Mirror Mirror

Chapter 6: The New Boss

A ghost of a smile crossed Alex's face before the anesthesia began to take effect, her eyes slowly fluttering closed.

Martina opened the door to her condo, exhausted and overwhelmed by the events of the day. She wasn't surprised to find Sabrina lounging on the couch, flipping through TV channels like she owned the place.

"Oh andito ka na pala," Sabrina called out, barely looking up. "Anyare? May chika ba?"

Martina let out a deep sigh, dropping her bag on the counter. "Sab, you won't believe what happened today."

Now, Sabrina was interested. She turned off the TV and sat up. "Oh? Ano nanamang drama ang pinasok mo?"

Martina sat down next to her. "Nasa akin phone ni Alex."

Sabrina's eyes widened. "Wait, Alex as in THE Alex? Si misteryosong kinaiinisan mo pero crush mo?"

Martina nodded, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, that Alex. She asked me to return it after her surgery."

Sabrina raised an eyebrow, giving Martina a look. "Ooohhh. Akala ko ba hate mo siya? Naengkanto ka ata eh? Pa iba-iba ka rin."

Martina hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I don't know... something's different now. We're... okay, I guess?"

But before she could explain further, Sabrina noticed Martina's cheeks turning pink. Sabrina gasped, her eyes wide with excitement. "Wait, bat ka namumula? Wag mong sabihing may nangyari nanaman? Every third day ng pagkikita niyo laging—"

Martina's blush deepened. "Sab, stop it."

Sabrina smirked, leaning in closer. "Ay akala ko pa naman very demure, very mindful ka."

Martina rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "Si OA. Dumi ng isip mo."

Sabrina wasn't convinced. "Naglilihim ka na sa 'kin? Huling-huli ka na nga. Akin na ung phone niya dali! Tignan natin. Plsssss. Nakalock ba?"

"Wala ngang Face ID or pin. Same na same pa kami ng phone, tapos hindi rin siya nakacase," Martina said.

"Ayieee! May kaparehas ka nang burgis! Walang pake kung masira 'yung phone pag nabagsak," Sab laughed. "Dali na, patingin!"

Martina bit her lip, unsure. But Sabrina's puppy-dog eyes were hard to resist. "Okay, fine, pero mabilis lang and wag ung messages."

Sabrina grabbed the phone from her, grinning. "Hihihi! Malalaman na namin hiwaga mo, Misteryoso."

As she scrolled through Alex's gallery, they both noticed the difference. Most of the photos showed Alex in dark clothes, often on a big, sleek bike. Her expression was serious, a stark contrast to the bubbly, colorful person Martina remembered from the island.

"Parang di naman siya ung dinescribe mong Alex eh," Sabrina murmured. "Puro pogi lang pictures niya. Akala ko girly?"

Martina was just as confused, but before she could respond, something on the screen caught her eye—a dick pic. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly hid the phone, her face burning.

"Tama na nga yan! Baka may makita ka pa!" she stammered, trying to keep her cool.

Sabrina was immediately suspicious. "Ano? Patingin!"

Martina shook her head, her voice rising in panic. "No, Sab, trust me. You really don't want to see it."

Sabrina leaned in, eyes narrowing. "Hubad na picture ba yan? Patingin na kasi!"