyes met Joao's as he attempted to pet the kitten.

Ling-ling, however, wasn't receptive to his advances. He hissed, his tiny body bristling in defiance.

A barely audible whisper escaped Colet's lips, directed at you and Maloi. "Pati pusa ayaw man sa kanya, eh." Her words were laced with amusement and a hint of satisfaction.

Unable to contain yourself any longer, you rose from your seat and gently retrieved Ling-ling from Aiah's arms.

"Parehas tayo, Ling?" Maloi cooed at the kitten, settling him comfortably on her lap once you were seated on the couch.

She showered the little ball of fur with affection, whispering sweet nothings as she cradled him close. "Our coquette boy," she declared, her voice dripping with mock sentimentality.

Meanwhile, Aiah and Joao were oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. They were engrossed in taking a selfie, their laughter echoing through the room. You couldn't help but roll your eyes at their display of forced intimacy.

Maloi's playful interaction with Ling-ling temporarily diverted your attention. She gently transferred the kitten back into your arms as Colet approached, phone pressed to her ear.

"Looks like I'm on takeout duty," Colet announced. "Jollibee sound good? What can I get you, Y/N?"

"Just two chickenjoy meals with fries for me and Ling-ling," you replied, your voice strained.

Colet raised an eyebrow. "What about Aiah? Does she want anything?"

"I don't know," you sighed, frustration lacing your tone. "Joao will probably take her out for dinner later." You rolled your eyes again, unable to mask your irritation.

Once Colet and Maloi departed, leaving you alone with Aiah and Joao, you felt a surge of apprehension. The thought of leaving them together gnawed at you, despite the trust you had in Aiah. You understood that her relationship with Joao was likely a product of her management's machinations, a necessary evil in the world of show business.

However, the sight of them together, the way Joao had kissed her earlier, sent a jolt of jealousy coursing through you. You knew you needed to have a conversation with Aiah, to understand where you both stood and how you could navigate this unexpected complication in your blossoming relationship.

Taking a deep breath, you stood up, Ling-ling nestled securely in your arms. "I'm going to put Ling-ling down for a nap," you announced, your voice neutral despite the turmoil within. You stole a glance at Aiah, hoping to gauge her reaction.

Her gaze met yours, and for a fleeting moment, a flicker of understanding seemed to pass between you. Would she follow you? Would she choose you over this PR with Joao?

The takeout bags sat untouched on the coffee table inside Aiah's room, the silence in the apartment thick enough to cut with a knife, your bandmates already left, the other BINI members are in their separate rooms. You'd settled Ling-ling in a cozy bed that Aiah bought earlier, his tiny snores a quiet counterpoint to the storm brewing inside you. Aiah sat on the couch, her phone clutched tightly in her hands, her eyes glued to the screen but not really seeing anything.

Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, you cleared your throat. Aiah's head snapped up, her eyes filled with a mixture of apprehension and defiance.

"Can we talk?" you asked, your voice gentle despite the knot of tension coiling in your stomach.

Aiah hesitated for a moment, then nodded curtly. Setting her phone down on the coffee table, she shifted to face you, her expression unreadable.

You took a deep breath. "About Joao..." you began, choosing your words carefully.

"It's just PR," Aiah blurted out, her voice laced with defensiveness. "Management thinks it'll be good for my image."

"I understand that naman," you said, holding up a hand to stop her. "But the way he acted earlier... the kiss..." Your voice trailed off, unable to articulate the hurt and confusion swirling within you.

Aiah flushed, a flicker of shame crossing her features. "Look," she sighed, leaning back against the couch, "Joao and I, there's nothing there. It's all for show lang, love."

You believed her, or at least you wanted to. But the sight of them together, the way Joao had touched her, it had left a bitter aftertaste in your mouth.

"But what about us, Aiah?" you asked, your voice dropping to a whisper. "Is this just... another show?"

Aiah seemed to shrink under your gaze. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were filled with a vulnerability you hadn't seen before. "No," she whispered, shaking her head vehemently. "Y/N, you're different. You..." she faltered, her voice catching in her throat.

Taking a step closer, she knelt down in front of you, placing a comforting hand on yours. "You care about me, Y/N/N," she said softly. "Do I care about you too much to just be part of this PR game?"

Aiah's eyes welled up with tears. She squeezed your hand tightly, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "Please, Y/N, don't think that. You mean everything to me. This whole PR thing... it's just a contract. But what we have, it's real."

Your heart ached at the raw honesty in her voice. You knew she was right. The connection you shared, the stolen moments, the shared laughter, it couldn't be faked.

"Then let's show them what's real," you said, a newfound determination filling your voice. "Let's not let them define our relationship."

Aiah's lips curved into a small smile, a flicker of hope replacing the tears in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, a hint of disbelief coloring her voice.

"If gusto mo?," you asked, she leaned in and brushing her lips softly against yours. The kiss was brief, a promise whispered between two hearts.

Pulling back, you looked into her eyes. "But," you started, a mischievous glint entering your gaze, "maybe we can have a little fun with this PR charade of theirs."

Aiah raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Oh yeah? And how do you propose we do that?"

You leaned in closer, a conspiratorial grin spreading across your face. "Let's rewrite the script, shall we?"