No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 23- Fresh couple

Aiah's POV

My apartment was filled with laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls as Jho, Gwen, Sheena, and Stacey made themselves comfortable in my living room. Mikha sat beside me on the couch, trying (and failing) to ignore the teasing looks our friends kept throwing our way.

"Fresh couple alert!" Stacey announced dramatically, wiggling her eyebrows at us.

Sheena smirked, leaning forward. "Kaya pala blooming si Mikha lately. Iba talaga kapag in love."

Mikha groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Ang kulit niyo!"

Jho chuckled, crossing her arms. "Hindi naman kayo ganyan kaingay dati. But now? Para kayong mga marites na nakahanap ng bagong chismis."

"Excuse me? 'Chismis' agad?" Gwen gasped, feigning offense. "This is premium entertainment. We've been waiting for this moment!"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Bakit parang mas excited pa kayo kaysa sa amin?"

Sheena grinned. "Of course! You two made us suffer for years! Ang daming drama, ang daming pa-hard-to-get, ang daming pasikot-sikot!"

"And now," Stacey added, pointing at us with a wide grin, "it's finally happening. Gusto lang namin i-celebrate!"

Mikha sighed in defeat before side-eyeing me. "This is your fault."

I raised an eyebrow. "Paano naging kasalanan ko 'to?"

"You let them in!" she huffed, crossing her arms.

I smirked, leaning closer. "You love them, though."

She rolled her eyes but smiled, her fake annoyance fading. "Unfortunately."

"Aww, Mikha loves us!" Gwen teased, pretending to wipe away tears.

Jho shook her head, amused. "Okay, okay, tama na ang pang-aasar. Let's just eat before we give Mikha a heart attack."

"Fine," Sheena said with a dramatic sigh. "But this conversation isn't over."

As everyone settled in, I glanced at Mikha beside me. She was still red from embarrassment, but there was a soft smile playing on her lips.

Yeah. This? This felt right.

As we sat around the coffee table, eating and laughing, I instinctively reached for Mikha's hand. It was a simple, unconscious act-one I had done countless times before. But the moment our fingers intertwined, Stacey's sharp eyes caught the movement.

"AHA!" she practically yelled, pointing at us. "Hawak-kamay na agad? Ang bilis naman!"

Sheena nearly choked on her drink as she burst out laughing. "Hindi man lang nagdalawang-isip si Aiah! Automatic, parang muscle memory!"

Gwen smirked. "Grabe, Mikha. Hindi mo pa nga officially sinasagot ulit si Aiah pero parang kayo na!"

Mikha groaned, trying to pull her hand away, but I tightened my grip, refusing to let go. I smirked at her, then at our overly entertained friends. "Ano bang problema niyo? Holding hands lang, hindi naman illegal."

"Hindi nga illegal, pero nakakakilig!" Jho teased, shaking her head.

Mikha, now fully red from embarrassment, sighed dramatically. "Alam niyo, ang dami niyong time sa mundo."

"Of course!" Stacey grinned. "Especially when it comes to love stories in the making."

I just chuckled, giving Mikha's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Sanay ka naman sa kanila, 'di ba?"

She huffed, sending me a side-eye. "Sanay? Ewan ko lang after nito."

Our friends burst into another round of laughter, and despite Mikha's fake irritation, I could see the smile tugging at her lips. She may act annoyed, but deep down, I knew she was happy.