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The weeks after the fallout had been slow and agonizing. Mavis couldnt seem to shake the guilt she felt every time she saw Ashi—her distant gaze, her once fiery attitude now muted into silence.
And even though Mavis tried to tell herself that this was what she wanted, it no longer felt like a victory.
Her group—Gian, Sace, and Colen—continued with their usual antics, laughing and teasing each other, but Mavis felt like an outsider in her own world.
Something had shifted.
She had started this game because it was fun. It was a thrill to make Ashi chase after her, only to cut her down when she got too close.
Mavis had always been the one in control. But now? Now it felt like she had lost control of everything.
"Mavis, ano na? Parang ang tahimik mo lately?" Colen remarked one day as they walked toward the cafeteria. "Ashi pa rin ba?"
She shot her a glare. "Hindi."
"Sure ka?" Sace teased. "Kasi parang iba na‘yung aura mo. Hindi ka na yung usual na bully."
"Shut up" Mavis muttered, though there was no real venom in her voice. It was like the fight had drained out of her.
"Sinabihan na kita noon di'ba?" Colen chimed in with a serious tone.
"I don't care" Mavis shut her off but the latter didn't stop.
"No, you need to know it Mavs, pare— alam naming lahat yung plano mo and we even supported it from the start, even I myself rooted for your plan, pero sumobra ka— kung alam lang namin na ganito ang kalalabasan maybe we just didn't got involved in it"
"The damage was worse than we— you expected, dude Ashi didn't deserve it. She let us in in her life because of the thought that we cared, pero nagsisisi na agad ako sa kalagitnaan palang and now kahit sila Jai, hindi ko makausap dahil bukod sa galit sila atin ay wala na rin akong mukhang ihaharap dahil nasaktan na sila"
"Mavs, you know to yourself na hindi mo rin gusto 'to" Colen tried to make her realize.
As much Mavis wanted to brush it off and pretend she didn't care, the truth was eating her alive. She did care—too much pero...
"Tapos na Col, nangyari na— at wala akong pakialam kung ano man ang maging tingin nila" Mavis discount herself, acting tough with her words.
"Dude, alam mo—" Gian started, but Mavis cut her off.
"Ano ba!" Mavis snapped, stopping in her tracks. "I don't care about Ashi, okay?"
The words sounded hollow, even to her own ears. Her friends exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced.
Gian shrugged and gave her a disappointed look "If you say so. Pero Mavs you're obvious— sana kaya mong paninidigan yang mga sinabi mo"
"Stop saying nonsense, Gi. I felt nothing " She snapped dismissively, pretending rather.
But as they entered the cafeteria, Mavis's eyes instinctively scanned the room, searching for Ashi.
It had become a habit, one she hated herself for. But there she was—sitting at her usual spot with Jai, Sam, and Mali.
They were chatting, but Ashi barely seemed to be paying attention. Her expression was unreadable, distant.
