Neighbor ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #2]

26

—🐶—

3RD PERSON

In the morning,  Alana wakes up extra early, dragging herself out of bed with heavy limbs. She stumbles into the bathroom, her body aching from the restless night she endured. To say she slept well would be a lie—her mind had been spinning in circles, caught on one thought: Mikaela Alvarez

Despite Mikaela dating Judy, Alana's feelings for her haven't faded. If anything, they've grown stronger, especially after last night.

She looks at herself in the mirror, and her self-esteem drops. The dark circles under her eyes, the dullness of her skin—she looks tired, worn out. Sighing, she splashes cold water on her face, trying to look somewhat presentable. After taming her messy hair and hiding the worst of her exhaustion, she grabs her bag and slings it over her shoulder before dashing out of her dorm, hoping to make it to class without incident.

But the moment she steps outside, she freezes.

"IKAW—"

The shout startles her, and when Alana looks up, her heart sinks. It's not Mikaela, not any of the BINI members, but Judy. Of all people.

"Ano ginagawa mo dito?" Alana asks, her voice cracking in surprise.

"I'm Mikaela's girlfriend, of course I have the right to be here!" Judy snaps, eyes glaring daggers. "Pero ikaw, bakit ka nandito?"

Alana blinks, still groggy from sleep. "It's my dorm."

Judy's face contorts with jealousy. "Diba sabi ko layuan mo siya? tapos ngayon sasabihin mo na kapitbahay ka niya?!"

Alana rolls her eyes. She doesn't want to deal with this drama so early in the morning. "Ano naman?" she mutters, trying to brush past her.

But Judy steps in her way, voice rising. "You whore, hindi ka talaga marunong sumunod no?" She grabs Alana's arm, her nails digging in painfully. "I want you to move out. Right now."

Alana yanks her arm free, holding back her irritation. "Baliw ka ba? Dorm ko nga yan, bakit naman ako aalis?

"You should, before I make you." Judy's voice drips with venom.

Alana narrows her eyes, struggling to keep her cool. "I'd love to see you try." Her parents always taught her to stay calm and positive, but Judy is testing every bit of her patience.

Judy's eyes flash with anger. "May gusto ka kay Miks, no?" The question comes out sharp, but Alana stays silent, knowing her lack of response is answer enough.

"Ah kaya pala gusto mo mapalapit sakanya kasi gusto mo siya agawin sakin, you little—"

The door behind them swings open. "Anong nangyayari dito?"

Mikaela stands there, her expression a mix of confusion and frustration. Her eyes flick between the two girls. "Judy? Ano ginagawa mo dito?"

"Miks!" Judy's voice is shrill with rage. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi na kapitbahay mo pala siya?"

Mikaela lets out a long sigh, massaging her temples. "Judy.. ano sa tingin mo ginagawa mo?"

"Sagutin mo nga ako, Miks. Sino ba yang bruha na yan sayo?" Judy demands, her voice trembling with accusation. 

"Judy, wag na wag mo ngang tatawagin si Lana na ganyan." Mikaela snaps, her voice low and serious.

Alana takes the opportunity to escape. "I'll see you at school na lang, Miks." she mutters, turning on her heel and quickly walking away, her heart pounding. She doesn't want to be in the middle of whatever this is.

"Hoy—" Judy lunges to grab her again, but Mikaela catches her arm, stopping her.

"Bakit mo ba siya dinedefend?" Judy shouts, her face red with anger.

Mikaela lets out a frustrated breath. "Kasi nagsscandalo at napaka-immature mo ngayon!"

"Immature?" Judy's voice wavers with hurt. "Sinasabihan ko lang naman siya kasi wala akong tiwala sakanya!"

"If you keep acting like this, kalimutan mo na lang." Mikaela says, exhaling sharply as she lets go of Mikaela's hand and starts walking away.

"Mikaela!" Judy calls after her, but Mikaela doesn't look back. Not even once.

—🐶🐣—

"Bakit mo nanaman ako dinala dito?" Jo asks, settling into a chair across from Alana in the library. It's break time, and Alana made sure to avoid the cafeteria where Mikaela and Judy might be. She doesn't want to see them. Not after this morning.

"I needed to talk," Alana sighs, resting her chin on her hand. "Ikaw lang naman may alam saaming dalawa ni Miks."

Jo's eyebrows raise. "May nangyari ba?"

Alana nods, recounting the events of the morning. "Nalaman ni Judy na magkapitbahay kami ni Miks. Ayon nagscandalo kanina."

"Baliw talaga pala siya." Jo says, shaking her head. "I feel bad for Miks."

"Pero.." Jo pauses, leaning in closer, her voice dropping. "Napansin mo ba? Parang ang weird nung relasyon nila."

Alana frowns. "No. What do you mean?"

"They never hold hands, kiss, or hug," Jo says. "Sabi ni Miks nun na kapag nagjowa siya, gusto niya maging clingy pero tingnan mo, ayaw niya nga hawakan si Judy."

Alana's heart clenches at the thought, but she brushes it off. "Baka naman ginagawa nila yun in private."

"Medyo duda ako." Jo leans back, folding her arms.

Alana huffs. "I need to get over kay Miks, kaagad agad!"

The loud screech that follows makes her cringe. "Gusto mo si Miks?!" Cole, sitting nearby, gasps, and Alana quickly clamps a hand over her cousin's mouth.

"Nicole, shhh!" Alana whispers urgently. "This is a library!"

Cole looks shocked, but her expression softens as she removes Alana's hand. "Alana..."

Without warning, Cole pulls her into a tight hug, and Jo bursts out laughing at the over-the-top gesture.

"Kawawa ka naman!" Cole says, patting her back. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi kaagad?"

"Okay lang ako, Cole!" Alana grumbles, pulling away.

"You never are when you say that," Cole says, her voice gentle. "It's okay, pwede ka umiyak sa balikat ko."

"Nicole!" Alana pushes herself out of her cousin's arms and sits back down, exasperated.

"Jusko Lord," she mutters. "Now meron pang isa may alam ng sikreto ko."