Unspoken

CHAPTER 17 : No more excuses

THIRD PERSON POV

Y/n stared at her half-finished notes. The words on the page blurred as her thoughts drifted, unwillingly, to Mikha's message earlier. She had been at the library with Jhoana but decided to return to her dorm after lunch to continue her notes. All afternoon, she had tried to focus, but the guilt of turning Mikha down gnawed at her.

She deserves better than this... better than me hiding.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. For a moment, she froze, her stomach twisting. Was it Mikha again?

It wasn't. Instead, Jhoana's cheerful message lit up the screen:

Jhoana: Hope you're not stressing too much. Grab dinner later?

Y/n smiled faintly. She appreciated Jhoana's kindness, but she wasn't ready to face more questions about her mood. She typed a quick reply before setting her phone down.

Y/n: Rain check? Just need a quiet evening.

Before she could dwell on it, another buzz made her heart skip. This time, it was Mikha.

Mikha: Be outside in 15 minutes. You owe me dinner.

Y/n's eyes widened. She blinked at the message, rereading it twice. What does she mean by 'be outside'?

Then another message arrived.

Mikha: I'm serious, Y/n. No excuses.

Panic bubbled in Y/n's chest. She had been so sure that turning Mikha down earlier would buy her more time to sort through her feelings. But clearly, Mikha had other plans.

For a moment, Y/n considered replying with another excuse: I'm busy, or I don't feel well. But something stopped her.

Mikha's voice echoed in her mind: "You're important to me, Y/n/n."

Y/n sighed and grabbed her jacket. There was no use fighting this. Mikha always had a way of getting what she wanted.

Fifteen minutes later, Y/n stepped outside the dormitory, her arms crossed as she spotted Mikha leaning casually against her car. The volleyball star was dressed simply in baggy jeans, a black shirt, and a jacket slung over her shoulders, but the sight still made Y/n's heart flutter.

"You're persistent," Y/n said, stopping a few feet away.

Mikha grinned, the crinkle in her nose making a rare appearance. "And you're predictable. I knew you'd try to find a way out, so I figured I'd save you the trouble."

Y/n raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a smile. "So, dinner?"

"Well, I was thinking of something a little more exciting than just a simple dinner," Mikha replied, her tone teasing but deliberate.

Intrigued, Sophie tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "And what exactly does that mean?"

Mikha's lips curled into a sly grin as she stepped forward, pulling the car door open with a flourish. "That's for me to know and for you to find out."

Y/n hesitated, eyeing Mikha suspiciously before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "If this involves hiking, I'm faking an injury halfway through," she said, sliding into the seat.

Mikha chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Noted," she said, her voice teasing as she gently shut the passenger door. "But trust me, you won't regret it."