Friday had arrived, and the campus buzzed with the familiar mix of excitement and relief. Students darted through the halls, some eager to finish last-minute tasks, others simply savoring the final moments before the break.
Mikha walked toward her locker, her pace slower than usual. For the past few days, she hadn’t seen Aiah beyond casual greetings. No snarky banter, no lingering moments. Just the occasional "hi" and "hello" in passing. And now, on the final day of school, Mikha couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
She leaned against her locker, flipping through her phone absentmindedly, hoping for some distraction. But her thoughts kept circling back to Aiah.
"Why am I even thinking about her?" Mikha muttered under her breath.
“Thinking about who?” a voice teased.
Startled, Mikha turned to see Gwen grinning at her, a mischievous glint in her eye.
“No one,” Mikha replied quickly, stuffing her phone into her pocket.
Gwen raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Instead, she leaned against the locker beside Mikha’s. "Let's drink at your house tomorrow"
Mikha blinked at Gwen’s sudden suggestion, momentarily caught off guard. “Drink at my house tomorrow? Why my place?”
Gwen shrugged, a tired yet playful smile on her lips. “Because I’m drained, and your house is always chill. Plus, I need a break from everything.”
Mikha rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto her face. Gwen had a way of always getting her way, but Mikha didn’t mind too much. “Fine, but don’t trash the place. My mom will kill me if she sees a mess.”
“Deal,” Gwen said, she continued “I’ll bring the drinks. I'll text Johanna and colet.” Throwing a wink over her shoulder as she walked away. “See you tomorrow, Mikha!”
As Gwen disappeared into the crowd, Mikha leaned back against her locker, her smile fading slightly as her thoughts drifted back to Aiah. She wondered if she’d bump into her before the day was over. But even if she didn’t, she couldn’t deny that tomorrow with her friends sounded like the perfect distraction.
---
Mikha woke up to the faint sunlight streaming through her window, the warmth hitting her face as her phone buzzed on the bedside table. She groggily reached for it, squinting at the screen: 9:47 AM
Letting out a soft groan, she dropped the phone back onto the table and stared up at the ceiling. The faint hum of life outside filtered through her slightly open window, birds chirping, the distant sound of cars passing by.
For a moment, Mikha just lay there, her thoughts blank, her body unwilling to move. She had no pressing plans until later, no reason to rush. With a sigh, Mikha finally rolled out of bed, she went downstairs, rubbing her eyes as she shuffled toward the kitchen. Her feet dragged lazily against the floor, her hair a tangled mess from sleep.
Opening the fridge, she grabbed a carton of milk and a bowl of cereal, the simplicity of the meal comforting in its familiarity. She sat down at the dining table, spoon in hand, letting her thoughts wander again as she stared out the window, lost in her thoughts.
Finishing her breakfast, Mikha placed her bowl in the sink and glanced at the clock. 10:15 AM She still had plenty of time to kill before Gwen and the others shows up. “Might as well clean up a bit,” she muttered, heading to her room to start the day properly.
---
The living room is cozy, with sunlight streaming through the windows. Mikha is pacing lightly in the living room, glancing at the clock. It’s almost 12 PM. She hears a car pull up outside and goes to the door and open it "Finally! Took you long enough"
