A Love Beyond the Chaos

Chapter 2: A Night Out

The bar was louder than Aiah had anticipated. She could barely hear herself think over the thrum of music, clinking glasses, and the hum of laughter that filled the room. Her colleagues—Maloi, Sheena, Colet, Jhoanna, Stacey, and Gwen—had taken over a long table near the back, where they were already several drinks in and deep into conversation by the time she arrived.

Aiah forced herself to smile as she slipped into a seat beside Gwen. Mikha was on the opposite side of the table, of course, looking far too comfortable in his tailored suit, his sleeves rolled up just enough to show off his forearms. He was leaning back in his chair, laughing at something Stacey had just said, and she immediately regretted agreeing to come.

Why had she let Maloi talk her into this?

"Aiah! You made it!" Maloi beamed, raising her drink in a mock toast. "I was starting to think you'd ditch us."

"No chance," Aiah said, though her voice was drowned out by the din of the bar. She flagged down a passing waiter and ordered herself a drink—something strong. She was going to need it.

As the waiter disappeared, Gwen leaned in, her voice low. "See? This isn't so bad. Relax. Maybe you'll even have fun tonight."

Aiah glanced at Mikha, who caught her eye for a split second before turning back to the conversation with the others. She bit her lip, feeling her pulse quicken. "Fun" wasn't exactly the word she would use for sitting across from her tormentor-turned-coworker. But if Gwen's theory about Mikha was even remotely true—if he'd actually been bullying her all these years because he *liked* her—it only made her more confused.

Why would someone act like that if they had feelings for you? It was absurd. And yet, she found herself unable to shake the possibility. The way Mikha always seemed to seek her out, the way he never missed an opportunity to needle her... Was it really just some twisted attempt to get her attention?

"You're overthinking again," Gwen said, nudging her with an elbow. "Just try to enjoy yourself."

Aiah sighed, glancing down at the drink the waiter had just set in front of her. It was a dark amber color—whiskey, neat. She took a sip, letting the warmth spread through her, trying to loosen the knot of tension that had formed in her chest.

"Alright," she muttered. "I'll give it a shot."

---

For the first half hour, Aiah managed to relax somewhat. She listened to the banter between her friends, joined in the occasional conversation, and even laughed a few times when Colet told a story about one of their recent clients who had sent them a brief with entirely the wrong company logo. It was easy to get swept up in the warmth of the group, their camaraderie a comforting balm after the long and stressful week.

But every time her eyes drifted across the table, she found Mikha watching her. It wasn't obvious—he was good at hiding it—but she could feel it. Every time she caught his gaze, her pulse would spike, and she'd quickly look away, pretending not to notice. She wasn't going to let him get under her skin. Not tonight.

"So, Aiah," Stacey said suddenly, leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin. "What's going on between you and Mikha?"

Aiah nearly choked on her drink, her eyes widening in surprise. "What? Nothing."

Stacey raised an eyebrow, glancing between Aiah and Mikha with a knowing look. "Oh, come on. We've all seen the way you two are around each other. It's like watching an old married couple fight."

Aiah felt her face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and irritation flooding her. "There's nothing going on between us. Mikha just enjoys annoying me, that's all."