A/N : Okay guys, last part of this universe! Deep breath muna — see you on the other side!
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Back at the alumni party, the function hall was still buzzing with the energy of reunited friends and nostalgic laughter. The slideshow of yearbook photos had long ended, replaced by a playlist of upbeat songs that echoed across the room. Groups of old classmates mingled, swapping stories about the good old days over glasses of wine and cocktails.
But amidst the cheerful chaos, it didn't take long for someone to notice two key people were missing.
"Wait, nasaan si Aiah?" Maloi asked, craning her neck as she scanned the crowd. She and Colet were standing by the bar, where most of the barkada had gravitated.
"Hindi ba nandyan lang siya kanina?" Colet replied, holding her glass of gin and tonic in one hand while casually scrolling through her phone with the other. "I swear she was just talking to Jhoanna."
Jhoanna, who had been mid-conversation with Stacey about whose prom dress had been worse, looked up at the sound of her name. "Hah? Si Aiah? She said 'I'll be back' like, I don't know, 20 minutes ago? Akala ko pumunta lang sa CR or something."
Stacey frowned, her perfectly manicured pink nails tapping against her wine glass. "Wait, now that you mention it, where's Mikha? Didn't she leave the slideshow area a while ago? Sophia's been looking for her."
Everyone turned to look at Sophia, who was sitting near the edge of the group, scrolling through her phone with a mildly disinterested expression.
"Wait, si Mikha rin wala?" Maloi asked, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips. "Ay, Colet, baka sila na lang nagkukwentuhan somewhere. Alone time, ganyan."
Colet rolled her eyes, though she didn't deny the possibility. "Mikha? Alone time with anyone? Please, mas gusto ng taong 'yon mag-quiet brooding session mag-isa."
Sophia, overhearing this, glanced up briefly, her face unreadable. "She's probably just outside or something," she said with a casual shrug, then went back to scrolling through her phone.
"You sure seem relaxed," Stacey chimed in, swirling the last bit of her wine in her glass. "Maybe Mikha and Aiah are just catching up somewhere. Alam mo naman 'yang dalawa—history and all that."
At this, Maloi snorted. "History? Ganda ng euphemism mo, Stace. Ang ibig mong sabihin, chaotic love story na hindi natapos ng maayos at lahat tayo na-stress dati."
Jhoanna laughed, raising her glass. "Totoo! Remember third year? Akala ko sila na yung magpapakasal right after college. Tapos biglang boom. Heartbreak central."
Colet, who had been suspiciously quiet up until now, suddenly perked up. "Wait, you don't think..." She raised an eyebrow at Maloi, her expression half-serious, half-amused.
Maloi grinned. "Ano? That the universe decided to make things extra dramatic and they're out somewhere right now working through all their issues in a movie moment kind of way?"
"That, or nag-aaway sila," Colet replied bluntly.
"Either way," Stacey said with a shrug, "it's on brand for them."
Sophia raised an eyebrow, finally looking up from her phone. "Does it matter? Mikha's an adult. She'll show up when she feels like it." Her tone was even, unbothered, but there was a slight edge of impatience, like she was tired of the conversation.
"Sophia is right ," Jhoanna said, waving her hand dismissively. "This place isn't that big. Maybe they're just outside. Or nasa CR. Or—" She paused, her eyes narrowing as a thought occurred to her. "May elevators sa building na 'to, diba?"
Stacey gasped dramatically, leaning forward with wide eyes. "Oh my God. What if they're stuck in an elevator together? That's so rom-com gone wrong!"
"Or horror movie," Colet muttered. "Knowing Mikha, baka sinasakal na niya si Aiah sa inis."
