How You Get The Girl

2

The airplane cabin seemed to shrink with Aiah's tightly coiled anxiety, suffusing the air with tension. Beside her, Mikha, a fiery shock of red hair against the stark white airplane seat, appeared nonchalant as she scrolled through her phone.

"Remind me again why I agreed to this?" Aiah grumbled.

Mikha, with a self-assured grin, retorted, "Luging-lugi ah. Samantalang ikaw ang nag-convince sa akin. Reminder lang."

"Ready na ba kayo sa cover story nyo?" Sheena, seated on the other aisle with a seemingly contented Gwen beside her, chimed in.

Sheena had Gwen along as "additional support", but beneath the surface, the youngest among them held a not-so-secret crush on the older girl and was hoping for a spark of connection between them.

Mikha, still maintaining her cool facade, quipped, "I'm an artist. I can do improv."

Aiah's frustration bubbled to the surface, "No! No improv, didn't you read the file I sent? Andun lahat ng possible scenarios."

Mikha, unyielding, shrugged indifferently, "I'm not reading a pages-long document reminding me kung gaano ka ka-boring. Bumping into each other tapos love at first sight? Bleh," she mockingly exclaimed, feigning disgust.

"Shh, tama na yan magtitake off na," Gwen interjected effectively putting an end to their banter.

Mikha, usually composed and confident, now sat frozen in her seat, her fingers gripping the armrests with a white-knuckled intensity. Noticing a subtle change in her demeanor, Aiah's heart softened as she realized the truth: Mikha was afraid of flying.

"Hey," she murmured softly, her voice a soothing balm. Gently, she placed her hand on Mikha's trembling fingers, offering a silent gesture of comfort and support. Aiah reached into her bag and pulled out her airpods. "Here, let's share" she said gently, offering them to Mikha.

Mikha, initially hesitant, gratefully accepted the device and slipped it on. The music washing over her like a soothing wave. A slight relaxation settled in her shoulders, and the white-knuckled grip on the armrests loosened ever so slightly. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, gratitude battling the fear in her eyes.

***

As they pulled up to the resort, gasps of awe escaped their lips. Thatched-roof villas nestled amongst the palm trees, their balconies offering unfettered views of the azure expanse. A meandering infinity pool stretched towards the horizon, seamlessly blending with the ocean. Lush gardens bursting with colorful flowers added a touch of whimsy to the already idyllic scene.

"Wow, this place is amazing!" Mikha exclaimed, taking a deep breath of the fresh, ocean-scented air.

"Right? It's very... pantropical," Sheena said chuckling at herself.

As they marveled at the resort's beauty, Maloi's voice boomed, "Kumusta mga akla?!"

Aiah's heart lurched. There, standing with a beaming Colet and a playfully grinning Maloi, was Jhoanna. Time seemed to stand still. Jhoanna, with her cascading dark hair and a smile that could light up a room, looked even more radiant than Aiah remembered. Her eyes, the color of melted dark chocolate, sparkled with genuine joy. A pang of longing shot through Aiah's chest, a bittersweet cocktail of unresolved feelings bubbling up.

Jhoanna, oblivious to the internal battles raging within Aiah, practically skipped towards them, her arms outstretched. "Aiah! So good to see you!"

Aiah managed a weak smile as Jhoanna pulled her into a tight embrace. The familiar scent of vanilla and sunshine that clung to Jhoanna sent a shiver down Aiah's spine.

Mikha, standing beside Aiah, couldn't help but feel a twinge of intimidation at the sight of Jhoanna. Not only was she Aiah's ex, but she also exuded a confidence and charisma that Mikha couldn't help but admire, albeit begrudgingly.

Mikha observed the exchange with amusement. She wasn't oblivious to the sudden shift in Aiah's demeanor.

"Luh teh, ang ganda." her bestfriend Gwen whispered.

Mikha, took it upon herself to break the palpable tension. "Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials!" she added, flashing a dazzling smile at Colet and Maloi, effectively steering the conversation away from Aiah and Jhoanna's awkward reunion.

"Thanks! We're so glad you all could make it." Colet responded warmly. She then turned to Mikha, her gaze lingering for a beat longer than necessary. "You must be Mikha, my sister's... uh..."

"Ate Aiah's girlfriend! And this is Gwen housemate ni ate," Sheena introduced the two new faces as Aiah remained frozen in her spot.

Meanwhile, Jhoanna's gaze was directed at Mikha. She couldn't help but be intrigued by this confident newcomer. "Nice to meet you, Mikha," she said, offering a friendly smile that softened the air of tension.

"Ang cute ng hair mo!" Maloi ever the friendly one exclaimed as she gave Mikha a short hug.

"Ah, sya hinintay mo before ka magbook ng flight?" Colet asked her sister.

"Sensya na, our baby cat Haru had to undergo an operation pa kasi," Mikha answered for Aiah as she pulled the taller girl's waist effectively pulling her out of her reverie.

"But you're a dog person," Jhoanna remarked.

Aiah, finally pulled back to reality by Mikha's playful tug, stammered a response. "Uh, yeah, well, things change," effectively quieting Jhoanna.

"Well, welcome everyone! Tara, let's get you settled in your rooms." Maloi exclaimed cutting the growing tension.

"Sheena, you and Gwen will be in Villa 4. Meron syang stunning view of the beach, perfect for catching the sunrise."

Sheena squealed with delight, practically vibrating in place. "Omg, yes! Thanks teh Maloi!" She grabbed Gwen's arm, practically dragging her towards the designated villa, their excited chatter fading into the distance.

Maloi then turned to Aiah and Mikha, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Now, for the lovely couple," she began. Jhoanna's smile faltered slightly, but Aiah, still flustered from the previous exchange, barely registered it.

"You two will be in Villa 8. Super cozy little place, perfect for...well, alam nyo na," she snickered as Colet pinched her.

Aiah felt a wave of panic at the prospect of sharing a room with Mikha her pretend girlfriend. Meanwhile the other girl seemed unfazed. In fact, a slow grin spread across her face. "Sounds lovely," she replied smoothly.

"Thank you, Maloi." Aiah managed to say.

"Rest muna kayo. See you all later for lunch," Colet said.

Aiah's heart sank as she took in the sight. Sharing a room with Mikha was one thing, but sharing a bed? That added an entirely new layer of complexity to their already precarious situation. She felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks as she imagined spending the night in such close proximity to the fiery redhead beside her.

Mikha, ever the picture of nonchalance, threw her bag onto the bed with a casual flourish. "Well, this looks comfortable," she teased.

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AN: Would love to know your thoughts? Hehe