Part 5

As the sunlight filtered into Maloi's apartment that morning, she found herself alone in the bedroom for a brief moment while Colet showered. The faint sound of running water and the surreal memory of waking up in Colet's arms played in her mind like a song on repeat.

Unable to sit still, Maloi grabbed her phone and opened her group chat with Stacey, Aiah, and Sheena. The group had been her lifeline for years—her go-to for sharing every laugh, every heartbreak, and every ridiculous story.

Maloi: Okay, guys, I have something to tell you, and you cannot freak out.

Stacey: OMG, what happened? Spill.

Aiah: Freak out? That's literally our job. What did you do this time?

Sheena: I'm already judging you.

Maloi rolled her eyes, smiling.

Maloi: I met someone last night.

Aiah: Define "met."

Stacey: *Wait, like met-met or "Hey, you're cute, wanna..." met?

Maloi: OMG, calm down. Not like that. I mean, we had dinner, it rained, and... well, I let her stay the night.

The chat exploded.

Stacey: HER?!

Aiah: YOU LET HER STAY THE NIGHT?! MALOI.

Sheena: Explain. Now.

Maloi: Nothing happened! Geez. It was raining like crazy, and I wasn't about to let her drive home in that. We ate, talked, and... we slept. That's it.

Stacey: You shared a bed, didn't you?

Maloi hesitated before typing.

Maloi: ...The couch is uncomfortable!

Aiah: You are unbelievable.

Stacey: Wait, wait. Who is this mystery woman? Give us DETAILS.

Sheena: I'm with Stacey. Start talking. Who is she, and why are you letting her sleep in your bed?

Maloi smiled at their relentless curiosity.

Maloi: Okay, so her name's Nicollete. She's a CEO. Super successful, super classy, kind of intimidating but in a hot way? Anyway, we met at my exhibit. She bought, like, half my paintings, and I invited her over last night after a pottery class.

Stacey: A CEO? Oh, girl, you're aiming high.

Aiah: "Intimidating but hot"? I need pictures.

Sheena: Wait, pottery class? Are we calling this a "friendly date" now?

Maloi: I don't know what it was, okay? We just... clicked. She's not like anyone I've ever met.

Aiah: So you're saying you like her.

Maloi paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Maloi: I don't know. Maybe?

Stacey: Oh, you like her. You're glowing through this text.

Sheena: So, you cuddled. Right? Tell me I'm right.

Maloi groaned out loud, though a smile tugged at her lips.

Maloi: ...We woke up cuddling.

The group chat erupted into chaos.

Stacey: STOP. THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD.

Aiah: MALOI. WHO EVEN ARE YOU?

Sheena: Okay, okay. But how did she react?

Maloi: She didn't freak out or anything. She was... calm. Like, she just smiled and said she wasn't complaining.

The typing bubbles popped up and disappeared before Stacey replied.

Stacey: Girl, if you don't take this as a sign, I swear...

Aiah: I'm still stuck on the fact that you, of all people, might actually have feelings for someone. Like real, serious feelings.

Sheena: And for a CEO, no less. This is a rom-com waiting to happen.

Maloi rolled her eyes, though her heart felt lighter after sharing everything with her friends.

Maloi: Alright, I have to go before she comes out and catches me texting you guys. But don't get any weird ideas. It's still early. Nothing's happening.

Stacey: Sure, sure. We'll keep this "nothing" in mind when we're buying wedding gifts.

Aiah: Call us later, and don't you dare hold back.

Sheena: Good luck, Maloi. You might actually have found someone who can handle you.

Maloi laughed, shaking her head as she set her phone down. Her friends were impossible, but she couldn't deny that their excitement mirrored the butterflies in her chest.

Just as she finished, she heard the bathroom door open. Colet stepped out, her hair damp and her face fresh, looking effortlessly elegant even in Maloi's oversized T-shirt and sweatpants.

"Everything okay?" Colet asked, her voice soft.

Maloi turned to her, a smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah," she said. "Everything's good."

And for the first time in a long while, she meant it.

As Colet stepped out of the bathroom, she caught sight of Maloi fidgeting with her phone, her face tinged with a hint of nervousness. The thought made Colet smile, though she didn't mention it.

"Do you want some breakfast?" Colet asked casually, running a hand through her damp hair.

Maloi blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, uh... I mean, yeah, sure. But I should be the one making it. You're my guest."

Colet raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming. "I insist. Besides, I like cooking—it's one of the few things I can do that doesn't feel like work."

Maloi hesitated, biting her lip. "Um, okay. But... just so you know, my fridge is kind of... empty."

"How empty?" Colet asked, amused.

Maloi scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. "Let's just say, if you're looking for gourmet ingredients, you're gonna be disappointed. I've got... eggs, maybe some bread? Oh, and there might be a sad block of cheese hiding in the back."

Colet chuckled, rolling up her sleeves. "Challenge accepted. Show me the kitchen."

As Colet rummaged through Maloi's fridge, her expression remained calm and focused. She pulled out eggs, half a loaf of bread, a small wedge of cheese, and a few stray vegetables that Maloi had forgotten were there.

"This will do," Colet said confidently, grabbing a pan from the cabinet.

"You're really doing this?" Maloi asked, leaning against the counter, her cheeks slightly pink.

Colet glanced at her with a soft smile. "Of course. Trust me, I've worked with less."

Maloi watched as Colet moved with ease, cracking eggs, grating cheese, and chopping the vegetables with precision. Despite the minimal ingredients, Colet managed to whip up a simple but delicious breakfast—a cheesy vegetable omelet and perfectly toasted bread.

"You're like a magician," Maloi said as Colet plated the food, the aroma filling the small kitchen.

Colet chuckled, sliding a plate in front of Maloi. "Just resourceful."

They sat together at the small table by the window, sharing the warm breakfast as the rain continued to drizzle outside. Maloi took a bite of the omelet and let out an exaggerated sigh of delight.

"This is amazing," she said, her eyes wide. "I can't believe you made this out of, like, scraps."

"I'm glad you like it," Colet said, her tone modest but her eyes glinting with satisfaction.

As they ate, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Maloi's bubbly nature was on full display as she cracked jokes about her lack of cooking skills and her habit of surviving on takeout. Colet, for her part, was quietly amused, her usual reserved demeanor softening as she listened to Maloi's stories.

"You know," Maloi said between bites, "if this whole CEO thing doesn't work out, you could totally open a restaurant. I'd be your first customer."

Colet laughed softly, shaking her head. "I think I'll stick to my day job. But I'll keep that in mind."

The moment felt simple but meaningful—two people sharing a meal, their connection growing with every passing second. As Maloi looked across the table at Colet, she couldn't help but feel a warmth that went beyond the food.

"You're full of surprises, you know that?" Maloi said, her tone quieter now.

Colet looked up, her gaze meeting Maloi's. "So are you."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them charged with unspoken possibilities. The rain outside softened to a gentle drizzle, the world beyond the apartment feeling far away.

As they finished their breakfast, Maloi couldn't shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something she hadn't even known she was looking for.