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

Chapter 20: Tension Rises

The next morning, Mav woke up to an unsettling silence.

The usual hum of Aya's morning routine, accompanied by her favorite music, was absent.

It was a stark contrast to the lively mornings Mav had grown accustomed to.

Mav sat up in her bed, the silence weighing heavily on her as she realized how much she missed the sound of Aya's presence.

Mav sighed, pushing herself to get ready for the day.

She moved through her routine with a heavy heart, the guilt from the previous night still lingering.

After quickly dressing and grabbing her bag, she headed out of the dorm, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of how she could make things right with Aya.

As Mav walked up the hall towards her classes, she heard a familiar, taunting voice call out her name.

"Mav! Hey, Mav! Ignoring me now, are you?"

It was Cream, the last person Mav wanted to see.

Mav clenched her jaw and kept walking, hoping to avoid the bitch.

But Cream wasn't about to let her go that easily. "Come on, Mav! What's the rush?" Cream's voice was laced with mockery, each word designed to provoke.

Mav's steps quickened, but Cream wasn't finished. She jogged ahead and blocked Mav's path, her face twisted into a smug grin. "Well, well, well. Look who's sulking. Still mad you lost the bet?" she sneered, her eyes gleaming with malice.

Without a word, Mav pushed Cream's face to the side, trying to move past her. But Cream wasn't going to let it slide.

Cream's face flushed with anger as she called out after Mav. "You think you can just walk away? Think again. I'll make sure everyone knows what happened. I'll spread rumors about you and Aya that will ruin you both."

Mav stopped in her tracks, Cream's words cutting through her resolve like a knife.

Mav turned slowly, her facial expression was unreadable.

Mav dropped her bag to the floor, her hands clenched into fists.

The corridor around them seemed to grow quieter as other students sensed the tension and watched the drama.

Cream, sensing she had hit a nerve, smirked and was about to taunt again, "Oh ano—" But before she could finish her sentence, Mav's fist landed on her face, the impact silencing her mid-sentence and sending her staggering backward.

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The sound of the punch echoed down the hallway, drawing the attention of more students. Cream stumbled, clutching her cheek, her eyes wide with shock and pain.

For a moment, she looked stunned, unable to process what had just happened.

Mav stood over her, her chest heaving with anger, her eyes burning with a mix of rage and hurt. "Keep her name out of your filthy mouth," Mav's voice was cold and firm, each word punctuated with a deep, unwavering intensity.

The students around them began to murmur, some looking on in shock, others in awe at Mav's sudden display of strength.

Cream, regaining her composure, glared up at Mav, her eyes filled with hatred. "You'll regret this, Mav," she spat, her voice shaking with both fear and anger.

Mav didn't respond. She simply picked up her bag and walked away, leaving Cream behind to nurse her bruised ego and cheek. She knew she had escalated things, but in that moment, she didn't care. She was determined to protect Aya's honor, no matter the cost.

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