"It is decided then." Jessica chirped happily as she packed her bags for the year long trip to Asia, planned for the collaboration between Moda & Co. and Celestial Silks. "This would expand our business to Mainland China and India. 

"Ahhh" Liam groaned in fatigue as he threw himself on the chaise. "Now you have no time for me. At all." He grinned sheepishly.

Jessica paused midway and walked over to him placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "All my time is yours." They gave each other a knowing smile.

Those who knew them would often wonder how after years of being together, they had still managed to be as lovey-dovey as they were in their honeymoon phase. 

But they weren't.

They had become more than lovers, by now. What started as a genuine crush on some guy in college for Jessica, had turned into many human relationships combined into one. Their bond was that of a Torch-bearer and a nobody in a masquerade. It was the torch-bearer's purpose to lead the way, and the nobody had no light without him. The nobody was, with sheer luck, at the perfect place, perfect time. Their bond was that of bosom friends. They could try and look for a soulmate, and all they would find was each other. Strange, how one random day, two people with nothing but fate in common, become so much as an entire galaxy of all worlds to their hearts.

Love, had now become secondary.

Liam offered to send her off to the distant country, ensuring she was well settled in a foreign place where there was no one to look after her, and being the independent woman Jessica had turned into, troubling an already busy man for affairs that were manageable, was definitely off her charts. More so, when the company could plan it equally efficiently.

But he was only convinced when Ryan called and promised to look after her arrangements for the stay. He had apparently become a live streamer, travelling for three months across border and established his own chain of small restaurants all over the city of Guangzhou, where he moved once his freelancing took off. Mary had chosen to stay in Beijing, but the two would often see each other platonically. Their friends-with-benefits affair was over with the distance, and serious relationships on Mary's end.

Jessica had agreed too. It was never bad to have company. 

Little did she know it would open the Pandora's box for feelings she left in the past.

******

"Jessica!" It was a woman's voice.

"You must be Mary." The two women embraced each other in a professional hug, but there was a tinge of womanly tenderness mixed in the gesture.

"I hope you didn't wait for long, I had some stuff to attend to." Mary apologized.

"Oh, no. Not at all. I can't believe Ryan managed to hide such a pretty friend of his from us. But life's been busy and bustling lately."

"Yeah. I get it." Mary led her to the cab she had booked. They placed her luggage and drove to her place. "It's hard to catch up with friends after school, or uni. Best case is a once-a-year meetup where by a 'rare formation of stars' everyone's available."

"Exactly." Jessica nodded. "I barely have any friends left from school. But that's the way it is. I can hardly see my parents anymore. Adult friendships suck." That earned her a shocked face from Mary. "I mean mostly. Family is all you can count on. At least that's how I feel." Jessica grinned.

"But here, Jessica-" Mary gestured to the space around them. "-your family is away. You have me, and you have Ryan. You have friends, in case you need anything." She patted on Jessica's s back.

"I knowww." Jessica pouted. "I miss them already." 

"Bear it, just an year." 

How long could an year possibly be.

******

 It had been a week since Jessica landed in Beijing. She had freeloaded at Mary's place which she shared with her boyfriend, and it was too much for her to handle. 

Mary was nice. And so was the guy she was with. What she didn't like was her being the third wheel of the group. the two of them were kind enough to offer her a lodging for the entire year and she had agreed, since it was futile rejecting their offer politely. She was waiting for Ryan to come and help her shift to a decent place, all to herself. Of course, Mary was not very happy when her once not so platonic friend crashed at her place for five minutes and then left with the newest friend she had made.

He found her a rather luxurious apartment in the suburbs on the city, close to her work location. The furniture was already included, so all they had to do was give the place a little homey touch. Even that was enough to tire some humans called 'adults'. Jessica passed a glass of water to Ryan who now sat on the bar stool near the counter and herself gulped down the coconut milk she found in the nearby grocery store.

"It's been a long time." She admitted.

"Yeah, Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn." Ryan winked.

Jessica widened her eyes at Ryan. "What was that about?"

He simply laughed and shrugged it off. "Mandarin of what you spoke."

"Ah, I wonder if you would one day forget English altogether." Jessica leaned over the counter. "Like you forgot us." 

Ryan felt a tug at his heart. Something he had thought he would never feel again. Not in the presence of this woman, at least.

He quickly cleared his throat and licked his dry lips. "Would I still be here helping you shift if I had forgot about you, missy?" He raised an eyebrow and with such confidence stared into her eyes, she felt she would stumble and fall.

She straightened her posture and headed towards the shower. "Yeah. Of course." Rolling her eyes, Jessica added sarcastically, "isn't that why you missed Kiana's wedding?" 

Ryan chugged the remaining water down his throat.

 "I'll take a quick shower. Then let's head for dinner, my tummy is rumbling since the morning."

"I'll order something."

"Okay!" 

"Oh, and Jessica-"

"Yes?"

"Are you getting married too?" Ryan struggled to find the right words. "I mean, when are you-"

"Yeah." Jessica walked back to him. "Brace yourself, for you are the first one to get this top secret piece of information."

Ryan's heart pounded wildly in his chest. 

"We are getting married once I go back." 

"Oh... wow." He was again flabbergasted. "That's-"

"NO!" Jessica danced around like a happy little girl. "Actually, I will go back to get married. This business might take more time, but we aren't getting any younger now, are we?" She patted Ryan's head. "I say you find someone as well. I really don't know why you didn't chase after Mary? She was perfect for you." 

"Yeah. Perfect." Ryan spoke to himself while Jessica turned the shower on. Something, he wished would change. As Jessica took her shower, Ryan was left alone with his thoughts. The conversation about marriage had stirred up feelings he had suppressed for so long. He had indeed considered pursuing Mary, but fate had led them on different paths, and he didn't want to jeopardize their friendship.

As he waited for Jessica to finish, memories of their college days flooded back. They had been inseparable, sharing laughter, tears, and dreams. Ryan couldn't help but wonder if he had missed his chance with her this life, and if their lives had taken different turns, what could have been.Ryan pushed his emotions aside when they sat together and enjoyed a delightful dinner, reminiscing about old times and sharing stories about their recent adventures. He was surprised to see the meek girl who would barely manage to stop wobbling her legs when standing in front of the class to have turned into a woman so determined, decisive, confident and self-sufficient. He knew she was no longer the little girl who had chased after him back in school. She had become what he once described to his old friends as the woman who was 'perfect for him'. That alone, was time's indication that the past was no more.

Jessica's business was demanding, and she had not quite settled herself into the city. Mary's place was rather distant from hers and she could not accompany her every day. Solely for that reason, Ryan offered to stay together with her for a month. He had brought along his equipment for streaming- as he explained, he always did- so it did not really obstruct his work. The arrangement was successful.

On the outside, that is.

As the days turned into weeks, Ryan found himself grappling with conflicting emotions. He was genuinely happy for Jessica and Liam, but there was a part of him that longed for something more. He should have been happy when Jessica broke the news of their marriage to him, but he was not. How long had it been? It disgusted him to be a friend whose true intentions were in not in the happiness of people he called friends. He did not harbor any ulterior motives towards the girl- that was the only sane thing he knew he did right. Even if such a thought managed to creep in his head, he would shove it aside and move on with what was best.

And yet, despite trying to bury his feelings, they kept resurfacing every time he saw Jessica's radiant smile. Her smile when she was on call with Liam. 

Who knew what got into him when one evening, as they sat on the balcony of Jessica's apartment, gazing at the stars, Ryan couldn't hold back any longer. "Jessica," he began tentatively, "there's something I need to tell you."