Unspoken

CHAPTER 26 : Between drills

THIRD PERSON POV

The afternoon sun bathed the campus in golden hues as Y/n walked toward the gymnasium, where Mikha was finishing up her volleyball practice. Rajo had left earlier to catch up on a class, while she had stayed behind to hang out with Jhoana and Stacy.

Jhoana and Stacy had practically shoved her out of the café with barely contained grins, insisting she "drop by" Mikha's practice. Apparently, that was the most natural thing to do after confessing her feelings to her friends.

"You better not chicken out!" Jhoana had called after her, her voice laced with teasing, leaving Y/n's cheeks burning in embarrassment.

Now, standing just outside the gym's double doors, Y/n hesitated. Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Mikha again. Would it be awkward? Would Mikha notice the shift in her behavior?

Y/n shook her head, mentally scolding herself. Stop overthinking this. Just go in.

Inside, the gym echoed with the sharp squeak of sneakers against the polished floor and the steady, rhythmic thuds of a volleyball hitting the ground. Mikha's team gathered in a tight huddle at the center of the court, their breaths still heavy from an intense drill, their movements hinting at a brief but well-earned break.

Y/n spotted her instantly—Mikha, as always, exuding her usual focus, brows furrowed slightly as she discussed something with her coach. Before Y/n could gather the courage to approach, Rajo's voice broke through the silence behind her.

"Fancy seeing you here," he said, smirking as he leaned casually against the wall.

"Rajo!" Y/n whispered sharply, clutching her chest in surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought you had class!"

"Watching you be weird," he shot back with a lazy grin, his tone dripping with amusement. "I just got out of class and happened to walk by the gym. You're practically buzzing with nervous energy—it's hard to miss."

"I am not nervous," she lied, glaring at him, though her cheeks were betraying her.

"Sure," Rajo drawled, unconvinced. "Don't worry. I'm just here to help. You know, like a supportive friend or whatever."

Y/n shot him a suspicious look. "By 'help,' you mean—"

"Encouraging you to make a move," he interrupted with a playful grin. "You should do something while they're on a break."

Y/n turned her head just in time to see Mikha walking toward the benches, her hair damp from practice and her usual scowl in place. She grabbed a towel and wiped her face, the sight sending a rush of warmth through Y/n's chest.

Now or never, Y/n thought, taking a deep breath before stepping forward, her heart pounding in her ears.

Colet nudged Mikha with a mischievous grin, causing Mikha to glance over at her with a raised brow.

Colet's head nodded subtly toward Y/n, who was standing across the gym, her gaze constantly drifting back to Mikha even as she spoke to her friend Rajo. "She's here," Colet said, her grin growing wider as she spoke.

Mikha's scowl deepened at first, her confusion evident. "Who?" she asked, not understanding at first.

"Y/n," Colet replied, her voice practically oozing excitement.

Mikha froze momentarily at the mention of Y/n's name, her heart skipping a beat. Her face softened, and for a split second, the walls Mikha had built around herself started to crack. She quickly masked it with her usual tough-girl demeanor, but Colet wasn't fooled.