“Mackie, thank you for doing this,” Dior said with a small smile as they wrapped up staging pictures. “I’m sorry about the anniversary stream,” Mackenzie replied, her tone soft with guilt. “Bawi ako next time, promise.” “I’m sure you will,” Dior said, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Mauna na kami,” Mrs. K interjected, gently urging Dior and the others out of the room. As they were leaving, Mackenzie grabbed Addison’s hand. “Ah, Mrs. K, dito po mag-stay si Addi,” she said quickly, tugging Addison closer.
Addison raised an eyebrow, confusion evident on her face. “Huh? You seem like you’re doing better now,” she said, scanning Mackenzie from head to toe.
“Hindi, noh!” Mackenzie protested, pouting as she dramatically placed Addison’s hand on different parts of her body. “Masakit to, at to, tapos masakit din dito… tsaka to!” she said, pointing to random spots and acting as if she was in pain. “Uto-uto,” Addison said with a light laugh, giving Mackenzie’s forehead a gentle push.
“Nako, malala na yan,” Mrs. K chimed in, her cheeks slightly pink at their cuteness. “Siguraduhin mo lang, Addi, na aalagaan mo siya.” Addison smirked, shaking her head. “Sige po, ako na bahala. Tanggalin ko na lang ulo niya, masakit daw eh.”
Mrs. K chuckled, shaking her head as she left the room, leaving Addison and Mackenzie in their playful banter, the air light despite Mackenzie’s earlier exhaustion.
As Mrs. K and Dior strolled down the quiet hallway, the soft echo of their footsteps filled the space. “I hope there are no hard feelings between you and the others,” Mrs. K said gently, glancing at Dior. “Kaibigan mo naman si Mackie, and if she’s happy, you should be happy for her too.” “Of course,” Dior replied with a polite but tight-lipped smile, her tone betraying none of her real feelings.
They reached the end of the hallway when Dior suddenly stopped. “Ah, I just remembered—I need to make a quick call. Mauna ka na, Mrs. K.”
Mrs. K gave her a warm smile, nodding. “Alright. I’ll see you next Monday. Take care.” With that, she turned the corner, leaving Dior alone in the empty corridor.
Dior’s fake smile disappeared the moment Mrs. K was out of sight. She pulled out her phone, her grip tight around it, and quickly dialed a number. “Hello? Dad?” she said, her voice sharp, frustration bubbling under the surface. She leaned against the wall, running a hand through her hair. “Things need to change. I’m not losing to her.” Her tone was resolute, cold.
“Princess kooo, wag ka na magalit, ipapakilala ko na nga po ikaw sa live ko,” Jhai pleaded, darting after Sab, who was doing her best to avoid her.
“Nako, Mangga,” Sab retorted, shooting her a glare. “Kanina, you were siding with that girl pa!” She quickened her pace, refusing to let Jhai catch up.
“Princess, my sugarplum, hindi naman po ganon,” Jhai whined, trailing her like a lost puppy. “Ayoko lang na mag-away kayo ulit!”
The commotion caught Mackenzie and Addison’s attention as they stepped out of Mackie’s room. Mackie raised a brow, leaning lazily against the doorframe. “Oh, ano na naman meron?” she asked, watching the two dart around like children on a playground.
“Mackie, patigilin mo nga yang Mangga na yan!” Sab exclaimed, narrowly dodging Jhai’s outstretched arms.
Mackenzie sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “Nako, ayoko nang masali sa gulo niyo. Nag-selos pa tuloy ‘Mahal’ ko.” She threw a sly glance at Addison, a teasing grin spreading across her face.
“Wait, wait… Mahal?” Gab interrupted, stepping in to block Jhai’s path, her eyes lighting up with amusement.
“Oo nga, Mahal?” Jhai echoed, momentarily forgetting Sab as she joined in the teasing, her face mischievous.
Addison’s cheeks turned a faint shade of red as she pinched Mackenzie’s side, making her flinch.
“Aray ko naman!” Mackenzie yelped, clutching her side. “Bakit? Totoo naman ah,” she said, looking at Addison with a lopsided smirk. “Mahal naman talaga kita.”
“Oh my Ghad, nagkaaminan na talaga!” Shan exclaims over FaceTime, her grin practically splitting her face as Gab angles the camera to show Mackie and Addison sitting side by side.
“Ang bilis mo naman mag-update,” Jhai teases, smirking at Gab’s enthusiasm. “Syempre, kailangan laging updated ang bebe ko,” Gab shoots back, throwing a wink at Jhai, who rolls her eyes but smiles anyway.
“Ate Ads, hindi ka na nga umuwi kagabi, tapos ngayon, wala ka pang ikukwento?” Mandy butts in, playfully shoving Shan out of the frame.
“Congrats sa inyo,” Clover says casually from behind Mandy, arms crossed but a teasing smirk on her face.
“Thank you, pre,” Mackie replies with a warm, sincere smile that softens the group’s usual chaos.
“Yieee, baka MaClo na talaga ang endgame,” Jhai quips, grinning mischievously as she throws a knowing look between Mackie and Clover.
The whole group bursts into laughter, the kind of chaotic energy that only close friends can bring.
Addison is laughing along, wiping away a tear from how hard she’s chuckling, but then something clicks. She pauses mid-laugh, her smile faltering as the realization dawns on her. “Wait wait” Addison says stopping them
“Wait, wait!” Addison says, holding up her hands to stop the group. “Kelan pa kita sinagot?” Her brows furrow in confusion as she looks at Mackenzie.
“Ohhhhh!” The whole group reacts dramatically, leaning in like they’re watching the best plot twist of the century. “Assumera ka pala, Twiny!” Sab says with a teasing grin, nudging Mackenzie.
“Hindi pa ba sagot yun?” Mackenzie says, her eyes wide and hopeful as she looks at Addison, trying to make her understand.
“Huh?” Addison tilts her head, her confusion deepening. “Ano bang sinasabi mo?”
“Yung ano…” Mackenzie trails off, glancing at the others for backup but only getting amused smirks in return. “Yung kung bakit ako nagkasakit.”
“What? Bakit ka nga ba nagkasakit?” Addison asks, genuinely puzzled, her voice rising slightly in exasperation.
Mackenzie lets out a dramatic sigh, finally giving up on her subtle hints. “The car, Addi. Our car moment,” she says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, gesturing to emphasize her point.
Addison’s eyes widen slightly as the realization dawns on her. “Wait—what?”
The group bursts into laughter, Sab doubling over as she claps her hands.
“Sabi ko na nga ba! Addi, ikaw pala yung dahilan!” she teases.
“Ang landi mo naman pala, Mackie,” Gab adds, smirking.
“Cover your ears!” Mandy exclaimed, swiftly placing her hands over Shan’s ears as if shielding her from a scandalous secret.
“Grabe ka, walang preno bibig mo!” Addison shot at Mackenzie, delivering a light, playful punch to her arm, her cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment.
Mackenzie grinned, unfazed. “What? It’s not my fault the truth is entertaining,” she teased, rubbing her arm with mock hurt.
Amid the chaos in the living room, Mackie’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. She glanced at the screen, her brows furrowing slightly before answering. “Hello po?” she greeted, her voice soft and polite, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Oh…” Mackie’s smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. Her grip on the phone tightened. “I’ll be there po,” she said firmly, her tone steady but distant.
YOU ARE READING
Player 1 | MIKHAIAH AU
FanfictionWhen a world-famous eSports champion pairs up with a clueless newbie for a livestream, sparks fly-but not the kind you'd expect. As Mikha patiently guides Aiah through game fails, fans can't get enough of their chemistry, pushing Mikha's management...
