Sharon spotted the smile he wore as he disappeared back into the car and drove away. It was a smile of genuine happiness. Not because he looked forward to some private time with Elvis, but because he no longer had to fear Sharon finding out. He knew that she knew and accepted the situation. Just as she knew that he knew she would not be checking in to the beachfront villa in Phuket alone. She had booked Genie on an earlier flight.

Yu Chin was smiling because he was happy that they were in a marriage that worked.

So was she.

...

There was a deafening thunderclap as the announcement came on to urge passengers to board Tiger Airways TR2328 to Bali. By the time Jessica and Andreae located their seats in the aircraft, the downpour had commenced.

“I hope it’s not going to be wet in Bali. I want to get a proper tan!” Jessica grumbled.

“I missed you, Jess! It feels weird on campus without you.”

Jessica felt a sense of irritation as Andreae leant her head on her shoulder. She wished the girl would give her some space. Almost immediately, a wave of guilt washed over her. Andreae had been a loyal friend. She had been there for her during the horrible public shaming after the sex clip was unearthed. She had helped with the paperwork when Jessica hastily quit her studies at the university and relocated to Melbourne to complete her degree. Jessica ought to be grateful.

“Krison is pissed off with me, though.”

“Why?”

“He is dating this girl he met volunteering at Migrant Workers Count Too. The entire dragon boat team has been practising a flash mob for her as a birthday surprise. Because I pulled out at the last minute for this Bali getaway, they had to re-choreograph the piece. But I don’t care. You’ll always come first, Jess.”

There was that pinch of guilt again. Jessica had flown back from Melbourne during her term break. The side trip to Bali was an impromptu decision she made when she realised the impending anniversary of the Little India riot might dredge up some old news article featuring her name or picture. There was nowhere to hide on social media. She could only hope that, with the passing of time, her notoriety would be forgotten as other newsmakers took on the limelight.

Jessica was done with the limelight. She could imagine nothing else more blissful than anonymity.

“Excuse me, Miss, would you like me to place your luggage in the overhead compartment?”

Jessica grabbed her bag and passed it to the flight stewardess absentmindedly. She was, however, startled when the flight stewardess jumped in an ungainly attempt to store her luggage in the overhead compartment. That was when she took a second look; the young woman couldn’t have been more than a metre and a half. How did she get selected to be a flight stewardess?