Player 1 | MIKHAIAH AU

Part 11

“Uy, late uwi natin, Mackie boi, ah,” Jhai teased as Mackenzie walked into the dorm, her voice echoing softly from the kitchen where she stood drinking a glass of milk.  “Putangina!” Mackenzie exclaimed, startled by her presence. “Ano ginagawa mo dyan?” she asked, still catching her breath. Jhai raised her glass with a smirk. “Hindi ba obvious?” she said, swirling the milk lazily. “So, bakit ngayon ka lang?” 

“Wala… malayo yung kila Addi,” Mackenzie replied casually, shrugging off her bag. “Eh bakit ka pa nagpresenta na ihatid? Alam mo namang opposite direction pa satin,” Jhai shot back, half-scolding but mostly teasing. “I don’t know, bro—” Mackenzie leaned against the counter, throwing an arm over Jhai’s shoulder. “I just… I wanted to spend more time with her. Gets mo yun? Yung parang kahit lagi ko na siyang nakikita, it’s still not enough.” Her voice softened, trailing off in thought. “In love si gago,” Jhai said, bursting into laughter as Mackenzie snapped out of her daze. 
“Hoy, hindi,” Mackenzie protested, pulling her arm back and standing upright. “Baka… crush lang, ganon,” she added defensively, though the faintest blush gave her away.

“Eh sino pipiliin mo date sa Company Stream, si best friend or si crush?” Jhai says teasingly nudging Mackenzie. “Anong date? Bakit ano meron?” Mackenzie asks confused. “Ayan kasi nagmamadali kanina… si nonchalant tuloy napa-drive” Jhai says telling Mackie happenings after they left. “Sabi ni Ms. K sa sabado daw dapat may date tayo” Jhai says on her way to leave. “Ha? Anong meron sa sabado?” Mackenzie asks still confused. “Tapon mo na nga phone mo di mo naman ginagamit” Jhai says irritated with Mackie “Check mo GC for updates minsan noh, sa sabado na annual stream con ng company” Jhai says leaving Mackenzie in deep thought.

“Eh sino pipiliin mo na date sa company stream, si best friend o si crush?” Jhai teased, nudging Mackenzie playfully as they sat on the couch. 
“Anong date? Bakit, ano meron?” Mackenzie asked, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Ayan kasi, nagmamadali ka kanina, kaya si nonchalant napa-drive tuloy,” Jhai said with a smirk, filling Mackie in on the post-work chatter she had clearly missed. “Sabi ni Ms. K, sa Sabado daw dapat may date tayo.” 
“Ha? Anong meron sa Sabado?” Mackenzie asked, still clueless as she leaned back, running her hand through her hair. “Tapon mo na kaya phone mo, di mo rin naman ginagamit,” Jhai quipped, rolling her eyes in mock irritation. “Check mo GC minsan, noh? Sabado na yung annual stream con ng company,” she added before heading off, leaving Mackenzie sitting there, lost in thought and suddenly feeling the weight of the question.

Mackenzie stared at her phone on the coffee table, Jhai's teasing words still echoing in her head. “Best friend or crush?” The question hung heavy in the air, tugging at her thoughts. She picked up her phone and scrolled through the group chat, her thumb hesitating over the flood of updates about the upcoming event. 

Her eyes landed on a message from Addison. “Uhm, should I attend this Saturday? Am I invited?” it read, the shy smiley at the end making her heart flutter in a way she couldn’t ignore. 
Before she could process it, another ping lit up the screen—a message from Dior. “Don’t forget, I saved you a seat. We’ll make it fun, promise.” Mackenzie felt a pang in her chest, torn between the warmth of Addison’s uncertainty and the steadiness of Dior’s confident assurance. 

She threw her phone onto the couch and buried her face in her hands, frustration and confusion swirling within her. “How do you choose between what feels safe and what feels like falling?”