Part 13

After the night of laughter, good food, and even better company, Aiah drove Maloi back to her apartment. The car ride was filled with casual conversation, the kind that happens naturally when friends are just enjoying each other's presence. Aiah was the one to break the comfortable silence.

"That was such a fun night," Aiah said, glancing over at Maloi with a smile. "You seemed a little lost in thought at the dinner. Everything okay?"

Maloi chuckled softly, leaning back in the passenger seat. "Yeah, just thinking about a lot of things. You know, life... and everything in between."

Aiah nodded knowingly. "You've got a lot going on, huh? Between the studio and your personal stuff. If you ever need to talk, you know I'm here."

Maloi smiled warmly, touched by Aiah's words. "Thanks, Aiah. I really appreciate it."

The car rolled up to Maloi's apartment building, and Aiah parked the car. They both got out, and Maloi turned to her friend. "I'll be alright. Just need some time to process, you know?"

"Of course," Aiah replied. "But seriously, don't hesitate to reach out. You've got an amazing circle of friends who have your back. And you know, you deserve all the good things coming your way."

Maloi's heart warmed at Aiah's words. "Thanks, I really needed to hear that. You're right. And I'm lucky to have friends like you."

With a hug and a wave, Aiah headed back to her car, and Maloi made her way inside her apartment. The quiet of the night enveloped her as she took a deep breath, her thoughts still swirling from the evening's conversations. The night may have been full of fun and lightheartedness, but as she stood there, alone for a moment, Maloi couldn't help but feel grateful for everything she had—her friends, her passion for art and music, and the special connection that was slowly blossoming with Colet.

As she settled into bed, Maloi smiled, thinking of the day ahead and the possibilities it held.

Maloi grabbed her phone from the bedside table, her fingers quickly typing out a message to Colet.

"Hey, just wanted to say thank you for the pastries earlier today. My friends loved them! You always know how to pick the best treats. 😊 Hope you're winding down from your day!"

She hesitated for a moment before sending it, then smiled at her phone screen. It felt nice to show appreciation, and she liked keeping the connection with Colet light and thoughtful. After hitting send, Maloi set the phone down, feeling content as she settled into her pillow, letting the quiet of the night wrap around her.

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Colet stepped out of the shower, towel wrapped around her, and reached for her phone on the counter. She unlocked it, and a small smile tugged at her lips when she saw Maloi's message.

"Hey, just wanted to say thank you for the pastries earlier today. My friends loved them! You always know how to pick the best treats. 😊 Hope you're winding down from your day!"

Colet couldn't help but feel a warm flutter in her chest. She quickly typed out a response:

"I'm glad they liked them! You're welcome. 😊 I'm just winding down now, catching up on a few things. Hope you're relaxing after a busy day. Let me know if you need anything tomorrow!"

She hit send and, with a contented sigh, set her phone down on the bathroom counter. The small exchange with Maloi made her feel closer, and she couldn't help but smile, thinking about how nice it was to have someone like Maloi in her life.

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The following days were a whirlwind for both Maloi and Colet. Maloi found herself buried in her music studio, fine-tuning songs she had been working on, experimenting with new melodies, and pushing her creativity to its limits. The deadlines for her new album were fast approaching, and she was determined to give it everything she had. Between late nights and early mornings, she barely had time to catch up with her friends, though they all remained supportive and understanding.

Colet, on the other hand, was equally swamped with business matters. The import-export industry she dominated demanded her full attention, as new deals were being negotiated and partnerships were forming. Between meetings, calls, and strategy sessions, Colet's days seemed to fly by without a moment to herself. Even though she was grateful for her success and driven by her ambitions, the constant hustle left her yearning for a break—maybe one with Maloi.

Despite their busy schedules, they managed to steal a few moments here and there. Quick text messages, short calls, and the occasional video chat kept their connection alive, even if only for a few minutes at a time. Colet would send Maloi small messages of encouragement, and Maloi would share her progress with Colet, feeling her support like a soft yet powerful presence.

Still, both couldn't help but feel the weight of their respective commitments. As the days stretched on, they both hoped that they could find some time soon to reconnect fully—when the chaos of their lives settled just enough for them to enjoy each other's company again.

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Maloi, Aiah, and Stacey were in the music studio, taking a short break while Maloi fiddled with the new lyrics she had written. Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away from the notebook in front of her. She glanced at the screen, seeing a text from Sheena.

Sheena: "Hey girls, just wanted to update you. I had dinner with Gwen's friends just now. It was really fun, but I won't mention names just yet. I think you'll like them when you meet them soon! 😊"

Maloi raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as she showed the message to Aiah and Stacey.

"Looks like Sheena's finds Gwen's friends wonderful," Aiah remarked, glancing at the screen. "Wonder who they are?"

"I'm curious too," Stacey added, her tone light. "But I guess we'll find out soon enough. Sheena seems excited about it."

Maloi smiled, feeling a little more curious herself. "I wonder who they could be... It'll be interesting to see how we all get along when we all meet."

Aiah shrugged playfully. "Guess we'll have to wait and see. But knowing Gwen, they're probably amazing people."

The three of them shared a brief laugh before returning to their work. Maloi's mind, however, lingered on Sheena's message. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd soon be introduced to these new faces and what that would mean for the dynamic of their group.

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A week later...

As soon as Maloi stepped into her condo, she kicked off her heels and flopped onto the couch with a satisfied sigh. Tonight had been fun—meeting Gwen, teasing Sheena, and spending time with her closest friends always made her feel light and happy.

Just as she was about to relax, her phone buzzed. She reached for it and smiled when she saw the name on the screen.

Colet: "Hey, how was your day?"

Maloi bit her lip, warmth spreading through her chest. Without hesitation, she typed back.

Maloi: "Hey, just got home! Had dinner with Sheena and the girls. Finally met her girlfriend."

A few seconds later, Colet replied.

Colet: "Oh? And? What do you think?"

Maloi: "She's cool. A little intimidating, but she really loves Sheena. It was fun watching Sheena all smitten."

Colet: "I can imagine. It's nice that you all support her."

Maloi: "Of course! She's like our little sister. We gotta make sure her girlfriend is worthy."

Colet sent a laughing emoji before following up with,

Colet: "And what about you? Did you have fun?"

Maloi hesitated for a moment, then smiled to herself.

Maloi: "Yeah, I did. But I think I would've enjoyed it more if you were there."

She hit send before she could overthink it, her heart pounding a little as she waited for Colet's reply.

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Maloi stared at her phone as Colet's reply came in.

Colet: "So... you miss me?"

Maloi rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the smile creeping onto her face.

Maloi: "Pffft. Don't flatter yourself, Vergara."

Seconds later, another message popped up.

Colet: "Too late. I already did."

Maloi groaned, burying her face into a pillow. Why did Colet have to be so effortlessly smooth?

Maloi: "Fine. Maybe just a little."

Colet's response was almost instant.

Colet: "I knew it. Don't worry, I miss you too."

Maloi's heart did a little flip. She bit her lip, staring at the message longer than she should have.

Maloi: "Good. At least it's mutual."

She could almost picture Colet's smirk as she read that.

Colet: "Get some rest, Maloi. I'll see you soon."

Maloi exhaled slowly, feeling lighter than before.

Maloi: "Goodnight, Colet."

As she set her phone down, she realized—she didn't just enjoy talking to Colet. She was starting to crave it.