Bini Imagines or AU's

Mikha Lim

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The soft click of the front door signaled Mikha's return from the formal family dinner. She slipped inside the shared apartment, the gentle swish of her sleek black dress catching the quiet of the night. The dim lighting from the TV cast a soft glow over the living room, and Mikha smiled when her eyes landed on her best friend, Victoria, fast asleep on the couch.

Victoria's chest rose and fell with each soft breath, the blanket half covering her. Her usual sharpness had faded into the soft lines of peaceful sleep, a stark contrast to the confident, bold woman Mikha had grown up with. Mikha's heart swelled with affection as she took in the sight.

She moved quietly across the room, careful not to wake Victoria. Her hand hovered over the remote before she clicked the TV off, the sudden silence amplifying the intimacy of the moment. Mikha's gaze drifted back to Victoria, her lips curling into a soft smile. It was rare for Mikha to dress up this much—black dress, hair swept to one side, soft makeup highlighting her natural beauty—and it wasn't every day she came back to find her best friend looking so adorably vulnerable.

As Mikha stood over Victoria, something shifted inside her. She'd seen Victoria asleep countless times before, but tonight, something about the moment felt different. Maybe it was the way the dim light accentuated the softness of Victoria's features, or perhaps it was the warmth from the family dinner still lingering in Mikha's chest. Whatever it was, Mikha couldn't help but stare.

She knelt beside the couch, leaning closer to Victoria. Her gaze traced the familiar contours of Victoria's face—the curve of her cheek, the gentle arch of her brows, the way her lips parted slightly as she slept. Mikha hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted her hand. Her fingertips hovered above Victoria's skin before she allowed herself the simple pleasure of gently tracing the lines of her best friend's face.

Victoria stirred slightly, her brows furrowing in that familiar way she did when she was in deep sleep. Mikha's fingers paused, but she couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. There was something so endearing about Victoria's unconscious reaction to her touch, as though even in sleep, Victoria knew it was Mikha's hand on her skin.

Mikha's heart pounded in her chest, a steady rhythm that matched the slow rise and fall of Victoria's breathing. She didn't pull her hand away, instead brushing a loose strand of hair behind Victoria's ear. The warmth of the moment enveloped her, and without realizing it, Mikha's gaze softened even further, lingering on Victoria's lips.

Just as Mikha was about to pull her hand away, Victoria's eyes fluttered open. It was slow at first, her lashes lifting as she blinked away sleep, her gaze landing on Mikha kneeling beside her. For a moment, confusion flickered in her eyes, but it quickly melted into something softer, more familiar.

"Hey..." Mikha's voice was a whisper, as though speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile intimacy between them.

Victoria's gaze traveled over Mikha, lingering on the elegant black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. A sleepy smile tugged at Victoria's lips. "You look..." Her voice was low and rough from sleep, but the awe in her tone was clear. "You look beautiful."

Mikha felt her cheeks flush under Victoria's gaze. It wasn't often that she dressed this way—feminine, elegant, vulnerable. Usually, she preferred more casual attire, something easier, less conspicuous. But tonight was different, and seeing the way Victoria looked at her, as if she was seeing Mikha for the first time, made the effort worth it.

"Thanks," Mikha replied softly, her hand still resting lightly on Victoria's cheek. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Victoria shook her head slightly, the movement small but meaningful. "You didn't. I was just..." Her words trailed off, and instead of finishing, she leaned into Mikha's hand, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. The warmth of Mikha's palm seemed to comfort her, and she nuzzled against it, her soft sigh filling the quiet room.

Mikha's heart skipped a beat. She'd never seen Victoria like this—so open, so vulnerable. It was a side of her best friend she rarely witnessed, and something about it made Mikha feel protective, like she wanted to wrap Victoria in her arms and keep her safe from the world.

Victoria's eyes opened again, and this time, there was a different kind of intensity in her gaze. Her hand moved slowly from beneath the blanket, her fingers brushing against Mikha's wrist, a soft, deliberate touch that sent a shiver down Mikha's spine.

"You didn't have to dress up for me, you know," Victoria teased, her voice still thick with sleep but laced with affection.

Mikha chuckled, the sound soft and warm. "I didn't. It was a family thing."

Victoria hummed in response, her fingers tracing small circles on the back of Mikha's hand. "Well, it suits you. You look... stunning."

The sincerity in Victoria's voice made Mikha's heart race. She could feel the heat creeping up her neck as she stared down at her best friend. There was something unsaid between them, something lingering in the space that had never been acknowledged. Mikha could feel it now, more than ever, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.

Victoria's eyes softened, her thumb brushing lightly against Mikha's skin. "You don't need to be shy, you know."

Mikha swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to where Victoria's fingers intertwined with hers. She could feel her pulse quicken, her thoughts racing as the weight of the moment settled over her. "I'm not shy," she whispered, though the quiver in her voice betrayed her.

Victoria chuckled, the sound low and soothing. "You always get like this when I compliment you."

Mikha's lips twitched into a small smile. "Maybe it's because I'm not used to it."

"Maybe you should get used to it," Victoria replied, her voice softer now, her fingers tightening slightly around Mikha's hand. "Because you're beautiful, Mikha. You always have been."

Mikha's breath caught in her throat. She looked up, meeting Victoria's gaze. The intensity in her friend's eyes was undeniable, and for the first time, Mikha allowed herself to really see it—to acknowledge the way Victoria had been looking at her for so long.

"I don't..." Mikha began, her voice trembling. "I don't know how to..."

But before she could finish her sentence, Victoria sat up, the blanket falling from her shoulders as she shifted closer to Mikha. Her hand reached up, brushing gently against Mikha's cheek. "You don't have to say anything," Victoria whispered, her gaze locked on Mikha's lips. "You don't have to do anything... unless you want to."

Mikha's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of Victoria's words hanging in the air between them. She didn't know when it had happened, when the line between friendship and something more had blurred, but now that she was here, she couldn't deny it any longer.

Slowly, tentatively, Mikha leaned in, her breath mingling with Victoria's as their lips hovered just inches apart. She could feel the heat radiating from her best friend, the anticipation building between them.

"I want to," Mikha whispered, her voice barely audible.

And then, in a soft, tender moment, their lips met. The kiss was slow, hesitant at first, as though both of them were afraid to break the fragile connection between them. But as the warmth of Victoria's lips pressed against hers, Mikha felt the tension melt away, replaced by a deep, overwhelming sense of rightness.

Victoria's hand cupped Mikha's cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against her skin as the kiss deepened, becoming more intense, more passionate. Mikha's fingers curled into Victoria's shirt, pulling her closer, until there was no space left between them.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they tried to steady their racing hearts.

"I've wanted this for so long," Victoria whispered, her voice shaky but full of emotion.

Mikha smiled, her heart swelling with warmth. "Me too."

In that quiet moment, surrounded by the soft glow of the room, Mikha realized that everything she had been searching for had been right in front of her all along.