Hookup ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #3]

02

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AIRA'S POV

The soft warmth of the sun pulls me from the depths of sleep. I groan, turning away from the light, but it's too late—I'm already awake. My body feels heavy, like I've been glued to the bed, my head pounding with the dull ache of a hangover.

My eyes slowly flutter open, the unfamiliar surroundings swimming into focus. Hindi ko kwarto 'to.

I sit up abruptly, the motion sending a sharp jolt of pain through my temples. I wince, rubbing at my forehead, trying to piece together the fragments of last night. I'm in somebody's apartment—someone's bed, to be exact. The sheets are crisp and clean, and the walls are bare, with just a simple dresser and a lamp beside the bed. It's minimal, neat.

I'm not wearing my dress anymore. Instead, I'm in an oversized shirt that definitely doesn't belong to me. The material is soft against my skin, hanging loose around my body, and it smells faintly of something—soap? Maybe laundry detergent? My heart starts to race as memories flash in bits and pieces. The bar. My friends. The drinks. And then...

Miki.

I remember her dark eyes, the way they held me in place when I stumbled through that ridiculous proposition. I remember the way her lips felt against mine, the heat of her touch, the blur of bodies tangled in the sheets...

Oh my God, Lord, patawarin mo ako.

I clutch the blanket tighter, my pulse quickening as everything from last night crashes into me. I can't believe I did that. I can't believe I asked a complete stranger to sleep with me.

Before I can spiral any further, the door to the room creaks open. My eyes snap up, and there she is—Miki.

She's standing in the doorway, her red hair still damp from the shower, darkened slightly from the water. Her skin glows under the soft light, and she's dressed casually in a loose tank top and sweatpants. She's holding a towel in one hand, drying the ends of her hair, and when she looks up, a warm smile spreads across her face.

"Good morning," she says softly, her voice still carrying that lazy confidence from last night.

My mouth goes dry. I can barely bring myself to respond, my heart racing as I stare at her, the memories of last night flashing vividly in my mind. Ano sasabihin ko? Ano ba dapat sinasabi sa mga ganitong situation?

Miki seems to sense my discomfort because her smile softens a little. She points with her lips toward the bedside table. "You should take the meds and water, might help with your hangover."

I glance over and see the bottle of pills and a glass of water waiting for me. I nod, muttering a small "Thanks," as I reach for them, swallowing the medicine quickly.

As I set the glass back down, I can feel her eyes on me, watching. I hesitate, my fingers fiddling with the edge of the blanket. I'm not sure what to say or how to act. Aalis na ba ako?

The silence stretches for a moment before Miki breaks it.

"Do you... regret it?" she asks, her voice gentle but curious.

Her words hit me harder than I expected. My breath catches, and I look up at her, unsure of how to answer. Regret?

I mean, what kind of person asks a stranger to sleep with them out of nowhere? What kind of person gets drunk and throws away their first real experience with intimacy like it's nothing? A wave of shame and embarrassment crashes over me, and I feel my throat tighten.