Sandali

Cracks in the Facade

[MALOI]

The weight of the unopened door pressed against my back as if mirroring the weight that had settled in my chest. Colet's muffled words echoed in my mind, a stark reminder of the mess I'd created.

Tears streamed down my face, blurring the hallway lights into shimmering halos. The carefully constructed world of our fabricated romance felt like a cheap stage set, crumbling around me.

A soft voice startled me. "Maloi?" It was Jhoanna, her concern etched on her face. "What's wrong?"

One look at my tear-streaked face must have been enough. Before I could respond, she pulled me into a tight hug, the familiar scent of her vanilla perfume a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions.

One by one, the other members materialized; Aiah, with her gentle touch and soothing words, and Gwen, her playful humor temporarily subdued by the seriousness of the situation.

"What happened?" Aiah asked, her voice soft. "Did you fight with Colet?"

I shook my head, unable to speak. The weight of the unspoken truth about Mikha and the growing feelings for Colet were too much to articulate.

Sensing my reluctance, Jhoanna spoke up. "Whatever it is, you know we're here for you, Maloi. You can talk to us."

Taking a deep, shaky breath, I recounted the events of the day, starting with the shopping trip with Mikha and ending with Colet's slammed door. The words tumbled out, a mixture of confusion, frustration, and a growing fear that I had ruined everything.

As I finished, a heavy silence descended upon us. Then, Gwen, ever the optimist, squeezed my hand. "Hey, you haven't ruined anything yet," she said. "Maybe there's still a chance to explain things to Colet."

A flicker of hope sparked within me, but it was quickly extinguished by Jhoanna's realistic assessment. "It won't be easy, Maloi," she said gently. "This fake relationship stuff can get messy, especially when real feelings get involved."

Her words were a painful reminder of the double-edged sword they were wielding. The fabricated romance might have boosted ratings, but the emotional fallout was proving to be real and devastating.

[COLET]

Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional sob escaping my lips. Shame burned in my cheeks, a stark contrast to the coolness I projected to the outside world.

My outburst at Maloi had been a moment of raw vulnerability, a glimpse behind the carefully constructed facade I maintained. The truth was, seeing her with Mikha had ignited a jealousy I hadn't anticipated.

Was it just the possessiveness that came with the fabricated romance, or was there something deeper stirring within me? The thought sent a wave of confusion crashing down on me.

Reaching for my phone, I opened the gallery app, my finger scrolling through the endless stream of photos. There, nestled between a childhood picture and a recent BINI photoshoot, was a picture of Maloi and me. We were backstage after a particularly grueling performance, faces flushed and smiles genuine.

A pang of longing shot through me. Was this connection just a figment of my imagination, fueled by the fabricated romance? Or was there a spark of something real between us, something worth fighting for?

Staring at the picture, I traced Maloi's smiling face with my finger, a single question echoing in the quiet room: Did Maloi feel anything for me beyond the confines of our pretend relationship?