Player 1 | MIKHAIAH AU

Part 22

“Saan kayo galing?” Mandy’s voice cut through the silence as Addison and Shan tried to tiptoe into the apartment unnoticed. “Ate Mandy, ang glowing mo ngayon, ah,” Shan cooed, turning on the charm to soften her up. “Ang ganda-ganda ng bestie ko na ‘yan!” Addison chimed in, joining the hug, both of them playing innocent. Mandy narrowed her eyes. “Ikaw, Shan, sure ako saan ka galing, pero itong isa—” She shot a look at Addison, eyebrows raised. 
“Wait lang, Ate, I have a kwento!” Shan said, pulling her to the couch. “Guess what? May magkatabi kagabi… maingay… malikot… at magulo,” she teased, side-eyeing Addison with a smirk. 
“Ha?!” Mandy’s eyes widened. 
“Para namang may nangyari! Nagtabi lang kami kasi nahulog ako sa couch,” Addison explained, rolling her eyes. 
“Sus, sus, sus,” Shan teased, shaking her head. Mandy chuckled, “Iba si Mama Mary pag nag-party.” Addison crossed her arms. “Teka, bakit ako lang? Ikaw kaya! Kelan ka pa natuto mag-lock ng door with Gab?” She raised an eyebrow at Shan. “And you—” she looked Mandy up and down, “10 a.m. na, magulo pa buhok at damit mo? Bagong gising ka lang?” Both of them froze, caught off guard. Before anyone could speak, Mandy’s bedroom door opened, and Clover emerged, rubbing her eyes, clearly just waking up. “Complete casting… Ang aga niyo ah,” she murmured, stifling a yawn.

“Ate Clo?” Shan asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Hmm?” Clover mumbled, stretching her arms lazily, her movements unbothered. “Sa room ka ni Mandy galing?” Addison chimed in, her tone dripping with mischief as she shot Mandy a teasing look. “A-ah… may pasok pa ako. Mauna na ako sa inyo,” Clover stammered, suddenly wide awake as she bolted toward the stairs. “Uh, ako din pala!” Mandy blurted out, scrambling back to her room in a rush. Addison crossed her arms, smirking as she watched them scatter. “Aba aba, interesting,” she said, her tone laced with amusement. “Panalo tayong lahat ah,” Shan muttered, throwing herself onto the couch, shaking her head with a grin.

Mackenzie paced back and forth in her room, her thoughts in a whirlwind. “Should I text her?” she muttered, clutching her phone tightly. “I mean, wala namang malisya… gusto ko lang naman siya kamustahin. And inviting her over is for work, diba? This is still space naman, right?” she tried to convince herself, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She sighed deeply, flopping onto her bed with a groan. “Hays, ano ba ‘to? Bakit hindi na lang kasal agad!” she mumbled, burying her face in a pillow. Her phone vibrated, and she snatched it up, her heart skipping a beat. A message from Addison lit up her screen: “Hi, sorry to bother you… again. I forgot my glasses pala dyan. I’ll be back to get them tonight." Mackenzie bolted upright, her face lighting up in pure joy. “Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Lord!” she exclaimed, literally jumping off her bed, her earlier doubts swept away in an instant.

“Oh— I was just about to knock,” Addison said, startled as the door swung open, revealing Mackenzie. “That’s totally fine. I’ve been waiting for you,” Mackenzie replied, her smile wide and a little too eager. “Naman,” Gab muttered under her breath as she passed by, smirking. “Hindi naman obvious na excited ka.” 
Addison stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room. “I’m just here for my specs. Baka nahulog somewhere.” She knelt down by the couch, carefully checking underneath. Mackenzie hovered nearby, fidgeting slightly but trying to appear casual.

As Addison searched under the couch, the door to one of the rooms swung open, and Sab stepped out, her hair a mess and her mood worse. She froze, noticing Mackenzie. “Mackie, anong nangyari sa water bottle ko?!” Sab demanded, holding up a sleek black tumbler. “Uh, it’s there. What’s the problem?” Mackenzie replied, not bothering to hide her irritation. “I told you I wanted it pink! Bakit black pa rin ‘to? Alam mo naman, pink is my thing!” Sab shot back, crossing her arms. “Sab, it’s a water bottle, not a fashion statement. Hindi naman big deal,” Mackenzie retorted, rolling her eyes. “Not a big deal?! Ang kapal! You don’t take anything I say seriously,” Sab fired, stepping closer, her tone escalating. Addison, still kneeling by the couch, looked between them, wide-eyed. “Uh… should I leave?” she muttered under her breath, unsure if she should intervene. “You never listen! I told you last week pa!” Sab continued, ignoring Addison entirely. “Sab, it’s just a color—get over it!” Mackenzie shot back, throwing her hands up in frustration. 
Before Sab could retaliate, Gab strolled back in, casually munching on an apple. She glanced at the scene and sighed dramatically. “Grabe naman kayo, ang aga-aga. Addison’s gonna think you’re married or something,” Gab teased, smirking at Addison. 

“Wait… married?” Addison blinked, utterly confused. 

“Hell no!” Mackenzie says being totally defensive. “They’re twins,” Gab said nonchalantly, pointing between Sab and Mackenzie.  “Twins?!” Addison’s jaw dropped as she stared at the two, who were still glaring at each other. “Yeah, unfortunately,” Mackenzie muttered. “Obviously, I’m the better one,” Sab added, flipping her hair before stomping back to her room.  Addison sat back on her heels, still processing as Gab patted her shoulder. “Welcome to the chaos.”