Chapter Text
11:06 PM. Over time shifts.
Mikha was tired. She was sleepy, hungry, and running low on any desire to exist. And just when she thought she could call it a night, a new booking popped up on her screen.
Arceta, Aiah.
1.37 kilometers away.
She sighed. “Fine,” she muttered. “One last trip. Pang-gas na rin ‘to.”
When she arrived at the pickup point, the first thing she saw was a woman — dressed in a jacket thrown over a black mini dress, barefoot, holding her stilettos like weapons, pacing on the sidewalk as she yelled :
“KUYA GRABBBBB? WHERE ARE YOUUUU?? HELLOOOO??”
Mikha froze behind the wheel.
Not her. Please, Lord. Not her. Anyone but her. Pagod na ako. Ayoko na.
*KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.*
She swore under her breath, then rolled the window down.“Hello po.” Mikha said.
The woman squinted at her like she was staring into direct sunlight.
“IKAW BA SI MIKHA LIM?”
“Uh. Yes po.”
Without another word, the woman opened the passenger door, got in like they were close friends, and shut it with the kind of confidence that made it seem like she owned the car.
“BAKIT MO ‘KO KINIDNAP?”
Mikha blinked.
….. Excuse me?
She ignored her and sat there in stunned silence as the woman launched into an emotional monologue—She was lashing out, her words pouring out nonstop, while eating soggy fries that Mikha was pretty sure she didn’t have when she first got in. Where did she even pull them from? Her purse? Her pocket?
Who knows? This woman is so weird—Mikha thought.
Then, suddenly, the woman spoke:
“Malungkot ka ba? Bakit parang ang lungkot mo? Mukha kang malungkot.”
Mikha glances at her.
“...Thanks?”
Asan na yung kotse ko? Kinuha mo rin ba?”
“Ma’am, driver lang po ako. Ikaw po yung nag-book. Hindi kita kinidnap.”
“HINDI NAMAN AKO NAG-GAGRAB EH!!”
She burst into tears again.
“…I think you’re wasted po talaga.”
“SINISIGAWAN MO BA ’KO??”
“Ma’am, you’re the one yelling po, kanina pa.”
“GINAGASLIGHT MO PA ‘KO AH!”
At that point, Mikha seriously considered flinging herself into EDSA traffic.
This is gonna be one long ride.
—
Aiah: guyw may nwg kidnao sobrang pogi miya 😭😭
Colet: HUH?? NASAAN KA??
Aiah: sa kotsw niya ghehehehee
Stacey: WHAT ANONG PLATE NUMBER??
Aiah: e1 ki sunakay lanf ako kasi ssbi niya siya si mikha lim eh
Colet: SINO SI MIKHA LIM??
Maloi: grab driver niya ‘yan, tanga. ako pa nag book sa cellphone niya.
Stacey: ah gago
Colet: tangina aiah mag ingat ka
Maloi: may fries ka nga pala sa bulsa mo, aiah 🤦♀️ please clean up when you’re sober. i’m sorry ‘di ko na ikaw naasikaso, nagmamadali ako. emergency. kaya mo na ‘yan, big girl ka na. love u
Stacey: FRIES ????? 😭😭😭😭
Colet: HAHAHAHA ANO BANG PROBLEMA NETO
Aiah: pogi driver wwtfhahash
-
Mikha couldn’t handle it anymore. The woman was loud—ang ingay ng bunganga niya, na para bang siya ‘yung may ari ng sasakyan.
“You know, mikha lim, iniwan lang ako ng mga kaibigan ko. Can you believe that?!”
“Fuck. School’s starting in two weeks. I'm not ready paaaaa.”
“Just so you know—I'm not into men, Mikha Lim.” The woman says, winking at her.
That last line made Mikha’s entire system glitch. What the hell am I supposed to do with that information? She thought.
Let's be clear—Mikha did NOT want to be there. Hell, she didn’t even want this job. But this was her duty—Pick them up, drive them to their destination, keep her head down and mouth shut. But God. The more this woman talked, the harder it became to ignore her. Mikha stayed silent the entire ride, kept her eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. But her mind was on fire on the inside
Was it because this woman was annoying? Yeah, yeah probably. Still, she kept quiet.
But she was listening—all ears. Every rant, dramatic sigh, and every curse the woman threw. Where the hell did she even come from? Mikha wondered. She wasn’t from around here—that was obvious. She was too unapologetically loud to belong in a place like this.
Red light.
She was still talking about God knows what. And mikha's facial expression was not showing an ounce of interest. But she was curious.
Mikha could tell that this woman was anything but sober. And it took every bit of her self-control to not look at the woman. It was impossible—not when this girl was speaking with the huskiest voice and adorable whiny tone.
Mikha glances at her, just a quick side-eye.
Putangina.
Nakakainis siya. Ang ingay, magulo, lahat ng ayaw ni Mikha. Again—anything but sober.
But Jesus, she was undeniably fine as hell.
Her eyes. It looked … helpless, tired—yet beautiful. They were too expressive, too alive. The only part of her that seemed sober in a body that was otherwise a mess.
Mikha tore her eyes away.
Nope. Nope. Nope!
She had no time for this. No time for distractions that made her heart do stupid things.
Why?
Green light na kasi.
“Mikha Liiiiiiim!”
Mikha gritted her teeth. “What?’’
“You've been ignoring me this whole time. That’s rude, you know?”
“I’m driving and we’re not friends?”
“Objection, your honor! Argumentative. Rephrase.”
Mikha didn’t respond after that. But her grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Unfortunately, the universe seemed dead set on pissing Mikha Lim off tonight.
Traffic. It was 12:01 AM. Past midnight and they hadn't moved an inch for the last 8 minutes. Tanginang bansa talaga ‘to.
“SO WHAT NOW? We're stuck here and you still have no balak to entertain to me?!”
…
“Hello? Earth to Mikha Lim? Babad na babad na ‘ko rito oh? Huy, ano daw!?”
Mikha exhaled and slumped against her seat, arms on the steering wheel. “What?’’
“Why are you not talking to me? Ikaw na nga ‘tong kumidnap sa akin!”
So help me, God.
“Okay—” Mikha glances at her phone.
“— Aiah Arceta. First, I did not kidnap you. YOU booked this ride! God, dapat nga mag papahinga na ‘ko if it weren’t for that damn extra gas money!” She motioned with one hand, as if lecturing a stubborn child. “Second, required ba ‘kong mag salita? I am your driver, ma’am. I’m supposed to pick you up, drive, and get you home in one piece. Not a damn comedian!”
“...OH eh bakit ka nagagalit? Nagtatanong lang ‘yung tao!”
“Oh my god.”
“AND HOW DID YOU KNOW MY NAME?! OMG ARE YOU STALKING ME? YOU STALKER!”
Mikha pinched the bridge of her nose, a small prayer forming on her lips.
“Ma’am—”
“But it’s fine naman. You’re pogi. Keep stalking me.” Aiah winked.
Mikha slowly turned to look at her, mouth slightly agape in disbelief.
Where the hell is all this energy coming from?
“Cat Got Your Tongue? Haha! Kinilig ka ‘no?”
This woman was insane. And somehow, weirdly…. Kind of cute?
God, no. Wtf.
“Can't you shut your mouth just for once?”
“Hmmm. Not possible, sorry.” Aiah giggles.
Mikha shook the thought out of her head. Nope. Not doing this. She was tired. Sleep-deprived. Hormonal, maybe? Hallucinating?
Pagod ka lang, Mikha.
“Focus.” She muttered under her breath, tightening her grip on the steering wheel.
Aiah, meanwhile, had turned her head dramatically to face Mikha. Her cheek smushed slightly against the window, eyes sleepy but weirdly sparkly in the glow of the street lights.
“You know what?” She whispered, half-drunk with a pout.
“You remind me of my kuya nung teenager pa siya, haha! Sad boy.”
Mikha didn’t even flinch. “I’m a girl.”
“Mmmmm, Pwede naman!” Aiah grinned. “Girl na Sad boy!”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Too late.” Aiah mumbled. “Na-screenshot ko na sa utak ko. Hehe.”
Mikha stared at the road. No expressions readable on her face—just white lines and regrets.
Finally, the light turned green. She shifted the car into drive without saying a word. But unfortunately, Aiah had no plans on shutting up tonight.
“You smell nice, Mikha Lim. Really nice. Amoy lasallian… red flag.”
Mikha nearly slammed the brakes.
She shot her a quick glare. “Excuse me?”
“You’re excused.” Aiah chuckles. “You heard me, Mikha.”
“I AM a lasallian. How dare you?” Mikha gasps, mock-offended.
“Really? What a coincidence. Kaya pala you look young and pogi. Naka-ferrari pa.” Aiah shakes her head, chuckling.
“Sinong tarantado mag ga-grab tapos ferrari ‘yung gamit ‘no? Edi Ikaw.” She added, laughing again, this time louder.
“This car was a gift from my parents. I don’t want to keep relying on their money forever. And this driving thing… it’s just a side gig. I’ll stop soon.”
”Burgis ka pala.” Aiah laughed.
“What the hell, Miss?”
Aiah tilted her head, smirking playfully. “Wow, parang kanina lang hindi mo ‘ko kinikibo, ah?”
“Dahil lasing na lasing ka kanina. At hindi ko trabaho na i-entertain ang passengers ko.”
“And you can actually speak straight tagalog! See? We’re getting to know each other.”
No response after that.
“You’re so boring, Mikha.” Aiah suddenly muttered, breaking the silence.
“And you’re too loud, Aiah.” She talked back.
“How come you’re talking to me now but not earlier? I’m still tipsy naman!”
Mikha rolled her eyes, lips curling into a small smile “Because you’re finally calm and less-drunk now. Happy?”
12:45 AM
The city lights outside began to fade, replaced by the calm and softer ambiance of a quiet neighborhood lamp-posts. Aiah leaned her head lazily against the window, her voice sleepy.
“Malayo pa ba? Parang ang tagal ng byahe natin.” She yawns.
Mikha glanced at her, then back to the road. Her voice was calm. “Almost there. Just a few more turns nalang.”
Aiah squinted at the road ahead, brows knitting. “Bakit parang super tagal natin? Baka kinikidnap mo talaga ako, Mikha Lim.”
Mikha chuckled softly. “Still drunk, huh?”
“Na-traffic lang ng konti kanina, and…”
She hesitated for a bit.
“...and I was driving slower than usual.”
“Huh? Bakit?” Aiah asked, fixing her posture, suddenly curious.
Mikha shrugged like it was nothing. “So you wouldn't get too dizzy. You’re still tipsy, remember?”
Aiah blinked. Her lips parted slightly, then shut again. For a second, she didn't say anything—just fixed her eyes to the window, the faintest pink creeping onto her cheeks.
“Ah…” she muttered, looking outside, suddenly interested at the passing houses. “Okay.”
Mikha glanced at Aiah from the corner of her eye, catching the shift in her expression. A small smile tugged on her lips. “Quiet all of a sudden?” She teased.
“Inaantok na ako.” Aiah shot back without looking at her.
“Ikaw nga, biglang sweet.” She adds, rolling her eyes.
“I’m not even talking.”
“Whatever.” Aiah smiled to herself, her face still turned away, hoping the darkness outside would cover the warmth blooming on her cheeks.
I think i’m sober now. (She’s not)