Part 14

The following day, Colet woke up early, enjoying the rare peace of her day off. She had been thinking about Maloi all morning, and after a few moments of deliberation, she grabbed her phone and sent a message.

Colet: "Hey, do you have some free time today? I'm off work and was wondering if you wanted to hang out."

She waited for a moment, fingers drumming on her phone, her thoughts drifting back to the last time they were together. The way Maloi smiled, how easy their conversations flowed, and the undeniable connection that had been growing between them.

It didn't take long before Maloi's reply popped up.

Maloi: "Hey! I'm free later in the afternoon. What did you have in mind?"

Colet grinned, feeling that familiar warmth spread through her chest.

Colet: "I have a couple of ideas. I'll pick you up at 2, how about that?"

Maloi: "Sounds good. I'll be ready!"

Colet set her phone down, feeling a bit lighter. There was something about spending time with Maloi that always made her forget about the stress of work. She looked forward to whatever the day would bring.

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Colet pulled up outside the music studio, her car gliding smoothly into a parking spot. Her eyes immediately caught sight of Maloi, standing outside the building and talking to a guy she hadn't seen before. The boy was tall, with dark hair and a confident stance—too confident, in fact. Colet couldn't help but notice how close the two of them were standing as they spoke, the conversation seemingly light but friendly.

It wasn't the boy's appearance that had Colet's attention, but the fact that Maloi was giving him that smile—the one that made her chest tighten. It was a warm, inviting smile, the kind that Colet had come to recognize, the one she saw whenever they shared a private moment together.

Colet's hand tightened slightly on the steering wheel, but she quickly reminded herself not to overthink it. Maloi was friendly by nature. She was outgoing, and her charm was something people couldn't help but be drawn to. Colet knew that.

Still, the sight made her stomach do a little flip, and for a moment, she hesitated, unsure if she should wait or just get out of the car and approach.

After a beat, Colet decided to just go ahead. She stepped out, taking a slow breath before walking toward the two.

As she approached, Maki noticed her first and gave a polite nod. "Hey, I'm Maki," he said, offering a hand, a friendly but eager smile on his face.

Maloi turned, her eyes lighting up when she saw Colet. "Oh! Hey! This is Maki. He's a colleague. Maki, this is Colet." She made the introduction, her tone warm but casual.

Colet raised an eyebrow, shaking Maki's hand firmly but with a careful smile. "Nice to meet you, Maki."

"Likewise," Maki replied, looking at Colet with a hint of curiosity. "I've heard a lot about you."

Colet's smile didn't falter, but there was a slight edge to her voice as she responded, "I'm sure you have." She glanced at Maloi, her gaze softening a bit. "Shall we head out, Maloi? I was thinking of grabbing lunch."

Maloi's eyes shifted between Maki and Colet, sensing a bit of tension in the air. She quickly smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'd love that. We'll catch up soon, Maki."

Maki nodded in return, though there was something in his eyes—a hint of something unspoken—as he watched Colet and Maloi walk away together.

As they got into Colet's car, the air felt a bit thicker than it had moments ago. Colet didn't say anything right away, but her eyes flickered to Maloi before she started the engine. Maloi, sensing the change in atmosphere, tried to ease the tension with a small smile. "He's just a colleague, Colet. Nothing to worry about."

Colet met her gaze for a moment, then nodded, though her expression was unreadable. "I know," she replied quietly, her fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel.

For the rest of the drive, the silence lingered, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was more of an unspoken understanding between them. Colet was still processing her feelings, and Maloi, as usual, couldn't help but wonder if this was more than just a fleeting connection.

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The car pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, a quiet, upscale place with a warm ambiance that seemed perfect for an afternoon out. Colet parked, her eyes lingering on the building for a moment before she turned to Maloi, who was already looking at her with a slight expression of curiosity.

As Colet put the car in park, the silence between them felt different, more relaxed. Maloi, sensing an opening, decided to break it.

"You know," she began, her voice light but thoughtful, "that guy Maki... he actually tried to court me once."

Colet glanced at Maloi, surprised. She hadn't expected her to bring it up, especially not so casually. She cocked her head slightly. "Really?" she asked, her tone neutral, though something flickered in her eyes.

Maloi smiled, but there was no hint of flirtation in her expression, just the same warmth that Colet had come to appreciate. "Yeah. He was persistent for a while," Maloi said with a small laugh. "But I turned him down. He's a great guy, but... just not the one for me."

Colet's lips curled into a soft smile, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "I'm glad to hear that," she said, the words coming out before she could fully process them.

Maloi looked at Colet, slightly puzzled by her response, but she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she gestured toward the restaurant. "Shall we?" she asked, ready to shift the focus away from Maki and onto the meal ahead.

Colet nodded, stepping out of the car, trying to shake off the small pang of jealousy she hadn't expected to feel. She had no right to feel that way—Maki was just someone from Maloi's past. But hearing about it, so casually and so matter-of-factly, made her realize how much she'd come to care about Maloi.

The two of them walked into the restaurant, the cool air outside giving way to the cozy, intimate atmosphere inside. As they were shown to their table, Colet couldn't help but glance at Maloi once more, her thoughts racing. There was so much more to them than just the surface-level interactions, and with every moment they spent together, she found herself more invested than she'd ever expected.

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As they continued eating, the conversation flowed naturally. They laughed, shared stories, and enjoyed the meal, but despite the lightheartedness of the moment, Colet's thoughts were elsewhere. Her mind kept drifting back to Maki, the way he had looked at Maloi, and the undeniable feelings that had been quietly growing in her chest. She tried to push them away, but they kept coming back, more persistent each time.

Finally, unable to suppress the thoughts any longer, Colet set her fork down, her hand resting lightly on the table as she met Maloi's gaze. The calmness in her eyes was a stark contrast to the emotions swirling inside her.

"Maloi," she began, her voice steady but with a certain vulnerability to it, "I need to ask you something."

Maloi tilted her head slightly, a curious smile tugging at her lips. "What is it, Colet?"

Colet took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "I know we've been spending a lot of time together, and... I can't help how I feel. I wanted to know if you'd let me court you. I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I just... I need to ask."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Colet's heart was pounding in her chest as she anxiously waited for Maloi's response, unsure of how she would take it. She had never been one to show vulnerability so openly, but something about Maloi made her want to take that risk.

Maloi's expression softened, her eyes searching Colet's face as she took in the sincerity of her words. A small smile formed on her lips, and she reached across the table, her fingers lightly brushing Colet's hand.

"I've been wondering the same thing, actually," Maloi replied, her voice gentle. "I didn't know if you felt the same way, but... I think I'd like that. I think I'd like to give us a chance."

Colet felt a wave of relief wash over her, mixed with a rush of warmth at Maloi's words. She had been nervous, unsure of how Maloi might react, but hearing those words made her feel like everything had fallen into place.

Without thinking, Colet squeezed Maloi's hand, her eyes never leaving hers. "You have no idea how much that means to me," she said, her voice softer now. "I want to make you happy, Maloi."

Maloi smiled, her heart racing as well. "And you do," she said simply, her voice filled with warmth. "I think we're already off to a good start."

As they sat there, their hands still intertwined, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them now, the connection between them deepening with every shared glance and every word spoken. Neither of them could predict what the future would hold, but for the first time, they both felt like they were exactly where they were meant to be.