One week later
Mikha sat cross-legged on the living room floor, poking at the now-cold pizza slice in front of her. Around her, Colet, Jhoanna, and Gwen lounged on the couch and chairs, laughing and chatting over the remnants of takeout. Normally, this kind of casual hangout was Mikha's favorite way to decompress, but today, she just wasn't feeling it.
"Okay, okay," Jhoanna said, sitting up straighter and pointing a chopstick at Mikha. "So, back to the most important question of the night: how in the world did you not tell her who you really were sooner?"
Colet burst out laughing, nearly spilling her soda. "Right?! That's exactly what I said! Sino bang nanloloko by accident tapos magaling pa sa timing? Only Mikha!"
Gwen, always the quieter one, grinned from her spot on the armchair. "Honestly, Mikha, I feel like you missed your calling as a con artist. You got away with it for an hour. That's talent."
Mikha groaned, flopping back onto the floor and covering her face with both hands. "Can you guys stop? Nakakahiya na nga eh."
"Oh, babe, nakakahiya talaga. Pero masaya pa rin," Jhoanna said, grinning. "I mean, this is comedy gold. Blind date? Fake identity? Awkward confession? It's like you're living in a Wattpad story."
"'Wattpad story'?" Gwen repeated, smirking. "More like a teleserye. 'Ang Pusong Nagkamali.'"
Mikha peeked out from between her fingers, her glare half-hearted. "Ang dami n'yo namang ambag. Salamat sa support, ha."
"Support?" Colet said, doubling over in laughter again. "Hoy, Mikha, ikaw ang sumira sa date ko, tapos gusto mo ng support?!"
"You're not even mad!" Mikha shot back, sitting up and pointing at her. "You said you weren't even interested in a blind date to begin with! Kaya nga ako pumayag na maging backup mo!"
Colet snorted, raising her hands in surrender. "Okay, fine. Fair. Pero, come on, Mikha. You have to admit—this whole thing is so you."
Mikha groaned again, falling back onto the floor dramatically. "I hate all of you."
"No, you don't," Gwen said, smirking as she leaned over to grab another slice of pizza. "But seriously, Mikha, you're taking this pretty hard, huh? Like... harder than usual."
At that, the room went quiet, and all eyes turned to Mikha. She stayed on her back, staring up at the ceiling, and let out a heavy sigh.
"I don't know," she admitted softly. "It's just... she was different, you know? We really got along. Like, for the first time in a long time, I felt that... spark. And it's so rare for me. I mean, you guys know. I don't get like this over anyone."
The others exchanged glances, their teasing smiles fading slightly.
"Wow," Jhoanna said after a beat. "You're really serious about this, huh?"
Mikha sat up, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. Maybe. I mean, I know I screwed up, and I probably deserve that whole awkward mess, but..." She trailed off, her voice dropping. "But I don't want to just let it end like that. I don't even know how to start fixing it, though."
Colet leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Well, unang tanong: have you tried messaging her?"
Mikha shook her head. "I don't even have her number or socials or anything. She probably blocked the real Colet on the app by now."
Colet winced. "Oof. Yeah, baka nga. I mean, di ko siya masisisi. Super awkward nung ending n'yo, Mikha."
"Thanks for the reminder," Mikha muttered, slumping forward and burying her face in her hands.
