MIKHAIAH- If there was an US

Aiah thought she was just flying to Manila for a simple summer vacation-a short break from her quiet life in the province. She packed light, expecting sunny days, malls, and maybe a few trips to the beach. But nothing could've prepared her for the truth waiting at the other end of the plane ride. Her parents had quietly separated, and her mother, without warning, had decided to move to Manila permanently. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a getaway turned into a reluctant new beginning.

As Aiah struggles to adjust to the chaos of the city and the heaviness of her family's silence, she meets Mikha-a girl who couldn't be more different from her. Mikha is wild-spirited, effortlessly cool, and unapologetically herself. She shows up to school in oversized vintage band tees layered over fishnet sleeves, loose cargo jeans with safety pins and patches, and worn-out platform sneakers. But what stands out most is her hair-dyed a vivid, unapologetic red that glows in the sunlight like a warning and a promise. It suits her: loud, fierce, impossible to ignore.

Her eyes have that tired-but-alive look, like she hasn't slept in days but somehow still finds energy in music and midnight walks. She's the lead guitarist of a local indie band that plays in smoky cafés and rooftop hangouts, and she always carries her scratched-up guitar case like an extra limb. With a sideways smirk and a spark of chaos in her step, Mikha pulls Aiah into a world that's loud, messy, and strangely comforting.

Their connection is instant-electric in a way Aiah can't explain. What starts as an unlikely friendship slowly blurs into something deeper, more tangled. As they navigate heartbreak, healing, and the parts of themselves they've never fully shown anyone, Aiah starts to wonder if meeting Mikha wasn't just chance-but destiny, in its most unexpected form.