My Last And My Only

Chapter 79: The Little Things

The Student Council office was quieter than it had been all afternoon.

Most of the committee members had already left, eager to escape the last traces of paperwork before the weekend. The once-cluttered conference table was now neatly organized, folders stacked according to committee, flash drives labeled, and turnover documents signed.

Aiah leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms above her head.

"I think we're finally done."

Across from her, Mikhaela Janna Lim closed the last folder before placing it carefully inside a storage box.

"I think so too."

Silence settled between them.

Not uncomfortable.

Not heavy.

Just... peaceful.

It was the kind of silence that only existed between people who had once known each other by heart.

Aiah glanced at the wall clock.

6:08 p.m.

"I didn't realize it got this late."

Khae followed her gaze.

"We've been here since three."

"Poor planning."

"We were talking too much."

A laugh escaped Aiah before she could stop it.

"We were."

She hadn't even noticed.

Somewhere between sorting publicity materials and labeling photographs, they had started talking about professors... then photography... then movies... then whether pineapple belonged on pizza.

It had all happened so naturally.

Like they had never stopped talking.

Her phone buzzed.

Gwen
Yves and I are having dinner nearby. Don't wait for me. Just head home, okay?

Aiah smiled before typing back.

Okay. Have fun.

She slipped her phone into her bag.

"Gwen?" Khae asked casually.

"She's having dinner with Yves."

Khae nodded.

"I figured."

Aiah blinked.

"You figured?"

"They've disappeared together three times this week."

"...That's true."

They laughed again.

Aiah opened her ride-hailing app.

A few seconds passed.

Then another.

She frowned.

"What?"

"The fare..."

She turned the screen slightly toward Khae.

Six hundred and twelve pesos.

Khae whistled softly.

"Rush hour."

"I could probably fly to Cebu for that."