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

Chapter 29: Memory

[Flashback]

The memory of the text exchange played out vividly in Mav's mind.

Before heading to the warehouse, she had sent a quick, urgent message to Gab, detailing her plan and her suspicions about Cream.

Her hands had trembled as she typed, the weight of the decision pressing down on her.

"Meet me at the old industrial district. Cream says Aya's there. I don't trust her, so call the police. Be ready," she had written, the words almost blurring together as her anxiety peaked. She had even shared her location, a small blue dot on the map marking their potential last stand.

Gab's response had been immediate and filled with the kind of determination that had always defined her. "I'm on my way. Hang tight," she had written, her resolve shining through even in such a brief message.

Mav had felt a surge of hope then, knowing that Gab would come through for them. It was that hope that had kept her going.

[End of Flashback]

As the officers led Cream away, still unconscious and now handcuffed, Mav felt a wave of relief wash over her.

The sight of Cream being taken into custody marked the end of one nightmare, but she knew it also signaled the beginning of another one filled with police reports, legal proceedings, and the inevitable questions about how they had ended up here.

Mav turned to Gab and Aya, her eyes reflecting the gratitude and resolve she felt deep within. Despite everything they had faced, they had made it through together. And that, she realized, was what truly mattered.

Gab pulled Mav into a tight hug. "You did it, Mav. You saved her," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. The tension that had gripped them for so long was finally beginning to ease, replaced by a sense of relief and triumph.

Mav shook her head, her own tears blurring her vision. "It was my fault," she said, her voice filled with resolve and a newfound strength. She glanced at Aya, who was standing nearby, her face pale and tear-streaked, her eyes wide with a mixture of relief and lingering fear. "I'm sorry, Aya."

Aya shook her head, her own tears flowing freely now. "Please, let's bury this. Andami nang nangyari, tama na," she whispered.

The police continued their work, taking statements, collecting evidence, and ensuring that Cream was securely taken into custody.

The industrial district, which had seemed so foreboding just moments ago, now felt like a scene from a distant nightmare, one they were finally waking up from.

"Are you girls okay to come down to the station later?" one of the officers asked, his tone gentle but firm. "We'll need detailed statements and any evidence you might have."

Mav nodded, her voice steady. "Yes, we'll come. We want to make sure this is over for good," she said, her eyes flashing with determination. She knew that their ordeal was far from over, but with the support of her friends and the police, she felt ready to face whatever came next.

The officers thanked them and assured them that Cream would be held accountable for her actions. As the police cars finally drove away, taking Cream with them, a profound silence settled over the girls.

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