I met Her on Facebook

Between the Distance - Part IV

Axel's POV:

I'm still grinning as I walk back to my dorm, phone in hand. Talking to Mikee feels different—like there's something real between us, even if we're miles apart. As I make my way to the dorm lounge, I get another notification.

Message from Mikee:

Axel, guess what? I finally finished everything for today! Off to work now.

I can already imagine her rushing to get everything done, the same way I've been running around. I smile and quickly type a reply.

Good job! I'm sure Khea will be happy to see you. What's your shift like today?

Her response is immediate. I like that about her—she's always quick to reply.

8 AM to 4 PM. It's gonna be a long day, but I'm used to it.

I chuckle. You really are a supermom, huh?

She replies with a laughing emoji. You could say that. But hey, I'm trying. Do you have any plans later?

Nothing major. Just work and maybe a few errands. But I'll try to relax later. You know, give my brain a break.

That's good. Don't push yourself too hard. You're still adjusting to everything.

I pause for a moment, unsure of how to phrase it. Then I send the message anyway.

You know, Mikee... talking to you has been a real escape for me. I feel like I can talk about stuff I wouldn't normally share.

It takes a few seconds before she replies. I start to second-guess myself. Maybe I said too much.

Same here. I didn't expect to connect with someone this quickly. It's nice to have someone to talk to.

I breathe out a sigh of relief. Yeah, I agree. But just so you know, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. So if you need someone to talk to, I'm here.

The message feels like a promise.

Mikee's POV:

After sending Axel that last message, I lean back in the tricycle and take a deep breath. The day's barely begun, but my mind's already racing. I never thought a guy I met through Facebook would become someone I could actually talk to about real stuff.

But here we are.

As the tricycle bounces along the road, I start typing again, trying to make my words light, like I'm just having a normal chat.

I just hope my shift today isn't too crazy. Sometimes people don't know when to stop ordering.

A few seconds later, the bubbles appear again.

I hear you. I guess people don't realize that workers need breaks too. But hey, you're tough. I know you'll handle it.

I laugh to myself. Axel always has this way of making me feel better, even when I'm stressed. He doesn't even know how much I needed to hear that.

Thanks. I think I just needed a little encouragement.

Anytime. You're doing great.

I smile at my phone.

Axel's POV:

I put my phone down, my thoughts still on Mikee. There's something special about the way she talks, the way she handles herself. I can tell she's been through a lot, but she doesn't complain. It makes me respect her even more.

I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Sandro walking up. He waves and slides into the seat next to me.

"Hey, Axel, what's up?" he says, all casual like nothing's wrong.

I shrug, putting my phone in my pocket. "Not much, just taking a breather before my shift."

Sandro raises an eyebrow. "You always seem so calm. How do you do it?"

I lean back in my chair, trying to figure out how to answer that. "I guess I've learned to just go with the flow. Life's always gonna throw stuff at you, so you might as well enjoy the ride."

He laughs. "Easy for you to say. You've got everything figured out."

I shake my head. "Nah, man. I'm just figuring things out day by day."

Sandro nods, then pulls out his phone. "Speaking of figuring things out, I saw you were talking to Mikee earlier. How's that going?"

I almost choke on my drink. "Mikee? What are you talking about?"

Sandro grins. "Don't play dumb, man. You two seem to be getting along pretty well. I'm just wondering if there's something going on there."

I look away, trying to act casual. "We're just talking. Nothing serious."

Sandro shrugs, still smirking. "Alright, if you say so. Just don't get too attached, man. You know how these things go."

I clench my fist around my cup, the words stinging more than I thought they would. "What do you mean by that?"

Sandro leans back, looking at me with that cocky grin of his. "You know. Girls like that? They get attached quickly. So don't mess it up."

I want to argue with him, tell him that he doesn't know anything about Mikee, but I stop myself. Instead, I take a deep breath and let it go. Maybe he's right. Maybe I should take it slow.

Mikee's POV:

I walk into the coffee shop, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. Another day, another challenge. I check my phone quickly, hoping for another message from Axel. Sure enough, there's a new notification.

Hey Mikee, how's work going?

I smile at the screen. It's going okay. Just a bit slow today. How about you?

His reply is quick, like he's waiting for me to respond. Same. Just finished with a few things here. I was thinking about you.

I blink at the message. Thinking about me? I type. What do you mean?

I stare at the screen for a few seconds. I'm curious, but I don't want to jump to conclusions.

Axel's reply comes, and it's honest, maybe too honest. I mean, you're always on my mind. I guess... I just like talking to you. Makes things feel easier.

My heart skips a beat. I quickly type back, unsure of how to respond. Same here. It's nice to have someone who listens.

And just like that, I feel a little less lonely.

Axel's POV:

I can't stop thinking about that last message from Mikee. It feels like she's finally opening up. I'm glad I can be the one she talks to. I know she's been through a lot, but there's something about her that keeps me grounded.

I walk to work, thoughts swirling in my head. I hope this connection we have doesn't fizzle out like the others. With Mikee, it feels real.

Mikee's POV:

Work ends, and I can't wait to get home. I check my phone again, seeing the new message from Axel.

I hope you're okay. I know today was rough, but remember, I'm here if you need someone to talk to.

I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. Maybe, just maybe, this could turn into something good. Something real.