They didn't talk the next morning.
Not because they didn't want to.
But because trying to have a serious conversation while on a trip with their very loud, very nosy friends was next to impossible.
Between the early morning alarms, the frantic packing for their island tour, and the general chaos of trying to herd half-asleep college students into a van, there was simply no time.
So Mikha and Aiah fell back into the rhythm of the trip, navigating the morning as if nothing had changed.
Except everything had.
/
"So, did you guys sleep well?"
Sheena plopped down next to them at the dining table, munching on a pandesal like she wasn't about to ruin Mikha's entire life.
It was an innocent question.
But Mikha—who had just taken a sip of her coffee—promptly choked.
Aiah froze, feeling the heat rush to her face.
Were we loud? Did they hear?
Mikha thumped a fist against her chest, coughing violently, and Colet, who had just sat across from them, raised an eyebrow. "Damn, Mikha. Ok ka lang?"
Mikha waved them off, clearing her throat. "I'm fine."
Aiah refused to make eye contact. Instead, she picked at her food, trying to act like her whole body wasn't currently betraying her.
Sheena, blissfully unaware of the absolute panic she had just triggered, kept going. "You guys were the last ones up, right? What time did you sleep?"
Mikha stiffened, her grip tightening around her coffee cup.
Aiah still refused to look up.
They couldn't both be weird about this. That would make it obvious.
So Aiah did what she did best. She lied through her teeth.
"Oh, not too late," she said casually, taking a sip of her juice. "We just talked for a bit before sleeping."
Mikha nearly snorted into her coffee.
Talked? Talked?
That was one way to put it.
Sheena hummed, nodding. "Figures. You guys always end up talking about life and stuff. Besties 'til the end."
Mikha and Aiah both froze.
Besties.
Right.
Mikha forced out a laugh. "Yep. That's us."
Aiah nodded, focusing way too hard on her plate. "Besties."
They both heard the way it sounded off, unnatural, too rehearsed.
But thankfully, Sheena had already moved on, distracted by a new topic.
Mikha risked a glance at Aiah, catching the barely-there smirk on her lips.
And that's when it really hit her.
They had gotten away with this for five years.
But after last night?
They were one slip-up away from everything changing.
And Mikha had no idea if she was ready for that.
But ready or not, it was coming.
Because sooner or later, they would have to talk.
And something told Mikha that the real chaos hadn't even begun yet.
