Fame, Lies, and Love (Mikhaiah Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Mikha Lim

The next morning, I woke up in the guest room, sunlight peeking through the blinds and landing directly on my face. My neck ached from the unfamiliar bed, but it wasn't the discomfort that weighed on me—it was the memory of last night. I sat up, ruffling my hair as I tried to shake off the heaviness in my chest.

After a quick shower, I headed downstairs. The house was quiet, unusually so. Is Aiah still in bed? I wondered, my footsteps soft as I entered the kitchen.

To my surprise, I found her there, standing by the counter with a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. She looked tired, her eyes slightly puffy, and I knew she hadn't slept well. But she still carried herself with that same stubbornness, as if she didn't want anyone—especially me—to see her weakness.

"Good morning," I said, breaking the silence.

She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "Morning," she replied curtly, taking a sip of her coffee without looking my way again.

I walked to the fridge and grabbed some orange juice, feeling the tension between us like an invisible wall. Last night's words lingered in the air, unspoken but heavy, and I wasn't sure if either of us was ready to address them.

"So…" I started, leaning against the counter as I poured myself a glass. "Are you okay?"

She paused, her grip tightening on her mug. "Bakit, mukhang hindi ba?" she shot back, her voice sharp, though I could tell she wasn't as angry as she sounded.

I smirked faintly, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, you were pretty dramatic last night. Akala ko ba hindi ka selosa?"

Her head snapped up, her glare piercing. "I wasn't being dramatic,” she retorted, but her cheeks flushed, betraying her embarrassment. “And I'm not jealous. Wala akong pakialam kung anong ginagawa mo sa trabaho mo."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning closer just enough to make her shift uncomfortably. "Oh, really? Kaya pala lasing ka at nag-rant ka nang todo about my kissing scene with Luke?"

"Pwede ba, Mikha?" she snapped, setting her mug down with more force than necessary. "Wag mong balikan yun. Naiirita lang ako kasi hindi mo naman sinabi sakin. I'm your—" she stopped herself, biting her lip as if she regretted almost finishing that sentence.

"You're my… what?" I prompted, crossing my arms as I watched her squirm.

She avoided my gaze, grabbing her mug and muttering under her breath, "Wife. Pero arranged naman, kaya never mind."

Her words stung more than I cared to admit, but I didn't let it show. Instead, I smiled faintly and said, "For what it's worth, Aiah, I didn't mean to upset you. Hindi ko lang akalain na ganun pala kaimportante sayo kung sino ang hinahalikan ko—kahit scripted lang."

"Pwede ba, tumigil ka na," she hissed, turning her back to me.

I chuckled softly, taking another sip of my juice. I could tell she was still processing everything—her feelings, my words, and the complicated mess we'd found ourselves in. But as much as I enjoyed teasing her, a part of me wanted to find a way to fix the cracks between us, no matter how deep they ran.