Hookup [MikhAiah] [Book #3]

09

—🐶🦊🐺🐣🐨—

The final chord of "Over You" fades into the air, leaving a brief, ringing silence in the studio. The band lowers their instruments, catching their breaths. Aira, still lost in the song, stands frozen in her spot. The lyrics echo in her mind, and she can feel the raw emotion Chase poured into writing it. For a moment, the room seems to fade away, and all Aira can think about is how much heart went into the music.

Chase watches Aira with a knowing smile, the rest of the girls sharing quiet glances before bursting into tiny laughs. Aira blinks, snapping back to reality, feeling a little embarrassed by her dazed reaction. She quickly lifts her hands and starts clapping, the sound rising as she realizes she hadn't moved for a while.

"W-wow..." Aira finally says, breathless with awe.

Miki and Chase exchange a proud grin, sharing a quick high five. Chase, grinning ear to ear, looks every bit the charismatic leader Aira had heard so much about, but there's something about the two's grin that catches Aira off guard. It's rare to see their smiles like that—wide, open, unguarded. For some reason, a strange feeling flickers in Aira's chest, something warm and familiar, like a sense of nostalgia she can't quite place.

Shaking her thoughts away, Aira clears her throat. "Grabe, medyo gets ko na why the band really is a hit here."

The girls exchange humble smiles, appreciative of her compliment. Chase speaks up, her voice still buzzing with excitement from the performance. "Thanks, Aira. May bago nga kaming song eh—Miki's writing the next hit."

Miki's head snaps up, eyes wide in surprise. "Wait, what?"

Johanne and Gale burst out laughing, their teasing smiles wide. "Joke lang!" Johanne chuckles. "But hey, who knows baka mainspire ka to write something?"

Aira laughs along with them, the atmosphere light and easy. Miki sighs, shaking her head in defeat. "Hays, kayo talaga," she mutters, but there's no real frustration in her voice. She glances at Aira, noticing how she's fitting in so well, even on her first day as their manager. Miki can't help but feel a sense of awe looking at her. Something about Aira just seems to pull them all in.

Before long, the girls decide to head down to the building's cafeteria for lunch. They gather around a large table, with Chase and Aira sitting side by side, while Johanne, Gale, and Miki take their seats across from them. Plates are filled with food, but Miki barely touches hers, her fork idly pushing pieces around the plate. She's never been one to eat much during lunch, but now, it's more than just her usual habit. With Aira sitting directly in front of her, she can't seem to keep her head straight.

Aira notices Miki's fidgeting, the redhead looking anywhere but at her plate. Miki suddenly stands up, a hurried excuse on her lips. "I, uh... forgot my phone in my car, kukunin ko lang." She avoids eye contact as she quickly picks up her plate, placing it on the rack by the cafeteria entrance, ready for the staff to clean up.

Aira watches her leave, a knot of discomfort tightening in her chest. Had she made Miki uncomfortable?

"Wag ka mag-alala," Chase says gently, noticing Aira's concerned expression. "Makakalimutin talaga si Miki, since bataan pa naming dalawa, lahat na lang sinasalpak niya sa kotse niya. Parang bahay niya na yung Mustang niya eh."

Johanne leans in. "Yeaa, naalala ko pinatint niya ng sobrang dark yung windows niya para kapag nasstress siya here sa building, dun siya natutulog."

Aira gives a small smile, taking in the information. She's learning more about Miki every moment, but something inside her tells her she needs to check on the redhead. Aira pushes her chair back, standing up with a quiet resolve. "I'll be back in a bit," she tells the girls, who exchange knowing looks but don't stop her.

—🦊—

Meanwhile, Miki strides down the hallway, her cap pulled low over her eyes as she tugs at the bill. Her red hair spills out from underneath, flowing freely down her back. She twirls her car keys around her finger as she heads for the stairs. When she reaches the garage, her Mustang sits in its usual spot, a familiar sight that immediately puts her at ease. She presses a button on her key, and the car beeps, unlocking with a soft click.

Sliding into the driver's seat, Miki finally breathes out, the weight of the day lifting slightly. She removes her cap, running a hand through her hair before leaning back in her seat. With a sigh, she pulls a lever beneath her seat, reclining back with a smile. Alone at last, she places the cap over her face, letting the world fall away as she closes her eyes.

But just as she begins to relax, a knock on the window jolts her back to reality. At first, Miki ignores it, hoping whoever it is will go away, but the knock comes again—persistent.

Annoyed, she sits up, reaching for the door. "Ano nanaman yun, Chase—" Her words trail off when she sees Aira standing there, her new manager and the girl who's been occupying her thoughts far too often.

Aira leans in slightly, her voice soft but laced with concern. "Okay ka lang?"

Miki's heart stirs at Aira's concern. She quickly shakes her head, trying to reassure her. "I'm fine, really. Just needed to get some alone time."

Aira nods, her expression softening. "Do you want company?"

The question catches Miki off guard. She's always been the type to handle things on her own, but with Aira standing there, offering to stay... something inside her shifts. The words hang in the air for a moment too long, and Aira, sensing Miki's hesitation, begins to back away. "It's okay," Aira says, giving her a small smile. "Let me know if may need ka ha."

Just as Aira moves to close the car door, Miki's hand shoots out, gripping Aira's wrist gently but firmly. Shamelessly, Miki meets Aira's gaze, the words slipping from her lips before she can second-guess them. "Stay."

Aira doesn't hesitate. She nods, walking around the car to the passenger side. Miki leans over, opening the door for her, and Aira slips into the seat beside her, closing the door with a quiet thud.

The air between them feels charged, the silence thick but not uncomfortable. Miki breaks it by reaching into the car's compartment, pulling out a small, familiar object. Aira's eyes widen as Miki hands her the necklace she had misplaced. "Nakalimutan ko pala ibalik sayo," Miki murmurs, her voice dropping lower as she adds, "from that night..."

Aira's face flushes with color, but she's relieved to see the necklace again. "Thank you," she says softly, her fingers closing around the locket. "This is...."

Miki's chest tightens as Aira's voice starts to go low, unsure of what to say, afraid of saying the wrong thing. But Aira gives her a grateful smile, her eyes fixed on the locket. "It's a small memento. There's a key to it, but I haven't found the right one yet."

Miki nods as she watches her closely, her gaze drifting from Aira's eyes to her lips. Without thinking, the words slip out.

"Can I kiss you?"