CHASING HER | Maloi Ricalde

Chapter 1

Chase Pontejoras' Point of View

(September 2023)

"Girl, what do you want for dinner?" I asked Mikha soon as I came out of the study room and went straight to the kitchen.

Mikha's here at my condo unit. Kaka-move ko lang yesterday and she's the one who helped me organize my study room. Now she's just here hanging out habang hindi pa daw siya busy sa pagiging PPOP idol niya. The first day of classes is two days from now and I'm getting ready na din.

When I glanced at Mikha for a second, she's facing her phone at nakatalikod siya sa gawi ko that's why I can see what she's doing.

"Shet nakalive ka?" I asked at biglang dumapa at tumago behind the countertop. I can see that i'm visible sa camera ni Mikha.

My god, she didn't even warn me, I am just wearing a cropped tank top and jogger pants at kita pa ang waistband ng panty ko and my belly button. This is my indoor outfit kaya nakakahiya kapag may nakakita nito.

Mikha's going live in Kumu pero hindi lang ata siya, she's sharing the live with somebody else na hindi ko makita kasi she's about 5 yards distant. I tried to fix my vision para makilala kung sino yung nasa isa pang screen pero hindi ko talaga siya makita nang maayos.

"Chase say hi! Blooms and Ate Maloi, meet my bestfriend, Chase Avani!"

Oh so it's Maloi?

Lumapit ako just to make myself clearly visible sa kanila. Mikha's looking at the screen while smiling teasingly, knowing that face, she's trying not to laugh. Probably because of what I am wearing. This bitch.

"Hello po! Hello Ate Maloi, hello blooms!" I waved at them, and was about to run away but Mikha caught my arms and pulled me back to her spot.

"They're saying you're so hot. Guys, i'm telling you once you get to know her, you're going to question yourselves if she's really the girl you saw this day." Mikha laughed. "Visit her Instagram and you'll know."

Even Mikha was dumbstrucked earlier when she saw me in this clothes. She's not used to seeing me wearing hubadera clothes because I'm always on comfy fits, similar to her style but more covered ones, and my outside clothes are similar to what they call 'tita outfits'. I always go formal for some reasons.

"Bakit mo naman ine-expose yung IG ko?" I complained in a very low tone just to prevent the viewers from hearing it. Pero I think I am audible.

"Hi Chase! Nice to finally meet you!" Somebody spoke from the phone, it's Maloi. She's wearing a light make up and her signature oval-framed eyeglasses.

"Hello po Ate Maloi! Nice to meet you too." I waved at her again and leaned closer to Mikha's ear to whisper, "Shet ang ganda."

I immediately went back to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Mikha said something pa but I wasn't able to catch that.

While I was preparing our dinner, I heard Mikha answering questions about me, I should've warned her about giving my information minimal as possible. But there's a part of me shouting it's okay so Maloi can know more about me.

Some kind of fangirling there is.

Ever since bini's debut song, Maloi is the member that captivated me. But I always tell people that Mikha is my bias because, well, practically she's my best friend.

After a few minutes, Mikha ended the live and approached me.

"Try interrupting my cooking and you're gonna have to dinner out." I warned her.