ALIBI

Chapter 15: Collide

Trigger warning: language
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After the altercation between Mikha and Colet,Jhoanna confronted Colet in a secluded corner outside of the NBI headquarters who is taking a long drag of her smoke.

“Colet what was that all about hindi ka rin ba nag-iisip?” Jhoanna's voice was low but firm.By that Colet took a last swig of her cigarette and crush it to the ground before answering a fuming Jhoanna.

“Pinahiya mo siya in front of everyone.She’s our captain!”

Colet crossed her arms a defensive stance.

“Sa tingin mo ba Jho ginusto ko mangyari yun?Mikha is my close friend pero you have to understand that I’m not here to coddle her!Were a tactical team and we can't afford to make any mistake!Buhay mo at buhay ko and all of us in the alpha team ang nakasalalay dito! At alam ko rin na alam mo na we can't afford to lose this job! Mikha comew from a wealthy family and unlike anyone of us may backer si Stacey sa taas because her family comes from a very influential military background.They can afford to screw up because they have a safety net and we don't have Jho! We have a mission to uphold and that's what I care about!”

“That’s not fair Colet! Mikha risked her life for us a lot of times, alam ko na alam mo yan! She didn't let us down, she didn't compromised anything!” Jhoanna shot back.

“Marami siyang pinagdadaanan and you don’t know what she’s dealing with! She’s trying to hold it together and your words only make it worse!”

Colet scoffed her frustration bubbling over.

“Maybe she needs to be reminded of what’s at stake Jho! This isn’t just about feelings!"

Jhoanna’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re making this personal Colet and it’s not just about the job.Mikha’s been fighting hard for this team.You should be supporting her not tearing her down!”

“With her relationship with Stacey?!Nasisiraan ka na ba?!” Colet retorted, but her voice lacked conviction.

Jhoanna sighed, shaking her head.

“You’re missing the point Colet.It’s not about privilege, and her relationship with Stacey.It’s about being a team!If we can’t trust each other, pano na lang tayo!”

Colet shrugged clearly unbothered.

"Ayusin niya muna ang sarili niya!"Colet retaliated.

Jhoanna’s eyes flashed with anger but she held back, realizing arguing further would be pointless.

With that, Jhoanna turned away knowing that no amount of reasoning would change Colet’s mind.
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Mikha sat slumped at the bar, the heavy glass of vodka slipping from her fingers, only to be caught just in time as she brought it back to her lips.The day had weighed her down like a boulder, pressing relentlessly on her chest.

Colet’s words had struck deep,too deep and despite her own resistance, there was a harsh truth in them that made Mikha feel hollow.

She couldn’t shake the embarrassment of the earlier confrontation, the way her own team had seen her falter.

She felt like a loser, her composure shattered in front of everyone she was supposed to lead.

With each swig of vodka, the burn in her throat drowned out her spiraling thoughts, just for a moment.Her eyes were already glassy, the world around her blurring into indistinct shapes and colors. 

Mikha raised the glass to her lips, ready to drown her sorrows in another shot of vodka, when a hand suddenly closed around her wrist.

She looked up, startled, to see a mysterious woman with striking features and a fierce intensity in her eyes.