The sudden doorbell startled Isla and Jazzlyn, who were deep in thought. Jazzlyn tried to stop Isla from answering the door. Isla knew Jazzlyn was worried if it was Ethan.

  “Babe, that was one hell of a rejection earlier. You probably wanna fix it quickly.” Isla urged before standing a little to push open the door to find Ellie instead, panting before stepping inside and crouching to check on them both while closing the door. At the sight of her, Jazzlyn leaned back on the wall as she sat back on the floor, relieved it was not Ethan.

  “Are you both alright? Did you fight? Did you argue?” Ellie questioned as though reprimanding two little girls who had just finished fighting with each other, while Isla and Jazzlyn burst out in laughter.

  “Oh, looks like you both have made peace…” Ellie flopped to sit on the ground with them both. Ellie leaned on the door to rest while joining in the laughter, but the sight of Jazzlyn’s tired face made her recall her conversation with Ethan on the way up.

  “Oh, oh oh no! I saw Dr. Wang earlier wanting to rush off hastily. I wanted to catch him to ask both of your whereabouts before he excused himself hurriedly, that he was leaving now to outstation for an emergency…” Ellie updated while Jazzlyn stood urgently.

  “Is he still there?” Jazzlyn asked while wiping her face dry as Isla passed her more tissues.

  “Nope… He drove off...” Ellie said as Jazzlyn walked into the living room, trying to hide her disappointment.

  “Then what are you waiting for? Leave together!” Isla urged as Jazzlyn laughed, slouching on the couch.

  I want to, but I’m a joke… Jazzlyn mockingly laughed at herself.

  “Silly! Sleep at my place tonight?” Jazzlyn persuaded them both.

  “Of course! You don't expect us to drive home after what you put us through.” Ellie complained as the girls giggled while feeding Jazzlyn dinner they had packed earlier.

  Jazzlyn was having unsettling thoughts about the sudden emergency after reading the news on a landslide along the road to Cameron Highlands as she knew Ethan occasionally would attend to such emergencies voluntarily for experience. Thanks to girls who were oblivious to the news, they managed to distract her the whole night before she slowly drifted asleep with the girls chatting about their games.

  Isla did it on purpose to bore Jazzlyn before she and Ellie used Jazzlyn’s thumbprint to unlock her phone and get Ethan’s number.

  Isla then quickly typed a message to send to Ethan from her own number.

  Isla: Dr. Wang, this is Isla. Sorry for abruptly interrupting your conversation earlier with Jazz. Gotten news from Ellie you met earlier that you are heading outstation. Could you tell me where you’re heading to?

  Isla hit send and waited with Ellie nervously for a reply.

  “What if he doesn’t reply?” Ellie whispered.

  “I will call him…” Before Isla could do that, they had gotten a reply.

  Ethan: Pahang. Sorry, driving. Emergency. Speak later.

  That was enough to send the girls into excitement with their plans brewing.

  Isla: Could you pick Jazz from the airport at 10am? She has something she wants to tell you.

  The girls nervously waited for a reply again. It felt worse than receiving their high school exam results.

  Ethan was skeptical of the message while trying to focus on driving to the emergency accident. Due to the chaos, without thinking further, at the next traffic light, he replied Isla.

  Ethan: Ok

  That simple reply sent both Ellie and Isla jumping with joy as they purchased the earliest air ticket to Pahang for Jazzlyn.

  The next morning, Isla and Ellie packed Jazzlyn’s luggage before tricking her into getting the car to head to the airport.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Where are we going? Why are we here?” Jazzlyn questioned when they reached the airport.

  Ellie took out the flight ticket and passed it to Jazzlyn. Jazzlyn saw the destination and knew it was where Ethan was.

  “How? What… Why?” Jazzlyn was tearing up.

  “Go. Stop denying. You know you want him. It's your turn to chase Ethan back.” Ellie urged happily.

  “This must be Isla’s idea. Isla, do you have any idea why he is there?” Jazzlyn wanted to explain, only to be stopped.

  “I don't care where it is. If you don't bring the boy back, I'm going to lock you out of your house. Go!” Isla urged as she pulled her and the luggage to the departure hall.

  “Good luck darling! Love you! Keep us posted of your safety!” Isla hugged Jazzlyn before running away with Ellie while giggling leaving Jazzlyn so touched as she gathered her courage to enter the immigration.

  Jazzlyn knew she wanted to fly, and she did not want to waste both her best friends’ efforts. Hence, she obediently boarded the plane as arranged. Along the way, she contemplated her decision to not just give him a chance to be together but submit her resignation when she landed.

  She realised it was she who was denying all her wants all this while. With nothing blocking her way, she was prepared to embark on her dream, although she knew it would trigger a storm from her estranged family when the news reached them. That was another reason she had hesitated before this, but another bridge to cross when she gets there.

  When she landed, in a heavy downpour, the fact that she was making her way to see Ethan in just a near distance when passing immigration made her heart thump with excitement. That was also where she knew she had no turning back. She quickly hit send on her resignation notice in her inbox and made her way out to the departure gate to find Ethan waiting by the entrance.

  For once, she willingly followed her instinct and felt good about it as she walked towards Ethan with teary eyes.

  “Hey .. I have something to explain but it's going to take me some time. Isla being mischievous, had packed my bags and got me this ticket.” Jazzlyn was fumbling while explaining that when she realised, Ethan had pulled her to the car park after helping her with her hand luggage.

  While they were alone in the lift to the basement, he decided to steal time and confront her.

  “So you were saying? What is it you need to explain?” Ethan wiggled his eyebrow at her.

  Jazzlyn blushed, but she knew that before she conveyed her intention, it was not final.

  “I… about last night…” She nervously said.

  “Right, didn't you already state it clearly? Why are you here to explain again?” Ethan asked, sounding a little upset on purpose.

  “I didn't mean to reject you that way…” She guiltily explained herself.

  “So this is a clarification of your rejection?” Ethan teased her.

  “No!” She lashed out frustratingly.

  “Oh, then another rejection? How cruel?” He attempted to tease her again out of revenge.

  “No! Ethan! Stop jumping to conclusions!” Jazzlyn snapped, this time with tears.

  “Then it's a yes to my question?” He held on to Jazzlyn's shoulders and met her gaze with seriousness.

  “I want it to be a yes... Yes, but…” Before she could explain further, warm, inviting lips met hers as she followed the rhythm before breaking apart to meet with a pair of loving eyes.

  “That's all I needed. Now, before you explain what you want to. You do know I'm going on a mission?” Ethan urgently explained when the lift door opened, and he hurriedly led her out to the car park, leaving her no chance to clarify herself.

  She nodded. “Though they always welcome more volunteers, I don't want to risk you there with me. This time round, the landslide is continuous with the treacherous rain.” Ethan explained.

  “I want to. This is what it means to be together, isn't it? I wouldn't be at ease if I didn't hear from you. Working alongside you will keep me at ease. That's also the reason I have submitted my resignation just moments ago before I stepped out of the departure hall.” Jazzlyn finally revealed.

  “Jazz, no, you didn't…” He halted their rush midway as she pulled him to continue walking.

  “Yes, I did. I was holding on too long for a no-longer-valid reason. I spoke with Isla last night. We have let the past go. I know it's never meant for me to save him. I know those whom I had to let go on the medical table were destined to. Not everything is about me. I know of all people, I give my best. Always. But I’m worried about my estranged family…” She told him with conviction.

  “Yes, good that you know this and stop blaming every death on yourself. As for your family, I have heard of them. That, you don’t have to worry for now.” He gently patted her head.

  “What do you mean? It’s not that easy with my family, Ethan…” Jazzlyn tried to explain, but he was clearly in a rush.

  “Stay close to me when we're there. We will talk again later.” He urged while loading her luggage into his car, as she nodded and boarded the passenger seat while he hopped in.

  “Tell me, are you still doing freelance? Do we always have to travel?” Jazzlyn asked as he began to drive.

  “When I said freelance, I meant finding less serious cases, not missions, Jazz.” He corrected her understanding.

  “Then this?” Jazzlyn asked worriedly.

  “This is an exception. It was something to lash out at my anger after your rejection. Well, now it’s too late to regret.” Ethan winked as she blushed a little and hid her shy smile, but he could still see from the rear mirror.

  Ethan mentally noted in mind to thank her friends later too.