Player 1 | MIKHAIAH AU

Part 24

"Uy," Gab said, arms crossed as Mackie and Addison quietly slipped into the apartment. It was late—way too late—and the tension in the room was palpable.  "Ate Ads, akala namin kung ano na nangyari sa inyo," Mandy said, her voice tinged with worry.  "Pareho kayong hindi ma-contact tapos ganitong oras na kayo umuwi," Clover added, glancing at the clock with a raised brow. "Saan ba kasi kayo galing?" Shan asked, her curiosity cutting through the concern in her tone. Mackie and Addison exchanged a quick glance, their expressions caught somewhere between guilt and mischief. "Uh... naglakad," Addison offered hesitantly. 
"Kumain," Mackenzie said at the exact same time. The room fell silent for a beat before their friends collectively frowned, confusion written all over their faces. "Ha? Medyo magulo 'yon, mga anak," Shan said, her eyebrows knitting together. "Ah, kasi kumain kami... tapos naglakad after," Mackenzie said, trying to smooth over the obvious disconnect. 
Gab tilted her head, skeptical. "It's been raining for hours. Saan naman kayo naglakad?" Mackenzie shifted uncomfortably. "Ang daming tanong," she muttered, avoiding Gab's piercing stare. Addison stepped forward, her smile calm and reassuring. "Ok lang kami, guys. Pasensya na kung nag-alala kayo," she said softly. Their friends exchanged looks, still unconvinced but sensing they wouldn't get much more out of them tonight.

"Uh, parang baliktad shirt mo, Mackie," Mandy said, raising an eyebrow as she noticed the clothing tag sticking out. "And kaninong sweater yan, Ate Ads?" Shan added, squinting suspiciously at Addison, who was practically drowning in the oversized hoodie. Addison and Mackenzie both lowered their heads, their faces flushing red as they fumbled for an excuse. Gab leaned against the wall, smirking. "Mackie, next time, gawa ka ng mas matinong palusot, ha?" 
Before anyone could respond, Sab sauntered in, her voice cutting through the room. "Oh, andito pala ang buong cast. Anong eksena ngayon?" "Bakit ngayon ka lang?" Mackenzie's tone shifted, suddenly sharp like an overprotective kuya. Sab rolled her eyes as she plopped down on the couch. "Luh, acting like ikaw ang hindi kakarating lang." "Ayan na naman sila," Gab muttered under her breath, shaking her head. Mackenzie crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing. "You don't know anyone around here, so sino kasama mo?" 
"Prince Mackenzie Lim," Sab shot back, her hands on her hips, "wag mo kong sungitan. Binili ko lang si Mangga ng gamot kasi ikaw tong inalog utak niya kagabi."

"Princess ko," Jhai said, stepping out of her room with a grin. 
"Mangga ko," Sab replied instantly, making her way toward Jhai. 
"Ha??" Mandy and Shan blurted out in unison, their faces etched with confusion. 
"Ang dami namang revelations!" Shan groaned, holding her head dramatically. 
"Bebe, I told you about this last night, diba?" Gab chimed in, glancing at Shan with genuine confusion. 
"Alam ko, bebe," Shan replied, flashing a cheeky grin. "Para lang mas dramatic." 
"Wait, ako rin nalilito," Clover interrupted, pointing at Mackenzie and Sab. "Hindi ba kayo?" 
"Oh my God, eewww, no! Na-no talaga!" Sab exclaimed, shaking her head so hard her hair whipped around. 
"We're twins," Mackenzie clarified with a small shrug, looking entirely unbothered. 
"Sabi ni Gab, princess mo daw siya?" Mandy cut in, her brows furrowing as she looked at Sab.

"Well, yeah. I am the Princess—Princess Sabrina Lim," Sab declared, flipping her hair dramatically. 
"And she's my prince," Sab added with a smirk, draping an arm over Mackenzie's shoulder. "Prince Mackenzie Lim." 
Mackenzie sighed, clearly used to the theatrics, while the rest of the group stared at them in stunned silence. 

"Prince??" Addison, Shan, and Mandy said in unison, their voices overlapping in disbelief.  Mackenzie groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Yes, okay? My first name is Prince. Can we move on now?" Addison's lips twitched as she tried not to smile too hard. "Prince? Like... Prince Charming?" she teased, barely holding back a laugh. 
The room fell into a brief, tense silence before Shan snorted, unable to contain herself. Mackenzie shot a glare at Sab, who was trying her hardest not to laugh but failed miserably. "Sabrina," Mackenzie warned, her tone icy. 
"Sorry, sorry!" Sab squeaked, holding up a peace sign. "But honestly, why are you so embarrassed? It's cute naman!" 
"Cute?!" Mackenzie repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's baduy, pang bata. Who names their kid Prince?" 
Addison chuckled, leaning forward. "Well, I think it suits you," she said with a grin, her tone light and teasing. "Prince Mackenzie—has a nice ring to it." 
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Mackenzie muttered, slumping into the couch, his face burning. 
"Wait, hold up!" Sab interrupted, her gaze darting between everyone in the room. "Ako ang confused. Anong relasyon niyo sa isa't isa? Seryoso, walang recap para dun sa balikbayan?" 

"Meron, yieeee magkaka label na silang lahat" -Author

"Let me introduce my Bebe, my safe place, and my OA counterpart—Sabie, this is Shan," Gab said with a proud grin, gesturing toward Shan, who greeted her with a simple, polite smile. "Feel ko magkakasundo tayo sa pag-away kay Mangga," Sab replied, smiling mischievously as she sized up Shan. 
"These are my friends, Clover and Mandy," Shan said, motioning toward the two standing beside her. "Hi, I'm Clover, but you can call me Clo," Clover said, her tone warm but cool. "And I'm Mandy! I hope we become good friends," Mandy added, her smile sweet and genuine. 
Without warning, Sab tilted her head and asked bluntly, "Mag-ano naman kayo?" 
Clover and Mandy froze, caught off guard by the question. "Ah..." Clover stammered, scratching the back of her neck.  "Hindi pa tayo sure," Mandy replied with a nervous laugh, trying to deflect.  "Sab, stop interrogating everybody," Mackenzie groaned, shooting her sibling a look of embarrassment.  "Luh, takot ka kasi ikaw na 'yung susunod," Jhai chimed in, smirking at Mackenzie from across the room.  Mackenzie turned to Jhai with a fake, tight-lipped smile. "Sana nilakasan ko pa yung untog mo kahapon." 

The friends banters was stopped when they heard the door bell. "Nag order kayo food?" Gab asks the group. "Not me, I'm not expecting anyone din" Jhai says while her hands are raised. "I'll go get it" Addison says as she's closest to the door.

"Oh... Hi" Addison says greeting the person obviously surprised.

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