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

17

The fall semester began with the usual hustle and bustle of college life. Colet was deep into her internship, balancing classes and extracurricular activities, while Maloi continued to excel in her research program. They managed to reconnect after the summer break, but there was an underlying tension in their conversations that neither wanted to address head-on.

One evening, during one of their usual video calls, Colet hesitated before speaking. "Maloi, I need to tell you something."

Maloi's face grew serious. "What's on your mind?"

Colet took a deep breath, deciding that honesty was the best policy. "Over the summer, I reconnected with Janelle, an old classmate from high school. We've been hanging out a bit, and... well, she told me she has feelings for me."

The silence on the other end of the call was deafening. Maloi's expression was unreadable, and Colet's heart pounded in her chest as she waited for a response.

After what felt like an eternity, Maloi finally spoke, her voice steady but tinged with hurt. "Did anything happen between you two?"

Colet quickly shook her head. "No, nothing like that. I made it clear that I'm committed to you, and Janelle respects that. But I didn't want to keep this from you—I want us to be open and honest with each other."

Maloi let out a long sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I appreciate that, Colet. It's just... this distance is hard. Sometimes it feels like we're living in two different worlds. And hearing that someone else has feelings for you... it scares me."

Colet's heart ached at the vulnerability in Maloi's voice. "I know, Maloi. This isn't easy for either of us, but I promise you, my heart is with you. No one else can take your place."

Maloi nodded, but the doubt in her eyes lingered. "I believe you, Colet. But we need to find a way to bridge this gap between us. I don't want to lose what we have."

Colet agreed wholeheartedly. "We'll figure it out, together. We've overcome so much already, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work."

---

In the weeks that followed, Colet and Maloi put in extra effort to stay connected. They scheduled regular video calls, sent each other thoughtful messages throughout the day, and even made plans for Maloi to visit Colet's campus during her fall break. The anticipation of seeing each other again gave them both something to look forward to.

However, the distance still took its toll. Maloi's workload intensified as her research program became more demanding, and Colet's internship responsibilities increased, leaving them both feeling stretched thin. Their conversations, while still filled with love and support, began to feel more like check-ins rather than meaningful connections.

One night, after a particularly exhausting day, Colet found herself staring at her phone, wondering if she should call Maloi. They hadn't spoken in a few days, and the guilt of neglecting their relationship weighed heavily on her. Just as she was about to dial Maloi's number, a message from Janelle popped up on her screen.

"Hey, Colet. Are you free to grab dinner tonight? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I could use a friend to talk to."

Colet hesitated. She valued her friendship with Janelle, but she knew that spending too much time with her could complicate things. Still, she didn't want to leave her friend in need. After a moment of consideration, she responded with a quick, "Sure, let's meet at the usual spot."

---

At the diner, Colet and Janelle shared stories about their busy lives. Janelle vented about the pressures of her classes, and Colet listened intently, offering support where she could. The evening passed by quickly, and for a moment, Colet was able to forget about the stress she had been carrying.

As they finished their meal, Janelle looked at Colet with a mix of gratitude and something deeper. "Thanks for being here, Colet. I know things have been complicated between us, but I'm really glad we can still be friends."

Colet smiled warmly. "Of course, Janelle. I'm always here for you."

Janelle hesitated for a moment, then added, "You know, I've been thinking a lot about what I said to you this summer. I still have feelings for you, but I understand that you're with Maloi. I just... I want you to be happy, whatever that means."

Colet appreciated Janelle's honesty but felt a pang of discomfort. "I care about you, Janelle, but my heart is with Maloi. I hope you understand that."

Janelle nodded, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I do. I just needed to say it one last time."

As Colet walked back to her dorm that night, her mind was filled with conflicting emotions. She loved Maloi with all her heart, but the weight of distance and the complexities of her friendship with Janelle were becoming harder to ignore.

---

The next day, as Colet prepared for her classes, her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Maloi, saying she had booked her ticket for the fall break visit. Colet felt a rush of excitement at the thought of seeing Maloi again. Maybe that's what they needed—time together, away from the pressures of school and distance.

But as she stared at the message, a nagging doubt crept into her mind. Was their love strong enough to survive the growing distance, not just physically but emotionally?

Only time would tell, and Colet knew that the next few weeks would be crucial for their relationship. The challenges they faced were more complex than ever, and the road ahead was uncertain. But one thing was clear: they needed to fight for what they had, or risk losing it all.

With a deep breath, Colet typed a reply to Maloi, a mixture of hope and determination filling her heart. "I can't wait to see you. We'll get through this, together."