It was one hell of a night for Stacy and her friends. They had partied non-stop, fueled by alcohol and the carefree spirit of youth. Stacy had not intended to party so hard, but her friends had other plans, and she had no choice but to go along for the ride.
Morning arrived, and the soft, golden rays of the sun streamed through the hotel room's curtains.
Stacy lay on the bed, her long lashes still closed, looking like a goddess in repose. Aaron, one of Stacy's closest friends, was already awake, and he couldn't help but admire the ethereal sight before him.
As he took in her beauty, Stacy lay with her hand and legs draped over Aaron, while Jayden, another friend, slept soundly beside her.
Hayley, the first to wake up, groaned as she battled a throbbing headache. Her eyes opened, and she noticed Aaron staring at Stacy.
She had always been aware of his affection for Stacy, even back in school, and his gaze only confirmed it. She and Hayden had noticed it but only Stacy seemed to have not.
They understood she was already in love with someone else but Aaron wasn't one to give up easily as long as she wasn't married yet he still had his chance.
Stacy's peaceful moment was interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She fumbled around, searching for it. When she finally found her phone, it was a call from An Xin, who informed her that her mother had awakened.
Stacy quickly sat up, inadvertently pushing Jayden, who tumbled off the bed with a loud thud.
"Ouch, Stacy watch it," Jayden protested as he rubbed his back. Aaron, now fully awake, questioned, "What's going on?"
Stacy quickly explained, "I forgot to tell you guys last night, my mom had heart surgery yesterday, she was still unconscious when I left but she's awake now. I need to go see her." She stood up from the bed.
"I'm so sorry; we had no idea," Hayley said, feeling remorseful for dragging Stacy into the party. Stacy was about to go with her untidy looks but Aaron grabbed her by the hand.
"You can't go out looking like that, go on and freshen up, you would want aunty to see you this way" she realized what Aaron had said was true
Stacy rushed off to freshen up, as Aaron insisted, "Go ahead; I will get you a new dress."
Hayden, now fully awake, reminisced about their school days, where they used to party and sleep together like this. He missed school days; they were so close that one would think they were siblings.
They all went on to prepare to head to the hospital together when they were done they checked out of the hotel and headed out.
The group arrived at the hospital and hurried to her mother's private room. There, Yuan Yuan, a childhood friend of Stacy's, was seated, gently feeding her porridge.
Stacy rushed to her mother, embracing her tightly and expressing her relief that she was awake. She felt her heart warm up. She didn't know what she would have done if anything had happened to her mother.
"Mom, I'm so glad you're awake," Stacy said, her mother playfully scolding her for acting like a child. "You're no longer a baby, get off me".
Stacy turned to Yuan Yuan and thanked her earnestly for taking care of her mother. Her mother, curious about the newcomers, didn't seem familiar or look Asian. She wanted to know who they were. They were all cute and asked, "Stacy, are these your friends?".
Stacy introduced her friends one by one, pointing at them "Mum this is Hayley, Jayden, and Aaron" They all greeted her politely, "Nice to meet you aunty".
With Aaron stepping forward, presenting a basket of fruit "Aunty get well soon" he said with a bright smile he dropped the basket by the side.
Jayden offered a bouquet of flowers. "I hope you get strong so I could come taste you wonderful dishes I always hear off" he offered her a warming smile.
"Thank you so much" she said feeling so much better and happier.
Hayley handed her a bottle of vitamins, "These are Vitamins they are good for the body, please accept them" she said giving it to them, Mrs Feng collect it she looked at it, she was shocked it was the vitamins she had always wanted to get but they said it was limited she was so pleased with the gift, she took Hayley's hand and thanked her so much.
Stacy's mother, touched by their gestures, said, "Thank you, my dear children. You must come over for dinner sometime."
Yuan Yuan, feeling left out jealous cleared her throat trying to remind them she was still in the room "Bai Bai won't you introduce your friends to me" she said acting all shy.
"Oh so sorry my bad" she turned to her friends "This is my best friend Yuan yuan" she said.
Yuan yuan stood up and walked up to them with a smile, she had been busy stealing glances at Aaron since he entered the room, "Call me Maddy '' she said as she stretched out to shake them. "It's nice to meet you all".
Stacy was taken aback by the sudden change of name of yuan yuan, she didn't even know that her name was Maddy, maybe she wanted to please one among them, but she brushed it away.
She knew Yuan yuan always loved attention, but Hayley felt something was off, she noticed Yuan yuan looking at Aaron.
The door to the room opened revealing An Xin who walked in with a smile "Stacy, remember you are on duty today" she said Stacy had almost forgotten she was on duty, while on the other hand Jayden was smitten by An Xin that he was staring at her without even blinking, he was smitten by her beauty.
Stacy was reluctant to leave but her mother told her she was fine she had her friends to look after her, she was then relieved as she was about to leave Aaron dragged her by the hand.
"Make sure you eat" he told her as she nodded her head and left the room, while Yuan yuan stared at them with jealousy all over her face.