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

05

Monday morning arrived with the usual bustle of students filling the hallways, catching up after the weekend, and rushing to their classes. Colet, however, was more distracted than usual as she walked through the corridors of Sapphire High. She couldn't stop thinking about the strange shift that had happened between her and Maloi on Friday. It was as if their rivalry had softened into something unspoken, something neither of them knew how to define.

*Focus on the debate,* Colet reminded herself for the hundredth time. *That's what matters.*

But even as she tried to concentrate on the competition, her thoughts kept drifting back to Maloi. How had things gotten so complicated? For years, Maloi had been her biggest rival, the one person who could push her to her limits. But now, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something more beneath the surface—something that wasn't as simple as winning or losing.

As she rounded the corner toward her locker, Colet was pulled out of her thoughts by a familiar voice.

"Morning, Colet," Maloi said, leaning casually against the lockers, a playful smile on her face.

Colet felt her heart skip a beat. Maloi was standing there, her usual confident self, but there was something different in the way she looked at Colet now—something that made Colet's stomach flutter in a way she didn't quite understand.

"Morning," Colet replied, trying to keep her voice steady as she opened her locker. She busied herself with her books, but she could feel Maloi's gaze lingering on her.

"We should meet up later to finalize our closing arguments," Maloi suggested. "The competition is only a few days away."

Colet nodded, her mind racing. "Yeah, sounds good. I've been working on some ideas over the weekend."

"Great," Maloi said, her smile widening just a little. "I'm looking forward to hearing them."

There it was again—that tension that had been building between them, that feeling that something had shifted. Colet wasn't sure how to handle it. Was this just part of their new dynamic as teammates, or was it something more? And more importantly, did she even want to figure it out?

"See you after school, then," Maloi said, giving Colet a final glance before turning and walking down the hallway.

Colet watched her go, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. She had always known where she stood with Maloi—competitors, rivals, equals. But now, things weren't so clear anymore. It was confusing, and a part of her didn't know how to navigate this new territory.

*Stop overthinking it,* she told herself as she slammed her locker shut. But even as she made her way to class, Colet couldn't help but wonder if Maloi was feeling the same way.

---

That afternoon, Colet and Maloi met in the library again, their usual spot by the windows offering a view of the courtyard outside. The late summer sun cast a golden light over their notes, but neither of them seemed to notice. They were too focused on their work—at least, that's what Colet kept telling herself.

"How about we start with a rebuttal on the economic impact of renewable energy investments?" Colet suggested, her eyes scanning the notes in front of her.

Maloi nodded, scribbling something in her notebook. "Good idea. We should emphasize the long-term benefits versus the short-term costs."

They fell into an easy rhythm, bouncing ideas back and forth as they worked to refine their arguments. But beneath the surface, Colet could feel that tension growing stronger. Every time their hands brushed as they passed papers back and forth, or when their eyes met across the table, Colet's heart raced just a little faster.

As they neared the end of their session, Colet couldn't take it anymore. She needed to know if Maloi felt it too—the strange pull between them that had nothing to do with the debate.

"Maloi," Colet said, her voice softer than usual.

Maloi looked up, her expression curious. "What's up?"

Colet hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase what she wanted to say. "Have you... noticed anything different between us? I mean, since we started working together."

Maloi raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the question. She was silent for a moment, as if considering her answer. Then, she leaned back in her chair, her eyes never leaving Colet's.

"Yeah," Maloi said slowly, her voice thoughtful. "I've noticed."

Colet's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but hearing Maloi acknowledge it made everything feel even more real.

"It's not just me, then?" Colet asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Maloi shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "No, it's not just you."

For a moment, they sat there in silence, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging in the air between them. Colet could feel her pulse quickening, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. This wasn't how she had expected things to go. She had always seen Maloi as her rival—someone to compete against, someone to beat. But now...

"What do we do about it?" Colet asked, her voice shaky.

Maloi's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "I don't know. But whatever it is, we'll figure it out."

Colet nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't have all the answers yet, but for the first time, she realized that maybe—just maybe—there was more to their rivalry than she had ever imagined.

And as they packed up their things and left the library together, Colet couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much bigger than either of them had anticipated.