After a tiring night of chaos, trying to keep Luna under control, Jazzlyn and Ellie slept in with Luna. Isla had to send Julian off the night before and head to sleep herself at midnight before the girls settled down close to 2 am.

  Hence, with an early morning in her hometown, Isla decided to venture out alone to the old streets. It was where her parents’ shop once stood before they sold it away and headed to the west of Malaysia when Isla was only thirteen. Her father had a better business venture opportunity in the west with his old supplier.

  They were the second to leave Lahad Datu as Jazzlyn’s family had shifted her over to stay with the family before she sat for her primary school’s last exam. A part of Isla was happy cause she knew she would be reunited with Jazzlyn again, but she was sad that Ellie was left behind.

  It wasn’t till Isla’s mother noticed how close-knit the girls’ relationship was that Isla’s mother spoke to her husband to help out Ellie’s family with the shift three years later. That was also when the family learned of Ellie’s parents’ separation.

  Back then, Jazzlyn’s family also helped out to chip in on Ellie’s family's necessary expenses. It was a better solution than having Jazzlyn and Isla fly back to Lahad Datu during the school holiday period just to spend their time with Ellie. There were times when they would fly Ellie to Kuala Lumpur and stay over at Jazzlyn’s place.

  By the time they all graduated high school, with Ellie’s family condition becoming more stable, life just had to create more rifts for the girls. Isla’s parents were caught in a fatal accident and left Isla with a huge fortune. Once again, though the business her father built over a short time span made money, Isla was too young to take over during her college days. Instead, she sold it to her father’s business partner.

  It was around the same time that Jazzlyn began to rebel against her family cause her father was dictating her career path and insisted she study medicine. She didn’t want to be away from Isla or Ellie, knowing especially Ellie would have difficulty affording college fees, but fortunately, Isla helped Ellie to fund her studies in accounts with the fortune her parents left her while Isla herself pursued business management. It was also where Isla met with Lex. That left Jazzlyn reluctantly picking up medicine but ensuring close contact with Isla and Ellie.

  Now, walking down the once familiar streets of her hometown, tiny memories came flooding into Isla’s mind. She wondered if her family had never shifted to the west, would her parents still be alive?

  Never mind if she didn’t meet Lex, cause she believed that if it was destined, someday she would still meet Lex on a different timeline, and perhaps he wouldn’t have passed on so early?

  Ultimately, she wondered what would have become of Ellie, especially after her parents’ separation. Isla wondered if Ellie would be able to even step into college or would they be estranged from Jazzlyn?

  Perhaps Jazzlyn would have rebelled and run back to her grandparents’ home. Knowing her, she wasn’t that fragile to just end with suicide for as long as Ellie and herself was still alive.

  Growing up together and meeting in standard one of primary school, the trio had gone a long way. If it wasn’t because their classmates always wanted to pick on and bully Ellie for being a chubby kid, Isla and Jazzlyn would never have had the chance to be close to Ellie.

  Ellie, knowing her underprivileged family condition and her parents’ constant argument over money, has made her become a quiet child, filled with sadness. No matter what anyone said bad about her, she would just accept it without a fight. No matter what anyone praises her, she finds it hard to believe cause the next thing she feared was the downfall of all the goodness she was holding on to.

  It was Jazzlyn who couldn’t stand the injustice of the bullies, which was worsening each day. When they were verbally teasing and abusing Ellie, Ellie just kept quiet and sometimes broke down in tears. Jazzlyn would then appease her when the bullies were satisfied and left.

  It was when the bullies began to be physical with Ellie that Isla marched up to the girl who slapped and kicked Ellie. Isla reprimanded the girl who didn’t want to back down and slapped her in return. This was also where Julian stepped in and threatened to bully the girls back every day if they dared lift their hand further on Ellie.

  The entire situation became a parents-teacher meeting of all sides, excluding Ellie’s. Isla strongly defended that she was protecting her friend from being bullied. She was so stern and vocal with her conviction in claiming so that the bully’s parents had no choice but to force their children to apologise to Ellie.

  From then on, the girls formed a strong bond. Ellie began to open up and accept that there were still genuinely good people left in this world, with her slowly accepting Julian as a friend. In one year of primary school, they were in the same class, and that was where they grew closer and shared many common topics. Unfortunately, after that year, Julian was the first to be transferred away to the west of Malaysia for school.

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  Whereas the leader of the bully whom Isla had made a nemesis till today was none other than Luna. The rest of the girls who had befriended her, slowly one by one, went estranged, especially after the trouble she had caused them all with their parents.

  Luna had grown up with a pampered life. Her family was making big money from the manufacturing of palm oil. She often seeks attention from others and flaunts her wealth cause her parents barely had time to look after her. They would replace their time with expensive gifts.

  At some point, when the trio shifted to the west one by one, Luna realised she didn’t want to be left behind in this small town. She demanded that her parents send her to school in the West, too, but it only happened during her tertiary studies.

  When Isla left, Ellie was forced to spend her time with Luna for those three years. That was also where they became closer. Despite Ellie’s shift, Luna still kept close tracking on the trio cause she had not let go of the grudge she held, especially against Isla, who humiliated her in front of her parents and caused her to lose her friends when they were so young to defend Ellie.

  However, being always considerate, Ellie had seen through Luna and could understand her during those short three years after Isla left. In return, it was Ellie who cared for Luna despite her departure. If it weren’t for Ellie, Jazzlyn wouldn't have bothered with her. Neither would Isla.

  Coming back to this small town again after so many years, everything had changed and even modernised. Only a few old shops were still around. Even then, Isla knew the taste was different from back then. Her favorite beef noodle soup was one of her father’s old customers. As she stepped inside the shop, there was only one familiar face left.

  “Jin Ru!” The old granny called her Chinese name excitedly. It made her feel the nostalgia of being called by her parents back then as she smiled, heading towards the counter.

  “Granny Chew! Have you been well?” Isla asked as she nodded while holding out to Isla’s hands.

  “How have you been? Aiyo*, it’s been so long since you came back here. Where is your husband? Didn’t he come with you this time? Baby? Any baby yet?” Granny Chew asked happily as Isla forced her smile before sighing.

  “He had passed away five years ago in an accident… No baby.” Isla said solemnly, but maintaining her smile, not to further upset the old woman.

  “Aww, aiyo*. I’m so sorry, Jin Ru.” Granny Sim apologised as Isla shook her head.

  “It’s alright, granny. How’s your health? You look very well!” Isla complimented.

  “Yes, yes. I’m good. Come, let me ask them to prepare your favourite special beef noodle…” Granny Chew said as she went to place an order in the kitchen before returning to catch up with Isla.

  Meanwhile, in the hotel, Jazzlyn woke first to find Isla had left. Ellie too stirred awake and found Jazzlyn in the pantry.

  “Morning…” Ellie said groggily when Jazzlyn passed her a bottle of water.

  “Morning…” Jazzlyn said softly before sitting on the counter and sighed.

  “Isla?” Ellie asked, noticing she was nowhere to be seen.

  “I think she went to the old town…” Jazzlyn guessed.

  “What?! How could she without us?! I miss the beef noodles!” Ellie shierked as Jazzlyn smiled.

  “Let her, Ellie… It’s a hard trip for her.” Jazzlyn commented before taking another sip of water.

  “Cause of her?” Ellie pointed towards Luna’s room as Jazzlyn shook her head.

  “It’s been a long while since she returned here. The last round was with Lex.” Jazzlyn explained, and Ellie instantly understood.

  “Aww… That explains the reason for her rebellion and angsty self…But hey, we return when you’re going to marry.” The girls smiled at Ellie’s realisation of the coincidence.

  “What are you going to do about her?” Jazzlyn asked as she pointed towards Luna’s room with her chin.

  “I’m not sure…” Ellie shrugged.

  “Since we are leaving tomorrow, why don’t we take her out?” Jazzlyn suggested as Ellie smiled and nodded.

  “Oh, oh… Speaking of which, let’s check if Julian is still around, and we can all go have fun!” Jazzlyn wriggled her eyebrow at Ellie, who was frowning.

  “What’s your problem?” Ellie sounded agitated.

  “Eh*, eh*, don’t pretend… We all know what happened last night…” Jazzlyn teased as Ellie blushed in denial.

  Right then, Luna’s door dashed open. “Water… Oh… so dry! Water!” Luna frantically called out before Ellie passed her bottle to her, and Luna drank it all down.

  “Oh… that’s refreshing…” Luna lamented before sitting on the countertop as the girls stared at her. Luna then began to realise what had happened the night before, before burping.

  “I’m so sorry… For the mess…” She bowed to them both as Ellie waved.

  “It’s fine…” Ellie always would forgive easily, and Luna knew but couldn’t hesitate the chance not to take advantage of her.

  “In return, you are to come with us on a day out!” Jazzlyn demanded as Luna forcefully nodded at her request cause she was embarrassed to face the trio after realising she had lost her dignity over being drunk and revealing things she wanted to hide all along.

  To make things worse, she didn’t expect Jazzlyn and Ellie to invite Julian, who also knew of her hidden situation. She felt like digging a hole to hide forever!

  Glossary:

  *Aiyo - in Asia, it’s used to express distress, regret, or grief

  *Eh - represents a sound made in speech, to express inquiry or surprise