13. Something Different
Chapter thirteen
Something Different
Miko barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, Jemika’s words returned.
“That girl likes you.”
At first, Miko tried to dismiss it. Jemika was always watching somebody, noticing something, and adding her own little opinion.
But this time felt different because Miko already knew Meca liked her.
Maybe she had known for a while. The real question was why hearing someone else say it made her feel something she couldn’t explain.
Miko rolled over and reached for her phone.
It was after midnight. She opened her messages and stared at Meca’s name.
Their conversations had become part of her routine—good morning messages, random jokes during the day, and calls after work that lasted longer than either of them planned.
Sometimes they talked about serious things, and sometimes they talked about nothing.
Either way, Miko never wanted to be the first one to hang up.
She opened their last conversation.
Meca: You make it home?
Miko: Yes.
Meca: Good.
Miko: You checking on me?
Meca: Somebody has to.
Miko smiled as she read the message again. There was nothing unusual about it, or at least that was what she told herself. But something about the way Meca checked on her made Miko feel safe, seen, and important.
She placed the phone on the nightstand and stared at the ceiling.
She had been attracted to men her entire life and had never questioned that.
She still didn’t. Jayson had been part of her life for years.
There was history between them, along with comfort, familiarity, and a connection that had survived arguments, distance, and time.
But what she felt around Meca was different.
It wasn’t something Miko had planned, and it wasn’t something she had been looking for.
It had simply happened—one conversation, one laugh, and one moment at a time.
What started as curiosity had quietly become something she thought about when Meca wasn’t around.
That frightened her more than she wanted to admit.
The next morning, Miko arrived at work earlier than usual. The office was nearly empty. She placed her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk and turned on her computer. A few minutes later, she heard footsteps behind her.
“Good morning.”
Miko recognized the voice immediately. She turned around and saw Meca standing there holding two coffees.
“Good morning,” Miko replied.
“I brought you something.”
Meca placed one of the cups on Miko’s desk. Miko looked at it and smiled. “You remembered how I like it?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Meca stood there for a second longer than usual, keeping her eyes on Miko. “You okay?”
“Why you keep asking me that?”
“Because you look like something is on your mind.”
“I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Meca nodded slowly. “Okay.”
She turned and walked toward her desk. Miko watched the confidence in her walk and thought about how Meca could sense her mood without being told anything. Miko quickly looked away when Meca glanced back.
For the rest of the morning, Miko tried to focus on work. She answered emails, returned phone calls, and completed reports. But every time Meca walked near her desk, Miko became aware of her presence. It had never been like that before—or maybe it had, and Miko had simply refused to notice.
Around lunchtime, Meca stopped beside her desk. “You going out?”
“I brought lunch.”
“Me too.” Meca paused. “You want to eat together?”
Miko looked toward the break room. Jemika was already sitting inside, watching and probably waiting to make another comment.
“Let’s eat outside,” Miko said.
Meca smiled. “Okay.”
They carried their lunches outside and found a quiet table near the building. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. Meca opened her water while Miko picked at her food.
Finally, Meca looked at her. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
“Miko.”
“What?”
“You’ve been acting different since yesterday.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Yes, you have.”
Miko sighed. “Jemika said something.”
Meca leaned back. “I knew it.”
“You knew what?”
“I knew she said something to you.”
“How?”
“Because you’ve been looking at me strange ever since you left that break room.”
“I have not.”
“You have.”
Miko looked away while Meca waited. She didn’t push. That was another thing Miko appreciated about her. Meca knew when to ask questions, but she also knew when to be quiet.
After a moment, Miko spoke. “She said you like me.”
Meca didn’t laugh or look surprised. She simply took another sip of water. “And what did you say?”
“I told her you were my friend.”
“Okay.”
“She said she could tell by the way you look at me.”
Meca lowered the bottle. “And how do I look at you?”
Miko finally met her eyes. “Like you like me.”
Meca smiled slightly. “Maybe Jemika isn’t as messy as you think.”
Miko’s heart began beating faster. The sounds around them seemed to disappear. For once, she didn’t have a quick response. She didn’t laugh or change the subject. She just looked at Meca.
Meca’s smile slowly faded. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable.”
“You’re not.”
“Then what is it?”
Miko hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“That’s not like you.”
“What’s not like me?”
“Not knowing.”
Miko laughed softly. “You think you know me that well?”
“I’m starting to.”
There it was again—that feeling Miko could no longer explain away as friendship.
“You do like me,” Miko said. It wasn’t a question.
Meca looked directly at her. “Yes.”
The honesty caught Miko off guard. There were no games, no pretending, and no attempt to soften the truth. Meca simply said it.
“Yes.”
Miko looked down at the table. She had expected the answer, but hearing it still changed something.
Meca leaned forward. “But I’m not asking you for anything.”
“I know.”
“I’m not asking you to explain yourself.”
“I know.”
“And I’m definitely not asking you to call yourself something you’re not ready to call yourself.”
Miko looked up. “What makes you think I’m not ready?”
“Because every time something feels real between us, you start trying to explain it away.”
Miko couldn’t deny that. She had called it curiosity, friendship, and fun—anything except what it was becoming.
Meca gathered the empty containers from the table. “We should get back inside.”
Miko nodded. They stood and walked toward the building. Before opening the door, Miko stopped.
“Meca.”
Meca turned around. “What?”
“If you liking me doesn’t make me uncomfortable…” Miko paused. “What does that mean?”
Meca studied her face. “It means you need to stop asking what I feel and start asking yourself what you feel.”
Meca opened the door and walked inside. Miko remained outside for a few seconds because she already knew the answer. That was the problem.
She liked the way Meca looked at her. She liked hearing her voice at night.
She liked being the person Meca checked on, and she liked how natural everything felt when they were together.
Somewhere between curiosity and friendship, Miko had developed feelings she could no longer pretend weren’t there.
Something was different.
But it wasn’t Meca.
It was her.