By mid-morning, Noelle finally dragged herself out of bed, every movement heavy, as though the night had stolen all her energy. She splashed cold water on her face, but the sting did little to wash away the images still replaying in her mind. Han. Jessica. The way he had looked at her under the porch light.
She made herself a cup of tea, letting the steam curl into her face, grounding her for a moment. Almost on instinct, she picked up her phone and dialed Mei Ling.
"Hey," Mei Ling's voice came through, warm and lively, a sharp contrast to Noelle's fog. "Morning! You sound… off. What's going on?"
Noelle hesitated, her fingers tightening around the mug. "I didn't sleep much," she admitted quietly.
Mei Ling was silent for a beat, then her tone softened. "Is this about Han?"
Noelle exhaled slowly, her gaze drifting to the window, to the blur of people moving along the street below. "Yeah. I can't stop thinking about it."
"Well, let's do something today," Mei Ling said with a hint of urgency, almost like a rescue mission. "Come out for brunch, get some fresh air. We can talk K-dramas, Christmas parties, anything but him."
Noelle managed a small, tired smile. She wanted to believe her friend, wanted to let herself be distracted, even if just for a few hours. Grabbing her coat, she tried to shove down the ache and the jealousy, telling herself that it was okay to feel but she didn't have to linger in it. As she stepped outside, the crisp December air filled her lungs and the soft glow of the city lights mingled with the morning sun.
As Noelle and Mei Ling settled into their table by the cafe window, steaming cups of tea in front of them, the chatter of other guests and the soft clink of cutlery offered a comforting background hum. They laughed over the latest K-drama plot twists and shared stories from recent parties their classmates had organised. Then her phone buzzed. She glanced down and saw Ethan's message:
Hey, are you free this afternoon? I was thinking maybe we could… hang out. Not school stuff, just us.
Noelle's heart skipped in a way that was equal parts nervous and curious. She typed back quickly, trying to keep her tone casual:
Sure, that sounds nice. I'm with Mei Ling right now, so she'll probably tag along too.
Almost immediately, Ethan called. His voice carried the familiar warmth and slight hesitation she had always found endearing. "Cool, the more the merrier. I thought we could wander around town, check out the lights, grab some snacks… whatever feels fun. Since it's the holidays, no stress, just a day out."
Noelle smiled faintly to herself, sipping her tea. It felt strange, the flutter in her chest, the anticipation of spending time with someone who had quietly admired her for months. She looked across at Mei Ling, who raised an eyebrow knowingly, lips twitching in a teasing grin.
By mid-afternoon, the two girls met Ethan near the city centre. The streets were alive with festive lights and the hum of holiday-goers. Ethan's eyes lit up when he saw them, a little dimple appearing as he smiled. "Hey! Glad you could make it."
Mei Ling tilted her head slyly. "Don't sound too excited," she teased, earning a laugh from Ethan and a flustered glance from Noelle.
"Mei Ling," Noelle hissed, cheeks warming.
Ethan chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh… just thought it'd be fun, you know? The city looks great this time of year."
"Fun sounds good," Noelle said quickly, cutting Mei Ling's grin short.
The streets of Orchard Road were alive with festive energy. Giant LED displays blinked overhead, projecting sparkling snowflakes and animated reindeer across the glass façades of the malls. The faint scent of fresh pastries and roasted nuts wafted from cafés tucked along the boulevard, mingling with the cool evening air. Buskers strummed soft Christmas tunes, their melodies floating above the chatter of shoppers. Ethan pointed out a dessert kiosk tucked into a corner of the mall, his excitement infectious.
"We have to try that," he said, already steering them toward it.
Mei Ling was faster. "Only if you're buying, Ethan. Gentleman's rule."
Ethan laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Starbuck's Christmas drink for everyone!"
They stepped into a Starbucks, the warmth inside a welcome contrast to the evening chill. They ordered their holiday specials, Noelle and Mei Ling ordered their peppermint mocha, him a gingerbread latte and found a small booth by the window overlooking the bustling street. Mei Ling carried most of the conversation, quizzing Ethan on his taste in K-dramas and rating his answers mercilessly while Noelle laughed along, grateful for the lightness.
As the afternoon turned dusky, they wandered to the square where a massive Christmas tree sparkled with fairy lights. Mei Ling darted ahead, insisting on taking pictures of everything, especially one of Ethan and Noelle standing awkwardly side by side while she posed as their "official photographer."
"You two look adorable," Mei Ling declared, shoving the phone in their faces. "This is going on my Christmas reel."
Noelle groaned. "Delete it."
"Never," Mei Ling sang, skipping off toward the next display. Ethan just smiled, a little sheepish but his eyes lingered on Noelle a moment longer than necessary.
And with Mei Ling bustling happily between them, the three of them carried on, easing the awkwardness and shyness that lingered in the first few minutes. She chatted animatedly about a new K-drama she had started binge-watching, her energy infectious. Noelle found herself laughing more freely than she had in weeks, the warmth of friendship softening the lingering ache of past thoughts.
Ethan, meanwhile, seemed more relaxed, leaning into the easy rhythm Mei Ling created. He pointed out festive decorations along the street, teasing Noelle gently when she paused to snap a photo of a particularly elaborate display. Each glance he cast her way carried a quiet curiosity, a subtle intensity, as though he was memorising the way she smiled, the way her eyes caught the glow of the Christmas lights.
As they wandered from mall to mall, sipping their seasonal drinks, Noelle felt a lightness settle over her.
Mei Ling's eyes sparkled as she rifled through racks of glittering accessories, holding up earrings and necklaces for Noelle's opinion. Noelle smiled, enjoying the easy rhythm of their chatter, running her fingers over delicate trinkets, occasionally holding one up to see how it caught the light.
Ethan stayed just a step behind, patient and unobtrusive, his hands tucked casually in his pockets as he watched the two girls giggle and debate over the smallest baubles. He seemed content to let them have the spotlight, occasionally offering a quiet compliment when Noelle held up something that caught her eye. "That one really suits you," he murmured once and she felt a small flutter in her chest, surprised by the way his gaze lingered, warm and attentive without ever being overbearing.
They tried on earrings, compared tiny pendants and laughed at the festive novelty items stacked on the shelves. Noelle found herself relaxing, letting the light-hearted shopping chase away the heaviness she had carried over the past few days. With Ethan patient and steady beside them, she realised how easy it was to just exist in the moment, enjoying simple pleasures without the weight of old memories or lingering worries.