Chapter Text
The stage glowed under neon lights. Blooms chanted each BINI member’s name with excitement. But behind the synchronized steps and polished smiles, Maloi was drifting.
Not from the beat.
From everything else.
She stood in the middle of the formation, hitting every move, singing every note but she wasn’t there. Not really.
It started with a misunderstanding.
(One week ago)
Rehearsals were running late again. The group was tired, some members sitting on the floor, chugging water. They had just wrapped another run of their new single.
“Maloi, bakit hindi ka sumabay sa plano? Napag-usapan na natin yung harmony na gagawin para sa second chorus diba?” Colet said, her tone edged with frustration as they are all tired out of rehearsals.
Maloi looked at her, tired eyes scanning Colet’s face “Tingin ko kasi mas ok yung tunog nung harmony na ginawa ko mas natural pakinggan pwede pa naman siguro natin ibahin yun for the better.”
“Natural? Team tayo, ‘Loi. Hindi ka naman pwede magdecide ng sarili mo lang.”
Maloi’s face hardened. “Hindi naman ako nag de-decide ng pang-sarili ko lang. Nagko-contribute ako. Hindi ba iyon and sabi natin sa kung tungkol saan ‘tong grupo natin?”
“Hindi naman yan contribution, pagsasawalang bahala yan sa napagdesisyonan na,” Colet snapped, arms crossed.
“Pwede bang mag stick nalang tayo sa napag-usapan na for once? Di naman to solo performance na pwede ka magdecide mag isa.” Colet’s voice grew sharper.
Maloi’s chest tightened. The room went quiet. No one defended her. Not yet.
“Hindi ko naman gustong i-outshine kahit sino sa atin,” she said softly. “Naisip ko lang na makakatulong iyon sa song.”
“Lagi ka nag-iisip,” Colet shot back. “Pero ang kailangan natin disiplina, hindi puro improvisation.”
That one hurt more than she let on.
Maloi bit the inside of her cheek and nodded. “Okay. Sorry.”
The words echoed louder than the beat drop of any song. Maloi didn’t reply. She walked away, leaving Colet standing there, arms still crossed, but now unsure.
(The Days after)
Maloi became quieter in the van, quieter during rehearsals, quieter during interviews. At first, the members thought she was just tired. They offered food, hugs, inside jokes. She gave small smiles, but they never reached her eyes.
She stopped volunteering suggestions. Stopped laughing as loud. She showed up, danced, sang perfectly. But her spirit seemed dimmed, tucked behind a carefully constructed wall.
Blooms started to notice.
| “Parang malungkot si Maloi lately…”
| “Hindi na siya OA sa mga live, namimiss ko na tawa niya!”
| “Okay lang kaya siya?”
The BINI girls noticed too.
During lunch, Stacey leaned into Mikha. “Si Ate Maloi, hindi na sumasabay sa atin kumain.”
“She keeps saying ‘di siya gutom, pero parang ayaw lang niya sumama,” Mikha replied.
Colet watched it all from afar, a tightening in her chest growing each day. She replayed their fight in her head. Was she too harsh? But wasn’t she just trying to help the group?
Even in interviews, her once-bubbly voice faded into the background. Colet, on the other hand, stayed composed answering questions , smiling for cameras, acting like nothing happened.
But every now and then, her gaze flicked toward Maloi, lingering with something unspoken. Frustration? Regret?
No one could tell.
One night, while the girls just finish their training, Sheena approached Colet.
“May something ba sa inyo ni Ate Maloi? Kasi simula nun… parang iba na siya.”
Colet hesitated. “Nagkapikunan lang. Hindi ko naman naisip na sobra siyang maaapektuhan.”
“Alam mo naman Ate Colet na mas close siya sayo diba?” Sheena added softly. “Kahit OA siya lagi, sensitive siya and sobrang soft lang ng heart ni Ate Maloi.”
That hit Colet harder than she expected.
(Backstage One Night)
They had just finished a performance. Everyone was sweaty, exhausted, but cheering each other on.
Except Maloi.
She quietly slipped to the far corner, sipping water alone.
Jhoanna approached her. “Ate Maloi, okay ka lang?”
Maloi nodded quickly, not meeting her eyes. “Oo Jho, pagod lang.”
“Sure ka?” Jhoanna asked again, worry evident in her voice.
“Promise.” She smiled but it was hollow.
From across the room, Colet glanced over but said nothing. Her jaw clenched for a second before she turned back to her phone.
She had started telling herself Maloi was being overly sensitive. That she needed to toughen up. That everyone was tired and under pressure. So why should Maloi be different?
But somewhere deep, Colet knew she’d crossed a line that day. And instead of pulling Maloi back, she kept pushing her further.
But Maloi kept showing up, always on time, always delivering, always professional. But she didn’t dance with joy anymore as she used to. Her laugh didn’t echo in the dressing room like it used to. She answered blooms politely but never playfully as before.
She was still there—but barely.
And the silence she left behind was louder than any cheer from the crowd.