Neighbor ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #2]

10

-🦊🐶-

"So, how are you and Judy now?" Alana asks, eyeing the younger girl sitting in front of her. Mikaela shrugs, leaning back into the couch with an exasperated sigh.

"Sana nanonood kami ng movie right now if siya kapitbahay ko," Mikaela replies with a touch of bitterness in her voice, her eyes briefly narrowing.

Alana pouts in mock frustration. "Jeez, ang attitude mo talaga!" she teases, crossing her arms as she tries to keep the mood light.

Mikaela's face twists in mild disgust. "Ok," she replies, deadpan.

"So bakit ka nga ulit nandito?" Mikaela asks, her tone flat as she releases a long sigh. Alana just grins at her.

"Well, tinatamad pa ako dalin yung TV sa room ko eh, so makikinood muna ako Netflix dito," Alana says casually, as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

"Weh? Nakita mo lang ako bumili ng groceries, tapos pumasok ka na bigla?" Mikaela shoots back, eyeing Alana suspiciously.

Alana scratches the back of her neck, caught in her excuse. "Fine, okay nadali mo 'ko. Sige na, aalis na nga ako-"

"No." Mikaela interrupts her, standing up from the couch. "Just stay here. I'm already finished with dinner either way."

Surprised, Alana's pout slowly morphs into a wide smile. "Sweet ka naman pala eh."

"Manahimik ka na nga lang diyan at tapusin mo yang Wednesday," Mikaela grumbles, her expression hardening again as she turns to head for the kitchen, leaving Alana alone in the living room.

-🐶-

ALANA's POV

"Wowwww..." I mumble under my breath as I stare at the crispy fried chicken laid out on the table. My mouth waters, and I don't even bother hiding it. "Thank you for the meal, madam," I say, barely waiting before diving in for a piece.

I can feel Mikaela's eyes on me as I take a bite, the satisfying crunch ringing in my ears. "Masarap, no?" she asks, and I nod enthusiastically, the crispiness echoing in the room like some ASMR video.

We eat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound being the occasional crunch of chicken or the clink of glasses. Every now and then, I catch Mikaela staring off into space, her lips curling into the softest smile. She's thinking about her. About Judy.

"When did you two meet?" I ask, licking the grease from my fingers before reaching for my drink.

Mikaela snaps out of her daze, blinking as if she forgot I was there for a second. "Judy? Oh, we met last year," she says, her voice casual but there's something tender beneath the surface.

Last year? I think to myself. That's not even that long ago.

"Why'd you ask?" she says, wiping her hands and mouth with a napkin before glancing over at me.

I shrug, trying to appear indifferent. "Wala naman, napaisip lang ako paano kaya kapag nakita ka niyang apaka cold at mapang-asar.."

Mikaela chuckles softly, the sound unexpected but... nice. "Wag ka mag-alala, sayo lang ako ganun." she teases, and I catch myself smiling at the way her eyes crinkle at the corners. It's rare to see her laugh or even smile, and I can't help but feel a small sense of accomplishment for making that happen.

We finish dinner not long after, and as I stand in front of her front door, I feel a mix of contentment and something else-something I can't quite place.

"Thank you for dinner, I really appreciate it," I tell her, my voice soft but genuine.

Mikaela shrugs. "No problem," she says, leaning casually against the doorframe as I step outside her dorm, just inches away from my own.

I pause, glancing back at her, trying to read her face. Why is making her smile so hard? I wonder to myself. She's always guarded, always so cold.

"Hey, stop looking," Mikaela suddenly says, her lips curling into that teasing smirk again. Caught in the act. I feel my face heat up slightly, but I try to play it cool.

I take out my dorm key, fiddling with it as I walk toward my door. "Goodnight," I say, forcing myself to turn away, inserting the key into the lock

"Uhm," Mikaela replies, nodding slightly. "Goodnight."

For just a brief moment, I swear I catch the faintest smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Is that... real? Is she actually smiling?

I walk into my dorm and close the door behind me, leaning against it as I process everything. Wow... Medyo nagiging mas close na pala kami nito.