Neighbor ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #2]

33

—🦊🐶—

3RD PERSON

"'La, hindi ako kakain ng lunch dito ah." Alana tells her grandparents, who are watching TV together.

"May kikitain lang ako." She heads into the kitchen to grab a snack before bumping into Mikaela, who is just leaving her room.

"Good morning, Miks!" Alana greets her quickly.

"Good morning!" Mikaela replies with a warm smile. "Sino kikitain mo?"

"Mga kababata ko lang." Alana replies, but a thought crosses her mind.

"Gusto mo sumama?" Alana asks, feeling it might be rude to leave Mikaela alone at home.

"Sure." Mikaela agrees without hesitation. She isn't sure who Alana's friends are, but the possibility of a male friend being there makes her think it might not be safe for Alana to go alone.

—🦊🐶—

Alana rushes to get ready, then stops in front of Mikaela's door. She fixes her hair and clothes before knocking nervously. When the door swings open, she's greeted by Mikaela, looking effortlessly handsome and pretty in her casual outfit.

"Ready?" Alana asks.

Mikaela nods. "Tara."

As they walk side by side down the street, Alana tries to maintain a bit of distance, but every time she takes a step away, Mikaela steps closer.

"Wow, matching pala tayo today." Mikaela observes, glancing at their similar outfits.

"Oh, oo nga 'no." Alana notices they're both wearing ripped jeans, black sweaters, and even the same color shoes.

"You look pretty like that," Mikaela says shamelessly. Alana bites her bottom lip, feeling a little flustered under Mikaela's gaze.

"Thank you."
Pretty? Alana thinks to herself. It's funny. How things have changed.

Inside the café, three people are gathered at a table, chatting among themselves-Alana's friends from Batanggas: Jeremy, Sophia, and Fons.

Sophia spots Alana and Mikaela entering together. The two are walking closely, clearly comfortable with each other.

"Andito na si Lana!" Sophia says, getting the others' attention. They wave enthusiastically.
"Hey, guys!" they greet.

Mikaela is momentarily taken aback to see only three people, but two of them are guys. Good-looking ones at that.

Alana's face lights up as she approaches her friends. "Namiss ko kayo!" she exclaims, immediately enveloped in hugs from all three.

"My little Lana! Hindi ka pa rin talaga nagbabago." Fons ruffles her hair with a grin.

My little Lana? Mikaela scoffs silently. She doesn't like the way Fons said "my" at all.

"Oh, nice to meet you. Ikaw si Mikaela, diba?" Jeremy offers a handshake, which Mikaela accepts.