Life is as easy as pie when I wake up one Sunday and my mom and dad are waiting for me to have breakfast with my favorite fusilli pasta with chunky tomato sauce.

Life feels so flawless with savory pasta and nummy sauce. Unfortunately, many people don't comprehend this.

"Yippee! I love them ceaselessly!" I glorified it, licking the fork until it shone bright and silvery. "Don't end up eating the fork too." My dad said it with side-splitting laughter.

"Baby, do you want some more?" My mom raised the bowl to serve me some.

"Nope, mom. I'm done." I snatched a glass of orange juice and gulped it down in one fell swoop.

"So, do you have any plans tonight?" Mom demanded it, urging finely chopped potato salad into her soft, gaping mouth.

"Um, nothing but my watch later list on Netflix is growing abnormally, and I thought of wasting my night with it."

"But we had a plan for you. Mr. Wilson invited us for dinner."

"Nuh-uh! I'm not coming, mom." I stood up and strolled to the living room. I reclined on the sofa, relaxing my arms around its back. When I turned on the television and scanned the channels, my mom hollered from behind.

"Why are you protesting like a little kid, El?"

"Mom, it's just that I don't feel engaged out there. It's boring."

"You shouldn't feel this way, honey. Moreover, Leo will be so enraptured to have you." I didn't care to respond to her as I submerged into the reality show.

"Anyway, you're coming. End of the discussion." She clamoured without expecting my reply. Her tone suggested that it wasn't a request anymore but an irrefutable order.

•×•×•×•

The wondrous moon was swollen to the fullest, intimating it was a full moon day. The stars were scattered throughout the sky, flickering to supplement the moonlight.

Venus was glittering brightly next to the moon. I always do love the Moon and Venus couple rather than the stars. Being weaved together, they bring tranquil nights for 263 days and heavenly mornings for another 263. Either way, they give birth to the best parts of the day!

Though they're sojourning cheek by cheek for only a few hours, they never fail to broadcast their intimacy within that span by sparkling brightly in unison.

If glowing together is an art, then Mr. Moon and Ms. Venus are the Picasso couple of it!

The crisp, gentle breeze massaged my cheeks as I leaned my head out through the side window. Due to the high speed of the car, it felt like the moon was hurtling along with me.

No, you shouldn't leave your Juliet for me! Don't worry, I'll find myself someone better than you. My husky, indistinct words dissolved in the air the very moment I uttered them. Mr. Moon will apparently not spare me for this.

Just when I said that, he stopped rushing behind me. "Jeez! Did he really hear what I said?" I yelled in shock. "El, do you mind getting out of the car?" My dad's voice intruded on my stupefaction.

Ew! It's the car that stopped.

"No, I don't mind, dad." I stepped out of the car and sprinted fast to match my parents long footsteps.

When we reached the front door, Mr. Wilson opened it without giving us a chance to hit the bell. Mr. Fast and Furious he is, as always.

Leo peeked out in the gap between Mr. Wilson's legs. Once he found my face, he wiggled his tail repeatedly, striking Mr. Wilson's legs. His eyelids were relaxed, and he blinked them a lot. His gaze was soft and as soothing as dancing in a snowfall during the summer. That's how he'll lay the red carpet welcome for me to roll in. "Aw, my cutie!" I lifted him and patted his golden, fluffy forehead.

"Hey, El! How are you doing?" Mr. Wilson barged into the space between Leo and me.

Since Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were not blessed with a child, they foster Leo like one. At times, they even make me feel like their own offspring by nurturing me like my mom.

"Well and good." I blinked my eyes, manifesting a puppy smile as I stepped into his newly renovated, cozy house.

We all sat on a sophisticated brown couch, which actually didn't go well with his blueberry muffin paint color. "White would have done wonders along with the wall color." I said this as I was perusing the new look of his entire living room. "Welcome home." Mrs. Wilson joined us with a perky smile.

While they were jibber-jabbering about everything that didn't interest me, I upsprung and ambled to the outdoor yard along with Leo to buy some fresh air. The dinner arrangements were already made in the yard. The tantalizing fragrance of the chicken chilaquiles almost swept me away. I thought of tasting it furtively before anyone arrived. Abruptly, Leo barked, just as though he was entreating me for a piece of chicken too. Ugh! What if we were caught licking the food red-handed? As I asked him, he winked at me. Aw, it's the best bribe I've earned! But we're not doing this.

I cursed my crooked mind for its stupidity and made myself comfortable in the rattan chair.

In no time, they all joined us like a swarm of bees tailing the queen bee. "I'll serve the dinner, darling", said Mrs. Wilson, circulating the white ceramic plates. "I don't mind if you give me two." I gave her a wink as a bribe, just like Leo did. "Oh dear! Leo already has a bowl full of pedigrees waiting." She rebuffed my proposal.

"It seems she'll not negotiate with our terms, buddy." I hefted him and made him sit on my lap under the table with his head peeking out.

The red, spicy chilaquiles trapped me in a blink. I gasped some air and caught myself, ready to hunt the plate. Meanwhile, I managed to give some to Leo without capturing anyone's attention.

Once we were done with our lust for food, Leo swung his tongue all around his mouth habitually. "So, are you going to take a share of his pedigrees in return?" My mom's words took me by surprise. Is there any way to conceal something from Mom? No. A big "NO!"

"Um.. If he permitted, then..." I looked at him for sanction before finishing my sentence. He barked furiously, signifying his demurral. "Oh no, Leo, you're so mean!" I scowled and frowned in a fake manner.

"So this is kind of a farewell dinner, huh?" Mrs. Wilson distracted us. "Ahem! Are you guys moving away?" Though I'm not much into this, I didn't want them to shift away either, since Mr. Wilson is my dad's only friend. Moreover, I know how it feels to miss your best friend.

And mostly, I feared that I couldn't get to see Leo anymore.

"Didn't you tell her about that?" Mr. Wilson popped the question straight at my dad's face. My dad dithered and looked at my mom hesitantly. She sighed and instigated, saying, "Honey! We thought of telling you this already. But.." She stammered as her brain was busy picking up a cluster of unerring words to somehow terminate it.

"What's happening here?" I demanded a clarification. I totally didn't get why my parents were behaving oddly.

"Ew! Leo, just keep quiet." I chided him as he licked my glossy, plump cheeks. He liked my peach blush, it seems. "I'll buy you one if you love it. But, button your lip for now." I signified it by keeping my forefinger on my lips.

"It's not them who are departing." Dad took the moment to put some sense into my shamefully sick head. "Then who is?" Even before winding up my question, I figured out the answer.

"No way, dad. Don't say that we're relocating." I fretfully waited for the reaction. "Just listen to us, El!" Mom got to her feet and raced towards me. She rested her hands over the edges of my shoulders, technically deterring me from walking away in the middle.

"Hon, your dad got transferred to another branch hospital in San Francisco."

"But why, mom? We were doing great here, huh?" I asked her moronically.

"There is a vacancy in that hospital, El. So to get rid of it." She aligned my hair softly.

"Then what about you, mom?" I was shooting words at her like cannonballs. "I've also applied for a transfer. It'll be well and good if it's sanctioned. If not, I'll resign here and look out for a job after settling in there." She sounded so cool and unruffled.

"When are we leaving?" I finally managed to shoot a credible one. "May be.." She paused and glanced at dad to get an accurate number. "Within a week." My dad filled the missing word. Multiple thoughts were getting rooted in my prefrontal cortex.

"It's way better for you too." My dad attempted to console me. "What? How is it better for me?" I wagged my head in discontent.

"UC Berkeley is within an affordable travel range from San Francisco. It's better for us to shift there than you staying there alone." His point was actually worth it. But still, I couldn't embrace it with hearty hands.

When my mom ascertained my shilly-shallying mind, she caressed my forehead, saying, "It's for your betterment, sweetie. We promise you that." I leaned on her arm, and she kissed my head in adoration.

•×•×•×•

Mr. Moon was the only person who tried to uplift me while I was returning home. He perpetually chased me like a boyfriend running behind his angry bird girlfriend. The shaft of light he bestowed upon me solaced my spirit a bit throughout the ride.

When we reached the house, I marched to my room even before my parents got out of the car. I threw my phone over the pillow and slumped down onto the bed in exhaustion. For quite some time, I laid inert, peeping through the window that was ajar without blinking an eye.

After a while, I clasped my mobile to call Jas. Just as I unlocked it, Jas's message stood frozen in notification.

It was a great day here, and I hope you're doing fine.
Missed you today, El.
Take care! Good night!

I had a melancholy laugh reading it. I didn't wish to wreck his great day by blithering about mine.

Don't miss me, man. I'll pop up in your dreams to torture you.
Good night, you jerk!

When I logged in to my Instagram account to freshen up my head with all the mess it had built, my activity column suggested Jas_Bennett had tagged you in a post. I soon clicked it to view the post. He posted a photocopy of the letter I gave him in the airport and captioned it, "Why the heck am I missing you even in my great days?"

I didn't even impede for a minute and began reading the letter again.

To you, jerk,

I know, you'll be on cloud nine there without my torture. Don't even think that you've escaped from me. I'll appear in your dreams every night to kick your back.

Okay! I'm not crying now. I'm not sad for you. I'm not going to wait crazily for your calls or texts. I won't buy you tulip bouquets anymore. I'll not expect your hands to lift me up every time. I'll not look forward to your 'Good night! Catch you tomorrow!' messages. My life will not stay still without you. I'll not call you whenever I'm down or over the moon. I'll not miss your smirks or your hee-haw laugh, the one similar to a donkey's braying sound. I'll not leave the last slice of pizza for you whenever I have one. I'll not blather to you anymore about being single. I'll not miss us staring persistently at couples in the cafe to make them feel awkward. I'll not miss using you as my punching bag. I'll not miss laughing at your stupid jokes. I'll not miss pulling your hair during our silly fights. And finally, I'll not miss you!

I wish I could say all these things. But damn, I couldn't. I'll learn to lie better next time.

And at last, I don't love you, my best friend!

~ Not your El.

I literally witnessed tears in my eyes and a lively smile on my lips when I finished reading it. I took a minute to drain my eyes and then commented, 'I'm not missing you at all!'

•×•×•×•

So, I'm not feeling so overwhelmed after writing this!

And I hope you all not liked this chapter. Lol!
Of course, I desperately want you all to love this chapter!

I wish I had El to write a letter like this to me. Do you too?

Cheers readers!!

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