No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 10- Passionate night

"So what?" I snapped, the frustration I had been drowning in all night bubbling back to the surface. "Akala mo ba ikaw pa rin ang may karapatan na gawin 'to? Na pwedeng-pwede kang sumulpot at mag-decide kung sino ang pwedeng lumapit sa akin?"

Her eyes darkened, but there was something else there-something unreadable.

"I'm not letting some asshole put his hands on you, Mikha."

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. "Pero ikaw? Ikaw pwede?"

Aiah's lips parted, but she didn't answer.

I scoffed, pushing past her, heading back to the bar where Sheena and Gwen were watching with wide eyes.

But before I could take another step, Aiah's voice cut through the music.

"Mikha."

I stopped.

"I meant what I said," she continued, voice lower this time. "You're still mine."

My breath caught.

And for a split second, just a damn second-

I almost believed her.

I laughed. A short, sharp sound-half disbelief, half bitterness.

What the hell was Aiah saying?

She still wanted me?

After everything?

I turned back to her, shaking my head. "Tangina, Aiah. Why?"

She just stared at me, expression unreadable.

"Why do you still want me?" My voice wavered, my hands balling into fists at my sides. "I broke your heart, diba? I left. I hurt you."

I swallowed, forcing myself to keep looking at her. "You should hate me."

Aiah tilted her head, a humorless smirk playing at her lips. "Maybe I do."

I let out another laugh, more hollow this time. "Then why are you here? Bakit mo ako sinusundan? Bakit mo ako inaangkin na parang sayo pa rin ako?"

She stepped closer, her eyes never leaving mine. "Because no matter how much you try to push me away..." She reached out, her fingers ghosting over my wrist, sending a jolt up my spine. "You still come back to me."

I sucked in a sharp breath, but I didn't move.

Damn her.

Damn her for still knowing me this well.

"I shouldn't want you, Mikha." Her voice was softer now, but there was an edge to it. "I should let you go. Let you move on."

I waited for the but.

And when it came, my heart clenched.

"But I fucking can't."

Her words were like a slap. Like a confession and a curse all at once.

I should've walked away. Should've told her to stop.

But I didn't.

Because deep down, I knew-

I still couldn't let her go either.

I exhaled sharply, forcing my hands to stay at my sides instead of reaching for her-like I always used to. "Then what do you want from me, Aiah?" My voice came out quieter than I intended, but she heard it.