“So, how’s it going?” Julian asked, offering Ellie a soft drink as they strolled separately from Jazzlyn and Isla in the ballroom.

  “Same old… Life… You?” Ellie was avoiding trying to tell much about her unexciting life.

  “I’m good. Just a financial consultant. Doing sales but also helping clients in managing their wealth. Speaking of which, would you like some help with assessing your wealth?” Julian offered as Ellie chuckled.

  “I don’t have any wealth, as you know. My family is my huge commitment.” Ellie admitted.

  Julian tried to hide his surprise at her unexpected answers. “Wealth is defined in many ways, too. Not just monetary value.” Ellie tried not to make their situation awkward.

  “Well, at least giving you some aid on alternatives to where you can grow your savings and investments?” Julian persuaded her further as Ellie pondered before nodding.

  “Sure…” Ellie finally agreed, thinking there was no harm.

  “Just call me anytime, and we can meet in KL. For now, I’m more interested in knowing why Luna is so sticky with the gang when she wasn’t part of it since she was young.” Julian asked right after handing Ellie his name card. Their attention was diverted to Luna being a social bee, laughing obnoxiously as though she sponsored the event.

  “Honestly, that girl has a lot of problems that she hides…” Ellie could understand her entirely, and she believed the girls, too, but especially Isla, chose to ignore Luna because of her often seeking attention and taking advantage, which is correlated to the root cause of her issue.

  “I thought she was married to a rich family? Now you could hear she is telling about the co-owned music store business…” Julian pointed out as they stopped by one edge. Ellie sighed, but their sight was still on Luna.

  “She is divorcing…” Ellie said in a low tone as Julian blinked in surprise.

  “Oh, wow… That’s surprising…” Julian mumbled.

  “Keep it to yourself. Not many know, I suppose. Guess that’s why she wanted to meet you later in KL too, to reassess her assets probably.” Ellie took a sip of her soft drink while her gaze fell on Jazzlyn and Isla, who were keeping their eyes on Luna too.

  “What exactly are those two doing now in KL? You know I knew you would be in accounts, are you?” Julian tried to pry more updates from his long-lost friends.

  “They are doing great! Jazzlyn, as you know, is a doctor based on her family background, but she isn’t working in the family’s hospital. Isla is an English tuition teacher.” Ellie smiled, trying to avoid talking about herself again. Despite being curious about Jazzlyn’s situation, Julian was waiting to hear about her as he pestered on.

  “Ellie… And you?” Julian stepped closer to her. Ellie felt a little uncomfortable as Julian stepped away from her personal space.

  “I’m just Julian… I won’t judge, and we have known each other since we were young…” Julian tried coaxing.

  “I am just an accountant in a small firm…” Ellie grimaced at her admission.

  “Ellie… That’s great! You achieved your dream from a young age, like I did. We were always competing in solving maths issues. Look, it's something we should be proud about.” Julian praised as Ellie smiled.

  “Thank you…” She mumbled. “Is your family well? How’s Auntie and your younger sister doing?” Julian asked as Ellie gave him a tight smile.

  “It’s… Well, they are all well.” Ellie concluded, trying to push aside her embarrassment.

  “Good.. good to hear. Maybe someday I should visit them.” Julian said casually as Ellie smiled.

  “What about yours? Is your family well? Are you married yet?” Ellie’s question made Julian smile charmingly.

  “Finally getting some interest from you…” Julian teased, hearing Ellie finally ask the right questions. Ellie smiled and looked away.

  “What? I am just asking what you asked of me… It’s only right to share?” She retaliated as Julian smirked.

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  “They are well. Still staying in the same place. My sister got married and is looking after them here… I do come back often to visit them…” Ellie nodded in acknowledgement till Julian added on.

  “Alone…” They both burst into small giggles. “And you? Dating? Married?” Julian asked as Ellie couldn’t help but blush.

  “Alone…” The duo once again burst into giggles. Jazzlyn and Isla had noticed their sweet interaction as both girls giggled among themselves, too.

  “Looks like love is in the air…” Isla whispered to Jazzlyn.

  “I just didn't expect it to be him…” Jazzlyn folded her arms and pondered.

  “Didn't you remember when they were young, how close were they? Always competing to solve all maths problems.” Isla reminded Jazzlyn, who was putting an arm around Isla’s shoulders.

  “You're right, my friend. It nearly slipped my mind. If it weren't for her move to the west with her family or returning to this reunion, those two pea pods would never get a chance to reconnect.” Jazzlyn smiled gratefully.

  “This time it's really all thanks to the drama queen…” Isla praised as their attention turned back to the half tipsy Luna, who was laughing with some ex-primary school mates who looked forced to entertain her.

  Jazzlyn sighed as Isla gently rubbed Jazzlyn’s back. “I’m worried, Isla…” They both knew what that meant. Trouble was brewing if they didn’t step up to keep watch over Luna. No one else was around to be that concerned about her other than them and Ellie, especially.

  Isla sighed at the sight of Ellie, who was no longer giggling with Julian. She was also eyeing back and forth between them and Luna. Isla sighed, knowing her friends could never let Luna be alone tonight.

  “Fine… Control her and look after her all you want. I don’t care…” Isla folded her arms and used her chin to signal to Ellie to go ahead and approach Luna.

  Ellie was the first to go up to Luna and stopped her from being overly obnoxious as Jazzlyn went to support her.

  “Oh ho ho… Look, it's Ellie and Jazzie… I have been trying to get you both to visit my room the whole time with that snobbish Isla… She always stopped us…” Luna’s words were slurred as Jazzlyn pulled her to a table while Ellie gave her some water.

  “More wine, please…” Luna requested as Ellie urged her to drink the water.

  “More wine!!” She screamed while Julian and Isla stood watching the duo trying to appease Luna.

  “Since when were all of you so close?” Julian questioned Isla, who looked oblivious.

  “We were never… At least not me.” Isla commented casually as Julian frowned for an explanation.

  “You know how Ellie has been since young. Caring, soft-hearted, gullible… I had to be this stern, else you never know where that girl’s fortune would burn to…” Isla rolled her eyes at the last word as Julian smiled and nodded understandingly.

  “Drink this first… Only then can you have more wine! The event hasn’t even started!” Jazzlyn was stern but trying to control her volume not to create a commotion. Surprisingly, Luna obliged and stopped her ruckus for a moment as she settled down right before the emcee went on stage to begin the night.

  For the whole night, Isla was entertaining herself while occasionally engaging in small conversations with Julian, who was trying to catch Ellie’s attention, but Ellie was more worried about Luna, who was a little sober but moody. Jazzlyn had been trying her best to coax Luna to eat instead.

  That way, she could sober up quicker, but she was drinking quicker than she could sober up. Before the dinner even ended, Ellie and Jazzlyn had to drag Luna out of the ballroom with the help of Julian, while Isla trailed them back to Luna’s exquisite, expensive room.

  “So much for paying for the dinner and not being able to enjoy it to the fullest…” Isla mumbled to herself when the girls gathered at Luna’s room after putting her to bed.

  “Isla…” Jazzlyn reprimanded as Ellie went up to Julian.

  “Thanks for the help. Sorry for bothering… You should probably head back to the dinner for networking. It would be worthwhile.” Ellie reminded him as he shook his head.

  “No worries. I’m good. I can stay and help out… Besides, she…” Before Julian could say anything else, Luna was already awake and yelling in incoherent words. Isla held her head and shook it in annoyance while the three of them tried to appease her as Luna finally fell to the ground and cried.

  “Where is everyone when I need them? Everyone is only using me! My friends are fake. My family…” Luna cried, holding her heart.

  “All they wanted was fame and dignity! They used me to marry the man I learned to love but…” Luna cried even more.

  “My husband is cheating me off my money! A man with no direction! He couldn’t even stand up for himself! He doesn’t even love me does he?!”

  “What’s the point of being so rich?! When all I want is just to be loved?!” Luna cried as Ellie and Jazzlyn tried to soothe her while Isla took a deep breath, somewhat sympathising with Luna’s situation.

  “I want more wine! More! I paid for all of this! I must enjoy them to the fullest! We shall drink till the world ends…” She started to strip herself and dance around while Ellie and Jazzlyn dragged her back into her room, leaving Julian a little taken aback.

  Julian stood at the closed door, a little dumbfounded as Isla sighed.

  Isla knew everyone in their own life had their own issues and hardships. She began to change her perception of Luna a little after her drunk confession. Isla alone could understand how it felt when you’re surrounded by many people but yet you still feel so lonely and empty.

  The only difference was, Luna was seeking attention too hard, which had landed her in many inauthentic relationships. Perhaps that was the main reason Luna kept returning back to Ellie and Jazzlyn, knowing these two were the only genuine ones who would stand by her side when she was in trouble.