Take my Hand | MIKHAIAH

CHAPTER 9 - Three Stupid Brats

They went to the traditional market on a chilly Saturday after Mikha picked Aiah up from her office. Mikha was mostly standing and eating street snacks and held the plastic bag whilst Aiah chose and made a bid for the things she needed.

Mikha recalled the last time she came to a traditional market. It was really a long time ago. Probably when she was still in med school.

"I think we already have the necessary ingredients." Aiah said as she paid for the groceries.

Mikha masticated the street food as she wafted through her mouth because it was really hot.

"Hey, hey, you'll burn your mouth with that." she frowned disapprovingly.

"This is really good. You wanna try?" Mikha blew the snack. Aiah shook her head.

"Let's go home, Mikhs." She carried some of the plastic bags then they walked towards the parking lot.

- - - - - - - -

"Bub, can we nap before we start cooking?" Mikha yawned while putting their groceries in the fridge.

"We?"

"Woaabbb?" she yawned again.

"You want to nap with me? You said 'we'." Aiah smirked at her.

Teasing each other like this was totally fun for the both of them. Maybe the response from the others kept them entertained even though inside their hearts, the joke or the tease made their heart beating a little bit faster than normal.

"No!" Mikha was caught off guard, her cheeks began to change color into a shade of pink. "I mean, I want to take a nap, by myself, in my bedroom, on my own bed." she stammered then turned her head to the fridge focusing on what she was doing, ignoring Aiah who was laughing. She was happy making Mikha stutter.

"Wake me up if I sleep too long. Don't start cooking without me." The tall girl walked out the kitchen with her back facing Aiah. Mikha laid on her back on the bed, covering her face with a pillow. She breathed in and out for a couple times before her erratic heart became slower.

'You're messing with my head, Aiah. What are you? What the hell are you doing?' she sighed loudly.

'Why are you doing this?' she can feel it. The walls she built were slowly melting down. She shook her head vigorously.

'Keep yourself together, Mikhaela! She's just a stranger who happens to be living with you. She's not worth it. She's not worth another pain. She's just being polite. Yeah, polite.' she murmured the same mantra over and over. She grabbed her bolster and closed her eyes. Finally, she did the best she usually does; shut down the problem and ignore it for as long as it's possible.

- - - - - - - -

Mikha woke up abruptly when she heard the knock at the door making her head throbbing. Aiah's head partly appeared through the slightly opened door.

"You awake?"

"Yeah," she answered with a hoarse voice. "I'll take a shower first then join you."

"It's okay if you still want to sleep." Aiah said softly.

"No, I'm fine." She slowly got off the bed, dragging her feet towards the bathroom.

When she finished her shower, Mikha took her phone from her drawer and put it in her pocket. She entered the kitchen with a delicious smoke greeting her. Aiah, with her high ponytail and pink apron, was busy slicing the meat.