Player 1 | MIKHAIAH AU

Part 19

“Guys, tara daw, labas,” Jhai announces as she steps into the condo’s living room, her energy loud and infectious. 
“Saan na naman?” Gab mutters, slouched on the couch, her social battery clearly drained. 
“Pass,” Mackenzie replies curtly from where she’s scrolling aimlessly on her phone. 
“Luh, hindi mo pa nga alam kung saan,” Jhai shoots back, feigning surprise. 
“Saan nga kasi?” Gab chimes in, squinting at Jhai suspiciously. 
“Xylo daw,” Jhai answers, her brows wiggling mischievously. 
“Papaalam lang ako kay bebe,” Gab says, already busy typing on her phone. 
“No need, pare ko,” Jhai says with a knowing smirk. 
“Uto, wag mo ‘ko itulad sa inyo,” Gab retorts, narrowing her eyes. 
“Tanga, hindi ganon!” Jhai exclaims, smacking Gab lightly on the arm. “Sila kasi nag-aya, kaya ganon,” she adds with a grin, her tone heavy with implication. 
“Sila? Sino kasama?” Mackenzie asks, her tone flat, but there’s a spark of interest in her voice. 
“Oh, akala ko ‘di ka naman sasama,” Jhai teases, catching on. 
“Eh, sino mag-uuwi sa mga lasing niyong katawan kung hindi ako sasama?” Mackenzie shoots back, her attempt at nonchalance betrayed by the faintest hint of nervousness. 
Since their last talk overlooking the city lights, Mackenzie and Addison had barely interacted outside of work. On streams, they were professional, their banter seamless, but off-camera, an unspoken distance lingered. Mackenzie felt lost in the silence. She knew her feelings—clear and resolute—but proving them to Addison was a different story. For now, she’d respected the space Addison seemed to need, even if it left her feeling hollow. 
“Hoy, gayak na!” Jhai’s voice breaks through Mackenzie’s thoughts, pulling her back to the present. 
She looks up, seeing Gab dragging herself off the couch and Jhai already picking through outfits. Mackenzie exhales deeply, pushing her thoughts aside. Tonight wasn’t about answers. But maybe—just maybe—it could be a step closer to figuring things out.

The bar was alive with neon lights and pulsing music, its energy electric as friends and strangers mingled. Gab and Shan were huddled close at their table, laughing over shared jokes and sneaking in affectionate glances that left no room for doubt—they were in their own world. 
On the other side, Jhai and Clover were at it again, their banter sharp and playful. 
“Masaya ka ba sa kakulitan mo?” Clover quipped, smirking. “Masaya ka rin naman, aminin mo na,” Jhai shot back, leaning in just enough to make Clover scoff. “Hoy, mag-behave kayong dalawa,” Mandy interjected, though the grin on her face betrayed any seriousness. “Kung hindi, sasali na rin ako!” 
The group burst into laughter, but amidst the lively chaos, Mackenzie and Addison sat in an island of silence. Mackenzie nursed her drink, eyes darting to Addison occasionally, who seemed more interested in the rim of her glass than the crowd around them. Clover caught sight of Addison’s distant expression and tilted her head. “Hey, Ayos ka lang?” she asked softly whispering in her ears. 
Addison nodded absently, but Clover wasn’t having it. “Tara, dance floor. Dito ka lang kasi nagpapaka-OA.” 
Before Addison could protest, Clover grabbed her hand, tugging her out of the booth and onto the dance floor. 
The music thumped louder as they wove through the crowd, and soon Clover was moving to the beat, trying to pull Addison out of her shell. Addison hesitated at first, her movements stiff, but Clover’s infectious energy was hard to resist. Slowly, Addison began to loosen up, her shy smile turning into quiet laughter as they swayed and spun under the kaleidoscope of lights. 
Back at the table, Mackenzie’s grip on her drink tightened as she watched them. Her gaze honed in on Addison’s soft smile, the way she laughed freely with Clover, the way her guard seemed to come down. 

Her jaw clenched. 
“Hoy, Mackie, ang lalim niyan ah,” Jhai teased, leaning over to nudge her. 
Mackenzie barely reacted, her eyes never leaving the dance floor. “Nothing,” she muttered, though the turmoil in her chest was anything but. Clover twirled Addison, her laugh ringing through the music. Addison stumbled slightly but caught herself, grinning at Clover. Mackenzie’s heart twisted at the sight. She told herself it was fine—Addison deserved to have fun—but the jealousy brewing inside her felt like a storm she couldn’t contain. 

The music at Xylo was deafening, the heavy bass vibrating through the floors and into Mackenzie’s chest. She leaned back against the booth, her gaze subtly shifting across the club, lingering just a second too long on Addison, who was laughing at something Clover said. 
Gab leaned over, her drink in hand, catching the look. “Uy, Mackie,” she said loudly over the music, her grin sly. “May tinitingnan ka na naman!”. “Hala, ‘di ah,” Mackenzie said, sitting up straighter, feigning innocence. 
“Sure ka?” Shan teased, sliding into the booth beside her. “Kasi kung hindi, bakit parang di ka mapakali?”  “Ikaw ba talaga yan, Mackie?” Mandy chimed in with mock shock, giving Jhai a knowing look. 
Before Mackenzie could retort, Jhai grinned wickedly and plopped a row of shots in front of her. “Ganito na lang. Let’s make this interesting. Shot for shot, Mackie. Para naman sumaya buhay mo!” 
Mackenzie rolled her eyes but picked up the first shot without hesitation. One shot turned into two, then three, the sharp burn of the alcohol muted by the cheers and laughter of her friends. 
“Okay, tama na ‘yan, baka malasing siya,” Gab said with a laugh, though she didn’t make any move to stop her. “I can handle my booze,” Mackenzie shot back confidently, though her relaxed demeanor and flushed cheeks suggested otherwise. Jhai stood abruptly and held out a hand. “Tara, Mackie! Dance floor tayo. Para naman ma-enjoy mo ‘yung gabi.”  Mandy was quick to follow. “Sige na, Mackie. Sama na!”  With some hesitation, Mackenzie relented, letting herself be dragged onto the crowded dance floor. Almost immediately, a girl with striking confidence and a seductive air caught sight of Mackenzie. Before Mackenzie could react, the girl was dancing close—too close—her hips swaying to the rhythm, her gaze fixed on Mackenzie’s. 
For Mackenzie, it was just a dance. She matched the girl’s energy, laughing when the crowd around them cheered. But from the booth, her friends exchanged raised eyebrows and knowing smirks. 
Addison, on the other hand, wasn’t laughing. Her eyes were glued to Mackenzie and the girl, her expression unreadable. The playful glint in her gaze had dimmed, replaced by something heavier. 

“Okay, parang sobra na ‘yan,” Clover muttered beside her, watching as Mackenzie leaned in to say something to the girl over the music.  Addison sat back abruptly, crossing her arms. “Wala akong pakialam,” she said sharply, though her tone betrayed her. 
“Right,” Clover replied, her voice bitter. She drained her drink and glanced at Addison, whose attention had shifted back to the dance floor despite herself. 
Addison exhaled, shaking her head. “Bahala siya,” she muttered, retreating further into her seat. Clover, feeling the weight of Addison’s words and her obvious frustration, slumped back into her chair, defeated.

The girl’s movements became bolder, and Mackenzie found herself instinctively stepping backward, her hands raised slightly in protest. “Uh, okay, medyo close na tayo, Miss,” she muttered, her nervous chuckle drowned out by the music. Before she could retreat further, Jhai and Gab appeared, pulling her away. “Oop, kami na bahala dito,” Jhai said, her tone teasing but protective. “Uy, Mackie! Malakas din palang dating mo, ah!” Gab teased as they steered her back toward the booth. 
At the table, their friends erupted in laughter. “Tama na yan, Mackie! Baka may magpropose na mamaya!” Shan joked, earning cheers from Mandy and Jhai.  But Addison remained quiet, her expression carefully neutral as she focused on her drink. 
Their teasing was interrupted by Mackenzie’s phone ringing. She glanced at the screen before answering.

“Hello, Sab?” she said, her voice soft but laced with urgency. Mandy and Shan exchanged confused looks, while Addison’s gaze flickered toward Mackenzie, her brow furrowed slightly. 
“Ngayon na? …Okay, I’ll be there,” Mackenzie said, hanging up quickly. She looked at Jhai, who gave her a meaningful nod. “I’ll go ahead,” Mackenzie announced, reaching for her car keys on the table. “Ingat kayo,” Gab said, her voice unusually calm, as though she understood exactly where Mackenzie was headed.  Before Mackenzie could grab the keys, Addison snatched them up. “You can’t drive. Uminom ka kanina,” she said, her tone firm, her eyes flashing with frustration. 
“Addi, please. Not right now,” Mackenzie replied, her patience thinning as she reached for the keys again. “No,” Addison said, her grip tightening. “You shouldn’t drive, especially not like this.” 
Mackenzie sighed, her voice dropping. “I don’t want to fight about this. I have to go pick her up.”  The words hit Addison like a punch to the gut. Her hand slackened slightly on the keys as the reality of Mackenzie meeting another girl sank in. 

Clover, watching the exchange, stepped in. “Ihahatid na kita, Mackie,” she said, gently taking the keys from Addison’s hand.  Mackenzie hesitated but eventually nodded. “Thank you.” 
Without another word, Mackenzie and Clover headed for the exit, leaving the table in silence, Addison’s frustration and confusion lingering in the air.