Hookup ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #3]

38

—🦊—

The hours seem to blend together in a haze of rehearsals, practice, and hurried notes as the final day approaches. With the concert looming, each member of the band immerses themselves in their solo projects, each one writing something personal for their performance. Miki has been locked in her room, hunched over her notebook, lost in the quiet of her thoughts, pushing through every line and scribble until at last, with a final flick of her pen, she finishes.

A soft click sounds as she retracts the tip of the pen. She closes her notebook with a sigh, holding it against her chest for a moment. But she can't resist opening it again, flipping to the lyrics of the song she's written. Her eyes scan each word with a mixture of pride and doubt, the lyrics catching her in unexpected ways. She wonders if songs like these are even allowed, if they'll be accepted by the crowd—or maybe even more so, by the person they're meant for. There was no rule against performing a song like this, but still, the thought gnaws at her.

With another sigh, she falls back onto her bed, her arm draping over her forehead. She can't quite believe it—this is her first song, and it's for someone. As the weight of that truth settles over her, her thoughts drift to Chase. Her gaze lands on the framed picture on her bedside table, the one of her and Chase back in high school, arms slung around each other, wide smiles plastered on their faces.

"Ah... we've gone so far," she mutters, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Her eyelids grow heavy, the lyrics still lingering in her mind as she slips into sleep.

But her slumber isn't dreamless—she's pulled into the past, to a memory long buried but alive, vivid in detail, as if she's there once again.

—🦊🐶🐺—

It's a warm afternoon, and Miki's younger self stomps along the edge of the playground, kicking at the dirt in frustration.

"Our teacher is so annoying!" she groans, tossing a rock to the ground in a fit of irritation. Chase, sitting beside her on the park bench, bursts into laughter and pats her on the shoulder.

"Kalma lang," Chase says with a grin, clearly amused.

Miki rolls her eyes, huffing. "Kalma? I was right on that exam, but I swear, nagreview naman ako! I saw that answer in my notes!"

Chase continues to laugh, shaking her head at Miki's frustration. "She just doesn't make any sense, huh?"