No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 17- Trapped in the past

Jhoanna's expression softened a little. "Love isn't just about feelings, Aiah. Minsan, kahit mahal niyo pa ang isa't isa, kung hindi talaga, wala kang magagawa."

I exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over my face. "Tingin niyo dapat ko na lang siyang pabayaan?"

Sheena gave me a knowing look. "Ikaw lang ang makakasagot niyan."

Silence settled between us again, heavy but understanding.

Then Stacey, ever the one to break tension, clapped her hands together. "Okay, bago ka pa tuluyang malunod sa lungkot mo, another round of drinks para kay Aiah!"

"Tama! Tama! Laslas-puso pero classy edition!" Sheena grinned, already signaling the bartender.

Jhoanna chuckled. "We're here for you, Aiah. Kahit kailangan mo lang ng alak o ng therapist."

I sighed, shaking my head as a small, grateful smile tugged at my lips.

I took another sip of my drink, the burn from the alcohol doing little to soothe the tightness in my chest. My friends' words bounced around in my mind, but none of them seemed to reach me. My thoughts kept circling back to Mikha. To what we had, and what we were losing.

Then Jhoanna broke the silence again, her voice laced with something I couldn't quite place.

"By the way..." she started, looking at her phone. "Mikha just called me." She looked up from her screen, her expression neutral but a little wary. "She asked Drew to pick her up. She left."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I froze for a moment, my heart skipping a beat. I wasn't sure if I wanted to feel relief or frustration, but the sharp sting of disappointment was undeniable.

I tried to mask it, setting my glass down with a quiet clink. "Okay," was all I could manage, my voice flat, betraying none of the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

Jhoanna watched me carefully. "Aiah, I'm sorry, I-"

"No," I cut her off, forcing a smile. "It's fine."

But nothing felt fine.

Sheena's voice cut through the heavy air. "So, she really left?" she asked, her tone soft but loaded with concern. "Isn't that... a little too much, even for Mikha?"

I looked at her, my gaze distant. "I guess it was too much for her."

There was a long silence. The only sound in the room was the soft clink of ice in our glasses and the muted hum of the conversation from the bar area.

Jhoanna spoke again, this time more cautiously. "Mikha's not a bad person, Aiah. You know that. I think... I think she just doesn't know what to do with all of this."

I nodded slowly, my thoughts drifting back to her-how she looked earlier, her eyes avoiding mine, her words cutting through me. "I know," I murmured. "But I don't know what to do either."

Stacey, ever the optimist, chimed in. "You two just need time. If you're meant to be, you'll figure it out. But you can't rush it."

I chuckled softly, a dry laugh that barely escaped my throat. "Time," I echoed. "I've already given her so much time." I rubbed my temples, trying to suppress the headache building there. "Maybe I'm just tired of waiting for something that might never come."

Jhoanna leaned in, her voice gentle but firm. "Don't give up on her yet, Aiah. Mikha may have walked away for now, but that doesn't mean she's gone forever. Sometimes people need space to breathe, to figure things out. And you need to take care of yourself, too. Don't lose yourself in this."

I looked at my friends, each of them offering their support in their own way, and for the first time today, I felt a little less alone.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos in my mind. "I don't know what the future holds, but maybe... I'll give it a little more time. For me. For Mikha. We'll see."

Jhoanna gave me a small smile, and I could see the pride in her eyes. "That's all you can do, Aiah. Take it one day at a time."

The weight in my chest hadn't lifted completely, but it felt a little lighter. And for the first time today, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance.

A few hours passed, and the lively chatter and clinking of glasses gradually slowed as the night wore on. My friends were no longer the lively, sharp-witted women they'd been earlier. They were... well, they were drunk.

Jhoanna was lounging across the couch, her words slurring as she giggled uncontrollably at something Sheena had said. Sheena herself had her head resting on Stacey's shoulder, both of them too tipsy to even realize how close they were to passing out. Stacey was trying to tell a story, but it was more like a series of incoherent ramblings.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Okay, here we go again," I muttered under my breath.

"Anong nangyari kay Mikha, Aiah?" Jhoanna slurred, looking up at me with a mischievous grin. "Nasa utak mo pa ba siya? Or are you ready to move on na?"

I rolled my eyes, bending down to help her sit up properly. "I told you, Jho. Let it go."

But she wasn't listening. "You still love her, though," she teased. "I can see it in your eyes."

I didn't answer. Instead, I motioned for Stacey and Sheena to stand up. "Alright, ladies. Time to go home."

"Pero... 'di pa tayo tapos!" Sheena protested, her words coming out in a lazy drawl. "I'm still having fun..."

Stacey nodded in agreement, looking way too comfortable for someone who was clearly drunk. "Yeah, we still have... have... more drinking to do! More shots! More fun!"

I sighed again, the night dragging on longer than I'd expected. "You're both falling asleep. You need to go home."

Jhoanna shot me a lazy smile, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Babe, you're so good at this," she said, trying to wrap her arm around my shoulder but missing completely.

With a sigh, I helped them out of the lounge, making sure no one stumbled or fell over. It took some time, but eventually, I had them all seated in the back of the car, ready to head home.

The drive was quiet, with only the soft hum of the engine filling the car. Stacey was dozing off in the back, while Sheena and Jhoanna were still laughing at some joke only they understood. I focused on the road, trying not to let my mind wander back to Mikha. It was hard, though. She had left, and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.

When I finally pulled into Jhoanna's apartment building, I parked the car and turned to face my friends. "We're here," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

Jhoanna gave me a drunken thumbs-up. "Thanks, Aiah. You're the best."

I didn't respond, simply helping her and the others out of the car. After making sure they were safely inside, I drove back to my apartment, the silence almost suffocating in the stillness of the night.

I couldn't help but feel that I was waiting for something-a sign, a change, or maybe Mikha to walk back into my life and tell me everything would be okay.

But for now, I was just... waiting. And hoping.