I Don't Want You Like A Bestfriend // Macolet

Chapter 14 - The Night We Met

It was a typical Saturday afternoon, filled with laughter and chatter as Colet, Maloi, Mikha, Aiah, Sheena, Gwen, Jhoanna, and Stacey lounged at their favorite café. We were recounting the latest university gossip and planning our next outing when my phone buzzed with an incoming call from my mom.

"I need to take this," I said, excusing myself from the table. Colet looked up from her drink and gave me a questioning glance. I shrugged and mouthed, "Mom."

Stepping outside to avoid the noise, I answered, "Hi, Mom."

"Maloi, can you come home now? There's something important we need to talk about," my mom said, her voice sounding unusually serious.

My heart sank. "Sure, I'll be right there."

Re-entering the café, I told everyone, "I have to go. My mom wants me home."

Colet immediately offered, "I'll drop you off."

The car ride was filled with nervous silence. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something big was about to happen. When we arrived at my house, I turned to Colet. "Thanks for the ride. I'll text you later."

"Everything okay?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"I don't know yet. I'll let you know."

Inside, my mom was waiting in the living room. "Sit down, Maloi," she said, patting the couch next to her.

"What's going on, Mom?" I asked, my anxiety growing.

She took a deep breath. "We're moving back to the Philippines. I got a job offer there, and we need to leave as soon as possible."

The words hit me like a ton of bricks. "What? No, we can't just move! My life is here. My friends are here. Colet is here!"

"I know it's sudden, but it's a great opportunity for us," she tried to explain.

I couldn't handle it. "I don't care about the opportunity. I don't want to go!" I shouted, storming off to my room and slamming the door behind me.

In my room, I immediately dialed Colet's number. She picked up on the second ring. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"We're moving back to the Philippines," I said, my voice breaking.

There was a brief silence before she responded, "I'm so sorry, Maloi. Do you want to meet up tomorrow with everyone and talk about it?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," I sniffed.

The next day, we gathered at the park. My friends surrounded me, their expressions a mix of concern and sadness.

"I don't want to leave you all," I said, tears streaming down my face.

"We'll find a way to stay in touch," Gwen assured me.

"We're always here for you, no matter where you are," Sheena added.

Aiah hugged me tightly. "It's going to be okay, Maloi."

Even though their words were comforting, the reality of moving felt like a heavy weight on my shoulders.

The next few days flew by in a blur of packing and goodbyes. Before I knew it, it was the night before we were set to leave. I spent the entire day in my room, crying over the life I was leaving behind.

Colet was equally distraught. She turned to our favorite radio station for comfort, hoping to find some solace in the familiar songs. When the station announced they were looking for stories to share, Colet seized the opportunity. She called in and told them our story, from the day we met to the present, keeping our names anonymous.

As I lay in bed, listening to the radio, I suddenly heard Colet's voice. She was recounting our friendship, her words filled with emotion. I grabbed my phone and called her immediately after she finished.

"Colet, I heard you on the radio," I said, my voice thick with tears. "I can't do this. I can't leave you. I'm not going with my mom. I'm coming to your condo right now."

"Maloi, are you sure?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.

"Yes, I'm sure. I can't be away from you."

I rushed out of the house, my suitcase in hand, and flagged down a taxi. It was already midnight, but I didn't care. I had to get to Colet. As I crossed the street to the waiting cab, I was too focused on my goal to notice the truck speeding towards me.

There was a blinding light, the screech of tires, and then an excruciating pain as I was thrown to the ground. I heard myself scream, the sound echoing in the still night air. Everything went dark.

Colet, who had been anxiously waiting for me, heard the scream through the phone. "Maloi? Maloi!" she shouted, panic rising in her voice. She grabbed her keys and raced to where I said I was, praying that I was okay.

When she arrived, she saw the flashing lights of an ambulance and the gathered crowd. Pushing through, she saw me lying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding. "Maloi!" she cried, tears streaming down her face as she knelt beside me.

The paramedics worked quickly, loading me into the ambulance. Colet climbed in beside me, holding my hand tightly. "Stay with me, Maloi. Please, stay with me."

At the hospital, Colet called our friends, who rushed over as soon as they could. They sat in the waiting room, their faces etched with worry. Colet paced back and forth, unable to sit still.

Hours passed before a doctor finally emerged. "She's stable, but she's in a coma. We're doing everything we can to monitor her condition."

Colet nodded, tears still streaming down her face. "Can I see her?"

The doctor allowed her a brief visit. Colet walked into the room, her heart breaking at the sight of me lying motionless on the bed. She sat down beside me, taking my hand in hers. "I'm here, Maloi. I'm not going anywhere."