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

Chapter 25: Hospital Dawn

The next morning dawned with a gentle light filtering through the hospital room's curtains.

Mav lay on the bed, her head propped up by pillows, her eyes still heavy with fatigue. She could hear the faint hum of activity outside the room as nurses moved about their morning routines.

Gab arrived early, her face lined with worry but brightening slightly at the sight of Mav awake. "Mav!" she called softly, stepping into the room with a warm smile.

Mav's eyes lit up at the sight of her friend. "Gab, buti pinuntahan mo pa'ko," she said sarcastically, her voice still raspy from the previous day's ordeal.

Gab approached the bed, her eyes scanning Mav's bandaged head and the IV drip beside her. "How are you feeling?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Mav managed a weak smile. "I think I'm okay. The doctors said I can go out now," she replied, her hand subconsciously touching the bandage on her head. "The head wound wasn't that serious."

Before Gab could respond, Mav's mother, who had been sitting by her daughter's side all night, spoke up. "You're not going back to that dorm, Mav," she said firmly, her eyes tired but resolute. "You're coming home with me until this suspension is over."

Mav's expression turned stubborn, a hint of defiance flashing in her eyes. "Ma, I can't just leave Aya. Kailangan niya'ko," she argued, her voice gaining strength despite her fatigue.

Mav's mother sighed deeply, her worry evident in every line of her face. "I'm worried about you, Mav. This is too dangerous," she said, her voice softening. "Please, anak. Just come home for a while."

Gab stepped in, trying to mediate the situation. "Mav, maybe your mom is right. Just for a few days. You need to rest and recover," she suggested, her tone gentle yet persuasive.

Mav looked torn, her eyes darting between her mother and Gab. "I don't want to leave Aya," she muttered, her frustration evident.

Mav's mother softened her stance slightly. "You can stay with me until your suspension ends. Then we'll see," she offered, trying to find a compromise.

Mav sighed heavily, clearly unhappy but recognizing the concern in her mother's eyes. "Fine," she muttered, her voice tinged with defeat. "But only until the suspension ends."

Gab gave Mav a reassuring smile. "It's just a few days, Mav. You'll be back with Aya before you know it," she said, trying to lift her friend's spirits.

Mav sulked, her arms crossed over her chest. "I guess," she grumbled, her eyes flicking to Gab. "So, what happened to Cream?"

Gab's expression grew serious. "The authorities said she's missing," she replied, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Hinahanap na nila."

Mav's eyes widened in shock and a hint of fear. "Cream is missing?" she echoed, her voice trembling slightly.

Gab nodded, her face grim. "Yeah, they think she might have gone into hiding after what happened."

Mav shook her head, a shiver running down her spine. "Baliw na siya," she muttered, her eyes narrowing with a mix of fear and anger. "I knew she was trouble, but I never thought it would come to this."

Mav's mother gently squeezed her daughter's hand, her eyes full of concern. "We'll make sure you're safe, Mav," she said softly, her voice filled with a mother's determination. "You're not alone in this."

-

Back in the dorm, Aya and Shi were trying to make sense of the previous night's chaos. The police had taken statements and combed through the area for any clues about Cream's whereabouts.

The once lively dorm now felt eerily quiet, the weight of the recent events hanging heavily in the air.

Shi looked at Aya, her expression a mixture of confusion and fear. "Do you think Mav will be okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aya nodded, trying to muster a sense of optimism. "She's strong. She'll pull through," she replied, though her own doubts lingered in her mind.

As the days passed, Mav settled into a routine at her mother's house. She tried to keep her mind off Cream and the dangers that might still be lurking. But the thought of her friend out there, possibly planning another attack, never left her.

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