No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 12- The deal

I didn't want to ask. I should've just walked straight to the meeting room like I was supposed to. But my curiosity got the better of me.

"Saan nga ba tayo pupunta?" I asked, not bothering to look back.

Aiah chuckled behind me, her voice rich with amusement. "We have a race to attend."

I stopped walking, turning to face her with a sharp glare. "What?"

She smirked, leaning in just enough to make my breath hitch. "Zara wants a rematch. And since you seemed so interested last night, I thought you might want to come."

My fingers twitched around my tablet, a mix of irritation and something else bubbling in my chest. "I thought this was a business meeting."

Aiah shrugged. "It is. It's my business who gets to challenge me. And if she wants to race me, I want to see what she's got." She paused, her eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "And I want you to see it too."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here you are, still standing by my side."

She had that damn smirk again-the one that made my stomach twist in ways I really didn't want to analyze.

I clenched my jaw. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."

Aiah grinned. "Good girl."

I rolled my eyes and walked ahead, but I could still feel her smirk burning into my back.

The moment we arrived at the race location, I immediately regretted asking where we were going. The air was thick with the scent of burning rubber and gasoline, the loud bass from the speakers vibrating through the ground. People were everywhere-leaning against cars, chatting in small groups, some placing bets, others just here for the thrill.

And then, of course, there she was.

Zara.

She spotted Aiah before we even stepped out of the car, a slow smirk spreading across her red lips. And before I could even blink, she was moving-like she owned the damn night, like she owned Aiah.

"Finally," she drawled, striding toward us with that same annoying confidence. Then, just as if they had been best friends for years, she threw her arms around Aiah and pulled her into a hug-way too tight, way too familiar.

I tensed, gripping my purse a little too hard. What the hell was that? They met literally yesterday. Why did she hug Aiah like that? Like she-

I felt a sharp elbow jab into my side. I turned to see Stacey grinning at me like she had just witnessed the best drama of her life.

"Aww, Mikha," she sang, leaning in close. "You're jealous, aren't you?"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I'm not."

"Sure," Stacey teased, wiggling her brows. "You look like you're about to rip her off Aiah."

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "As if I care."

But my jaw tightened, and I hated how much I wanted to march over there and pull that girl away from Aiah.

I glanced back at them, and just as I did, Zara whispered something in Aiah's ear. Whatever she said made Aiah smirk. Then, to my absolute horror, Zara playfully tugged at the lapels of Aiah's blazer before letting her hand trail down her arm-slow, teasing, and way too intimate.