Neighbor ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #2]

29

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3RD PERSON

Mikaela checks her Rolex watch for the 3,757th time. It has been two hours since she has leaned against Alana's door this morning. The poor Mikaela doesn't realize that Alana had already left.

"Baliw, magskkip ka ng school kasi nakita mo lang na may humalik sakin?" Mikaela mutters to herself out of boredom.

"Sabi mo gusto mo ako pero hindi ka nga sumasagot sa mga tawag at messages ko.. Hindi talaga kita maintindihan.." Mikaela checks her phone, avoiding all the messages from the incessant Judy. Unable to handle the spam anymore, she blocks Judy with a single touch.

Come to the hall next to the main office. I need to talk to you.

Mikaela shakes her head and sighs at the unknown message on her phone. It is clear to her that it's just Judy's ploy, and Mikaela is mad at herself for being so careless around Judy.

RING

An incoming call from Nicole. Tiredly, Mikaela swipes across the screen to answer.

"Miks! Asan ka?"

"NAG-AALALA KAMI SAYO!"

"Pati yung girlfriend mo hinahanap ka saamin!"

"Kung aalis ka man lang, magsabi ka naman!"

Mikaela is bombarded with all of BINI's whining and complaining. She doesn't even want to explain what happened; all she can think about is asking Nicole about her cousin's whereabouts.

"Cole, pwede mo bang sabihin kung nasaan si Lana?"

"Bakit? Ayaw ka niyang makita." The group falls silent, questioning why the two are having this conversation.

"Alam mo kung nasaan siya, no?" Mikaela sighs. "Sabihin mo na."

Nicole is taken aback by Mikaela's depressed and exhausted voice. "Umalis siya ng QC."

"HA?!" Mikaela suddenly feels awake. She stands up on her feet.

"Asan siya? Like exactly?" Mikaela shouts into the phone, making the other members jump.

"Bawal ko sabihin," Cole says flatly. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you see her. She's suffered enough, Miks."

"ASAN SIYA?" Mikaela shouts again, her knuckles turning white from her tight fist.

"Tigilan mo na siya, Miks." Cole's tone does not change. "I can't talk to you right now; class is starting."

"NICOL—"

BEEP

Mikaela angrily punches the wall nearby. She scratches the back of her hand, and there might be some bleeding, but she can't feel the pain because a deeper, more merciless pain from Alana's sudden departure has taken over Mikaela.

Without wasting a second, Mikaela bolts out of the dorm, searching for the quickest way to get to school. She needs to know where Alana is, and she would do anything to get that answer from Cole.

When she arrives at school, Mikaela heads straight for the place where BINI usually hangs out. Her eyes never focus on anyone who keeps bumping into her. What she wants right now is to confront Nicole.

"Miks!" Judy grabs hold of her arm once again, this time with much more force, making sure Mikaela can't run away.

"Not now, Judy." Mikaela scowls.

"Please, baby, I'm sorry." Judy buries her face in Mikaela 's arms. "I was wrong, forgive me already."

Mikaela impatiently stares at the girl. Her heartbeat no longer races for Judy. There are absolutely no feelings left for her. Not in her eyes. Not in her mind. And definitely not in her heart.

"Let's break up." Mikaela states, and Judy's arms detach from her, making it easier for Mikaela to push her away.

"Miks...." Judy bites her lower lip while gazing at Mikaela with hateful eyes. "You! It's because of that bitch, isn't it? You want to downgrade that bad?!"

"Not just because of her, but because I realized nawala na nararamdaman ko sayo before pa maging tayo." Mikaela replies emotionlessly. "And I warned you before, wag na wag mo siyang tatawagin na ganyan, para lang yan sa mga taong katulad mo."

"From now on, don't bother me anymore." With that, Mikaela begins running again, leaving behind the speechless girl.

Alana doesn't know that she just made a lazy person like Mikaela run like an Olympic athlete since yesterday. Mikaela keeps running to find Cole, ignoring all the breathlessness and exhaustion she feels.

"Cole!"

"Oh, Miks!" BINI is stunned to see the girl sweating and out of breath. By the look on Jo's face, she can tell something is going on with Mikaela and her feelings.

"Asan si Lana?" Mikaela asks, almost pleading.

"Hindi ko alam." Cole lies with a straight face.

"Tell me where she is," Mikaela pants between words.

"Sabihin mo na kasi, Cole!" BINI tells Cole as they refuse to reveal Alana's location.

"I told you, hindi ko nga alam." Cole replies, indifferent even after witnessing her breathless friend.

"Asaan.." Mikaela grabs Cole's collar, making the other girls drop their jaws. "siya?"

"Kalma, Miks! Pwede namang pag-usapan yan!" Giselle uses her strength to remove Mikaela's grip from Cole's collar.

"Don't fight, Miks! Nasa batanggas siya!" Sienna answers.

"Tell me the address," Mikaela sternly tells Cole.

"Try mo ulit hawakan collar ko," Cole warns with a glare before walking away. "Tingnan natin kung sasabihin ko."

"You—"

"Stop it, Miks! Ano ba meron sayo?!" Amalia pulls the girl back, preventing Mikaela from following Cole and making a scene at school.

"Do you guys know her address?" Mikaela is desperate at this point.

"No..." They shake their heads in unison.