Rumors
The aftermath of the game lingered like an echo throughout campus. The Business department was still riding the high of their victory, and Maiven found herself at the center of it all. Everywhere she went from the hallways, classrooms, even the cafeteria, people greeted her with newfound excitement.
But alongside the victory talk, a different conversation had started to spread.
"Why is Adrielle watching Maiven’s games?"
"I thought she only cared about business. Since when did she like sports?"
"Dude, no one’s ever seen her in the gym unless it’s for a talk. But she was there. Watching. And it wasn’t just one game."
Then the speculations began.
"Maybe Maiven’s the only one who can keep up with her."
"Business genius and volleyball ace? Parang power couple material, ‘no?"
"She doesn’t even look at guys on campus. But Maiven? Lagi niyang pinapanood."
It didn’t take long before people started saying it with certainty.
"They’re definitely a thing."
The moment Maiven sat down, she knew she was in trouble.
Jorge was grinning too wide. Gali had her arms crossed, looking far too entertained. Cali wasn’t even trying to hide her smirk. She sighed, stabbing her food with unnecessary force. "Just say it."
Jorge wasted no time. "So, when’s the wedding?"
Maiven blinked. "Huh?"
"You and Adrielle," Gali supplied, shoving her phone in Maiven’s face. "Campus can’t shut up about it."
On the screen was a post from some random gossip page:
The Ice Queen watching the Captain Lee? What’s going on? 👀
Below it was a blurry picture of Adrielle in the stands, arms crossed, eyes locked on the court—on her . The caption didn’t even try to be subtle.
Rumor has it, Adrielle Hidalgo has a favorite player. And it’s not just because of volleyball. Thoughts?
Maiven snorted. "Walang magawa tong mga to."
Jorge leaned in, elbows on the table. "You have to admit, it’s weird. Adrielle? Watching sports? The only time she’s ever cared about a game is if it’s a business negotiation."
"Right?" Gali grinned. "Like, she doesn’t even breathe the same air as athletes unless necessary. Pero with you? Front row seats."
Cali nudged Maiven’s arm. "Admit it, Maiven. Even you were surprised when you first saw her there."
Maiven shrugged. "A little. But I know why she watches."
"Enlighten us," Jorge said, wiggling his brows.
"She respects skill," Maiven explained. "She values people who are the best in what they do. That’s why she’s always at the top. She studies the best, learns from them. It’s not personal."
Gali hummed. "You sure about that?"
Maiven shot her a look. "I would know if it was."
Cali raised a brow. "Would you?"
Maiven didn’t answer.
The teasing went on, but she let it roll off her shoulders. She was used to this, the attention, assumptions, people making stories about her life. It wasn’t worth reacting to. But there was one person she was curious about. How was Adrielle handling this?
The first time Adrielle heard the rumor, it was in passing.
"You and Maiven, huh?"
She didn’t even look up from her notes. "Excuse me?"
The guy sitting two seats away grinned. "People are saying things. You know. That you’re into her or something."
Adrielle clicked her pen once. "People say a lot of things. That doesn’t make them true." Her voice was sharp and final. The guy immediately shut up.
She went back to her notes, uninterested.
Adrielle Hidalgo did not entertain nonsense. Still, the rumor persisted. Even in group discussions, she caught the murmurs.
"She doesn’t even deny it."
"Exactly! And Maiven? Chill lang. As if she knows something we don’t."
"What if it’s real?"
Adrielle tuned it all out. It didn’t matter. She had deals to close, competitions to win, a future to secure.
When they finally crossed paths, it was in the parking lot.
Adrielle was leaning against her car, scrolling through emails, while Maiven walked past, gym bag slung over her shoulder.
Maiven smirked. "So, Hidalgo. Heard we’re dating."
Adrielle barely spared her a glance. "Let them think whatever they want."
"Wow, not even a fake denial?" Maiven teased. "You’re just letting them run wild with this one?"
Adrielle finally looked up, gaze steady. "Does it affect my business? No. Does it affect yours?"
Maiven tilted her head. "Not really."
"Then it’s irrelevant." Adrielle straightened, unlocking her car. "Unless you want to clarify?"
Maiven chuckled. "I think I’ll pass. Too entertaining."
Adrielle smirked. "Good."
With that, she got in her car and drove off. Maiven watched her leave, shaking her head. Let them think whatever they want, huh?
If anything, that just made the rumors worse.
The air in the classroom was thick with anticipation.
Corporate Finance was already a battlefield of numbers and strategy, but when two of the university’s most well known figures shared the same class? the entire class knew it was about to be something else.
When their professor announced today’s session would be a case study debate, everyone knew what was coming.
And they were right.
“Lee, you’ll take the stance of a corporation favoring aggressive risk-taking for maximum growth. Hidalgo, you’ll argue for risk-averse strategies prioritizing long-term stability.”
A quiet murmur ran through the room as students exchanged knowing looks.
At her seat, Maiven exhaled sharply before leaning back. “Aggressive risk, huh? Sounds fun.”
Across the room, Adrielle had already straightened in her chair, fingers lightly tapping against her desk. “Let’s begin.”
Maiven started first, her tone easy yet firm. “Playing it safe sounds good. Until it isn’t. The biggest names in business got there by taking risks others wouldn’t. Expansion, innovation, disruption, that’s what sets leaders apart.”
Adrielle barely let a pause settle before responding, voice measured and precise. “And how many of those companies collapsed just as fast? Rapid expansion without a strong foundation leads to instability. You don’t build an empire by throwing yourself into uncertainty—you build it by controlling variables.”
Maiven smirked. “Control is an illusion. The market shifts whether you like it or not. If you don’t move, you get left behind.”
Adrielle met her gaze without hesitation. “And if you move too recklessly, you self destruct.”
It wasn’t just a debate, it was a duel. Their words were sharp, calculated, each counterpoint delivered with the precision of someone who refused to back down.
The rest of the class had stopped taking notes.
Gali nudged Jorge, whispering, " Tangina, pang finals match to ah. "
Jorge nodded, eyes flicking between the two. " Lee versus Hidalgo. No wonder may rumors. "
Cali, watching quietly, crossed her arms. " You think Maiven’s gonna win? "
Gali exhaled. " She could. But she doesn’t care about winning. "
And sure enough, after nearly fifteen minutes of relentless back and forth, Maiven leaned back and exhaled. “Alright, alright.” She held up her hands in mock surrender, lips curling into an easy grin. “I’ll give you this one.”
The class blinked.
Adrielle’s brow furrowed slightly. “What?”
Maiven chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re relentless. I still stand by my point, but yeah, maybe not reckless risks.”
The professor clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. “Looks like we have our conclusion.” He glanced at Adrielle. “Hidalgo, excellent argument structure as always.” Then at Maiven, “And Lee, knowing when to concede is just as important as knowing how to fight. Well done, both of you.”
As class ended, the murmurs returned.
" Did you see that? "
" She actually gave in. "
" That’s so Lee. She doesn’t care about proving she’s right. Meanwhile, Hidalgo? She doesn’t lose. "
" You think this adds to the rumors? "
" Dude, everything adds to the rumors. "
As Maiven swung her bag over her shoulder, she caught sight of Adrielle still at her desk, typing something on her laptop.
She grinned, walking over. “Damn. You really did not give me a break, huh?”
Adrielle barely looked up. “I don’t argue to lose.”
Maiven chuckled. “Figured.” She tilted her head. “You enjoy debates that much?”
Adrielle finally met her gaze. “I enjoy competition.”
Maiven smirked. “Well, congrats. You won.”
Adrielle closed her laptop. “You didn’t lose. You just chose not to keep fighting.”
Maiven laughed. “Exactly. Not everything is about winning, you know.”
Adrielle studied her for a moment before shaking her head. “We’re different that way.”
Maiven winked. “That’s what makes it fun.”
And with that, she walked off, leaving Adrielle to process her words.
A different class. A different battlefield.
Strategic Management was one of the most challenging courses in their curriculum. A subject that required sharp thinking, quick adaptability, and a ruthless understanding of business landscapes. It was also the kind of class where students either thrived or got crushed under pressure.
And today, the professor had decided to make things interesting.
“Team-based strategy simulation,” he announced. “Each group will act as a company competing in the same industry. Your goal? Dominate the market.”
The class buzzed with quiet excitement until the professor continued.
“We’ll make it a little more intense. Every round, your companies will face crises—mergers, hostile takeovers, stock crashes, scandals. Your job is to adapt and outmaneuver your competitors.”
It already sounded brutal. And then..
“Hidalgo, Lee. You’ll be in separate teams.”
A collective murmur ran through the room.
Jorge muttered, "Shit. It’s war."
Gali snorted. "Good luck to whoever gets assigned with them."
Cali, arms crossed, smirked. "This will be fun."
Maiven and Adrielle, however, remained unfazed.
Adrielle adjusted her watch. “Understood.”
Maiven cracked her knuckles. “Game.”
The first round was a simple market entry phase. Teams made their initial moves, setting up their companies, choosing their target markets, and defining their competitive advantage.
Maiven’s team took an aggressive stance securing high-risk, high-reward investments and launching an ambitious expansion strategy. Adrielle’s team, on the other hand, played the long game—acquiring key partnerships, securing supply chains, and reinforcing market positioning.
By the second round, things got ugly.
The professor threw the first crisis: a major regulatory change that could cripple half the industry.
Most teams scrambled, debating damage control.
Adrielle barely flinched. “We anticipated this.” She tapped on their simulated company report. “We pivot to adaptive pricing. Maintain margins. Let the competitors struggle with cost cutting, our value proposition remains intact.”
Her team hesitated, then followed.
Meanwhile, across the room, Maiven leaned forward. “Perfect opportunity.”
Her teammates blinked. “Wait—what?”
Maiven grinned. “Everyone’s panicking. We buy undervalued assets, take over smaller competitors while they’re weak.”
Her team hesitated, but Maiven’s confidence was infectious.
Minutes later, the professor analyzed the results.
“Hidalgo’s team played it safe but secured long-term stability.” He nodded in approval. “Lee’s team? Aggressive. Some of those moves would be catastrophic if they failed.”
Maiven smirked. “But they didn’t.”
Adrielle’s gaze flickered toward her.
Round after round, they adapted. Countered. Anticipated each other’s moves.
It wasn’t just a competition anymore. It was a silent conversation in which only the two of them understood.
And the class noticed.
The last crisis hit hard: A high-profile scandal threatens investor confidence.
Adrielle’s team held firm. “We go defensive. Transparency. Damage control.”
Maiven’s team went bold. “We buy out our biggest rival. Absorb the blow, come out stronger.”
The classroom watched, tense, as the results loaded.
Winner: Hidalgo’s team.
A pause. Then, Maiven let out a laugh, shaking her head. “Well played.”
Adrielle, still composed, gave a small nod. “You pushed harder than expected.”
Maiven grinned. “You expected less?”
Adrielle simply met her gaze. “No. I expected a challenge. And you delivered.”
The professor clapped his hands. “Brilliant work. Lee, your risk-taking was calculated, but Hidalgo’s team had the stronger endgame. Regardless, watching you two go head to head was impressive. ”
As class ended, the murmurs returned.
" They’re always like this. "
" Another debate, another showdown. It feels like watching a chess match unfold in real time. "
" No wonder people are talking. "
" Tingin mo may something? "
" You really think Hidalgo gets close to just anyone? "
And just like that, the rumors continued to grow.
As Maiven and Adrielle left the room, Maiven nudged her. “You know, if we were on the same team, we’d be unstoppable.”
Adrielle glanced at her. “Perhaps.”
Maiven smirked. “Next time, let’s see what that looks like.”
Adrielle said nothing but the hint of a challenge in her eyes was enough.
And the rumors?
They weren’t dying down anytime soon.
The room was buzzing with low murmurs as the professor finished explaining the class activity. Negotiation and Conflict Resolution was one of the more interactive courses in their program, and today’s session was particularly challenging: a high-stakes business simulation. Each team was assigned a fictional company and had to negotiate a deal under strict conditions.
When the pairings were announced, people immediately started whispering.
“Did I hear that right? They’re on the same team?”
“Adrielle and Maiven? That’s... unfair.”
“If I were up against them, I’d just forfeit.”
The two, however, barely reacted. They didn’t need to.
Seated beside each other at the front, Maiven casually leaned back in her chair, fingers spinning a pen. “So, are we going aggressive or strategic?”
Adrielle didn’t look up from her notes. “Aggressive is strategic if you know when to push.”
Maiven smirked. “You sound like you already have a plan.”
“I always do.”
Their opponents looked tense. It wasn’t everyday you had to go up against two of the most competitive people in the program, one with the adaptability of an athlete, the other with the precision of a tactician.
The negotiation started.
Maiven opened with a seemingly friendly approach, feeling out the other team’s strategies, throwing out small concessions that made her seem reasonable.
Their opponents took the bait, relaxing just a little.
That’s when Adrielle struck.
“You’re overvaluing your assets,” she said smoothly, her tone sharp but measured. “At this rate, you’ll be at a loss in the long run.”
The other team scrambled to counter. Maiven stayed laid back, letting Adrielle’s words settle before following up with a well timed suggestion that sounded generous but really, it wasn’t.
One of their opponents sighed in defeat. “They’re good. ”
Within minutes, the deal was sealed.
The professor looked at the time and raised an eyebrow. “That was fast.”
“Did they just break the record?” someone whispered.
“They weren’t negotiating. They were manipulating. ”
“That wasn’t even fair.”
Adrielle simply closed her notebook. “Next?”
Maiven stretched lazily. “That was fun. Should do it again sometime.”
The murmurs grew.
Enemies one day, allies the next. What’s going on with them?
The volleyball gym was filled with tension, the echo of sneakers squeaking against polished wood blending with the sharp sound of the ball being struck. The match had drawn a large crowd, not just sports enthusiasts, but students who had taken a sudden interest in watching Maiven Lee play.
Or rather, watching who was watching her.
Adrielle sat in her usual spot, poised and unreadable. She wasn’t with the general spectators, nor with any of the rowdy groups cheering. She had her own space which is distant, unobtrusive, but always noticeable.
And people had started to take notice.
“She’s watching again.”
“Lagi na siyang nandito.”
“You think there’s something going on?”
Maiven, on the court, was aware of the murmurs. She always was. But she didn’t let them get to her. Her focus remained on the game, reading the movements of the opposing team, adjusting her strategies on the fly, and pushing her teammates to match her intensity.
Gali, standing near the team bench as the manager, wasn’t as good at ignoring things.
She glanced toward Adrielle and then toward the crowd that was now subtly shifting its attention. It wasn’t just about the game anymore. It was about Adrielle watching Maiven's game.
During a timeout, as Maiven wiped the sweat off her brow, Gali walked up to her.
“You might wanna do something about that.”
Maiven raised an eyebrow. “About what?”
Gali subtly nodded toward the stands. “She’s sitting in the middle of that.”
Maiven followed her gaze.
Adrielle, as always, looked unfazed, but there was no denying it, a lot of people were staring, whispering, taking pictures.
“Shit,” Maiven muttered under her breath.
“You know her better than I do,” Gali continued. “Does she even notice?”
“Oh, she notices.” Maiven exhaled, running a hand through her sweat-dampened hair. “She just doesn’t care.”
Gali smirked. “Well, either way, it’s getting worse. Someone’s probably posting about it on the forums right now.”
Maiven clicked her tongue. Adrielle might not care about rumors, but she had a reputation. The last thing she needed was people spinning ridiculous narratives that could affect her standing.
Without another word, Maiven jogged toward the stands.
Her teammates blinked in confusion. The audience started murmuring louder. Even the referee glanced toward her, wondering what was happening.
When Maiven reached Adrielle’s seat, she placed her hands on her hips and looked down at her.
“You should sit with our team,” she said bluntly.
Adrielle raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because,” Maiven gestured vaguely toward the murmuring crowd, “you’re basically a live attraction right now.”
Adrielle followed Maiven’s gaze, taking in the eyes on her, the whispers, the subtle movement of phone cameras capturing her presence.
Then, she looked back at Maiven. “And you think moving will change that?”
Maiven sighed. “It’ll at least make it less weird.”
Adrielle tilted her head slightly, as if considering it. Then, with a small shrug, she stood up. “Fine.”
And just like that, she moved without hesitation, without argument. As if she always listened when Maiven told her to do something.
And that was what made the rumors explode.
Adrielle just followed Captain Lee’s request without question.
Students gasped. Some scrambled to post on the school forums. The moment was captured in photos with Maiven standing close, Adrielle listening, then moving as instructed.
“She didn’t even argue.”
“What the hell? She just listened to her??”
“That’s it. They have to be something.”
As Adrielle took a seat near the team bench, Gali snorted. “You just made it worse, you know.”
Maiven sighed, stretching her arms. “Yeah, well... too late now.”
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the timeout.
Maiven smirked as she jogged back onto the court. If people wanted to talk, she’d give them something to talk about.
She spiked the ball harder.
The match had ended. The once thunderous energy of the gym had faded, replaced by the quiet sounds of sneakers scuffing against the floor, the occasional bounce of volleyballs, and the distant voices of Maiven’s teammates packing up. The crowd had mostly left, except for a few lingering students still scrolling through their phones and probably posting about the latest round of rumors.
Adrielle, however, had not left.
She sat on the bleachers, legs crossed, fingers drumming idly against her knee. Unlike most spectators, she wasn’t here for the spectacle, nor did she linger out of admiration like the others who watched Maiven in awe. She just… stayed.
Down on the court, Maiven was still cooling down, stretching her arms behind her back before shifting into another pose. She wasn’t in a hurry to leave either.
"You really can’t sit still, can you?" Adrielle’s voice was smooth, casual. "I thought setters were supposed to conserve energy."
Maiven smirked without looking up. “That’s rich, coming from someone who treats life like a never ending competition.”
Adrielle tilted her head slightly, conceding. “Touché.”
Silence settled between them, not awkward, not heavy, just there. It was a different kind of quiet, the kind that didn’t demand to be filled with unnecessary conversation.
Adrielle wasn’t sure why she stayed. Maybe it was because Maiven didn’t try to impress her, didn’t try to probe or dig for anything beyond what she was willing to share.
Maiven finally sat on the floor, stretching her legs out in front of her. “You know, people are really talking.”
Adrielle barely reacted. “And?”
Maiven gave her a side glance, amused. “You’re usually the type to shut things down before they get out of hand.”
Adrielle exhaled, leaning back slightly against the bench. “I don’t waste time on things that don’t matter.”
Maiven let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. “Well, apparently, we matter to a lot of people.”
Adrielle glanced at her. “And that bothers you?”
Maiven shrugged. “Not really. I just find it funny.” She stretched her arms overhead before dropping them with a sigh. “I mean, think about it. You, of all people, coming to my games? Sitting through an entire match? Adrielle Hidalgo herself?” She shot Adrielle a teasing look. “You have to admit, it’s a little entertaining.”
Adrielle hummed. “Is it?”
Maiven smirked. “I mean, it’s not every day people get to see you actually enjoying something outside of business and academics. You should see the forums. They’re convinced you’re here for me. I'm actually starting to feel flattered."
Adrielle didn’t even flinch. “Let them think whatever they want.”
Maiven laughed. “You really don’t care, huh?”
Adrielle looked at her for a moment, then shrugged. “Would it change anything if I did?”
Maiven considered that. Then, after a pause, she asked, “You ever get tired of it?”
Adrielle’s gaze flickered to her, just for a second. “Tired of what?”
“The expectations,” Maiven said, gesturing vaguely. “The image. The way people only see you as Adrielle Hidalgo—the heir, the top student, the one who’s always ahead of everyone else.”
Adrielle didn’t answer immediately. She wasn’t used to questions like that. People usually assumed she had everything under control. And she did, but that didn’t mean it was easy.
“It’s not about getting tired,” Adrielle said eventually. “It’s about knowing there’s no other option.”
Maiven nodded slowly, as if she understood. And maybe she did.
Because Maiven, in her own way, was the same. The team captain, the setter, the leader who had to keep everything in check. Her family also expect a lot from her. Just like Adrielle with her family, Maiven had responsibilities she couldn’t walk away from. They both carried weight on their shoulders, different but similar.
Adrielle sighed, rolling her neck slightly. “What about you?”
“What about me?” Maiven raised an eyebrow.
Adrielle leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. “You could’ve gone pro by now. There were offers, weren’t there?”
Maiven smiled, but there was something thoughtful behind it. “There were.”
“And?”
Maiven stretched her legs out again, staring up at the gym’s ceiling for a moment before replying, “I like playing, but I don’t want it to be my entire life.” She looked at Adrielle. “Same way you probably like winning, but don’t want to be defined by just that.”
Adrielle studied her for a beat before exhaling through her nose, a quiet sort of amusement in her expression. “You assume a lot.”
“You do too.”
A small smirk played at Adrielle’s lips. She didn’t mind the banter, it was effortless with Maiven. No pretense, no expectations. Just two people who understood the weight of being at the top and the exhaustion of keeping up appearances.
After a few moments, Maiven got to her feet, rolling her shoulders back. “Come on.”
Adrielle raised an eyebrow. “Come on, what?”
Maiven motioned toward the exit. “Let’s get out of here. You look like you’ve been sitting there overthinking for too long.”
Adrielle scoffed but stood anyway. “And you look like you’ve spent too much time running around for no reason.”
Maiven grinned. “Welcome to my life.”
And just like that, they walked out together.
No explanations. No denials.
Just an understanding that neither of them needed to put into words.
The change wasn’t sudden. It crept in quietly, like a slow moving tide, until one day, it just became normal. Adrielle was being seen with people more often. Not just in academic discussions, but in casual settings too.
At first, it was just Maiven. That wasn’t a surprise, given their growing reputation as academic rivals, but people started noticing that they weren’t just interacting in class. They walked out of lecture halls together, sometimes deep in discussion, other times just casually strolling side by side.
"Are you always this focused, or do you turn it off when no one’s looking?" Maiven asked one afternoon as they exited their Strategic Management lecture.
Adrielle barely glanced at her. "I don’t waste time pretending to be something I’m not."
Maiven smirked, stretching her arms as they walked. "Figures. You do look like someone who sleeps with a business book under your pillow."
Adrielle shot her a dry look. "And you look like someone who thinks strategy is optional."
Maiven laughed. "Touché."
It wasn’t just them all the time, though. More often, Cali was with them. The three of them—two business-driven minds and a top-tier athlete—made for an unusual yet well balanced dynamic. Some classmates had even started jokingly calling them an “unofficial board of directors.”
One afternoon, after a particularly grueling finance lecture, Jorge and Gali ended up tagging along as well. The conversation started off about their upcoming business simulation project, but it quickly veered into casual talk.
Jorge leaned back against the table. "So, we’re thinking of heading out of town after midterms. You in?"
Calista hummed. "Yeah, maybe a beach trip or a road trip somewhere. You should come, Adrielle."
Adrielle barely looked up from her notes. "No."
Gali snorted. "That was fast."
Jorge, never one to back down easily, smirked. "Come on, don’t you ever relax? You’re always buried in meetings or readings."
Adrielle finally glanced at them, raising an eyebrow. "And you think a trip with you four would be relaxing?"
Maiven, amused, leaned on the table beside her. "That’s fair. But hey, no one's making you go cliff diving or anything. You can just sit back and enjoy the view."
Adrielle scoffed. "I can see better views from my office."
Gali grinned. "Says the girl who’s been spending an awful lot of time with us lately."
Maiven smirked. "She has a point."
Adrielle rolled her eyes and returned to her notes, but she didn’t get up to leave.
The next few weeks followed the same pattern. Sometimes, it was a group of them. Other times, it was just Maiven and Adrielle.
Like tonight.
The study lounge was quiet, most students already having left. The air conditioning hummed softly in the background as Adrielle skimmed through a case study, her pen tapping rhythmically against the table.
Across from her, Maiven was lounging comfortably on the couch, lazily tossing a stress ball in the air.
"You don’t really like studying this long, do you?" Adrielle asked suddenly, not looking up from her notes.
Maiven caught the ball with one hand. "Not really. I study just enough to get through it."
"Then why are you still here?"
Maiven leaned back, resting her head against the couch. "Guess I don’t mind the company."
Adrielle stilled for a fraction of a second, her pen pausing mid-air before continuing its rhythmic tapping. She didn’t reply immediately, instead shifting her focus back to the case study.
Maiven just grinned, tossing the ball again. "You know, if you keep hanging out with us, that out of town trip might not be such a bad idea after all."
Adrielle didn’t even look up. "I’m still not going."
Maiven chuckled. "We’ll see."
And with that, they fell into a comfortable silence.
The rumors had started in the business department, but they didn’t stay there. They spread like wildfire, slipping through hallways and student lounges, whispered between group projects and lunch breaks. Soon enough, even the Arts department caught wind of it.
Avara first heard about it while hanging out with Gio, lazily sipping on an iced coffee while waiting for their next class.
"You heard about Maiven?" their mutual friend, Elle, asked casually as she scrolled through her phone.
Avara barely glanced up. "Hmm? What about her?"
Ella smirked. "Apparently, she has a girlfriend now."
That made Avara snort. "Right. And I’m the next Mona Lisa."
Gio, who had been unbothered up until now, suddenly perked up. "Oh yeah, I heard about that too. It’s Adrielle Hidalgo."
Avara blinked. That name, she knew. Everyone knew.
"The business heir?" she asked, furrowing her brows.
"Yup." Gio nodded. "She’s always at Maiven’s games. Like, front-row type of watching."
Ella added, "And there’s a photo circulating on the forums. Adrielle sitting near Maiven’s team. You don’t just randomly do that if you’re not close."
Avara scoffed, shaking her head. "Nah. Maiven’s not into that type."
Ella raised an eyebrow. "What’s her type, then?"
That caught Avara off guard. She opened her mouth but closed it again, frowning slightly.
"Someone less… intense, I guess?" she mumbled, stirring her drink with the straw.
Gio just shrugged. "I mean, I don’t know, dude. The whole campus is talking about it."
Avara didn’t think much of it. Rumors were rumors, and Maiven was always the subject of something. So she brushed it off.
But then, a few days later, she saw it with her own eyes.
Avara was late. Again.
She sprinted through the hallways, weaving between students, one hand gripping her bag and the other clutching the sketchpad she forgot she was supposed to submit today.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Maiven.
Slowing down instinctively, she turned her head and there she was. Maiven, standing near the courtyard, casually talking to none other than Adrielle Hidalgo.
And people were watching. Whispering.
Avara skidded to a stop, her heart still racing from the run. The two weren’t doing anything particularly strange. They were just talking, Adrielle standing with her arms crossed and Maiven with her usual relaxed stance. But the way people around them reacted made Avara pause.
It wasn’t just the usual admiration Maiven got from her fans or the respect Adrielle commanded in business circles. No, this was different. People weren’t just looking; they were speculating.
Something about that made Avara frown.
Her first instinct was to roll her eyes. She could already imagine how ridiculous the rumors must have gotten. Maiven was friendly enough with anyone, and Adrielle, despite her ice cold reputation, was still human. Talking to someone wasn’t a big deal.
And yet, as she stood there, frozen in place, something nagged at her.
She had seen Maiven talk to a hundred different people before.
Why did this feel different?
She couldn’t quite place it.
With a shake of her head, she forced herself to move. This was stupid. It was just Maiven being Maiven—friendly, approachable, everyone’s favorite person. And Adrielle was just… well, whatever she was.
Still, as Avara rushed off to class, that image stayed with her longer than she cared to admit.