Player 1 | MIKHAIAH AU

Part 16

The group had gathered back at the table, but the tension around Addison was hard to ignore. Her discomfort was etched in the way she avoided eye contact and fidgeted with the edge of her glass. “Ok ka lang?” Clover asked gently, kneeling beside Addison’s chair, concern in her eyes. “I’m not sure,” Addison murmured, her voice barely audible. “Maybe we should go home.” 
Clover didn’t hesitate. “Tara,” she said, draping her coat over Addison’s shoulders and helping her to her feet. 
Noticing the movement, Mackenzie stood as well. “Hey, you ok?” she asked, her voice soft as she reached out to Addison. Addison, her back still turned, shook her head lightly. “I’m ok. I just want to rest na.” 

“I can take you home,” Mackenzie offered, stepping closer. “Baka gusto pa mag-stay ni Clo.”  Addison didn’t turn around. “You don’t have to, Mackie,” she said, her tone distant. Clover glanced at Mackenzie, her expression firm but calm. “I got her,” she said, her voice final as she guided Addison toward the exit. 
Mackenzie watched them leave, a mix of concern and hesitation flickering in her eyes. Before she could follow, Dior reached out, her voice smooth but firm. “Mackie, stay for a while muna,” she said, sipping her drink and meeting Mackenzie’s gaze. “I’m not ready to go home yet.” Mackenzie hesitated for a moment, torn, before slowly sitting back down. The weight of the evening lingered in the air, heavy and unresolved.

“Clo, what are we doing here?” Addison asked, her voice tinged with confusion as Clover pulled into the parking lot of a hypermarket. “Saglit lang ako. Stay here, okay?” Clover said hurriedly before stepping out of the car. Left alone, Addison sat quietly for a moment, her thoughts unraveling. The stillness of the car felt suffocating as the emotions she had been suppressing finally broke through. Tears began streaming down her face. 
“How could I be so foolish?” she whispered bitterly, her voice cracking. “Of course, hindi niya talaga ako gusto,” she thought, replaying the moments she shared with Mackenzie—on and off stream. 
“Dapat nag-actor ka na lang,” Addison muttered, her mind painting Mackenzie as a master pretender, the sting of disappointment cutting deeper with each memory. 
A soft voice broke through her spiral. “Oh.” Addison glanced up, startled, to see Clover standing by the car door, holding out a tissue and a tub of ice cream. “Ilabas mo lang yan,” Clover said gently.  “Clo…” Addison whimpered, her sobs intensifying as she reached for Clover. Without hesitation, Clover slid into the seat beside her, letting Addison bury herself in a tight hug. “Kilala kita,” Clover murmured, rubbing Addison’s back soothingly. The warmth of her words and touch slowly melted the ache in Addison’s chest, if only for a moment.

Mackenzie struggled to guide a tipsy Dior out of the elevator and into her condo. Dior mumbled incoherently, her words slurring together. “Hang… buwlag… woksno…” 
“Sayo nauubos battery ko, eh,” Mackenzie muttered, shaking her head as she unlocked the door. Once inside, she carefully lowered Dior onto the couch. “Mackie…” Dior whispered, her voice softer now. “Oh,” Mackenzie replied, stretching her arms, expecting another round of drunken rambling. “Bakit kasi hindi na lang ako?” Dior blurted, her words striking Mackenzie harder than she anticipated. Caught off guard, Mackenzie froze. It wasn’t the first time Dior confessed while drunk, but she never took it seriously. It always felt like the alcohol talking. “Come on, let’s get you changed,” Mackenzie said, trying to keep the mood light as she tugged gently on Dior’s arm. Dior refused to budge, her expression turning somber. “Dahil ba hindi tayo sumikat gaya niyo?” she asked, her voice trembling. “What are you talking about?” Mackenzie asked, her brow furrowed. “You don’t have to pretend anymore,” Dior said, her tone laced with innocence and hurt. “I told her the truth.” “What truth?” Mackenzie asked, confusion flickering in her eyes. Dior looked up, tears threatening to spill. “Baka kasi mahulog siya sayo… eh hindi ka naman seryoso, diba? Parang nung tayo.” Mackenzie sat beside her, sighing heavily. “Dior, we’re friends. We’ve always been just friends.” Dior let out a bitter laugh, standing unsteadily and heading toward the kitchen. “Then be friends with her. Friends lang din kayo, diba?” Mackenzie followed, stopping Dior just as she reached for another shot. “Dior, this is different,” she said firmly. “Different how?” Dior challenged, her voice cracking. Dior turned. “More than me? More than what I can offer?” She leaned closer, her lips trembling as she tried to kiss Mackenzie.

“Oh, bakit gising ka pa?” Clover asked, spotting Mandy sitting quietly as she exited Addison’s room. “How is she?” Mandy asked, her voice low, concern etched on her face. Clover sighed, dropping onto the couch beside her. “Ayun, naka-three tubs ng ice cream.” Mandy frowned. “Ano bang nangyari? Ok naman sila kanina ah.” Clover shook her head, frustration flickering in her eyes. “Sabi ko na sa inyo eh, may balak yang Mackenzie na yan.”  “So ano, masaya ka ganyan siya? Masaya ka maging tama?” Mandy shot back, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Hindi,” Clover said softly, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Ayoko nakikita siyang ganyan. Masakit pag nasasaktan siya.” Mandy leaned back, staring into the distance. “Sabagay, isa lang naman ang masaya pag nasasaktan.” “Ayan na naman siya,” Clover said, rolling her eyes but smiling faintly. “Ay, sorry, natamaan ka ba?” Mandy teased, nudging Clover playfully. 
Clover turned to her, her expression serious. “Hindi mo pa ko sinasagot.” 
Mandy’s lips curled into a small smile as she met Clover’s gaze. “Iniintay kita,” she said simply, the warmth in her tone unmistakable.