The familiar hum of tattoo machines filled the shop, blending with the low chatter of clients and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air. Mikha stood at her station, meticulously arranging her inks and needles, when she felt the presence of someone sidling up beside her.
"So, Ms. Steal Your Girl," Colet drawled, leaning against the counter with her signature smirk. "Kamusta naman ang special client kahapon?"
Mikha sighed, bracing herself. "Col, pwede ba? Wala pa tayong isang oras na bukas, pagod na 'ko sa energy mo."
Colet ignored her, grin widening. "Eh kasi naman, Mikha," she teased, "pa-demure ka pa kahapon pero kita naman sa kilos mo. Aminin mo na kasi—interesado ka kay Aiah."
Mikha paused mid-wipe on her station, but quickly recovered. "Hindi ko naman dinedeny, ah," she replied casually, but the slight curl of her lips betrayed her.
Colet's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what? As in, totoong gusto mo siya?"
Mikha shrugged, trying to play it cool. "She's cool."
Colet gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Bai, sinabi niya na may special someone siya, 'di ba? Sure ka bang gusto mong pumasok diyan?"
Mikha exhaled through her nose, her fingers tapping against the counter. "Yeah, she said that," she admitted, her voice quieter. "Pero hindi niya naman sinabi kung sino."
Colet narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Baka naman nagpapakipot lang. Alam mo na, keeping things mysterious."
Mikha smirked. "Or baka naman gusto ko lang malaman kung may laban ako."
Colet groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "Naku, Mikha, delikado 'yan. Baka mamaya ikaw pa ang masaktan."
Mikha rolled her eyes, reaching for her tablet. "Relax, Col. Hindi pa naman ako nagpa-fall ng todo." She paused, grinning slyly. "Kumbaga, outline pa lang, wala pang shading."
Colet snorted. "Tangina, Mikha, pati ba naman dito nagme-metaphor ka pa rin?"
Before Mikha could answer, the front door chimed, and both of them instinctively looked up—only to see a delivery guy carrying a package. Mikha exhaled in relief, but Colet wasn't about to let her off the hook that easily.
"Aba, kita mo, ready ka na agad tumingin sa pinto," Colet teased, smirking. "Parang may inaabangan talaga."
Mikha rolled her eyes but couldn't deny the truth in Colet's words. She had been expecting Aiah to show up today—whether as a walk-in or just to keep up the playful back-and-forth they had started yesterday.
"Baka naman kasi work mode ako," Mikha shot back. "Ikaw lang naman ang walang ginagawa dito kaya may time ka to annoy me."
Colet grinned. "Okay, okay. Pero seryoso, kung magkaka-chance ka, papatulan mo ba?"
Mikha hesitated for a moment, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of an ink bottle. "If I knew for sure na single siya? Yeah, siguro." She glanced at Colet. "Pero hindi ko naman siya ipupush kung meron na siyang iba, 'no."
Colet studied her for a second before nodding approvingly. "Aba, may growth ka rin pala."
Mikha laughed. "Thanks, I guess?"
They fell into a comfortable silence, with Mikha focusing on organizing her station and Colet scrolling through her phone at the front desk. The minutes stretched on, and just as Mikha was beginning to think Aiah wasn't going to show up after all, the door chimed again.
This time, it was her.
Aiah stepped inside, looking effortlessly cool in a loose button-down and jeans, her hair tied up in a messy bun. She scanned the shop briefly before her eyes landed on Mikha, and a slow, teasing smile curled on her lips.
