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The days after the competition were a strange blend of normalcy and change. On the surface, things at Sapphire High went back to the usual routine—classes, assignments, and hallway chatter—but for Colet and Maloi, everything felt different. The rivalry that had once defined their relationship had faded into something more complex, something they were still figuring out together. They had taken the first step, and now, they were ready to see where it would lead.

Their newfound connection didn't go unnoticed by their classmates. The rumors that had been swirling around them seemed to have shifted, with more and more people whispering about Colet and Maloi's growing closeness. But unlike before, neither of them cared much about what others thought. They had each other, and that was enough.

One afternoon, as the school day came to an end, Colet and Maloi decided to take a walk around the campus. The weather had cleared up, and the golden light of the late afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm glow. It was peaceful, a perfect contrast to the intensity of the past few weeks.

As they walked, Colet couldn't help but think about how far they had come. From rivals who couldn't stand to be in the same room, to partners who had won a championship together—and now, to something even deeper. It was almost unbelievable.

"Hey," Maloi's voice broke through Colet's thoughts, pulling her back to the present. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Colet smiled, shaking her head slightly. "I was just thinking about how much has changed. If you had told me a few months ago that we'd be here, walking together like this, I probably wouldn't have believed you."

Maloi chuckled softly. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It's kind of crazy when you think about it. But... I'm glad things turned out this way. I wouldn't change it for anything."

Colet looked at Maloi, her heart swelling with gratitude and affection. Maloi's presence had become something she cherished—something she hadn't realized she needed until it was there. They stopped walking for a moment, standing side by side in the middle of the empty school courtyard.

"Maloi," Colet began, her voice quiet but filled with emotion. "I'm really glad too. And... I just want to say thank you. For everything. For being there, for pushing me to be better, for... for all of it."

Maloi smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at Colet. "You don't have to thank me, Colet. I should be thanking you. You've changed my life in ways I never expected. And I'm just happy we're in this together now."

Colet felt a warmth spread through her chest at Maloi's words. It was still strange to think about how much had shifted between them, but it felt right. They had gone from enemies to friends to something more, and now, they were standing on the brink of a new beginning.

As they continued their walk, the conversation turned light, filled with laughter and playful banter. It felt easy, natural—like they had always been this way. And for the first time in a long time, Colet felt a sense of peace settle over her. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that whatever came next, she and Maloi would face it together.

---

The next few weeks passed in a blur of ordinary moments—study sessions, lunches in the courtyard, and late-night phone calls. Colet and Maloi had settled into a comfortable rhythm, balancing their schoolwork with their growing relationship. It wasn't always easy; there were still moments of doubt, moments where they both questioned what they were doing. But they had learned to talk through it, to lean on each other when things got tough.

One Friday afternoon, as they were packing up their things after class, Maloi turned to Colet with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"So," Maloi said, leaning against her desk. "What do you say we celebrate our debate win this weekend? We never really got a chance to do anything special."

Colet raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Celebrate? What did you have in mind?"

Maloi grinned. "There's this new café that just opened downtown. I heard they have the best desserts. What do you think? Just the two of us."

Colet couldn't help but smile at Maloi's suggestion. The idea of spending time together outside of school, away from the prying eyes of their classmates, sounded perfect.

"That sounds great," Colet replied, her excitement growing. "I'd love to."

"Great," Maloi said, her grin widening. "It's a date, then."

The word "date" hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Colet felt a rush of nervousness. But as she looked at Maloi's easy smile, she realized that this was just another step in their journey—another step toward something new and wonderful.

As they left the classroom together, Colet felt a sense of anticipation building inside her. This was just the beginning of their story, and she couldn't wait to see where it would take them next.

---

Saturday arrived, and with it came a sense of excitement that Colet hadn't felt in a long time. She spent the morning carefully choosing what to wear, wanting to make sure she looked her best for her afternoon with Maloi. When she finally settled on an outfit, she felt a mixture of nerves and excitement bubbling inside her.

When she arrived at the café, Maloi was already there, waiting at a table near the window. She looked up as Colet walked in, her face lighting up with a smile that made Colet's heart skip a beat.

"Hey," Maloi said as Colet approached the table. "You look amazing."

Colet blushed, feeling a little shy under Maloi's gaze. "Thanks. You do too."

They sat down, and the conversation flowed easily as they ordered their desserts and chatted about everything and nothing. It felt so natural, so comfortable—like they had been doing this forever. And as they laughed and shared stories, Colet couldn't help but feel that this was exactly where she was meant to be.

After they finished their desserts, Maloi leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. "That was great. We should do this more often."

Colet nodded in agreement. "Definitely. I had a lot of fun."

They stayed at the café for a while longer, savoring the moment and the quiet intimacy that had grown between them. When it was finally time to leave, they walked out into the cool evening air, hand in hand.

As they stood outside the café, Colet felt a surge of courage rise up inside her. She turned to Maloi, her heart pounding in her chest, and before she could talk herself out of it, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Maloi's cheek.

Maloi blinked in surprise, her eyes widening slightly, but then a slow smile spread across her face—a smile that made Colet's heart race.

"Well, that was unexpected," Maloi teased, her voice light and playful. "But I'm not complaining."

Colet laughed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and happiness. "I just... I don't know. I wanted to."

Maloi chuckled, her hand still holding Colet's tightly. "I'm glad you did."

And as they walked away from the café, Colet knew that this was the start of something beautiful—something that had been waiting to bloom between them all along.

They didn't know what the future held, but as they walked hand in hand through the quiet streets, Colet felt a sense of certainty settle in her heart.

Whatever came next, they would face it together.

And that was all that mattered.

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