Ex best friend

Norah stood at the doorway quietly with her suitcase beside her. She had just returned after five years abroad, having endured countless sleepless nights, endless studying, and survived on scholarships and luck.

And that was the home she came back to. Her eyes moved across the living room and she sighed. “There we go again!” The laughter, warmth and love weren’t for her.

Her adoptive mother sat comfortably on the couch, gently feeding Sisi fruits. “My baby, eat more… you’ve lost weight,” she said, brushing Sisi’s hair away from her face, her voice soft and full of care.

Sisi smiled, leaning into her touch. “I’m fine, Mum,” she said playfully.

Norah remained at the door, feeling unnoticed… or maybe ignored. Her fingers tightened slightly around the handle of her suitcase.

It’s the same house and the same people, but nothing has changed. She stepped in quietly, dragging her box behind her. The sound of the wheel finally caught their attention.

Her adoptive mother turned, her expression shifting just slightly. “Oh… you’re back,” she said, like it was nothing.

Other good parents would stand up and hug their daughter in this type of situation, but it’s obvious she was adopted and never experienced something like that.

Norah forced a small smile. “Yes, ma'am.”

Sisi glanced at her, then looked away, as if she wasn’t important enough to hold her gaze.

“You came earlier than expected,” Mrs Paul added.

“My program ended sooner,” Norah replied softly, then a short silence followed.

“Since you’re back, go and clean your room,” the woman said casually. “It’s been locked for a while. Dust must have gathered everywhere.”

Norah blinked. That was it? Not “how was your journey?” Not even “did you eat?”

To clean?

“I understand,” she nodded. What did she need arguments for? She had learned a long time ago that in this house, she wasn’t a daughter. She was just… someone they took in, lucky enough to stay with them, but unlucky enough not to have her own parents.

Her room smelled stale when she pushed the door open. Dust had covered everything. Norah put her suitcase down and looked around.

This place never felt like hers! She sighed and rolled up her sleeves without thinking, cleaning had become natural to her from childhood.

Sisi, on the other hand, was being cared for, but she was the one washing, scrubbing, fixing, arranging… a quiet shadow moving around the house.

She picked up a cloth and began wiping the table. Her movements were slow at first, then faster, like she was trying to keep her thoughts away.

Because once she stopped, everything would come rushing back… especially the loneliness.

She paused and looked at the small mirror on the wall, staring at her reflection. She was amused at her mature self, more beautiful and taller than before she left for university.

But her eyes carried something heavier because of years of trying and proving herself as the top of her class. She was able to secure scholarships from the best high school to the best university…

A soft laughter echoed from the living room again. Norah glanced at the door. She could hear how happily they were talking. She let out a quiet breath and picked up the cloth again.

Not long after, the door opened. Norah didn’t bother to turn, she already knew who it was.

“Why didn’t you reply to my messages?” Sisi’s voice rang out, loud enough for the whole house to hear, like she was putting on a show.

Norah’s hand paused and she frowned. “Messages?” she repeated, her tone just as loud. “I lost my phone.”

For a brief second, there was silence.

Then Sisi scoffed.

Norah could already imagine the look on her face without even turning. Sometimes she really felt like teaching her a lesson to get back at her!

Sisi stepped further into the room, her heels clicking lightly against the floor. She leaned closer, lowering her voice this time. “Have you heard from Liam?”

Norah’s body reacted to the name immediately. Her fingers tightened around the cloth.

Liam?

The name alone was enough to make her heart race. He had been her best friend since grade four. He was always on her side no matter how badly people criticised her!

But the question is, why would someone like Liam, who was rich and admired, choose to be close to someone like Norah? Sisi had always hated that, especially because she couldn’t attend Norah’s school back then.

Norah was sponsored by a mysterious rich man. And just like that… Norah became friends with several rich kids.

“I don’t know,” Norah replied quietly. She didn’t want to look at her, afraid she would see her expression.

Sisi leaned back in satisfaction. A small, mocking smile curved her lips. “I knew it,” she said.

Norah remained silent.

“There’s no way he would want someone like you,” Sisi added, her eyes scanning the dusty room with clear disgust. “Look at this place…”

She snorted, then turned and walked out like she owned everything, shutting the door harshly.

Norah stood there for a long moment. She looked at the window. The fading light of evening slipped through the glass, casting soft shadows across her face.

Her lips parted. “Liam…” she murmured. The name meant a lot to her, even if their friendship had ended the moment he found out…

And things had become awkward. At first, she had tried to ignore it, she tried to pretend her feelings weren’t there. But it was stronger than she imagined… she failed to control them. She remembered when he was asleep and she had sat beside him. She didn’t know what came over her. Maybe it was years of holding her feelings, or maybe it was the fear of losing him.

Or maybe… she just wanted to know what it felt like, even if it was just once. She found his lips so tempting and couldn’t help but lean closer, her heart racing… and just as she was about to kiss those lips she had been dreaming of… his eyes opened, looking directly into hers.

Norah froze, unable to move! She was scared of being caught red-handed!

“So… it’s true,” he said. His voice wasn’t loud.

Norah’s body trembled out of fear. She quickly left the place, and after that… she started avoiding him, because she didn’t know how to face him again. She really wanted to apologise, but she could never get the feelings out.

Back in the present, Norah blinked and wiped her tears. That was how everything ended.

She looked away from the window and picked up the cloth again. But this time, her movements were slower, because she was distracted. A part of her still wondered… if she hadn’t crossed that line that day… would he still be in her life?