Neighbor ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #2]

18

—🐶—

ALANA'S POV

"Ang boring, gala kaya tayo?" Malia whines as we walk out of the school's entrance.

"Parang gusto ko mag-samgyup nga eh, iniisip ko palang, naglalaway na ako." Cole suggests. Totally relatable.

"Parang gusto ko mag-hotpot." Sienna sighs heavily.

"Lutuan ka pa ni Miks niyan, " Stella teases the younger one.

"She can't, umalis na siya," Jo says, shaking her head. "Busy daw siya eh,"

"Ah oo, may date pala siya kasama si Judy." Giselle adds, and I internally cringe. Judy ulit.

"Good for her," Jo continues with a grin. "Kawawa naman yung mga may gusto kay Miks," She glances at me knowingly. Mapang-asar talaga 'to eh no.

"Nagseselos siguro sila, 'no Lana?" Jo wraps her arm around my shoulder, teasing me.

"Anong pinagsasabi mo? Tayo lang naman may alam na may date si Miks," I respond, trying to keep my cool.

"Uhm... Paano ka?" Jo whispers in my ear.

Bakit ba ako magseselos? Edi magdate sila, but I don't care. Not at all.

—🦊—

MIKAELA'S POV

"Ah~ Ganda nung movie," Judy exclaims as we walk out of the theater. Honestly, ang boring nga eh, nakatulog pa ako dun.

"Miks," Judy grabs onto my arm, holding it with both hands. "Kain naman tayo,"

"Sure," I nod. "Ano gusto mo kainin?"

"Shall we get ramen then?"

Ramen? Favorite ni Lana yun ah.

"Let's go." Judy suddenly intertwines her hand with mine, completely catching me off guard.

"Parang gulat na gulat ka?" She laughs softly. "Is it because your heart is fluttering?"

My heart??

"Gabi na rin eh, we should just go home." I say, brushing off the strange feeling.
This doesn't feel right.

"Okay. May nakalimutan pala ako itanong sayo," Judy says as we walk. "Yung girl na nag-abot din sayo ng tubig? Sino siya?"

"Lana? Pinsan ni Cole." I reply. And my annoyingly nosy neighbor.

"Oh really?" Judy frowns a little. "Parang ang weird niya, inofferan ka ng tubig pero iinumin niya rin naman pala."

"She's not normal." Just like her cousin. "Bakit mo natanong?"

"Wala lang," Judy says, avoiding eye contact. "Weird lang siya for me,"

"Be honest with me nga, Miks." she continues. "If hindi niya ininom yung tubig, kanino pipiliin mo, sakanya or sakin?" She looks at me intently, expecting an answer.

Whose water? Hindi ko rin alam...

"Sayo." I say, feeling a strange hesitation.

What's with the hesitation, Miks?

—🐶—

3RD PERSON

"AHHHHH!" Alana rolls back and forth on her bed, frustrated from boredom. "BORING!"

"Wait, bakit ang tahimik ng kapitbahay ko.." She gets up and dashes outside, glancing at her neighbor's locked door.

"Hindi pa rin siya nakakauwi," Alana sighs, her legs giving out as she sits down by her door, eyes locked on Mikaela's apartment. It's been a long time since she's felt this alone, and she hates the feeling.

"Kamusta kaya date nun.." Alana mutters, resting her head on the doorframe. "Siguro may umamin na isa sakanila tapos magjowa na sila?!"

"No way, ang bilis at hindi pa ako ready dun!" She shakes her head, then scoffs. "Bakit ko ba iniisip?!"

"Lasing ka ba? If so, hindi kita papapasukin sa dorm?" Mikaela's voice startles her from where she's leaning against the wall next to her, arms crossed and smiling.

"Oh, Miks!" Alana jumps up. "Hindi ako lasing ha!"

"Bakit mo kinakausap sarili mo?" Mikaela chuckles. "Medyo may pagka-weird ka talaga minsan, 'no?"

"Nagpapahangin lang ako," Alana mumbles. "How was the date?"

"It was nice," Mikaela replies, but her tone is distant.

"Really?" Alana wants to ask more, curious about what happened—what they did, if anything surprising occurred. But Mikaela looks tired, lost even, so she keeps the questions to herself.

"Pahinga ka na maaga, parang pagod na pagod ka ata," Alana says softly.

"Yeah... Goodnight, Lana." Mikaela forces a smile, though something in her expression still seems off. Everything went smoothly today, yet something feels wrong.

"Nag-ooverthink lang ako." Mikaela whispers as she unlocks her door.

"May gusto ako kay Judy, and that's it."

"Goodnight, Miks!" Alana waves.

"I will," Mikaela responds. "You go in first."

"Okay!" Alana lingers, wanting to watch her a little longer before going back to her own dorm.

"See ya!" Mikaela calls out as the door closes behind her.

Alana places her hand over her heart, feeling its rapid beat.

"Hindi na nakakatuwa 'to."