Neighbor ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #2]

30

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3RD PERSON

Mikaela plops herself onto her sofa after returning home from school. Her dorm is quiet, and in this silence, she can hear a rapid thumping in her ears, pounding relentlessly.

"But I'll get over it naman, so wag mo 'ko isipin, okay?" 

She remembers Alana's words from a few days ago. The Mikaela, who once had no fear, now feels terrified by just one sentence spoken by Alana.

Alana's gone now. But Mikaela doesn't know where she is or when she will come back.

Her eyes begin to blur with heartbroken tears. Mikaela's fingers reach up to her cheeks, and her eyes widen in shock when she notices how wet they are. It's the tears of a broken heart.

Mikaela hates herself for not realizing her feelings for Alana sooner. She despises that she only figured it out when Alana is no longer there. If only she had been a day earlier—just one more day earlier. She doesn't know what to do now. The absence of Alana and the late realization of her feelings drive her insane.

KNOCK

Mikaela quickly wipes her tears with the back of her hand before answering. "It's not locked."

She holds on to a hope—a small hope—that Alana will magically appear through that door. But it is immediately crushed by the presence of Jo.

"Miks.." Jo feels bad for the girl. She notices Mikaela's eyes are now starting to become like her hair, red. Mika looks like a hot mess right now.

"Why are you here?" Mikaela asks, still lying down on the sofa in the same position.

"To satisfy my curiosity." Jo sits on the other sofa across from her friend.

"Huh?"

"That maybe gusto mo nga si Lana." Jo leans back into a comfortable position.

"It's not a 'maybe', I do," Mikaela answers tiredly.

"Hays, ngayon mo lang na-realize?" Jo scoffs slightly at how dense Mikaela can be.

"Yeah, ang late na 'no?" Mikaela sighs in a defeated manner.

"Actually, alam mo, Miks. Pwede ko siya imessage ngayon and bigay ko sayo yung address niya."

"I tried messaging her na, Jo. Ayaw niya sagutin lahat." Mikaela tells her.

"Ewan ko sayo pero close kami ni Lana and lagi niya ako nirereplayan." Jo states.

"Close?" Mikaela's brows furrow. She realizes that Jo is right, while she was dating Judy, Mika would glance at Lana only to find Jo beside her. Don't tell me there's something between those two. Mikaela can't help but feel suspicious.

"Nagseselos ka 'no?" Jo smirks. She knows it's not the right time, but she finds it entertaining to tease Mikaela, especially since she's difficult to tease.

"Papalayasin kita sa dorm ko." Mikaela spits while giving Jo a death glare.

"Chill, Miks!" Jo chuckles. "We're just friends."

Silence settles between them as Jo watches her friend tiredly resting her eyes. The quietness drags on for another minute until Jo asks,
"Gusto mo ba talaga siya makita?"

"Hindi ba obvious?"

"Okay so tell me anong gagawin mo pag nakita mo siya." Jo probes.

"Jo, I'm tired." Mikaela sighs, wanting nothing more than to sleep and drown in her sadness.

"Sasabihin mo lang naman, and trust me, I can help."

Mikaela lets out another sigh. "Edi sasabihin ko yung nararamdaman ko."

"Lagi ka kasing slow eh." Jo takes out a small note from her pocket.

"Ito, address niya." Jo slides the note over, and her words give Mikaela a surge of energy as she quickly sits up.

"Paano mo nalaman address niya?" Mikaela clutches the note as if her life depends on it.

"Ako unang nakalaman na gusto ka niya." Jo states. "Sinabi niya rin lahat sakin, pati yang address niya."

"Ikaw talaga, bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi!" Mikaela scolds.

"Miks! Papatayin ako ni Lana tsaka ni Cole!" Jo replies. "At tsaka, asan yung masayang part dun? Nagdusa rin si Lana so dapat ikaw din."

Mikaela glares at her before going back to studying the note. She tries to memorize it, just in case it gets lost or Jo changes her mind.

"Wag mo sasabihin kay Cole ha." Jo demands.

"I won't," Mikaela answers, her eyes still glued to the piece of paper.

"Wag ka magkimkim ng galit kay Cole ha. I'm sure pinoprotektahan niya lang si Lana."

"I know." Mikaela stands on her two feet and strides over to the sofa where Jo sits. She lifts her hands and settles them on Mikaela's head, ruffling her hair as she lets out a playful laugh. "May matino ka rin pala na side."

"Tigilan mo nga yan, hindi naman ako bata!" Jo brushes off her friend's hand while scowling.

"Kailan ka pala aalis?" Jo asks.

"Tomorrow."