No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 34- A hug of rest

The car was eerily quiet except for my uneven breaths and the occasional sniffle I tried to suppress. My head rested against the window, the neon lights outside blurring as we drove through the city. The alcohol was wearing off, but the pain-it was still there, cutting through me like a dull knife, slow and agonizing.

I couldn't take it anymore.

With trembling hands, I turned to Sheena and Stacey-Aiah's closest friends, the only people who could reach her. My voice cracked as I spoke.

"Sheen... Stacey... please," I whispered, my throat raw from crying. "Call her."

Sheena stiffened in the driver's seat, her hands tightening around the wheel. Stacey, sitting beside me, exhaled slowly, avoiding my gaze.

"Please," I choked out, gripping Stacey's arm. "Sabihin niyo sa kanya... sabihin niyo hindi ako okay." My voice broke into a desperate sob. "Kahit ngayong gabi lang... gusto ko siyang makasama kahit ngayon lang."

Stacey turned to me, her face torn between pity and helplessness. "Mikha..."

"Nagmakaawa na ako sa kanya," I continued, tears spilling freely down my cheeks. "Ngayon sa inyo naman ako nagmamakaawa. Tawagan niyo siya. Sabihin niyo bumalik siya kahit ngayong gabi lang. Kahit hindi niya na ako mahal... kahit hindi na niya ako piliin..." My voice cracked again. "Gusto ko lang siyang makita."

Sheena swallowed hard, staring straight ahead at the road, her jaw clenched. "Hindi na gano'n kadali, Mikha."

Napailing ako, desperation clawing at my chest. "Sheena, please! Ikaw na lang ang pag-asa ko! Kung may natitira pang konting awa sa'kin si Aiah, kung kahit papaano may halaga pa ako sa kanya... tatawagan niya kayo pabalik."

Sheena's knuckles turned white against the steering wheel. Stacey looked down at her phone, hesitating. I could see it in her eyes-she wanted to help, but she didn't know if she should.

The silence in the car suffocated me.

My breath hitched as I gripped Stacey's hands tightly. "Gagawin ko ang lahat... kahit ano... basta iparating niyo sa kanya na hindi ko na kaya."

Sheena cursed under her breath, finally pulling over to the side of the road. She turned to face me, her expression unreadable.

"Mikha... kung tatawagan ko siya... at hindi siya sumagot?"

I let out a broken laugh, shaking my head. "At least alam kong sinubukan ko."

Sheena and Stacey exchanged glances. Then, slowly, Stacey picked up her phone, dialing Aiah's number.

The ringing filled the car, each second feeling heavier than the last.

Please, Aiah... sagutin mo.

The ringing stretched on, each second twisting the knife deeper into my chest. My whole body tensed, my breath stuck in my throat.

Then-

Click.

"Stacey?" Aiah's voice came through the speaker, soft but guarded.

My heart stopped.

Stacey hesitated, glancing at me before answering. "Aiah... kailangan mong malaman-hindi okay si Mikha."

There was silence.

I clutched Stacey's arm, my nails digging into her skin. "Sabihin mo, please..." I whispered desperately.

Stacey swallowed hard before continuing. "She's a mess, Aiah. She's been drinking, crying, begging us to call you. Hindi na niya kaya."

Another pause. I could hear Aiah breathing on the other end, but she wasn't saying anything.

"She wants to see you," Stacey pushed. "Even just tonight."

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. "Aiah..." My voice barely came out. "Please."

A shaky breath from her end. Then-

"Mikha..."

A sob tore out of my throat the moment she said my name. "Aiah, umuwi ka lang sa akin," I choked out. "Hindi ko hihingin ang paliwanag mo. Hindi kita pipilitin."

She was silent again.

I could feel it. She was hesitating. Torn between staying wherever she was and coming back to me.

"Please," I whispered one last time. "Just tonight."

Seconds passed. Each one felt like a lifetime.

Then, finally-

"San ka?"

A fresh wave of tears fell as I let out a relieved, broken laugh.

"Sheena's car," I said quickly, wiping my face. "I- I can go to you. Kahit saan ka, pupuntahan kita."

"No," Aiah said softly. "I'll come to you."

I shut my eyes, pressing the phone closer to my ear as if I could hold onto her through the signal. "Promise?"

She inhaled sharply. "Promise."

And for the first time that night, hope flickered in my chest.

The drive back to my apartment was silent, except for my shaky breaths and the occasional sniffle. Sheena and Stacey didn't say anything, but I could feel their worried glances through the rearview mirror.

My hands wouldn't stop trembling as I stared at my phone, waiting-praying-that Aiah wouldn't change her mind.

When we pulled up in front of my building, I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt.

"Sigurado ka ba dito, Mikha?" Sheena asked carefully.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Oo. Kailangan ko 'to."

Stacey sighed but didn't argue. "Text us if anything happens."

I stepped out of the car, barely hearing them drive away as I stood in the cold night air, waiting.

And then, like a ghost appearing in the darkness-

Aiah's car pulled up.

My breath hitched.

The door opened, and there she was.

For a second, neither of us moved. My world narrowed down to the woman in front of me-the woman I had loved, still loved, and would probably always love, no matter how much she had broken me.

She looked... tired. Her usual glow was dimmed, her eyes dark with something unreadable.

I took a shaky step forward. "Aiah..."

She swallowed hard, her hands clenching at her sides. "Mikha."

Hearing my name from her lips nearly shattered me all over again.

I didn't think-I just moved. My body crashed into hers, arms wrapping around her tightly as I buried my face in her shoulder.

"Aiah," I gasped, my body trembling against hers. "You came."

For a moment, she didn't react.

Then, slowly-so slowly-her arms came up, holding me just as tightly.

"I'm here," she whispered, her voice breaking.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the pain. Not the questions. Not the future.

Only this. Only her.