Bound by Destiny: The MikhAiah Chronicles

Chapter 3: Falling In Love (3)

The air between them remained heavy with emotion long after they'd let go of each other that night. Even as they said their goodbyes, Aiah's hand lingered on Mikha's for just a second longer, as if afraid that once she left, the fragile peace they'd found would shatter. Mikha watched Aiah walk away, her heart swelling with a mix of love and dread. She wanted to believe in what they'd just shared, but fear gnawed at her—fear that the waiting might break her before anything else did.

Days passed, and Aiah's heart grew heavier with every moment she spent thinking about Mikha. She hadn't felt this torn in her life. Every instinct told her to run toward Mikha, to take her hand and let herself fall completely. But another part—the cautious, guarded part of her—warned her that love was dangerous, that it could hurt her in ways she wasn't sure she could survive.

Aiah sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling, her chest tight. She remembered the night Mikha held her after a long day of rehearsals, the way her embrace had washed away every ounce of fatigue, every drop of worry. With Mikha, it had always felt like home—safe, warm, unconditionally accepting. The thought of losing that, of messing things up between them, terrified her more than anything.

But maybe... maybe I'm not meant to have that kind of love, Aiah thought bitterly, her insecurities bubbling up again. What if I just ruin her too?

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On the other side of the city, Mikha tried to keep herself busy. She dove into work, training, anything to keep her mind from spiraling back to thoughts of Aiah. But no matter what she did, everything came back to her. Every moment they'd shared, every laugh, every stolen glance—they were always there, lingering in her mind like a sweet ache she couldn't shake.

That night, after practice, Mikha found herself staring at her phone again, her thumb hovering over Aiah's name. She wanted to call her, to ask her if she was okay. To remind her that no matter how scared she was, Mikha was there—waiting, loving her even from a distance.

But something held her back. What if I'm asking for too much? What if Aiah never got past her fear? What if Mikha was just setting herself up for heartbreak?

Colet noticed the silence again. She glanced at Mikha from across the room, her expression softening. "Mikha... okay ka lang?" Colet asked, concern lacing her voice.

Mikha forced a smile, but even she could feel how fake it was. "Okay naman, Col." she said, her voice too light. Too forced.

Colet raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You don't have to lie, you know?"

Mikha's disguise crumbled. She sank onto the couch, running her hands through her hair, frustration and sadness weighing down every muscle in her body. "I just... I don't know if Aiah's ever going to be ready." she admitted. Her voice was quiet, raw. "I'm so in love with her, Colet. And I'm scared that maybe... maybe I'm just waiting for something that's never going to happen."

Colet's face softened, and she sat beside Mikha, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Mahal mo nga siya, pero hindi mo pwedeng pilitin ang sagot. Kung mahal ka rin ni Aiah, darating siya sa'yo nang buo. Pero hindi mo dapat kalimutan ang sarili mo, Mikha."

Mikha nodded, but she couldn't help the hollow ache that settled in her chest. How much longer could she hold on? How long could she stand on this precipice, waiting for Aiah to decide if they were worth it?

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Meanwhile, Aiah found herself outside of Jhoanna's apartment, the one person who always seemed to have answers when she didn't. Jhoanna opened the door, her warm smile faltering when she saw the look on Aiah's face. Without a word, Jhoanna stepped aside, letting her friend in. They sat on the couch, and after a long silence, Aiah finally spoke.

"I'm in love with her, Jho." Aiah confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know if I'm ready. What if I ruin it all? What if I'm not enough for her?"

Jhoanna studied Aiah for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "Ate Aiah, you're enough just by being you. It's not about being perfect or having everything figured out. It's about trusting that love isn't about guarantees. It's about choosing to stay, even when it's messy or hard."

Aiah's throat tightened. "But what if I hurt her?"

"You're already hurting her by pulling away." Jhoanna said gently. "And you're hurting yourself too. Don't you see that?"

Aiah wiped at her eyes, the tears she had been holding back finally spilling over. She knew Jhoanna was right. By holding herself back, she was hurting both of them. But the fear of being vulnerable, of truly giving herself to someone—it paralyzed her.

"I just... I don't know how to let go of the fear." Aiah whispered, her voice trembling.

Jhoanna smiled softly, taking her hand. "You don't have to let go of all of it. Just trust enough to take the first step. Mikha's waiting for you. But she won't wait forever."

Later that night, Aiah found herself pacing in her apartment, Jhoanna's words still ringing in her ears. She knew she couldn't keep hiding from Mikha, couldn't keep running from what they could be. The thought of losing her forever scared her more than the fear of getting hurt.

Finally, she grabbed her phone and typed out a message to Mikha.

Aiah: "Pwede ba tayong magkita bukas? I have something I need to say."

Mikha's heart skipped a beat when she saw Aiah's message the next morning. She didn't hesitate before typing her reply.

Mikha: "Of course. You know I'll be there."

The day dragged on, anticipation and nervousness twisting in Mikha's stomach. When the evening finally arrived, they met at a quiet cafe—somewhere neutral, a place where they could talk without the weight of expectations. Aiah looked nervous, her fingers twisting around the edge of her jacket as they sat down.

After a moment of silence, Aiah took a deep breath. "Mikhaela... I've been thinking a lot about us. About what you said. And I know I've been pushing you away, and I'm sorry. It's just... I'm so scared of getting hurt. Of losing what we have."

Mikha leaned forward, her eyes soft but serious. "Maraiah, I'm scared too. But I'm more scared of not trying. Of losing you because we're both too afraid to take a risk. I don't need you to be perfect. I just need you to be here. With me."

Aiah's eyes filled with tears, her heart pounding. "I'm trying." she whispered. "I want to be with you, Mikhaela. I'm just... not ready yet. But I don't want to lose you either."

Mikha reached across the table, gently taking Aiah's hand. "We'll figure it out together. You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just... don't run away from me."

Aiah nodded, her grip tightening on Mikha's hand. "I won't. I promise."

In that moment, for the first time in what felt like forever, Aiah felt the fear begin to lift. It wouldn't be easy, but she knew one thing for certain—she didn't want to let go of Mikha. And maybe that was enough to take the first step.

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