Hookup [MikhAiah] [Book #3]

14

—🦊—

MIKI'S POV

I'm the last one to arrive, as usual. The strap of my guitar bag digs into my shoulder, the familiar weight comforting, while my wireless headphones play some soft tunes in my ears. I keep my head down, walking briskly towards the studio building. The city's noise fades into the background, replaced by the dull thud of my boots hitting the floor.

The moment I push open the studio door, I pull off my headphones, letting them hang loosely around my neck. My eyes sweep across the room and immediately land on the four girls gathered on the floor in a tight circle, laughter filling the space as they play some sort of game.

Jenga.

I raise an eyebrow, watching Johanne and Gale, always the duo, engaged in what looks like a very intense game. The wooden blocks tower high, precariously balanced with each new move. But what catches my attention is Aira, sitting close to Chase, her face relaxed but focused. My chest tightens, but I push the feeling aside. I've gotten used to it—this little twist in my gut whenever I see Aira.

The two troublemakers—Johanne and Gale—are quick to notice me standing there. Without a second to breathe, they shoot up from their spots, practically dragging me toward Aira and Chase.

"Sali ka, Miki! Dali!" Johanne beams as she tugs on my arm.

I resist, as I always do. "I'm not good at it," I say, trying to wriggle free from her hold, but Gale's there too, pulling me from the other side.

"Dali na," Gale scoffs, giving me a playful nudge. "Ayaw mo lang matalo eh."

I laugh under my breath, shaking my head, but before I can protest again, I meet Aira's eyes. She's watching me with this quiet, knowing smile. I sigh, defeated. I can't say no when she looks at me like that.

"Fine," I mutter, dropping my guitar bag carefully on the couch. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

I settle beside Aira, the faint scent of her perfume—something soft, like vanilla—drifting toward me. My knee brushes hers, and I swear I feel a spark. I shift slightly, trying not to let it get to me, but it's hard to ignore how close we are.

"Okay, kung sino matalo," Johanne announces dramatically, "has to treat everyone."

A chorus of agreement follows, and before I know it, we're deep into the game. Aira goes first, her fingers deftly pulling a block from the side and placing it neatly on top. She does it with such ease, like she's done this a hundred times before. I watch her, mesmerized, until it's Chase's turn. Chase, being Chase, mimics Aira's move, sliding a block from the same side with a confident grin.

Gale follows, her move swift and precise. 

And then, it's my turn.

They're all watching me, and I can feel the pressure building. I may have said I'm not good at this, but I'm not one to back down from a challenge. With a smirk, I reach out, my finger hovering over the blocks. I aim for the middle—a risky move, but I like the thrill. With one finger, I gently push the block, and with my other hand, I catch it mid-air before it falls.

The room goes quiet for a second. Then, Johanne and Gale gasp in unison. "Wait—sabi mo hindi ka marunong?" Gale blurts out, staring at me like I've just performed some magic trick.

"Your finger skills are on point, Miki!" Johanne teases, nudging me with her elbow.

I almost choke on my saliva, heat rushing to my face at the unintended innuendo. I quickly place the block on top of the tower, trying to act like I'm not dying of embarrassment. "Just lucky," I mutter, refusing to meet anyone's gaze as laughter bubbles around the group.

The game continues with tension building, but in the end, it's Aira who loses. 

She laughs softly, not at all upset about it. "Alright, alright," she says, standing up with a resigned smile. "Ako na manlilibre, tara na ba?"

—🦊—

As we all head out of the studio, I trail behind with Aira, Chase walking up ahead with Johanne and Gale. My eyes keep darting to Aira, her movements, the way her hair falls over her shoulder. I clear my throat, the weight of our secret moments pressing down on me.

"You know," I say quietly, leaning toward her, "Hindi mo na talaga need manlibre, ganyan lang talaga sila—"

She brushes it off with a casual wave of her hand, like it's no big deal. "It's fine, Miki. Besides, hindi pa nga ako masyado nakakatulong sa band niyo so this is nothing."

Her words sting a little, but I keep my mouth shut. I want to tell her she's more than enough, but instead, I just nod.

We pile into the elevator, the air buzzing with the same easy energy. Chase presses the button for the ground floor, and I find myself standing next to Aira, our fingers brushing accidentally. I feel a jolt, my pinky instinctively reaching for hers, brushing against it lightly. I can't stop myself—it's like this pull, this need to be closer to her. And for a brief second, she doesn't pull away. But then, reality crashes back, and I pull my hand away, pretending like it didn't happen.

Just as the elevator doors open, our hands part. The others step out first, chatting away like nothing's amiss, but I feel the tension lingering between Aira and me. Before she can walk out, I grab her wrist, gently, catching her off guard.

"Aira, wait," I say, my voice low. I clear my throat, trying to come up with a believable excuse. "You asked me earlier to grab your purse from your dad's office, remember?"

Aira's eyes widen in surprise, but before she can say anything, I add, "You three go ahead. We'll catch up later."

Chase, Johanne, and Gale exchange glances. "Hintayin na namin kayo," Johanne offers.

"No, it's okay," Aira jumps in, a little too quickly. "Una na kayo."

They hesitate but eventually nod, making their way toward the parking lot. Chase lingers for a second, giving us both a strange look before following the others.

As soon as Chase's car disappears from view, I feel like I can finally breathe. I grip Aira's wrist gently, pulling her toward my car parked nearby. My voice more urgent than I intend, I say.

"Get in."