No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 41- Chasing after her

MIKHA'S POV

I tossed and turned in bed, the city lights seeping through the curtains, casting shadows on the ceiling. Sleep refused to come, my mind replaying the scene at the mall like a broken record.

Aiah.

With a man. With a child.

I groaned, rubbing my face as frustration settled deep in my chest. Bakit pa ako apektado? She left me. She chose to leave me.

And yet...

The way she looked at me-like she wanted to say something but couldn't-kept haunting me.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling me out of my thoughts. I reached for it, half-expecting Stacey to send another teasing message. But instead, it was an unknown number.

I frowned before answering. "Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?" I repeated, sitting up.

Still nothing. But I could hear breathing on the other end.

A deep, shaky breath.

And then, a whisper.

"Mikha..."

My entire body went rigid. That voice. Even after five years, I could never forget it.

Aiah.

I gripped the phone tighter. "Aiah?"

Another breath. Then-

"I'm sorry."

My heart slammed against my ribs. "Aiah, what the hell is going on?"

But before I could get an answer, the line went dead.

"Aiah? Aiah, damn it, answer me!" I shouted into the phone, but all I got was silence. A dead line.

I stared at my screen, my grip tightening around the phone. My pulse was racing, my mind spiraling.

Why would she call me? After all these years? And why did she sound so... broken?

I was still processing everything when I heard the door open.

"Mikha?"

I turned to see Ethan standing there, his brows furrowed. His hair was slightly messy, like he had just woken up.

"Babe, what's wrong? Who called?"

I hesitated. Aiah's name was at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"No one," I muttered, putting my phone down. "Wrong number."

Ethan studied me for a moment before sighing. He walked over and sat beside me on the bed, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"You're shaking," he said softly, pressing a kiss on my temple. "You sure you're okay?"

I forced a smile. "Yeah. Just tired."

He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he pulled me into his arms, rubbing slow circles on my back.

"Come here," he murmured. "Get some rest."

I let him hold me, let his warmth sink into my skin. But as I closed my eyes, all I could hear was Aiah's voice.

"I'm sorry."

And for the first time in years, I realized something terrifying.

I wasn't sure if I had ever stopped waiting for her.

I woke up to the feeling of Ethan's steady breathing beside me. His arm was still draped around my waist, holding me close like he always did. It was comforting-safe.