Unspoken

CHAPTER 16 : Feeling left out?

THIRD PERSON POV

Y/n had just stepped out of class, a wave of relief washing over her now that the test was finally over. She had barely slept—not only because of the long hours spent studying, but also due to Mikha's visit last night. On one hand, she cherished the small moments of normalcy they'd shared, but on the other, it only intensified the jealousy she'd worked so hard to suppress. The thought of Jaz and Mikha spending time together gnawed at her, no matter how much she tried to convince herself it didn't matter.

Her grip tightened around the strap of her bag as she crossed the quad, replaying Mikha's words from last night: "You're important to me, Y/n/n."

She scoffed under her breath. If she were truly important, why did it feel like Mikha was slipping away?

"Hey, Y/n/n!"

Y/n turned, surprised to see Jhoana jogging toward her with a bright smile.

"You headed to the library?"

"Yeah," Y/n replied, managing a small smile in return.

"Mind if I join? I've got a research paper to work on, and I could use the company."

"Sure," Y/n said, grateful for the distraction.

As they walked, Jhoana chattered about her latest group project, but Y/n only half-listened. Her mind kept drifting back to Mikha. She wondered what she was doing now. Was she with Jaz?

"Are you okay?" Jhoana's voice broke through her thoughts.

"What?" Y/n blinked, realizing they'd already reached the library steps.

"You've been quiet," Jhoana said, her brow furrowed in concern. "That's not like you."

Y/n hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Though she and Jhoana were growing closer after sharing a class together, Y/n wasn't ready to voice the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

"Just tired from pulling an all-nighter," Y/n said finally, forcing a smile.

Jhoana didn't look convinced, but she nodded. "Well, don't burn yourself out. And if you ever need to talk, I'm here."

"Thanks, Jhoana," Y/n said, her smile softening.

They entered the library, the hushed atmosphere wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Y/n settled into a corner seat, pulling out her notes, determined to focus on her work. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Mikha. She remembered the way Mikha had smiled at her last night, the way she had looked genuinely happy to be there.

Why does she have to make it so hard to stay mad at her? Y/n thought bitterly.

Her phone buzzed on the table, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Mikha's name.

Mikha:
Practice ended early. Want to grab lunch?

Y/n stared at the message, her stomach twisting. She wanted to say yes, to spend time with Mikha like they used to, but the hurt and jealousy were still too fresh. She didn't trust herself to act normal around her.

Y/n:
Sorry, I'm busy with notes right now. Maybe another time?

She hit send before she could change her mind, her chest tightening as the words disappeared from the screen.

Mikha's reply came quickly.

Mikha:
No worries. Don't forget about the rules I told you, okay?

Y/n exhaled slowly, setting her phone down. She could picture Mikha's smile, hear her teasing voice, and it only made the ache in her chest worse. Mikha's rules had always made Y/n feel special, as though she mattered. She'd never been one to break them.

"Everything okay?" Jhoana asked, glancing up from her laptop.

"Yeah," Y/n said, forcing a tight smile. "Just... distracted."

Jhoana didn't press further, and Y/n tried to focus on her work, though her heart remained heavy.

Meanwhile, Mikha stood outside the practice gym, her phone still in hand. She read Y/n's message again, a frown tugging at her lips.

Busy with notes, Mikha thought to herself, slipping the phone into her pocket.

"Talking to yourself now?"

Mikha turned to see Colet, one of her volleyball teammates, approaching with a grin.

"Not really," Mikha said, offering a faint smile.

"You good? You've been a bit out of it during practice," Colet observed, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Yeah, just tired," Mikha replied.

Colet studied her for a moment before smirking. "Or maybe you're thinking about a certain someone?"

Mikha raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Come on, Mikha," Colet teased. "Half the team thinks you and Jaz are a thing now, with how much time you've been spending together."

Mikha's frown deepened. "It's not like that. Jaz needed help, and I was just being nice."

"Sure," Colet said, her tone playful. "But does Y/n know that?"

The mention of Y/n's name made Mikha pause.

"Why would Y/n care?"

Colet shrugged. "I don't know. You two are close, right? Maybe she feels left out."

Mikha opened her mouth to argue but stopped, Colet's words settling uneasily in her mind.

Is Y/n feeling left out?

As Colet waved goodbye and headed off, Mikha remained rooted in place, her thoughts swirling. She knew she needed to figure out what was going on with Y/n, but every time she tried, it felt like she was hitting a wall.

With a sigh, Mikha began walking outside the gym, with newfound determination. She would find a way to make things right with Y/n, no matter what.