Anthologies {MIKHAIAH AU}

lego house pt 5

"So..." Maloi started, leaning back in her chair with a sly grin as she stirred her iced latte unnecessarily. She let the word dangle in the air like bait, her sharp eyes fixed on Aiah. "Kamusta ang Friday night Lego-and-wine tradition niyo ni Mikha?"

Aiah paused mid-sip of her black coffee, raising an eyebrow. "Anong Lego-and-wine tradition? It's for Janna."

"Oh, sure," Maloi said, dragging out the words as Sheena and Stacey exchanged amused glances.

"It is for Janna," Aiah insisted, setting her cup down a little too firmly.

"Right," Sheena chimed in, resting her chin on her hand. "Kasi every six-year-old needs two adults na nagwi-wine after bedtime. Very family vibes."

Stacey snorted into her iced mocha. "I mean, I'm sure Janna loves the Legos. But the wine? That sounds more like post-divorce coping mechanisms."

"Thanks, Stacey. Very insightful," Aiah deadpanned, though her lips twitched upward in a reluctant smirk.

"So, anong real score?" Maloi asked, leaning forward, her grin widening. "You and Mikha, ha? Back together na ba kayo or what? Kasi, sa totoo lang, ang labo."

Aiah sighed, slumping back in her chair. "We're not back together. We're just... co-parenting. That's it."

Sheena raised an eyebrow. "Co-parenting, huh? So co-parenting involves staying at each other's places, cooking pancakes, and—oh, right—kissing?"

Aiah stiffened, shooting her a sharp look. "Walang kissing."

Sheena just smirked knowingly, and Maloi leaned in, resting her elbows on the table. "Aiah, we're your friends. You can tell us kung ano talaga nangyayari."

"I did tell you," Aiah said, exasperated. "It's not a big deal. We're just... figuring things out."

"Figuring things out," Stacey repeated, raising her eyebrows. "Baka ibig mong sabihin, avoiding the conversation?"

Aiah opened her mouth to argue but hesitated. Because Stacey wasn't entirely wrong. She and Mikha hadn't talked about it—whatever it was. They just kept falling into this rhythm, night after night, kiss after kiss, like it was something inevitable but unspoken.

"You like her," Maloi said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Aiah blinked. "Of course I like her. She's my ex-wife, and we have a kid together. We have to like each other."

"No," Maloi said, shaking her head. "I mean you like her. Like, more-than-co-parenting-like. And you're scared to admit it kasi it might ruin whatever you have going on."

Aiah stared at her, her jaw tightening. Because, as much as she hated to admit it, Maloi was hitting a little too close to home.

"She's right, you know," Sheena said casually, sipping her drink. "You two are walking this weird line. Either figure it out or stop whatever you're doing, kasi kawawa naman si Janna kung maging messy 'to."

"Exactly," Stacey added. "Kids pick up on everything, Aiah."

"I know," Aiah muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.

"So... anong plano mo?" Maloi asked, her tone softer now.

Aiah sighed, slumping forward and resting her elbows on the table. "I don't know. I really don't. We haven't talked about it, and I don't even know kung anong sasabihin ko kung mag-usap kami. What if it's just... nothing? What if it's just comfort? For both of us?"

Maloi raised an eyebrow. "And what if it's not?"

/

"Okay, spill," Colet demanded, pointing her half-empty wine glass at Mikha as she lounged on the couch. "What the hell is going on with you and Aiah?"