By the time the girls got back to the villa, exhausted from their day of island touring, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over everything.
They stumbled inside, expecting the usual chaos, but instead—
They found Mikha and Aiah curled up together on the sofa, fast asleep.
Mikha's arms were wrapped protectively around Aiah, and Aiah's head was tucked into Mikha's chest, her leg casually swung over Mikha's.
They looked so natural, so comfortable, so disgustingly domestic.
That everyone froze.
And then, as if on cue—
"Tangina, parang mag-asawa." Jho whispered, shaking her head.
Colet nodded in agreement, whispering back. "Mag-asawa na pero ayaw pang umamin."
The group exchanged looks, all thinking the same thing.
Were they still pretending? Or had something finally changed?
/
Careful not to wake them, they all tiptoed into the kitchen, lowering their voices.
Stacey, ever the menace, was already snapping pictures of the cuddling pair from behind a plant.
"Stace, seryoso?" Gwen whispered. "Pati ba tulog, ini-stalk mo?"
Stacey just grinned, zooming in for a better angle. "Sayang 'to, baka kailanganin natin for blackmail someday."
Sheena rolled her eyes, stealing a banana from the counter. "Puta, para namang hindi natin lahat alam na wala nang itatago 'yang dalawa."
Maloi leaned on the counter, shaking her head. "For real, ilang taon na nating tinitiis 'to? Ilang taon na tayong third wheel sa relasyon nila na 'hindi relasyon'?"
"Five." Jho answered immediately. "Fucking. Years."
Gwen exhaled dramatically. "Grabe, mas matagal pa sila sa actual relationships natin."
Colet leaned in, eyes narrowing. "Pero seryoso, sa tingin niyo? Inamin na nila? Or... besties pa rin 'yan?"
The group fell silent, considering.
Then—
"Ewan ko, pero kita mo 'yung hawak ni Mikha?" Stacey pointed at her phone screen, zooming in aggressively on Mikha's arm wrapped securely around Aiah. "May pahagod pa 'yan kanina bago tayo pumasok."
Sheena snorted. "Putangina, akala mo naman makikita natin 'yan sa picture."
"Ako, I believe Stacey." Jho crossed her arms, nodding. "Hagod is different from normal holding."
"Exactly!" Stacey high-fived Jho. "Kung besties pa rin sila after five years ng ganyan, ipapa-albularyo ko na 'yan."
Maloi sighed. "Pero kung inamin na nila... bakit wala silang sinabi?"
Everyone paused, realizing she had a point.
Jho shrugged. "Alam mo naman 'yung dalawa—gagawin nilang komplikado kahit simple na."
Gwen hummed in agreement. "Oo nga, pero 'di rin ako sure kung ready akong marinig si Mikha na maging soft sa harap natin."
Sheena snorted. "Feeling ko kakasuka 'yung lambingan nila pag official na."
Stacey, still focused on her secret photoshoot, smirked. "Basta ako, ready akong makakita ng PDA."
"Tangina, Stacey." The group groaned in unison.
