Anthologies {MIKHAIAH AU}

barking mad pt 3

Mikha sat in her usual spot at the café, arms crossed over her chest as she glared at Colet, Stacey, and Gwen. She had called for an emergency "date brainstorming session," and as expected, her friends were taking this as an opportunity to tease her to within an inch of her life.

"Okay, recap," Colet said, leaning forward and tapping a finger against the table. "You confessed your crush. She didn't run for the hills. In fact, she hinted—hinted, ha—that she was basically waiting for you to ask her out. Tapos ngayon, you're freaking out about the actual date? Mikha, come on. You play tournaments for a living. How is this harder than a championship match?"

Mikha groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Because this isn't a game, Colet. This is Aiah Arceta. She's... you know. Gorgeous, successful, probably used to fancy dates and people tripping over themselves to impress her. What if I screw this up?"

Stacey rolled her eyes dramatically, twirling a strand of her perfectly curled hair. "Mikha, you're being so dramatic. Aiah likes you, okay? The hard part's over. Now you just need to figure out how to show her a good time."

Mikha peeked through her fingers, her voice muffled. "That's the problem. What's a 'good time' for someone like her? I'm not exactly the candlelit dinner and rooftop champagne type."

"Obviously," Stacey said, smirking. "Which is why you need to do something that's you. If she likes you, she'll like your vibe, not some fake fancy version of yourself."

"Exactly," Gwen added, her quiet voice cutting through the noise as she leaned back in her chair. "Play to your strengths. You don't need to compete with all the other people who've tried to sweep her off her feet. Just show her what makes you different."

"Great advice," Mikha said dryly, slumping in her seat. "But that doesn't actually give me any concrete ideas."

"Well," Colet said, a wicked grin spreading across her face, "if you want specifics, why not bring her to an arcade after dinner? It's perfect. You can show off your gamer skills, be playful, and maybe even impress her with a couple of wins. Plus, it's casual enough to keep the vibe fun."

Mikha frowned, mulling it over. "An arcade? You think she'd actually enjoy that?"

"Who wouldn't enjoy that?" Stacey said, waving her perfectly manicured hand. "It's cute, it's unexpected, and it's not stuffy. Plus, you'll probably win her some cheesy prize, which is, like, peak rom-com material."

"And if she gets competitive, even better," Colet added, her grin widening. "Imagine her trying to beat you at skee-ball or something. Instant flirting opportunity."

Mikha hesitated, her fingers drumming against the table. "Okay, but what about dinner? I don't want it to feel too casual. This is our first date, after all. It should feel... special."

Gwen finally spoke up again, her calm voice grounding the conversation. "Pick a spot that feels meaningful to you. Something that feels like it's coming from the heart. Hindi naman kailangan fancy. You know Aiah better than we do—think about what she'd actually appreciate. Do you have a favorite lowkey spot? Something you can share with her?"

Mikha thought about it for a moment, her mind drifting to a small, hole-in-the-wall ramen place she frequented. It wasn't fancy, but it was warm and cozy, with amazing food and a laid-back vibe. She had a feeling Aiah would appreciate how authentic it was—and the fact that it wasn't somewhere someone would take her just to impress her.

"Ramen and an arcade," Mikha said slowly, testing the words out. "Does that... work?"

"It's perfect," Stacey said, her voice chipper. "Quirky, fun, and very you."