Hookup ✓ [MikhAiah] [Book #3]

39

—🦊🐶🐺🐣🐨—

The concert day has finally arrived. The girls are already packed up in the building, dressed in their casual clothes, patiently waiting for the service to arrive and bring them to the concert venue. Miki closes her notebook, having memorized all the lyrics she wrote for her new song—one she composed herself.

Gale, Johanne, Chase, and Miki huddle up in their studio. With a final slam on the snare drum, Johanne sighs loudly. "Hope things are gonna go smooth for us," she says. Gale smiles, placing a cover over her keyboard. "Hopefully. This is a send-off for Yves na rin eh," she adds. Chase pats them both on the shoulders, his voice echoing in the studio room, interrupting Miki's thoughts. "It'll be alright, we got this, right, Miki?"

Miki nods. "Yeah, we got this," she agrees.

Their eyes all avert to the door as it swings open, revealing their manager, Aira. "Hi, girls, you guys ready?" Her voice echoes, and the girls nod, jogging toward their bags.

"Andiyan na yung service?" Gale asks, and Aira nods. "Yeah, kakadating lang. Make sure to double-check your items and bags, ah. Baka may maiwan kayo, it's going to be a long ride," Aira adds, leaving the door open.

"All good naman, girls?" Chase asks, her eyes scanning the band. Everyone nods, raising a thumbs-up. "Yeah, we're all good," they say. 

Aira flashes them a smile, her eyes softening. "Okay, let's go so you guys have time to soundcheck pa," she adds.

With that smile, Chase and Miki can't help but feel their hearts skip a beat. Chase's gaze shifts to Miki, who seems lost in thought, her eyes lingering on Aira. She chuckles to herself, thousands of thoughts crossing her mind as the group exits the studio.

—🦊🐶🐺🐣🐨—

Outside the building, a line of black cars and a solo bus await. Royal guards stand in formation, lining the front of the building. "Good morning, girls," Yves greets them. Aira and the band bow their heads as the Royal Prince stands beside Yves.

"No need to bow, guys," the Royal Prince, Colet, says, reassuring the girls. "Let's get going na?" Yves asks. Everyone nods, making their way to the bus.

Inside the prestigious bus, everything is elegant. There are separate rooms, each offering a space for privacy. "We'll let you guys know when we're there," a guard says, his suit different from the others, looking like the leader of the royal guards.

"Thanks, Juno," Yves replies. "You guys may choose your rooms muna," she adds, turning to the band members.

One by one, everyone selects their rooms. Aira picks the last room at the very back of the bus, sliding the door shut behind her as she finally rests herself on the seat. This time, she has her own space. The long drive ahead settles in her mind. She takes out her headphones, connects them to her phone, and quickly selects her music. Leaning back in the seat, she closes her eyes.

—🐶?—

Soon, another dream chimes in. It's familiar, the same as always. She watches the little version of herself again. The background is unchanged—she's sitting on a red swing. A voice echoes in the distance. "Aria!" the voice calls. She looks up and sees a little kid running toward her. "████" the child's name is redacted by the wind, the words lost to the noise.

"You're alone?" the kid asks, and Aria nods, remaining still on the swing.

"Mhm," she hums. The little one sits next to her on the other swing.

"Where's ████?" Aria asks, and the child answers, "Ah, she had to go home early."

Aria turns to face the child. "Oh, you guys just got home from school?" she asks. The kid nods. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't be here with a backpack on," the child replies sarcastically, and Aria chuckles.

"Hmm, blunt as always," she says, standing up from the swing. 

The little kid follows her lead. "What about you? You don't have school?" the child asks.

Aria shrugs. "I have a teacher at home," she responds. The kid nods, "Damn. That must be fun, not going to school and just staying at home."

Aria hums, "Not really," she mutters. She picks up a rock, her tone turning monotone. "I don't have any friends to talk to, gossip with, and all that. It's just me." 

The child's words echo in Aria's head: "I'm here though."

Aria's heart softens with the child's words. "Well—" she begins, but is cut off as the little kid takes the rock from her hand. "How about this?" the child asks, carving something into the tree. 

"Isn't that bad?" Aria asks, and the kid shrugs.

"Who cares? This tree's been here for a while, it'll be fine," the child says, handing Aria the rock. As Aria looks at the tree, she notices a letter carved into it.

"Here, add your initial," the child says. Aria stares at the rock for a moment. 

"Come on, write yours!" the child encourages. Aria stumbles a little, then carves her initial, 'A,' into the tree.

"Then that solidifies our friendship, then," the child declares. Aria nods. "Anyway, I gotta go now, my mom might kill me," the child says, patting Aria's shoulder. 

"See you tomorrow, Ari!"

—🐶—

With those last words from her dream, Aira's eyes snap open. She takes off her headphones, the sound of the bus's engine stopping pulling her back to reality.

"We're here, guys!" Johanne's voice echoes from the front of the bus. A knock on her door follows, and Miki's figure appears, her sleepy eyes greeting Aira.

"Good morning," Miki smiles.

"Morning," Aira responds, her eyes landing on Miki's, feeling a strange sense of familiarity, almost like she's seen those eyes before... in her dream.