23.5 WHEN THE EARTH STOP SPINNING (Adult Version)

LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND

On a Saturday morning, Aylin, Luna, Alpha, Tinh, and Charoen were gathered at the meeting place, chatting and laughing as they waited. The van was parked and ready, eager to take them to Ton's newly built resort in Pattaya.

"So, who are we still waiting for?" Aylin asked, glancing around.

"Just Sun," Alpha replied.

Aylin raised an eyebrow. "So, Ongsa isn't coming?"

Alpha shook her head. "No, she texted me last night saying she had something urgent came up. She won't be joining us."

"Aw, that's too bad," Charoen said with a sympathetic look.

As they continued to chat, a taxi pulled up in front of them. The group turned their heads in unison. Sun stepped out of the cab, carrying a small bag and looking relieved to have arrived.

"Sun!" Aylin called out, waving her over.

Sun smiled brightly as she approached them. "Hi, everyone!"

They all greeted her warmly, their enthusiasm making Sun feel welcome despite the uncertainty of the weekend.

"Glad you made it!" Luna said, giving Sun a friendly hug.

"Me too," Sun responded with genuine gratitude. "I was worried I might be too late."

"No worries, we're just glad you're here," Alpha added with a smile.

As they helped Sun with her bag and settled into the van, Sun felt a wave of relief wash over her. Despite her effort to stay positive, she couldn't help but glance around, half-expecting Ongsa to appear unexpectedly.

Alpha, noticing Sun's hopeful look, spoke up. "She's not coming, Sun. Ongsa texted me last night. She said she'll be busy and has other plans."

Sun's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered, trying to maintain a cheerful appearance. "I know, Alpha. But you know, sometimes miracles happen," she said with a light-hearted tone, hoping to lift the mood.

Charoen, sensing the underlying sadness, added, "Well, if it helps, I can offer a prayer right now for good spirits to reach Ongsa. Maybe she'll have a change of heart and join us after all."

Sun chuckled, grateful for her friends' support. "That would be wonderful," she said, her tone mixed with a hopeful lilt. "I really think we could all use a break and some good times together."

As the van began to move, Sun looked out the window, trying to focus on the excitement of the weekend ahead. Despite her lingering concerns about Ongsa, she was determined to enjoy the mini vacation with her friends and make the most of this opportunity to unwind and reconnect.

As the van rolled down the highway, the atmosphere inside was filled with laughter and light-hearted chatter. Aylin, Luna, Charoen, and Tinh were all in high spirits, sharing jokes and reminiscing about old times. Despite Sun's attempts to join in the fun, her thoughts kept drifting to Ongsa.

Every now and then, Sun would glance at her phone, hoping for a message from Ongsa. Each time, her heart sank a little as she saw no new notifications. She tried to text Ongsa again, but her messages remained unsent, her frustration growing.

Alpha, sitting beside Sun, noticed her distraction. "We'll be fine Sun, let's just enjoy this moment though, we needed this"

Sun forced a smile, trying to mask her unease. "I will P'Alpha"

Alpha patted her shoulder reassuringly. The group continued to joke and laugh, and Sun made an effort to be present in the conversations. She tried to push her worries aside, determined to enjoy the weekend with her friends. But as the van journey continued, a part of her heart remained heavy with the hope that Ongsa might still decide to join them.