"I'm Maki, Maki Lim"
Wait, what? Did Althea hear that right? Maki Lim? Althea mentally facepalmed as she realized that THE Maki Lim had been her next-door neighbor this whole time.
"No way, did I just shake hands with the Maki Lim, the UST Women's Volleyball Team Captain? Am I dreaming? Paki-kurot nga ako! Althea exclaimed jokingly, causing Maki to smile.
"No way! Did I just shake hands with the infamous Althea Arrieta, the Editor-in-Chief of UST-AMV College of Accountancy? Am I dreaming?" Maki fired back with a grin, echoing Althea's joke word for word, causing them both to burst into laughter.
Oh, she knows me? Althea thought, barely able to believe how comfortable and easy to talk to Maki Lim turned out to be. Given the rumors that the varsity captain was the ice queen of the university, Althea was floored by their banter. It was clear to her now that those rumors were completely untrue.
Having heard the gossip while living on the same apartment floor for a year, Althea and Maki had somehow never crossed paths until now. Althea found their sudden interaction both priceless and hilarious. I mean, how could they have been neighbors for so long without exchanging a single word or even a nod in passing?
Althea's thoughts were once again interrupted by Maki, who seemed to be enjoying their interaction.
"So, are you gonna use that, or just continue holding it?" Maki asked, pointing to the detergent in Althea's hand.
"Oh, I'm definitely using it! Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver, Maki," Althea replied, grinning. "Seriously, you're an angel."
Maki nodded and moved to her washer, offering only a warm smile. Althea found an unexpected peace in the silence, feeling no hint of awkwardness. Perhaps this was what they meant when they said some people could sit with you in silence and not utter any word but still find solace to it.
Althea was struck by her own thoughts. It was their first encounter, yet it felt as if she had known Maki for a long time. The comfort Maki provided without words was genuinely peaceful.
The two sat quietly, waiting—Althea for her clothes to wash, Maki for hers to dry. When Maki's laundry finished, she turned to Althea before leaving and said with a smile, "I hope your head feels better. Be careful next time."
Althea was left dumbfounded and wide-eyed. What did Maki mean? Did she know Althea went out last night and was just being a considerate and caring neighbor? Or was there another entirely different scenario that happened that prompted the red-haired girl's words.
The possibilities swirled in Althea's mind, sparking intrigue into what had transpired the previous night. She couldn't recall much beyond saying goodbye to her friends and waking up with a pounding headache.
Althea facepalmed, thinking to herself, Alak pa, Arrieta.
—
Althea was still mulling over Maki's last words, trying hard to recall anything from the previous night aside from going home.
Lost in her thoughts, Althea didn't notice Malia, who was absorbed in her phone as they ascended the stairs. Their collision jolted them both.
"AY ihi ka ng kambing!" Malia blurted out, snapping them back to reality.
"Girl, ikaw lang pala! You scared me ha, tsaka why the hell are you so serious? Aakyat lang ng hagdan oh, you seem totally out of it," Malia teased, sensing Althea's distracted state.
Despite Malia's playful teasing, Althea remained lost in her thoughts, barely registering her friend's words.
"Ate, ang lalim ng iniisip ha? By the way, how's your head? I think that's the result of what happened to you last night," Malia remarked, finally catching Althea's attention.
"H-huh? What happened last night?"
"Oh, amnesia girl, sino ka dyan? Girl, last night you really gave us a scare when you decided to headbutt Maki's door! Grabe ka, ang lakas ng impact mo girl! Literal!—
Colleen and I were there nga, super gulat nung nakita ka namin nakabulagta! You were so wasted right on Maki's doorstep!
And Colleen wasn't exactly sober either, so I couldn't really be of much help. Pero luckily, Maki swooped in, she insisted on escorting you back to your apartment, helping you and all. Di mo naman sinabi na close mo pala 'yun." Malia teased, giving Althea a mock "betrayed-friend-look" for keeping her close bond with Maki a secret.
"I DID WHAT?—!/!"
-
Author's Note: Hello, henlo! I'd love to hear watchu think about everything! Do leave sum comments, and let me know your thoughts :-)) x
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The Girl Next Door • mikhaiah au
FanfictionMikha and Aiah have been living as next-door neighbors in the same apartment building for a year, strangers to each other until one faithful night where Aiah finds herself cornered by her ex-boyfriend's return to town. Desperate to get out of the s...
