When Stars Collide (INCOMPLETE)

Chapter 2: New Connections

Chapter 2:

The rest of the school day flew by in a blur for Maloi Ricalde. Even as she tried to focus on her classes, her mind kept drifting back to her earlier encounter with Colet Vergara. Something about their meeting had sparked a sense of excitement and curiosity in her, and she found herself eagerly anticipating their next interaction.

When the final bell rang, Maloi hurried to her locker to grab her things. As she packed up, she heard a familiar voice calling her name.

“Maloi!”

She turned to see her friends Sheena Catacutan, Stacey Sevilleja, and Mikha Lim approaching her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“What’s up, guys?” Maloi asked, closing her locker with a smile.

“So,” Sheena began, her eyes twinkling mischievously, “what’s the deal with you and that girl, Colet? You seemed pretty chummy in class earlier.”

“Yeah, we saw you two talking a lot,” Stacey added, her tone more analytical than teasing.

Maloi shrugged, trying to downplay her interest. “We just bumped into each other—literally—on the way to class. She seems really nice, though.”

“She definitely is,” Mikha chimed in, her voice calm and measured as always. “I’ve had a few classes with her. She’s one of those people who’s just genuinely friendly to everyone.”

Sheena nudged Maloi playfully. “Looks like you made a new friend! Maybe we should all hang out sometime.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” Maloi agreed, her smile widening at the thought. “But I don’t want to overwhelm her. We’ll see how it goes.”

The girls continued chatting as they made their way out of the school building. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the campus, and the air was filled with the chatter and laughter of students eager to head home or hang out with friends.

As they reached the main gate, Maloi’s gaze wandered, and she spotted Colet standing with a small group of girls near the entrance. She recognized them as Colet’s friends—Aiah Arceta, Gwen Apuli, and Jhoanna Robles.

“Hey, there’s Colet,” Maloi said, nodding in their direction.

The group turned to see Colet and her friends. Sheena waved enthusiastically, catching Colet’s attention.

“Hey, Colet!” Sheena called out.

Colet looked up, her face lighting up with a smile when she saw Maloi and her friends. She said something to Aiah, Gwen, and Jhoanna, then walked over to join Maloi’s group.

“Hey, guys!” Colet greeted them cheerfully. “What’s up?”

“Not much, just heading home,” Maloi replied, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of Colet’s warm smile.

“You know, we were just talking about how it’d be cool for all of us to hang out sometime,” Sheena said, ever the social butterfly. “What do you think?”

Colet’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “I’d love that! We could all get to know each other better.”

“Awesome! Maybe we could grab some snacks or something after school one day,” Stacey suggested, always practical in her planning.

“Sounds good to me,” Colet agreed. “I’ll let my friends know, too. They’re really chill, and I think you guys would get along great.”

As they chatted, Aiah, Gwen, and Jhoanna walked over to join them, curious about the conversation. Colet quickly introduced them to Maloi, Sheena, Stacey, and Mikha.

“This is Aiah, Gwen, and Jhoanna,” Colet said, gesturing to each of her friends. “And these are Maloi, Sheena, Stacey, and Mikha.”

“Nice to meet you!” Aiah said with a friendly smile. She was petite with short hair and an easygoing vibe that immediately put everyone at ease.

Gwen, who had a more reserved demeanor but a kind expression, nodded politely. “It’s great to meet you all.”

Jhoanna, the tallest of the group with a confident presence, offered a playful grin. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a new crew.”

The two groups quickly fell into conversation, discovering shared interests and laughing over lighthearted banter. Maloi couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging as she chatted with Colet’s friends. Despite their different backgrounds and personalities, there was an easy camaraderie between them that made it feel like they had known each other for much longer.

As the conversation flowed, Sheena suggested an impromptu visit to a nearby café to grab some snacks. Everyone agreed eagerly, and they set off together, the group of girls laughing and chatting as they walked through the neighborhood.

The café, a cozy little spot with warm lighting and a welcoming atmosphere, was bustling with students who had the same idea. The group found a large table in the corner, settling in with drinks and snacks. The conversation ranged from school gossip to favorite movies and music, with everyone contributing their thoughts and stories.

Maloi found herself sitting next to Colet, their earlier collision now just a distant memory. As they chatted, she realized how easy it was to talk to Colet—there was no pretense, just genuine interest in each other’s lives.

“So, what do you usually do after school?” Maloi asked, curious to learn more about her new friend.

“Nothing too exciting,” Colet replied with a shrug. “Sometimes I hang out with these guys, or I’ll just go home and relax. I like to read, too—mostly fiction. How about you?”

“Pretty much the same,” Maloi said with a smile. “I hang out with my friends, maybe catch up on some homework, and I love reading too. We should exchange book recommendations sometime.”

“I’d love that!” Colet said, her eyes lighting up at the idea. “Maybe we could even start a little book club with our friends.”

“That sounds like fun,” Maloi agreed, feeling a warm sense of connection.

As the evening wore on, the group continued to bond over shared experiences and new ideas. Maloi couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so comfortable with a new group of people. It was clear that this wasn’t just a fleeting connection—there was potential for something deeper, something that could last.

By the time they all decided to head home, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky a deep shade of blue. The girls exchanged goodbyes, promising to meet up again soon.

As Maloi walked home with Sheena, Stacey, and Mikha, she couldn’t help but feel that today had been the start of something special. New friendships had been forged, and the possibilities ahead seemed endless.

“What do you think of Colet and her friends?” Sheena asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

“I like them,” Maloi said with a genuine smile. “I think we’re going to have a lot of fun together.”

“Same here,” Stacey added. “They seem really cool.”

Mikha, ever the observant one, nodded in agreement. “It’s nice to have new people in our circle. I have a good feeling about this.”

As they walked down the quiet street, the promise of new connections and the excitement of what lay ahead filled Maloi with a sense of contentment. She knew that this was just the beginning, and she couldn’t wait to see where this new chapter in her life would lead.

End of Chapter 2.