Player 1 | MIKHAIAH AU

Part 31

“Mackenzie, wake up!” Sab said urgently, shaking Mackie’s shoulder. “Sab, let her rest,” Jhai said, placing a calming hand on Sab’s arm. 

“Rest? Did you not hear the news? She needs to wake up and fix things with Ate Addison,” Sab shot back, her voice firm as frustration filled her face. 

From the bed, Mackenzie stirred, her brows knitting together as she groggily opened her eyes. “Sab, just stay out of it,” she mumbled, her voice hoarse as she turned away. 

“Mackie…” Jhai and Gab approached the bed cautiously, concern etched into their expressions. They had rushed Mackenzie to the hospital the night before when her heavy drinking led to a seizure. 

“Are you even hearing yourself?” Sab snapped, crossing her arms. “Ano bang nainom mo at umabot ka sa ganito?!” Her tone carried more worry than anger. “Sab, please,” Mackenzie said, her voice quieter this time. “Just let it go.” She turned her back to them, avoiding their gazes. 

Before anyone could respond, Gab’s phone buzzed, and she quickly answered. “Hello? … Tumawag security team. Nandiyan daw si Ate Ads sa dorm, hinahanap tayo,” she said, her voice rising with unease as she looked at the others. 

Mackenzie stiffened but kept her back to them, her jaw tightening. “I’ll take it,” Jhai said, grabbing the phone as she walked out to talk to security. 
Gab turned to Mackenzie, her voice soft but steady. “Mackie, just tell us. Whatever it is, we’ll understand. Hindi ka namin iiwan.” 

The room fell silent, tension hanging in the air as they waited for Mackenzie to respond. She remained still, fighting an internal battle they could only guess at.

“I don’t think you would…” Mackenzie whispered, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face. 

“Mackie…” Sab called softly, her usual sass replaced with genuine concern. She lay down beside Mackenzie, her hand rubbing gentle circles on her back. “What’s wrong, Twiny? Ang saya mo kahapon ah,” she said, trying to coax her twin into opening up. 

Mackenzie’s sobs deepened, her emotions finally breaking free. “I don’t understand myself,” she choked out. “I don’t know if tama pa ba ginawa ko. I hate myself.” 

“Mackie, please tell us what happened,” Gab urged, her worry growing as she knelt beside the bed. The door creaked open, and Jhai walked in, her eyes widening at the scene. “Mackie,” she said gently, “I told Clover na nasa hospital tayo… Do you want me to call Addison? Gusto mo ba siyang makita ngayon?” 

Mackenzie hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. “I do… but I—I can’t.” 
“What? Bakit?” Sab asked, her confusion evident as she studied her twin’s tear-streaked face. “Please, tell us what’s wrong.” 

But Mackenzie only buried her face in her hands, the weight of her unspoken fears silencing her once more.

“What are we doing here?” Addison asked, her voice tinged with confusion as Clover parked in front of the hospital. 
“She’s here,” Clover said softly, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. She avoided Addison’s eyes, as if bracing herself for what was to come. 

Addison’s breath hitched, panic settling in. “Ha? Is she okay? Where is she? What happened?” she asked frantically, her words tumbling out in a rush. 

Clover finally looked at her, her expression filled with both guilt and hesitation. “She’s fine, Ads. She just… drank too much. They brought her here to sober up,” Clover explained carefully. “Jhai was the only one who answered. Sabi niya… Mackie’s not exactly making much sense right now.” 

Addison’s face crumpled as the worry and exhaustion overtook her. “Clo…” she whispered, her voice breaking as tears spilled over. 

Clover immediately reached over, pulling Addison into a tight embrace. “Hey, hey, I got you,” she murmured, rubbing Addison’s back in soothing circles. “Let’s go home, okay? You don’t need this right now.” 

Addison nodded weakly, her sobs muffled against Clover’s shoulder. “Okay…” she whispered. “Just let it out,” Clover said softly as she held her friend close. “Ako bahala sayo.”

“I had to do it,” Mackie murmured, her voice trembling as she sat up, finally sober enough to speak. Her friends surrounded her, their worried eyes fixed on her as she wiped her tear-streaked face. “Ayoko… pero kailangan ko,” she added, her voice breaking as tears rolled down her cheeks, slow and heavy with emotion. 

Gab leaned forward, her curiosity laced with concern. “What did he say? What was the deal?” 

Mackenzie took a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she covered her face. “He said… we’d lose our contract. Addi would lose hers too. And if I didn’t agree, I’d have to stay off the grid until the end of my contract,” she whispered, her words weighed down with defeat. 

“Oh, Mackie,” Sab said softly, her heart aching for her sister. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on Mackenzie’s back, her own eyes misting over. 

The room fell silent, the weight of Mackie’s words pressing down on everyone.