Part 16

Later that evening....

Colet met up with her friends at their usual spot, a private lounge tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. As soon as she walked in, Mikha noticed the change in Colet—there was a glow about her, something she hadn't seen in a while. It wasn't just the confidence that came with success, but a softer kind of warmth, a joy that seemed to radiate from her.

Mikha raised an eyebrow as she sipped her drink. "Okay, Colet. You're looking... different. What's going on? Did you get a new skincare routine, or is there something else?"

Jhoanna, ever the tease, smirked. "Yeah, what's your secret? I need some of that glow."

Colet smiled, feeling a little shy but also proud. She sat down, adjusting herself in the seat, and took a deep breath before replying.

"I think I've found someone," Colet said quietly, but with certainty in her voice.

Jhoanna's eyes widened. "Someone? As in a special someone?"

Mikha leaned forward, her interest piqued. "Colet, are you... are you serious about this?"

Colet nodded. "Yes. I'm in a serious courtship now. Her name is Maloi, and I really want you all to meet her one day."

The silence that followed was filled with curiosity, but also the warmth of her friends genuinely happy for her. Gwen, who had been quietly observing, smiled and gave Colet a thumbs-up.

"That's amazing, Colet," Gwen said, her voice full of affection. "I'm really happy for you."

Mikha, a little more serious now, reached over and patted Colet's hand. "You deserve this. I'm glad you're happy. We all need to meet this Maloi sometime."

Jhoanna grinned mischievously. "She must be something special if she's got you looking like that. I want to see what's got you so sappy, Colet."

Colet chuckled. "She's very special. And I promise, you'll meet her soon. I'm just... taking my time with this. I want to make sure we're both ready."

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, but there was an unmistakable sense of support from her friends. They were all thrilled for Colet, and they made a pact to meet Maloi soon. Colet couldn't help but feel grateful for her friends' understanding and excitement. For the first time, it felt like everything was aligning perfectly in her life.

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As Colet's friends continued to chat and catch up, Gwen's mind wandered for a moment. She remembered the dinner Sheena had invited her to not too long ago, where she had met Sheena's friends. One of them, Maloi, had stuck out in her mind—vibrant, funny, and with a contagious energy.

Now, hearing Colet's revelation, she couldn't help but wonder if this was the same Maloi she had met. The name sounded familiar, and the thought lingered in her mind.

Gwen paused mid-conversation, her gaze drifting as she replayed the night in her head. Maloi... It couldn't be the same one, could it? She shook her head, brushing the thought off. It's probably just a coincidence, she reasoned.

After all, Maloi was a pretty common name. Plus, she hadn't made any real connections that night other than introductions, so it seemed unlikely that the two would be the same person.

She gave a quick laugh to herself, trying to dismiss the thought. She wasn't about to jump to conclusions. After all, it was probably just a coincidence. There must be tons of people named Maloi out there, right?

She refocused on her friends, picking up the conversation again. But deep down, a small part of her couldn't shake the thought of how much more interesting it would be if Colet's Maloi was, in fact, the same Maloi Sheena had introduced her to.

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Mikha stepped away from the lounge table, her phone lighting up in her hand. She had been in the middle of a conversation with Gwen, Jhoanna, and Colet, but the call had caught her attention. She glanced at the screen before answering, stepping aside for a bit of privacy.

Just as she adjusted her position, a woman—beautiful, with long, dark hair and a confident, yet hurried, presence—bumped into her. The woman immediately apologized with a soft, flustered smile before rushing out of the lounge.

Mikha blinked, a bit taken aback by the sudden interaction. The woman had been in such a hurry, almost as if she had been trying to avoid something or someone. Her features were striking, but Mikha couldn't place her.

Curious, Mikha watched the woman disappear out of the lounge, her thoughts lingering on the brief encounter.

She returned her attention to her phone call but couldn't shake the feeling that something about the woman seemed familiar. The mystery lingered in her mind as she focused back on the conversation, but the image of the woman stayed in her thoughts. She didn't recognize her, but something about her demeanor seemed... connected to her life in a way she couldn't explain.

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Mikha returned to the lounge, slipping back into the conversation without mentioning the brief encounter with the mysterious woman. She sat down with her friends, her mind still replaying the moment, but she didn't bring it up.

Instead, she joined in on the lively chatter with Gwen, Jhoanna, and Colet, picking up where they had left off. The group continued to share stories and laughs, but Mikha couldn't help but feel a nagging curiosity about the woman she had bumped into earlier.

Who was she? Mikha wondered, but decided to keep it to herself for now. It could have just been a random encounter, after all. Plus, she didn't want to seem distracted or bring unnecessary attention to something that might not even matter.

She decided to let it go—for now—and enjoyed the evening with her friends, but that brief moment would stay with her, tucked away in the back of her mind.

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Colet, Mikha, and Jhoanna listened as Gwen spoke, her voice filled with excitement. Sheena's birthday was just around the corner, and Gwen was planning a small get-together with close friends to celebrate. As Gwen shared the details, Colet couldn't help but smile at the thought of spending time with Sheena and her circle of friends.

"Finally, we'll meet Sheena's friends," Jhoanna remarked with a mischievous glint in her eye. "It'll be fun!"

Mikha nodded, adding, "I've been curious about them, especially after you mentioned how important they are to Sheena."

Colet leaned back in her seat, her mind already thinking about how the gathering would go. She had heard a bit about Sheena's friends, but now she'd finally get to meet them in person. The idea of spending time with a new group, particularly with Sheena's close-knit circle, felt both exciting and a little intimidating.

"I'm sure we'll have a great time," Colet said with a smile, though there was a part of her that was intrigued by the fact that Sheena's friends remained a bit of a mystery. It would be interesting to see how they all interacted, especially knowing how close Sheena and Gwen were.

"Count me in," Mikha agreed, already mentally preparing herself for whatever the evening would bring.

As the conversation continued, the group made plans for the birthday gathering. Colet, Mikha, and Jhoanna would finally meet Sheena's friends.