No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 18- Mess

"Why are you closing the curtains?" I asked, unable to hide the edge in my voice.

Aiah glanced at me, her lips curling into a faint smile. "I just prefer privacy, Mikha."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling the tension between us thicken. It wasn't just about privacy-it felt like she was hiding something. But I didn't press her further.

Aiah sat down across from me, her posture just as poised as always. But there was something different about her today-something almost unsettling. Her gaze was sharp as she studied me for a long moment before speaking.

"So, Mikha," she started, her voice smooth, "who's Drew?"

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to mask my surprise.

Aiah leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "The guy who picked you up last night after we talked. Who is he?"

I felt my heart skip a beat, a tight knot forming in my chest. "He's just a friend," I said quickly, hoping the answer would be enough to satisfy her.

Aiah's lips curved into a small, knowing smirk. "Just a friend, huh?" she mused, her voice low. "You know how I get when I'm jealous, don't you, Mikha?"

I froze for a moment, her words sinking in. She was jealous. Of Drew. Of me.

I couldn't help the rush of emotions that surged within me. There was a part of me that wanted to deny everything, to push back against her jealousy. But there was another part, the part I couldn't quite control, that felt... strangely relieved. As if her jealousy meant something more.

"I didn't think you cared," I said softly, trying to steady my voice. "But it seems like you do."

Aiah's smirk deepened, though there was a flicker of something else in her eyes. "Of course I care, Mikha," she replied, her tone laced with something that almost felt like vulnerability. "Why wouldn't I?"

The words hung in the air between us, heavy and unspoken, and I wasn't sure how to respond.

Aiah's gaze softened as she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Alam mong mahal pa rin kita, Mikha." Her hand moved slowly, almost cautiously, to brush against my cheek. The warmth of her touch made my breath catch in my throat. "I'll do anything to make things right. To bring you back. To bring us back.

Her words felt like a promise, but they also carried the weight of everything we'd been through. I wanted to say something, to pull back and remind her of the pain we'd caused each other, but before I could, she leaned in closer, her lips brushing against mine. It was gentle at first, almost tentative, as though she was waiting for my reaction.

But I didn't pull away. I couldn't. Every kiss from Aiah had always been a weakness for me-a surrender that I hadn't known how to fight. Each time her lips touched mine, it was like the world around us faded away, and all I could feel was her.

Her kiss deepened, her hand moving to cradle the back of my head as if pulling me closer, and I let her. My heart raced, and my pulse quickened. Every sensation from the touch of her lips, the pressure of her hand, it all overwhelmed me. Every kiss made me feel like I was losing control, like the walls I'd built around my heart were crumbling.

I didn't want to feel this way, but I did. I couldn't stop it.

When she finally pulled back, her forehead rested against mine, our breaths heavy, our faces close. "I'll make it right, Mikha," she whispered again, her voice raw, vulnerable. "I won't let you go. Not again."