HOOPS-LOOPS || BINI UNI #1 [MIKHAIAH AU]

Chapter 16: A Reflection of Regret

Mav slumped onto her bed, staring blankly at the mirror across the room.

The reflection staring back at her looked defeated, a stark contrast to the confident, energetic persona she usually wore.

Mav muttered to herself, "What have I done?"

Her thoughts were a storm, swirling with regret and self-loathing.

The weight of her actions hung heavy, making her feel trapped in her own guilt. She glanced at the clock. It was late, and there was no sign of Aya returning.

The empty space in the room felt like a silent accusation. The laughter and chatter from the hallway seemed distant, like a world she no longer belonged to.

Mav sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I messed up, big time."

She got up from the bed, unable to sit still, and started pacing the room. Each step felt like a countdown to the confrontation she dreaded but knew she deserved.

Her mind replayed every moment of the evening—the casual words that had felt so harmless at the time, the look on Aya's face, and the way her own laughter had turned to ash in her mouth as realization dawned.

"How could I be so stupid? Okay na eh..." Mav stopped by the window, her eyes distant.

She picked up her phone, her thumb hovering over Aya's contact. She wanted to call, to explain, to apologize, but what could she possibly say to make it right?

The words felt empty, inadequate.

With a frustrated sigh, she threw the phone onto the bed and buried her face in her hands.

"Ayoko na, I fucked up," Mav muttered to herself, her voice shaking.

The silence in the room grew oppressive, amplifying her guilt. She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, hoping for a way to make things right.

-

Aya was sitting by the beach, the cool sand beneath her feet grounding her as her emotions roiled.

The night sky was a canvas of stars, but Aya's gaze was fixed on the sketchbook in her lap.

Her pencil moved furiously, lines and shapes forming almost without her conscious thought.

"I thought Mav was different. Siguro, tama nga talaga si Mina... she's just trouble," Aya shook her head, her thoughts a jumble.

The rhythmic sound of the waves was usually soothing, but tonight, it only served to highlight the chaos in her heart.

She remembered the excitement she had felt earlier in the day, the way she had looked forward to spending time with Mav. Now, all those feelings were tinged with a sense of betrayal.

"Why did I even trust her?" Aya muttered to herself, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Each stroke of her pencil was a vent for her frustration and hurt.

The lines grew darker, the shapes more intense, as if the sketchbook could somehow absorb her pain.

Aya thought about calling Mina and telling her everything, but the thought of hearing "I told you so" was too much to bear. She wasn't ready for that confrontation.

"Just keep drawing. Don't think about her," Aya whispered to herself, her voice firm.

She focused on the light post at the edge of the walk, letting the act of drawing soothe her.

The details of the post, the way the light cast shadows on the sand, became her anchor.

Aya breathed in the air, trying to find some semblance of peace in the act of creation.

Aya's thoughts drifted back to Mav, and she felt a pang of sorrow.

She had believed in Mav, believed in their friendship.

The realization that she had been used for a bet was like a knife twisting in her heart. She wiped a tear that had fallen onto the page, smudging the charcoal.

"I deserve better," Aya sighed, her voice barely a whisper.

-