CHAPTER I

“THEY SAY you’re not really growing up when you’re not losing friends. I don’t think I lost you, guys, but it still won’t sink into me. You know, the fact that we could not hang out like we used to before anymore.” Plume shrugged as she stood in her usual place outside the balcony, washing her clothes by hands because she was trying to save electricity. The basin was placed on a long table, facing the steel gate where she could see passers-by.

“What do you mean? You can always come over anytime. My kids love you,” Raiko said, on the other line.

She was talking to him over the phone. She put her phone on the other side of the table and turned the loudspeaker on.

“I love your kids, too. What I mean is, spending the night outside, eating wherever we wanted to, mostly just you, Rebeka, and I. When you got married, it was fine. But now that Rebeka is married, too, that’s when things became a little different. I was just used to having you both all to myself.” Plume cackled weakly. “You know I’m not a dramatic person, Raiko. My hormones are just acting up lately.”

“I know. When I first met you, you barely showed any emotion. It was how you brought up, and that doesn’t make you a bad person,” Raiko remarked matter-of-factly. And it had been more than a decade since then.

Plume sighed. “At least, you’re not telling me to date just because I sometimes feel lonely.”

“Speaking of that, I would have loved to introduce you to one of my workmates.”

She pouted her lips.

“He’s a nice guy. He’s a soft-spoken person, he’s smart, and he’s one of the humblest people I’ve ever met. And most of all, he’s just as handsome as me.”

“The last thing you said ruined it,” Plume retorted in disgust.

“Shut up!”

Plume laughed heartily.

“You’re scared to be in a relationship with a man who’s just another version of your father, right? I know when a person’s sincere, Plume. Sadly, he’s already dating another girl.”

“Whoever she is, she’s lucky,” she remarked nonchalantly.

“Anyway, any update about the house?”

“Hmm… a lot of people have sent me inquiries, but they find this house too pricey. I really hate dealing with other people, and I don’t know much about negotiations, you know that. I’m hoping I could finally meet someone who’s meant to own this house soon.” Because that only means that Plume could finally go to Singapore and create her fortune there.

Rebeka inherited the house from her grandmother, who raised her as a child. She passed away a few years ago. Grandma Rio treated Plume like she was her own granddaughter, too. That was why the house felt a little different.

When Rebeka married her long-time boyfriend, Evan, they moved to his hometown. He inherited a piece of land from his parents. Rebeka loved the environment very much. They built a house near the sea, and Plume realized Rebeka’s dream just came true. She was happy for her best friend, of course.

Since Rebeka could not afford to give up the house to her greedy relatives, she decided to put the house for sale and asked Plume to look after it while looking for a buyer. Rebeka promised to give her a portion of the money, so Plume grabbed it. She would need it when she finally moves to Singapore. She had a cousin who worked there for years. Her cousin said she could help her find a job in one of the online writing platforms based in Singapore. She has pretty good connections.

Plume currently worked as a freelance book designer. Electronic books are a thing nowadays, and a lot of writers had ventured into it. Traditional and independent authors asked for her service whenever they need covers for their books. She also does layouts, proofreading, and different types of editing. She had learned all these skills to meet her clients’ needs.

“Do you really have to go to Singapore?” Raiko asked.

“Aren’t you proud that I’m finally stepping out of my comfort zone?” Plume laughed blandly. “I’ll see what will happen to me when I get there. If things don’t work out, I can always come home to you, guys, right? Besides, who knows, I might just meet a guy who will change my mind.” She shrugged.

“I would be thrilled if that happens, Plume,” Raiko said.

She could only imagine the smile on his face. Plume knew her friends wanted her to end up with a great man. But she also wanted to prove to them that staying single for the rest of her life was better than settling down with the wrong person. She was speaking from experience, of course.

Plume clacked her tongue.

“Alright, sometimes I envy you for having someone who waits for you at home at the end of the day.”

Raiko chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I’m already talking to the people from my workplace regarding this matter.”

“Yes, please! That would really help a lot,” Plume said in delight.

Raiko and Rebeka were good with people. It was always easy for them to make friends. While Plume admitted that people’s first impression of her was that she was intimidating. As Raiko have mentioned, she barely showed any emotion when they met. What’s worse was that she sometimes had a resting bitch face.

It was not her fault she was born that way!

“I have to hang up now. See you in church. Have a nice day, Plume.”

“Same here.”

Plume waited for Raiko to end the call as her hands were covered with bubbles.

She could not help a sigh as she recalled how different her life was a long time ago. She was a naïve, hopeless romantic young girl who thought that love would make her life a fairytale. She even dreamt of settling down at the age of twenty-five, have kids, and be a full-time housewife. But her family fell apart, and it affected her mental health. It was hard pretending that everything was still and will be alright.