**
Mikha Lim was a storm you couldn’t avoid.
In the sprawling halls of Bini College for Women. Mikha, in her 2nd year. A well known "Walking red flag" in the campus. heartbreaker dressed in designer clothes, and the reason behind countless sleepless nights for lovestruck girls across the campus. Everyone knew she was trouble
but somehow, trouble had never looked so good.
With her sharp cheekbones, sun-kissed complexion, vibrant red hair, and eyes that carried the weight of a thousand untold stories, she had the kind of beauty that stopped people mid-step.
But it wasn’t just her looks that turned heads. She's rich, smart, and charismatic to a fault.
Everyone wanted her.
And yet, everyone feared her.
Mikha was infamous for her games. She wasn’t interested in love, at least not the kind that lasted beyond a fleeting thrill. She’d shower a girl with attention, make her feel like the only person in the world, then pull away as soon as feelings got involved. Her conquests were many, and her trail of broken hearts was even longer.
---
Mikha walks across the courtyard, the sun glinting off her aviator sunglasses. Her signature leather jacket hangs loosely over her shoulders, and her confident strides draw the attention of everyone in sight. Groups of girls whisper and giggle, their eyes following her every move.
"Why does everyone fall for her?" Aiah, muttering to herself
Aiah’s voice is laced with frustration, but her fingers linger on the sketch pad. It’s clear she knows the answer. Mikha wasn’t just beautiful she was dangerous in the way a storm was dangerous. You knew you’d be left in ruins, but you couldn’t help but step into the rain.
Suddenly, a girl nervously approaches her, clutching a folded note.
"Mikha.. I.. I just wanted to give you this" the girl said, timidly
Mikha takes the note with a slow, deliberate motion, her lips curling into a smirk. She unfolds it, skimming its contents before glancing back at the girl.
"Cute" her voice soft
The girl flushes bright red as Mikha tucks the note into her pocket and walks away. She doesn’t turn back, but the girl’s eyes stay glued to her retreating figure, hope and heartbreak warring in her expression.
From aiah's spot by the bench, she watched the entire exchange.
She hated how predictable it was, how easily Mikha wielded her charm like a weapon. But more than that, she hated the twist of something sharp in her chest as she watched the girl crumble under the weight of Mikha’s indifference.
---
Mikha makes her way down the hallway, clutching her bag close. She glances at her watch, she’s cutting it close. She finally reaches her classroom and pushes the door open, slipping inside just as the bell rings.
Mikha exhales, relieved, and walks to her seat near the back of the room. Her eyes land on a small trash bin next to her desk. She hesitates, then pulls a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. It's the note that girl had given her earlier in the hallway. She stares at it for a moment, her expression unreadable.
Before she can toss it into the bin, two familiar figures slide into the seats beside her Johanna and Colet, her friends and fellow latecomers. They settle in, noticing the note in her hand.
Johanna leaning in to mikha "Another admirer?" She said, smirking
"Ugh, another one? What’s that, the third this week?" Colet rolled her eyes
Mikha shrugs, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Without a word, she crumples the paper further and drops it into the bin. Her friends exchange knowing looks.
"Straight to the trash, huh? Harsh" Colet said, shaking her head
"She's not yet bored, cole" Johanna added
Mikha finally glances at them, "If they really had something to say, they’d say it to my face" her voice dry.
The teacher begins the lesson, the discarded note lying forgotten in the trash.
---
Mikha, Johanna, and Colet exchange a few more laughs as the teacher begins wrapping up the lesson. The bell rings, signaling the end of class. The three gather their things and head out together.
"Lunch? I’m starving" colet suggest
"Same. Let’s grab Gwen on the way. I already messaged her. She said she’d meet us there." Johanna added, the two nodded.
The trio navigates the busy hallway, dodging students and laughing as Colet recounts a dramatic story about her day. They finally make their way toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria buzzes with energy. students crowd tables, lining up for food, chatting loudly. Mikha’s gaze sweeps over the room as they step inside.
Her eyes catch on Aiah, sitting near the window. She looks beautiful, mikha thought. Aiah is laughing about something, but Mikha can’t see the face of the person sitting across from her.
Mikha pauses for a moment, curiosity sparking, but before she can think more about it, Colet nudges her playfully, asking "What do you want to eat? You’ve been staring at the crowd, are you expecting someone?"
Mikha shakes her head, masking her distraction "Whatever’s quick. I’m too hungry to be picky"
Johanna and Colet exchange a glance, but they let it slide as they join the line for food.
The four friends, now including Gwen, settle at their usual spot. Plates filled with food, the group dives into lively conversation. Mikha is quieter than usual, her thoughts occasionally drifting back to Aiah. She doesn’t say anything, though, brushing off the lingering curiosity.
---
Aiah finishes the last bite of her sandwich, her eyes drifting over the cafeteria as her friend chats away beside her. Aiah’s gaze lands on Mikha’s table across the room. She watches as a girl approaches Mikha, handing her an energy drink and a pack of sandwiches. Mikha takes them with a casual nod, not seeming to care about the exchange.
Aiah’s expression hardens slightly, a flicker of concern, more of confusion, crossing her face as she watches the interaction. She knows mikha, i mean..aiah can see through mikha's attitude, the way she carries herself, the way she doesn’t seem to care much about anything or anyone. Yet, here Mikha was, once again, being lavished with attention from the girls.
Aiah’s thoughts drift, a sense of frustration bubbling up within her. She couldn’t understand it. Was there something wrong with these people? Were they blind to the obvious warning signs? Mikha was a walking red flag, cold, distant, and always pushing people away. Yet, they kept coming. It baffled Aiah.
"They must be colorblind" aiah muttering under her breath
Her friend doesn’t hear, still lost in conversation. Aiah shakes her head, rolling her eyes at the thought. She tries to shrug off the concern, telling herself it’s none of her business.
She stands up, throwing her empty tray away, and gives Mikha’s table one last look before walking off the cafeteria with her friend.
A small part of her wonders if Mikha will ever notice how many people are chasing after her, even if she doesn’t seem to care.
