LIES (Mikhaiah)

8

Aiah walked for hours. Mikha trailed behind her at a distant, feeling so undeniably heavy from the guilt. It hurt the longer she trailed behind her.

Aiah knew the redhaired was behind her but she wasn't sure how long or how far she would follow her.

She didn't have the guts to turn around and face Mikha despite wanting to blow up in her face and yell at her.

The fear of breaking down in front of her and crying was too much.

She just felt empty right now.

She bit her lip, dialing a number on her phone she shakily brought it up to her ear.

A couple of rings in she hoped to God she picked up because she was under the watch of Mikha which brought so much nervousness for some reason.

The phone picked up, she was greeted by the usual. "Staku. Please come pick me up." Aiah whispered, shutting her eyes when she thought she was going to cry.

"Aiah? What's wron-"

"Pickles." Aiah breathed out.

Back in high school when the two had relationship problems, their code for something like this would be pickles. And that is still exactly what those two still used till this day.

"I'll be there in 5 minutes."

Aiah waited out at the curb and as promised Stacey's car drove up. Just as she was about to cross the street, Mikha grabbed Aiah's arm.

Aiah turned around and startled, she pushed the Lieutenant away.

Just as she was about to speak, Mikha stepped close to her.

"Don't go."

Aiah opened her mouth ajar, gathering everything she could to not break down. "How can you expect me not to when I can't even stand being near you?" She asked and Mikha saw how hurt she was and looked to the floor.

"Aiah.. I'm worried." She said quickly, knowing Stacey was about to come out of the car. "I-I know you don't want to see me right now.. please come back? Don't leave and shut me out forever?"

Aiah clenched her fist. She had every right to leave the face of earth and not let Mikha know.

"Talk. I need to talk to you when you're ready." Mikha whispered.

Just as expected, Joohyun came out of the driver's seat and slid between the two like she was shielding Aiah away from her.

Stacey pushed and shoved the Lieutenant, shouting at her. The noise was drowned out and Mikha couldn't say anything, of course she couldn't.

Aiah's friends would fight tooth and nail for her.

Mikha listened to the verbal mess Stacey happened to yell at her and the whole time Aiah stood behind Stacey, tears in her eyes.

She had not hit me, she had not yelled at me. She did not throw a fit.

She stood there crying quietly, then she walked away from me begging me to leave her alone.

I thought she would break up with me and leave me right on there on the spot, but she hadn't. Yet.

Seeing her heart break in front of me was the worst feeling I had ever experienced.

I understand if she won't forgive me, I don't think I can ever do it myself.

This taste in my mouth is bitter.

❌❌❌

Aiah told everything to Stacey, all the speculations the fight she tried to conceal from her way back.