Spiral
The following morning, Maiven lay sprawled on her couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling, the silence of her condo pressing against her ears. It was an unwelcome companion, one that let her thoughts run rampant. Cali's words had hit her harder than she'd let on. Because it was true, wasn’t it? It had always been her, always Maiven giving, always Maiven waiting, always Maiven understanding.
She sighed, rubbing her temples as she sat up. Her head has been throbbing since their celebration the other night, but that pain was nothing compared to the ache sitting in her chest.
Avara had been missing in action for days now. No text, no call, not even a lousy meme sent out of habit. And Maiven knew why.
Gio.
She had seen the article, the pictures. "MVP With His Girlfriend: Gio and Avara Rekindle Their Flame."
She had choked on her drink when she saw it, the weight of the headline crashing over her. The girl who had promised to be there for her first game, the girl Maiven had searched for in the crowd, had been too busy patching things up with her ex.
And still, Maiven couldn't bring herself to be mad.
She clenched her jaw, dragging herself to the kitchen for water. Maybe a cold drink would drown out the burn of disappointment in her throat.
Just as she was about to take a sip, her phone vibrated on the counter.
Cali:Dinner later? Dapat andun ka, Maiv.
Jorge:Gusto mo nang punching bag? Name drop mo lang, may mag aadjust.
Gali:Sorry di kita nayakap kagabi, bawi ako mamaya. Pero Maiv, please lang, tama na.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
Her friends had been drilling the same thing into her head for years now—let Avara go. Stop waiting, stop hurting, stop breaking herself apart for someone who never seemed to choose her. But how could she, when every time Avara smiled at her, the world seemed to tilt in her favor?
She bit her lip, hesitating before typing back.
Maiven:See you later.
She needed this. A distraction. Anything to pull her out of this endless loop of waiting and wishing.
Maiven’s phone vibrated on the couch, the familiar name lighting up her screen.
Avara.
She stared at it for a moment, debating whether to answer. It had been days since she last heard from her, days filled with silence that Maiven tried to drown out with distractions that never worked. She exhaled sharply before finally picking up.
"Hello?"
"Maiv, busy ka?" Avara’s voice was casual, like she hadn’t been missing in action.
Maiven leaned back against the cushions. "Bakit?"
"Samahan mo ako sa mall," Avara said, a hint of a smile in her voice. "May bibilhin lang ako."
Maiven frowned slightly. "Wala si Gio?"
"May practice siya," Avara answered easily.
Ah. There it was. The reason why she was calling.
"Okay," Maiven said, pushing down whatever she was feeling. "Sunduin kita."
She ignored the messages from her friends. Instead, she sent a quick excuse, some lie about being too tired.
Because if Avara called, she would always come.
The car ride was quiet at first, save for the soft hum of the airconditioning and the faint sounds of the city outside. Maiven kept her focus on the road, gripping the wheel a little too tightly, while Avara busied herself connecting her phone to the car’s Bluetooth.
“Uy, I’m playing our usual playlist ha,” Avara said, already scrolling through the songs without waiting for Maiven’s approval.
Maiven just nodded, not trusting her voice. She knew this playlist like the back of her hand. It was filled with songs they used to sing together on long drives, late night food runs, and spontaneous trips Avara dragged her into.
A soft, familiar melody filled the car.
"Do you hear me? I'm talking to you
Across the water, across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby, I'm trying…"
Avara swayed in her seat, humming along as she looked out the window, completely lost in the song. Meanwhile, Maiven’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. She used to love this song. Now, it felt like a cruel joke.
"Lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again…"
She swallowed the lump in her throat, eyes fixed on the road. The lyrics hit too close—too painfully close. Lucky to be in love with her best friend? She wasn’t lucky at all.
“Maiv! Remember nung college? We sang this sa isang open mic night? Kakahiya kaya!” Avara giggled, nudging Maiven’s arm. “I can’t believe you actually played the guitar for me that night.”
Of course, she remembered. She remembered everything. The way Avara pulled her on stage, how her voice cracked from nerves, how Avara held her hand under the table afterward and whispered, ‘Kahit pumiyok ka, ikaw pa rin ang favorite duet partner ko.’ Maiven thought it meant something. She was wrong.
“Yeah,” Maiven forced out, her voice strained. “I remember.”
Avara continued singing along, completely unaware of the turmoil wrecking through Maiven. She was just enjoying the song. Meanwhile, Maiven was falling apart.
As the chorus played again, Maiven finally spoke, her voice flat but laced with something bitter.
“So… nagkabalikan na kayo ni Gio.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, a realization that settled like a stone in her chest.
Avara turned to her with a bright smile. “Oo! Ay grabe, Maiv, long story pero ayun, we talked, and we just realized na sayang naman kung hindi namin ituloy.”
"Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed…"
Maiven exhaled through her nose, nodding like it didn’t matter, like she wasn’t seconds away from crumbling.
“Saya mo,” she muttered, barely above a whisper.
Avara didn’t catch the pain in her tone. She just nodded eagerly. “Oo naman! Alam mo ‘yun, Maiv? Yung feeling na finally, everything’s falling into place?”
Maiven gave a dry chuckle, eyes fixed ahead. “Oo, Ava. Alam na alam ko ‘yan.”
But the truth was—she didn’t. Because for her, nothing ever fell into place. It was always falling apart.
And Avara would never know.
The moment they stepped inside, Avara grabbed Maiven’s wrist, pulling her excitedly toward a row of boutiques.
"Dali, Maiv, help me pick an outfit!" Avara beamed, her energy infectious, at least to anyone who wasn’t currently enduring the slow, painful process of having their heart torn apart.
Maiven let herself be dragged along, stuffing her hands into her pockets as she followed. "Para saan naman ‘to?"
"Date namin ni Gio." Avara grinned, flipping through a rack of dresses. "Gusto ko maganda ako bukas."
Maiven swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding stiffly. "Kelan ba hindi ka maganda?" she muttered under her breath, but Avara was too preoccupied to hear her.
Avara held up two options—a sleek red dress in one hand and a soft blue sundress in the other. "O, alin mas bagay?"
Maiven eyed both. The red was bold, daring—Avara when she wanted attention. The blue was softer, more delicate—Avara when she wasn’t trying so hard.
"Ano ba vibe ng date?" Maiven asked, trying to sound unaffected.
"Casual lang pero special. Kaya dapat hindi rin super extra. Sakto lang."
"Then ‘yang blue," Maiven said, pointing at the sundress. "Mas natural. Mas ikaw."
Avara held it up against herself, turning to the mirror. She smiled. "Yeah? ‘Di ba mukhang plain masyado?"
"Nope. Magmumukha ka lang effortless. And knowing Gio, gusto niya ‘yung hindi pilit."
"Tama!" Avara beamed, nodding approvingly before facing Maiven. "Grabe ka, Maiv. Alam mo talaga gusto ko."
Of course I do.
Maiven only nodded, stuffing her hands deeper into her pockets as she looked away.
Avara, oblivious, was already moving on. "Teka, hanap din tayo ng accessories. Gusto ko ‘yung cute pero hindi overpowering. Ano sa tingin mo?"
Maiven exhaled sharply, forcing a smirk. "Ano ba ako, stylist mo?"
Avara laughed, looping an arm around Maiven’s. "Uy, ikaw kaya bestfriend ko! Natural lang na ikaw ang tanungan ko sa ganito."
That word—best friend—landed like a punch to the gut.
But Maiven kept walking, pretending like it didn’t hurt. Like it hadn’t always hurt.
Avara pulled the curtain aside and stepped out of the fitting room, the soft blue sundress hugging her figure just right. The fabric swayed slightly as she shifted her weight, hands smoothing over the material. The lighting of the boutique cast a soft glow on her, making her look even more radiant than usual.
Maiven froze.
She had always known Avara was beautiful, but this? This was different. This was the kind of beauty that made her chest tighten, her throat dry, her heart pound painfully against her ribs.
Avara twirled, a playful grin on her lips. “So? Ano, pasado?”
The words caught in Maiven’s throat before slipping out, almost involuntarily. "Stunning."
Avara paused mid spin, her brows lifting. "Ha?"
Maiven blinked, realizing what she had just said. She quickly forced a smirk, covering up the slip. "Sabi ko, sakto. Maganda."
Avara stepped closer, tilting her head slightly as if trying to read her expression. "Okay ka lang?"
Maiven cleared her throat, shifting her weight uncomfortably. "Ano ba, drama. Bagay nga sa ‘yo. Bilhin mo na."
Avara broke into a satisfied grin. "Alam ko naman ‘yon! Pero mas okay marinig sa ‘yo." She turned to the mirror, admiring herself one last time before nodding. "Sige, bibilhin ko na ‘to."
Maiven exhaled slowly, watching as Avara disappeared back into the fitting room. She rubbed her hands over her face, willing herself to get a grip.
Just hold it together, Lee.
After buying the dress, they found themselves at a cozy restaurant inside the mall. It wasn’t fancy just one of their usual spots where they could eat and talk like they always did. The kind of place where Maiven could pretend, even for just a little while, that nothing had changed.
Avara, still buzzing with excitement, was scrolling through her phone while waiting for their food. She let out a small laugh before setting it down, eyes twinkling. “So ayun nga, Maiv, nagusap ulit kami ni Gio about sa last time.”
Maiven didn’t react immediately, focusing instead on unwrapping her utensils.
“Ayun, na realize lang namin na sayang kung basta na lang namin itatapon,” Avara continued, her voice carrying that lightness she always had when talking about Gio. “Nagdecide kami na ayusin na lang ulit. Start fresh.”
Maiven forced a small nod, pretending to be busy stirring her drink. "Good for you."
Avara beamed. “Di ba? Parang… I don’t know, Maiv. Sobrang saya ko.”
Of course, she was.
Maiven clenched her jaw, shoving a piece of food into her mouth to keep from saying something she might regret.
Avara tilted her head slightly. “Pero ikaw, Maiv? Kamusta ka?”
Maiven swallowed, caught off guard by the question. Avara didn’t usually ask things like that, not in a way that meant more than surface level concern.
She took a sip of her drink, letting the ice cold juice numb the bitter taste in her mouth. "Eto, busy lang sa training at school."
Avara hummed, nodding. "Dapat maghanap ka na rin ng someone."
Maiven let out a short, dry chuckle. "Hindi ko kailangan ng sakit ng ulo."
Avara gasped in mock offense. "Excuse me? Sakit ng ulo ba ako kay Gio?”
Maiven smirked, shaking her head. "Minsan."
Avara let out a dramatic groan and swatted Maiven’s arm, making them both laugh. The moment was easy, lighthearted like things had always been between them.
And that was the worst part.
The car ride back to Avara’s condo was much like their earlier drive. Avara humming along to the music, chatting about the most random things, while Maiven tried her best to appear normal.
Just a little longer, she told herself. Just get through this night.
When they reached Avara’s place, she unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Maiven with a bright smile. “Thanks for today, Maiv. Sobrang namiss ko ‘to.”
Maiven nodded, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. "Anytime."
Avara opened the door but paused. "Ingat ka pauwi, ha?"
"Oo naman," Maiven said, forcing a small smirk.
And then Avara was gone, disappearing into her building, leaving Maiven alone in the car.
She let out a long breath, leaning her head back against the seat, eyes closing for a brief second. The silence felt heavier now.
Her phone buzzed.
Cali: “Nasa condo lang ako. Drop by if you want.”
Maiven stared at the message for a second before sighing and starting the car.
Maybe seeing Cali would help.
Maiven parked outside Cali’s condo and took a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel for a moment before finally stepping out. The weight in her chest hadn’t lightened, it had settled, heavier than before.
When she knocked, the door opened almost instantly. Cali stood there, arms crossed, an unimpressed look on her face. “I was starting to think di ka na darating.”
Maiven let out a short chuckle, stepping inside. “Traffic,” she lied.
Cali didn’t buy it. She simply gestured toward the couch. “Upo ka. Gusto mo ng kape?”
Maiven shook her head, collapsing onto the couch with a sigh. She leaned back, pressing her fingers against her temples. “Bakit mo ako pinapunta?”
Cali scoffed as she sat on the armrest beside her. “Tama na ‘yung drama, Maiv. Alam mo naman kung bakit.”
Maiven didn’t respond.
Cali studied her for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Alam mo, ang dali mong magpakatanga kay Avara.”
Maiven flinched at the bluntness of it. She knew Cali never sugarcoated things, but hearing it out loud still stung.
Cali continued. “Alam mong kahit anong gawin mo, kahit ilang beses kang isama ni Avara sa lakad niya, kahit ilang beses ka niyang tawagan sa madaling araw, at the end of the day, hindi ka pa rin niya tinitingnan the way you want her to.”
Maiven clenched her jaw. She knew that. Of course, she knew that. But knowing didn’t make it hurt any less.
Cali sighed again, softer this time. “Maiv, you need to stop doing this to yourself. Focus on other things. Volleyball, school, kahit ano. Basta wag ‘to.”
Maiven let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Kahit anong gawin ko, nandiyan pa rin siya.”
“Eh di umiwas ka.”
“Hindi ganun kadali.”
Cali exhaled sharply, frustration evident in her voice. “Alam kong hindi madali, pero kung hindi mo sisimulan, lalo kang malulubog.” She placed a firm hand on Maiven’s shoulder. “Ayusin mo sarili mo, Maiv. Please.”
Maiven closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply. Maybe Cali was right. Maybe it was time to redirect herself. To focus on something she could actually control.
She opened her eyes, looking at Cali with newfound determination. “Sige. Magpofocus ako.”
Cali gave her a skeptical look. “Promise?”
Maiven nodded. “Promise.”
But neither of them knew that this promise would soon spiral into something else entirely.
Maiven threw herself into volleyball with everything she had.
Drills? She did extra.
Weights? She added more reps.
Conditioning? She pushed until her muscles burned.
Cali, Gali, and Jorge noticed the shift almost immediately.
“Maiv, take it easy,” Jorge said as she wiped sweat off her forehead. They had just finished practice, but Maiven was already eyeing the weights. “Sobra ka na, dude. Rest ka naman.”
Maiven shook her head. “Kaya ko pa.”
Cali narrowed her eyes. “Maiv—”
“Sinabi ko namang kaya ko pa, ‘di ba?” Maiven snapped, harsher than she intended.
The gym fell silent.
Cali and Gali exchanged worried looks, but before either of them could say anything, Maiven grabbed her water bottle and walked away.
Days turned into weeks, and Maiven only pushed harder. She ignored the exhaustion creeping up her bones, the slight tremble in her hands after every workout, the headaches that wouldn’t go away.
Then it happened.
During one crucial match, Maiven woke up feeling like her body was on fire. Her limbs were heavy, her head pounding. She knew something was wrong, but she refused to acknowledge it.
She played anyway.
But she wasn’t at her best. Her body was slower, her reflexes duller. Every movement felt like dragging herself through quicksand.
They lost.
And the weight of that loss crushed her.
After the game, Maiven sat alone in the locker room, staring blankly at the floor. The guilt was suffocating.
This was on her.
She had overworked herself to the point of breaking, and now, her team had to pay the price. She gritted her teeth, her hands clenched into fists.
You’re pathetic, Maiv.
You should’ve done better.
The door opened, and footsteps echoed through the empty space.
Cali, Gali, and Jorge.
None of them spoke at first. They just sat with her. And somehow, that made everything worse.
They knew.
They knew she was spiraling, and now, she had proven them right.
The silence stretched between them like a thick fog. No one spoke, no one moved. The weight of the loss, of Maiven’s reckless self-destruction, hung heavily in the air. Then Maiven exhaled sharply and stood up. Or at least, she tried to.
The moment she pushed herself off the bench, the world tilted violently. A sharp, searing pain shot through her skull, and her vision blurred at the edges. Her knees buckled. The exhaustion, the sleepless nights, the brutal training sessions—it all crashed down on her at once.
Her body gave out.
But before she could hit the cold, hard floor, strong arms caught her.
“Shit, Maiv!” Cali’s voice was frantic as she grabbed onto her just in time, preventing her head from slamming against the steel bench.
“Maiven!” Jorge’s panicked voice rang out as she rushed to their side.
Gali, their ever prepared team manager, didn’t waste a second. She grabbed her phone, fingers shaking as she quickly dialed emergency services. “Hello? We need an ambulance—athlete down, unconscious. Yes, she just collapsed. We’re at the locker rooms—please hurry.”
Cali adjusted her grip, carefully lowering Maiven onto the floor, cradling her head. “Damn it, Maiv,” she muttered under her breath, brushing away the damp strands of hair from her pale, sweat-soaked face. “Ano bang ginawa mo sa sarili mo?”
Jorge crouched beside them, her eyes wide with worry. “She’s burning up. Sobra niyang pinilit sarili niya.”
Gali ended the call, looking at them with urgency. “Ambulance is on the way.”
The three of them sat there, watching their friend struggle even in unconsciousness. The dark circles under her eyes, the way her breathing came out in short, uneven gasps. She had pushed herself too far, and now, they were paying the price for not stopping her sooner.
Cali clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around Maiven’s limp hand. She had told her to stop. She had warned her.
But Maiven was stubborn. And now, she was lying on the cold floor, barely holding on.
The sound of sirens in the distance broke the suffocating silence, but none of them felt relief. Because this wasn’t just about volleyball anymore.
This was Maiven breaking—piece by piece—and they weren’t sure if she knew how to put herself back together.
A dull, persistent beeping echoed in the room. The scent of antiseptic filled her senses, making her nose twitch in discomfort. Maiven’s eyelids felt heavy, her body sluggish as she struggled to open her eyes. A sharp ache pounded at the back of her skull, and she winced, her hand instinctively moving to her forehead.
"Where—?" she tried to speak, but her throat was dry, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Finally," Cali exhaled, relief evident in her voice as she stood up from the chair beside the bed.
Maiven blinked, her vision adjusting to the bright hospital room. The white walls, the IV drip attached to her arm, the concerned faces staring back at her—everything clicked into place. She was in a hospital.
"What... happened?" she croaked.
"You collapsed, dumbass," Jorge muttered, arms crossed, but her voice lacked its usual teasing edge. She looked more worried than annoyed.
"You overworked yourself to the point of exhaustion," Gali added, her tone softer but just as firm. "We told you to slow down, Maiv."
Maiven swallowed, her mind hazy as the last few days came back to her. Training relentlessly, pushing her body beyond its limits, ignoring the signs that she was crashing. And then, the game… the loss… the moment everything faded into black.
Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice cut through the room.
"So, you're finally awake."
Maiven stiffened.
Standing near the door was Coach Mad. Arms crossed, a hard frown on his face, his usual composed demeanor laced with disappointment.
"Coach," she rasped, her chest tightening at the look he gave her.
"You think you’re invincible, Lee?" His voice was eerily calm, but the weight of his words hit harder than if he had shouted. "You think pushing yourself past your limits is something to be proud of?"
Maiven lowered her gaze, guilt settling deep in her bones.
"You collapsed after the game. You lost that game. A game where your teammates relied on you." Coach took a slow, deliberate step forward. "And you didn’t just let yourself down—you let them down, too."
Maiven flinched.
"I get it," he continued, his voice unwavering. "You think you can drown yourself in training, use it as an escape, as a way to distract yourself. But look where it got you." He gestured to the hospital room. "Flat on your back, hooked up to an IV, while your teammates had to pick up the pieces you left behind."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then, Coach let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. "You’re benched, Lee."
Maiven’s breath hitched.
"You’re not stepping foot inside that gym, and you’re not playing a single damn game until you get full clearance from the doctors—both here and the school’s medical team."
"Coach, I—"
"No," he cut her off sharply. "This is not up for discussion. I don’t care how good you are, Maiven. I care that you can still stand at the end of the day."
Maiven felt her nails dig into her palms, her chest tightening with frustration and shame.
"You can be the best player on that court, but if you destroy yourself in the process, what’s the point?" Coach’s voice softened, but the disappointment in his eyes remained.
She swallowed hard, unable to find the right words.
Coach Mad exhaled and took one last look at her before turning toward the door. Before leaving, he paused and spoke in a quieter voice.
"Find something worth playing for, Lee," he said, his back still facing her. "Because right now, it looks like you’re just running away."
Then, without another word, he walked out.
The room stayed painfully silent.
Cali, Jorge, and Gali exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of worry and understanding.
Maiven stared at the ceiling, Coach’s words echoing in her head.
"Find something worth playing for."
But what if she had already lost it?
Jorge was the first to break the silence. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice hesitant, as if unsure whether Maiven even wanted to talk.
Maiven let out a slow breath, still staring at the ceiling. "Like shit," she admitted, voice hoarse.
Cali sighed. "Well, that's what happens when you push yourself to the point of collapsing."
"We're just glad you're awake," Gali added, softer this time. "You scared us back there, Maiv."
Maiven let out a dry chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Didn’t mean to."
Jorge crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, you did. And now we have to figure out who's staying with you."
Maiven’s head snapped toward them. "No one needs to stay," she said firmly. "You guys have training. Games. I’ll be fine."
Cali scoffed. "Yeah, because you clearly take such good care of yourself."
"I mean it," Maiven pushed. "You can’t afford distractions. Just—just focus on the team. I'll get discharged soon, anyway."
Her friends didn’t look convinced.
"You really think we can just leave you here alone after what happened?" Jorge asked, her voice laced with frustration. "You literally passed out in front of us, Maiv. You scared the hell out of everyone."
"I can manage," Maiven insisted.
"No, you can’t," Cali shot back. "And even if you could, that’s not the point."
Silence stretched between them before Maiven finally sighed. "Please," she murmured. "I don’t want to burden you guys."
Gali frowned. "You’re not a burden, Maiv."
"That’s not how it feels," she muttered, eyes darting away.
Her friends exchanged worried glances, but before they could argue more, Maiven spoke again.
"And…" She hesitated before meeting their gazes. "Don’t tell Avara about this."
Cali blinked. "What?"
"She doesn’t need to know."
"Maiv—" Jorge started, but Maiven cut her off.
"I don’t want her to worry."
"Or you don’t want her to come running to you?" Gali asked carefully.
Maiven clenched her jaw.
"You think she wouldn’t?" Cali added. "You think she’d just go about her day if she knew?"
"She has Gio," Maiven said simply, her voice quiet but firm. "She doesn’t need to be here."
The room fell into silence again.
Finally, Jorge sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Fine. But only because we know you, and we know you won’t budge."
Cali crossed her arms. "But if you get worse, we’re calling her, no matter what you say."
Maiven gave a small nod, exhaustion creeping into her bones again.
Her friends still didn’t look convinced, but they didn’t push further.
"Get some rest," Gali finally said. "We’ll be back tomorrow."
As they left one by one, Maiven turned her head toward the window, watching the night sky beyond the glass.
A part of her wondered if Avara would even care.
But she didn’t let herself dwell on it for too long.
The following morning was quiet. Too quiet.
Maiven woke up to the sterile white walls of the hospital room, the faint beeping of the monitors, and the occasional footsteps outside her door. For the first time in a long while, she had no alarms to wake up to, no morning drills, no responsibilities pressing against her shoulders. It should’ve been a relief. But it wasn’t.
Instead, the silence felt suffocating.
She tried to sit up, but the dull ache in her body reminded her of just how much she had pushed herself. The exhaustion still clung to her like a weight, but at least she was no longer dizzy.
Throughout the morning, nurses and doctors dropped by. They checked her vitals, adjusted her IV, and reminded her—again—that she needed proper rest.
"You're lucky you didn’t collapse on the court," the doctor had told her. "Your body has been running on empty for a while now. Overexertion like this can have serious consequences. You need to take this recovery seriously, Maiven."
She only nodded, not trusting herself to say anything else.
After that, she was left alone again. Her lunch tray arrived, but she barely touched it. The hospital food was fine, but she had no appetite. She just picked at it with her fork, her mind drifting.
She hated this, doing nothing, being stuck in bed, having too much time to think.
Now, as the afternoon sun filtered weakly through the hospital blinds, she was left alone with her thoughts. The lunch tray sat untouched on the table beside her bed. She had tried to eat, but every bite felt heavy in her mouth.
Then came the knock on the door.
Maiven turned her head, expecting a nurse, but instead, it was someone she hadn’t expected at all.
Lei.
She blinked, watching as Lei stepped inside, holding a plastic bag in one hand. There was an easy smile on her face, but Maiven could tell she was observing her closely.
"Hi," Lei greeted casually, walking further in. "Kamusta ka na? Hope you don’t mind na dumalaw ako."
Maiven frowned slightly. "Lei? Bakit nandito ka?"
Lei set the plastic bag down on the small table and pulled up a chair beside Maiven’s bed. "Cali asked me to check on you," she admitted.
Maiven let out a tired sigh. "Sinabi ko nang okay lang ako."
Lei smirked, crossing her arms. "Exactly. Kaya nga ako pinapunta ni Cali. Alam niyang mas matigas ulo mo pag sila yung nagaalok ng tulong."
Maiven scoffed but didn’t argue. That was probably true.
"Brought food, by the way," Lei said, pulling out a container from the bag. "Alam kong hindi ka makakakain ng maayos sa hospital food."
"Hindi naman ‘to masama," Maiven mumbled, glancing at the untouched tray.
"Pero hindi mo rin kinain."
Maiven pressed her lips together. Busted.
"Tinatamad lang," she muttered.
Lei snorted. "Yeah, sure. Alam mo, kahit hindi mo sabihin, halata naman na wala kang gana."
She opened the container, the smell of home cooked food filling the air. It smelled a hell of a lot better than whatever was on Maiven’s tray.
"Hindi mo naman kailangang gawin ‘to," Maiven said, glancing at Lei.
Lei leaned back on the chair. "Alam ko. Pero gusto ko."
Maiven gave her a skeptical look. "Dahil ba sabi ni Cali?"
Lei chuckled. "Hindi lang. Sige, siya yung nagrequest na icheck kita, pero kung ayaw ko, di naman ako pupunta ‘di ba?"
That made Maiven pause. She wasn’t used to this, having someone outside of her usual circle check on her without feeling like an obligation.
"Tsaka Maiv," Lei continued, her voice more serious now. "You’re important to Cali. At kung mahalaga ka sa kanya, natural lang na mahalaga ka rin sakin."
Maiven swallowed. There was something in Lei’s tone—genuine, firm, unwavering.
She exhaled, finally letting down her guard just a little. "Salamat."
Lei grinned. "‘Yan! Progress. Now, kakain ka ba o gusto mong subuan kita?"
Maiven let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Grabe ka naman, kaya ko ‘to."
"Good. Kasi kung hindi, di kita titigilan."
As Maiven took the container and started eating, she felt something shift inside her. Maybe, just maybe, letting someone take care of her wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
The rest of the afternoon with Lei felt surprisingly easy. Maiven wasn’t used to letting her guard down around people she wasn’t particularly close to, but Lei had this way of making things feel light. She was straightforward, observant, and easygoing—something Maiven found refreshing.
Watching her now, sitting comfortably on the couch, scrolling through her phone while occasionally throwing random comments about whatever nonsense she was reading, Maiven understood why Cali loved her.
They were polar opposites.
Cali was all fire—loud, energetic, and unfiltered. Lei, on the other hand, was calm, composed, and effortlessly smooth. But together? They just worked.
Maiven wasn’t sure she had ever seen a relationship as balanced as theirs. And maybe, a small part of her envied them for it.
She was about to drift off when another knock came. Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and in came her friends, Cali, Jorge, and Gali, all looking exhausted but relieved.
"Tangina, akala ko di mo na kami papapasukin," Cali teased, walking straight to Maiven’s bedside.
"You look less dead," Jorge commented dryly.
"Gee, thanks," Maiven muttered, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the small smile tugging at her lips.
"Kumusta?" Gali asked, setting down the takeout bags they brought.
"Still alive," Maiven replied. "I guess that’s enough."
"Dapat lang," Cali huffed. "Di ka na nga nakatulong sa game, dadagdagan mo pa kami ng stress?"
"Cali," Lei warned, giving her a look.
Cali held up her hands. "Joke lang! Alam mo namang mahal ka namin, ‘di ba, Maiv?"
Maiven just shook her head. "Nagdala nga kayo ng pagkain, tapos pinapagalitan niyo din naman pala ako?"
"Para mas lumakas ka," Jorge smirked. "Para next time, hindi ka na magpapaka martyr sa court."
Maiven looked down, gripping the blanket covering her lap. She knew they were right. She had pushed herself too far, ignored all the warning signs, and now she was here—out of commission, unable to do the one thing that had kept her grounded.
But tonight wasn’t about lectures.
As they all settled in, opening the food they had brought, the mood shifted. They ate together, chatting about random things, keeping the conversation light. Jorge talked about their coach’s reaction after their loss, Gali shared the latest gossip from their department, and Cali, of course, exaggerated every story just to make them laugh.
Even if Maiven still felt the weight of her exhaustion, for the first time in a while, she didn’t feel alone.
As the night stretched on, her friends started to prepare to leave.
Cali stood by the foot of her bed, arms crossed. "Maiv, seryoso na ‘to ha. Hindi na namin hahayaan na umabot ka ulit sa ganito."
"Alagaan mo naman sarili mo," Gali added, softer.
Maiven exhaled slowly. "Alam ko naman ‘yon."
"Eh di gawin mo," Jorge pointed out. "Wala ka nang dapat patunayan, Maiv. You don’t have to destroy yourself just to prove something lalo na sa amin. We already know how good you are."
Maiven swallowed the lump in her throat.
She had always pushed herself too hard, thinking that if she kept moving, if she kept doing, then maybe, just maybe, she could outrun everything else she didn’t want to face.
"Makinig ka sa katawan mo," Lei spoke up from the couch, her tone calm but firm. "And more importantly, makinig ka sa mga taong nagmamahal sayo."
Maiven blinked at her. Lei had been quiet for most of the conversation, but when she did speak, she always made it count.
"Di mo kailangang gawin lahat magisa, Maiv," Lei continued, meeting her gaze. "Alam kong hindi mo sanay humingi ng tulong, pero minsan, kailangan mo rin ‘yon."
Cali smirked, nudging Maiven’s leg. "See? Kaya mahal ko ‘to, eh."
"Tama naman kasi," Jorge nodded.
Maiven let out a slow breath before nodding. "Salamat, guys."
Cali grinned, ruffling Maiven’s hair before she and the others started heading for the door.
Before stepping out, Cali threw her one last look. "Get better soon, Maiv. The court isn’t the same without you."
And with that, they left, leaving Maiven alone once again—but this time, she didn’t feel as empty.