Hookup [MikhAiah] [Book #3]

27

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AIRA's POV

The edges of my vision start to blur as I open my eyes, slowly taking in my surroundings. This room... it's familiar. Teddy bears are scattered around, soft puppy stuffed toys and dolls line the shelves, their glassy eyes watching me. This is my old room. But why am I here? I glance down at my hands and see small fingers, delicate and unfamiliar—childlike. I'm a kid again... 

This has to be a dream.

Then, from the doorway, a gentle voice calls, the syllables muffled, like someone speaking underwater. "████... Pack your bags na, anak." There's a figure there, standing tall, feminine... Mom? Her face is blurred, as though she's hidden behind a veil. I blink, trying to clear my vision, but it only makes her more distant, like she's slipping away.

Another voice cuts through the fog—a man's, harsher and defensive. "████! Can we talk about this muna? You're traumatizing the child!" The sound of his voice makes my skin prickle. I look up, squinting, but his face is as indistinct as hers. 

"Talk? Pinagloloko mo ba 'ko? Nangaliwa ka, ayun na yun!" Her voice rises, shaking the room, rattling the dolls on the shelves. 

The man's voice follows, just as loud, "████, for god's sake, co-worker ko nga lang siya! I didn't cheat!" 

Cheat? The word is bitter, piercing my heart even as a child.

Their argument reverberates through the walls, each word hitting me like a wave. I reach out, desperate to touch them, to stop them. But my hands slip through them, ghostly and powerless. 

Please, stop fighting...

And then, I'm pulled back, eyes snapping open. My body jolts upright, a sharp gasp escaping my lips. For a moment, the edges of the world still feel fuzzy, but then I see her—an unfamiliar girl by my side, her arm resting on my shoulder, grounding me. "Uy, uy, it's okay," she says softly, trying to steady me. "Nasa clinic tayo."

The clinic... my mind feels clouded, like I'm trying to remember something just out of reach. "I passed out, didn't I?" I mutter, feeling light-headed.

She nods, looking at me carefully. "Nahimatay ka kanina, and dumudugo yung ilong mo kanina." She gestures toward her own nose as she explains, "Thank god, huminto kaagad yung nosebleed mo kasi we wouldn't really know what to do." 

Her eyes are kind, a mix of concern and warmth as she introduces herself. "Alana." She offers her hand, the glint of a wedding ring catching my eye. I take it, squeezing her hand softly as I reply, "Aira."

She gives me a reassuring smile. "How are you feeling na? Feeling a little better?" she asks, her gaze thoughtful. "May iniwang gamot yung medic para inumin mo—should help relieve the headache at least a little."

I nod, wincing slightly at the dull ache still pressing against my skull. My mind suddenly recalls the event. "How long was I out?"

She rubs her chin thoughtfully, searching for an answer. "An hour, siguro? you shouldn't move too much, baka manghina ka ulit."