I'm in Love with My Enemy : A MaColet's Journey

04

The following days passed in a blur of intense preparation. Colet and Maloi met every afternoon after school, their notebooks and textbooks spread out across the library table as they pieced together their debate strategy. To Colet's surprise, they worked surprisingly well together. The more they collaborated, the more she realized just how much they complemented each other.

Colet was strategic and organized, able to see the big picture and plan accordingly. Maloi, on the other hand, had a sharp eye for detail and a knack for anticipating counterarguments before they were even raised. Together, they built a rock-solid case, layering their research with facts, statistics, and persuasive rhetoric.

But as their partnership strengthened, so did the tension between them. It wasn't the old tension of rivalry, but something new—something more complicated. Every time Colet caught Maloi's eye, she felt a flicker of something she couldn't name. And the more time they spent together, the harder it became to ignore.

On Friday afternoon, they decided to practice their opening statements in one of the empty classrooms. The sun was setting outside, casting a warm orange glow through the windows as they faced each other, ready to begin.

Colet cleared her throat and began, her voice confident and measured. She delivered her opening argument with precision, emphasizing key points and making sure to maintain eye contact. When she finished, she felt a surge of satisfaction—until she noticed Maloi staring at her with an amused expression.

"What?" Colet asked, lowering her notes.

"You're good," Maloi said, crossing her arms with a smirk. "But you're too polished."

"Too polished?" Colet repeated, frowning.

"Yeah," Maloi said, leaning back against one of the desks. "You're saying all the right things, but it feels rehearsed. Like you're ticking off boxes instead of actually believing what you're saying."

Colet opened her mouth to protest, but Maloi held up a hand.

"Don't get me wrong—you're great at this. But if you want to really connect with the judges, you need to loosen up a bit. Let them see that you're passionate about this, not just reciting facts."

Colet stared at her for a moment, processing Maloi's words. She wasn't used to being critiqued—especially by Maloi—but she couldn't deny that there was some truth in what she said. Colet prided herself on being prepared, but maybe in her effort to be perfect, she had lost some of the authenticity that made arguments compelling.

"Okay," Colet said, nodding slowly. "I see your point. Let's hear yours, then."

Maloi raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting Colet to take the critique so well. She straightened up and began her opening statement. Her tone was smooth and confident, but there was an undeniable passion behind her words. She spoke with conviction, and even though Colet had heard Maloi practice before, this time, it felt different—more real.

When Maloi finished, Colet found herself clapping, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "You're really good," she said, and for the first time, it didn't feel like a begrudging admission. It felt like respect.

Maloi chuckled. "Thanks. But we still need to work on finding a balance between passion and precision. That's what will make us unbeatable."

Colet nodded in agreement, but her mind was racing with other thoughts. It was becoming increasingly difficult to separate her admiration for Maloi's skills from the growing connection she felt between them. Their partnership had turned into something unexpected—something that was blurring the lines between rivalry and something else entirely.

As they gathered their things to leave, the atmosphere in the room felt heavy with unspoken words. Colet hesitated at the door, feeling like she should say something, but unsure of what. Maloi seemed to sense the tension too, because she paused and glanced over at Colet.

"Hey," Maloi said softly, breaking the silence. "I know we've spent years competing against each other, but... I'm glad we're on the same team this time."

Colet blinked in surprise. Maloi wasn't one to express her feelings easily, so hearing her say that caught Colet off guard. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, something that made her feel both vulnerable and oddly comforted.

"Me too," Colet admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "I didn't expect this, but... it's been good. Working with you, I mean."

For a moment, they stood there, neither of them moving. The tension in the air wasn't the sharp edge of rivalry anymore; it was something softer, something that neither of them knew how to navigate.

"I guess we'll see where this takes us," Maloi said with a small smile, her eyes lingering on Colet's for just a second longer than necessary.

"Yeah," Colet replied, her heart skipping a beat as she turned to leave the classroom. "I guess we will."

As Colet walked out into the cool evening air, she couldn't shake the feeling that things between her and Maloi were changing in ways she never anticipated. Their rivalry had always been intense, but now, something deeper was growing between them—something that made Colet both excited and nervous.

What scared her the most, though, was that she wasn't sure if she wanted to stop it.