Anthologies {MIKHAIAH AU}

passenger seat pt 4

Mikha sat in her parked car, staring at the text she'd just sent and feeling her nerves knot tighter with every passing second. It had taken her over an hour to work up the courage to send it—an hour of typing, deleting, and overthinking every word until she finally hit send.

"Hey, there's this live music bar in Poblacion I've been meaning to check out. Indie band, chill vibe. Want to come with me?"

It wasn't her usual style to be so direct, and the second the message left her phone, she regretted it. What if it was too much? Too forward? What if Aiah said no? Or worse—what if she ghosted her completely?

The three little dots appeared, and Mikha held her breath.

Aiah: "Sounds fun! When?"

Mikha exhaled sharply, relief and excitement washing over her in equal measure. She quickly typed back, "Friday night? I'll pick you up."

Another quick reply: "Deal. Looking forward to it. :)"

Mikha grinned, leaning back in her seat. Her heart was racing, but for once, it wasn't from nerves—it was from anticipation.

/

Friday night came quickly, and Mikha found herself standing outside Aiah's building, adjusting her leather jacket for what felt like the hundredth time. She had changed outfits twice before finally settling on something that didn't scream trying too hard: dark jeans, boots, and the jacket she always wore when she wanted to look a little cooler than she felt.

When Aiah stepped out of the building, Mikha's breath caught. She was wearing a simple black dress and sneakers, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. It wasn't flashy, but it was effortlessly stylish, and Mikha couldn't help but think she looked incredible.

"Hey," Aiah said, her smile soft but warm as she approached.

"Hey," Mikha replied, trying to play it cool even as her pulse raced. "You ready?"

Aiah nodded, slipping her hands into her pockets. "Yep. Lead the way, driver."

Mikha smirked, opening the passenger door for her. "At your service, ma'am."

Aiah laughed as she slid into the seat, and Mikha felt a small surge of pride at the sound. She closed the door, walked around to the driver's side, and got in, glancing at Aiah as she started the car.

"You look nice," Mikha said before she could stop herself.

Aiah turned to her, her smile widening just slightly. "You, too."

Mikha's cheeks warmed, and she focused on the road, gripping the wheel a little tighter than necessary.

The live music bar in Poblacion was tucked into a narrow street, its dimly lit exterior giving it a cool, underground vibe. The faint thrum of guitar and drums spilled out into the night air as Mikha and Aiah approached, weaving through the small crowd gathered outside.

Inside, the bar was intimate and atmospheric, with soft, moody lighting and mismatched furniture scattered around the space. A small stage was set up at one end of the room, where a band was tuning their instruments. The sound of clinking glasses and quiet chatter filled the air, blending with the faint hum of the amplifiers.

"This is nice," Aiah said as they found a spot near the back, away from the crowd clustered closer to the stage.

"Yeah," Mikha said, glancing around. "Thought it'd be something different. Chill lang, no pressure."

Aiah smiled at that, her eyes crinkling slightly. "I like it."

Mikha felt a flicker of relief at the response. She wasn't sure why she'd been so nervous about suggesting this, but seeing Aiah genuinely enjoying herself eased the tension in her chest.