No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 12- The deal

I crossed my arms, staring straight at Aiah, daring her to make a decision.

She held my gaze, her expression unreadable.

Then, finally, she said-

I scoffed at Zara's challenge, rolling my shoulders back as I met her smug gaze. "Wanna find out?"

Aiah exhaled beside me, clearly not in the mood for this showdown, but I didn't care. The second Zara had laid her hands on her like she owned her, this had stopped being just about the race.

"Mikha," Aiah sighed, stepping closer to me, voice dropping as she pulled me aside. "Sigurado ka ba dito?"

I smirked, tilting my head at her. "Bakit? Kinakabahan ka na matatalo ako?" I let my fingers skim against her wrist before dropping my hand, my voice dipping lower, teasing. "O natatakot kang mawala ako?"

Aiah froze. For just a split second, I saw something flicker in her eyes-uncertainty, something else I couldn't quite place.

Zara let out a low chuckle, stepping up behind Aiah, closer than necessary. "Cute." She leaned in toward Aiah again, her breath just brushing against her ear. "Are you sure about this?" she murmured, loud enough for me to hear. "Because if I win, I might just take something from you."

Aiah didn't move.

"Gusto mo bang ipusta si Aiah sa 'kin, Mikha?" Zara smirked.

I clenched my jaw. This girl was really pushing her luck.

"Ikaw?" I shot back, stepping even closer to Zara, barely an inch between us. "Sure ka? Baka di mo kayanin mawala si Aiah."

Zara's smirk never wavered. "You really don't like me, do you?"

I met her gaze head-on. "No, I don't."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Good. I like a challenge."

The engines roared as the race was about to begin. My hands gripped the wheel as I stared ahead, blocking out the noise, the people, and most of all-her. I wasn't here for Aiah or for Zara. I was here to win.

And I was so close. I was ahead for most of the race, taking every turn sharply, pushing my car faster, the adrenaline burning through my veins. I could hear the crowd roaring, the air thick with the scent of gasoline.

But then-one wrong move.

One second of hesitation.

And in that second, Zara took advantage, cutting past me in the final stretch, her car crossing the finish line just before mine.

I let out a harsh breath, gripping the wheel tightly as the crowd erupted into cheers for her victory. My jaw tightened as I watched her step out of her car, arms raised in triumph.

Aiah let out a deep sigh beside me. "Mikha-"

I threw open my car door before she could finish. I wasn't about to sit here and listen to whatever she was going to say.

Zara was already grinning like she had won the lottery. She was walking toward me, her steps slow, deliberate, like she was savoring the moment.

Damn it.

"So," she drawled, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I believe we had a bet, right?"

I crossed my arms, trying to keep my irritation in check. "Ano bang gusto mo?"

Her smirk widened. "I want what you care about the most."

My stomach dropped. My gaze flickered to Aiah, who was still watching the two of us with an unreadable expression.

I clenched my fists. Shit.

Zara crossed her arms over her chest, looking every bit like she had just conquered the world. "Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice oozing with triumph. "I believe I won."

I scoffed, trying to shove down the frustration bubbling inside me. "So? Wala namang totoong pustahan." I turned to Aiah, expecting her to shut this down.

But Aiah just raised a brow, arms still crossed. She wasn't stepping away from Zara. She wasn't protesting. If anything, she looked amused.

Zara smirked, seeing my reaction. "You lost, Mikha," she said, taking a step closer to Aiah. "And if I remember correctly, that means she's mine tonight."

A flash of something crossed Aiah's face-surprise? Amusement? I couldn't tell. But before I could argue again, Zara reached for Aiah's hand and laced their fingers together.

Aiah didn't pull away.

I felt my stomach twist.

Zara turned, pulling Aiah with her as she gave me one last smirk over her shoulder. "Try not to miss her too much," she said smugly. "She's in good hands."

And with that, they disappeared into the crowd.

I let out a sharp breath, pressing my tongue against the inside of my cheek as frustration simmered in my chest.

"Mamamatay ka na ba sa inis o gusto mong habulin?" Stacey's voice piped up beside me, her arms crossed.

"Shut up," I muttered.

But she had a point. I wasn't just going to stand here and let Zara take Aiah like that.

I took out my phone, quickly pulling up Aiah's location on the tracking app I had never uninstalled. Petty? Maybe. Smart? Absolutely.

Stacey peered over my shoulder, smirking when she saw the little dot blinking on the screen. "You're insane," she whispered.

"Don't act so surprised," I shot back.

I tapped the screen, my smirk finally returning.

"Looks like Zara wants to play games," I murmured, eyes gleaming with determination. "Fine. Let's play."

I had no idea what I was about to walk into, but there was one thing I knew for sure-Zara wasn't keeping Aiah for the night.

Not if I had anything to do with it.