A vacation to remember - Part 2 (Patreon)

Sonya lounged comfortably on the balcony next to Natalia, the familiar scent of the sea wafting up from the nearby shoreline. More than a year had passed since their last casual meet-up, and the changes that had transpired since then were considerable.

Natalia, her best friend, who was once a conservative college student, had permanently relocated to Malaysia following the disappearance of Bri. The former girlfriend had decided to go traveling and apparently broke up with William. Life had taken an unexpected turn when Natalia started dating William, though. 

Sonya couldn’t believe that any of that was real – she was weirded out at first. It was the most random relationship, but just seeing how happy they were in online photos made her smile. As if the change in address and lifestyle weren't startling enough, Natalia was now happily engaged to him.

Sonya, on the other hand, had chosen to maintain her life in the states, taking every opportunity she could to visit Natalia in Malaysia. Despite the physical distance, their bond remained strong. But she couldn't ignore the transformation Natalia had undergone, and it was on one of these visits that Sonya noticed her friend's new accessory. She wore more revealing clothes and posted on social media way more than she used to. She even started doing modeling work after dropping out of college permanently.

"I still can’t believe he put so much money into this," Natalia gushed, holding out her hand to show off a dazzling engagement ring. She held a glass of vodka in her other hand, taking a sip as she admired the ring. "Isn't it beautiful? William picked it out himself before he proposed to me beside the ocean."

Sonya nodded, smiling as she admired the ring. "It's stunning, Nat. William has good taste. Did you have big plans on the wedding?"

Natalia's smile grew wider. "Yup, he’s doing all the planning. He's wonderful, Sonya. I mean, who could have thought? Coming to Malaysia, I was a nervous wreck. Now I'm part of your family. I feel...blessed."

A sense of warmth filled Sonya as she listened to Natalia's content chatter. The trip to Malaysia was intended to be a stress-relieving break from their strenuous college life, but for Natalia, it had become a life-changing journey. The unfamiliar country had become her home, and a man they barely knew a year ago was soon to be her husband. Natalia had found happiness and a new family. Sonya clinked her glass against Natalia's, a gentle smile on her face. "To new beginnings," she toasted.

Natalia raised her glass, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "To new beginnings," she echoed, taking a sip of her vodka.

As they sat there on the balcony, the evening settling around them, Sonya couldn't help but feel a strange sense of peace. Despite all the changes and the miles between them, their friendship had weathered through, proving that some bonds were truly meant to last. The trip that was meant to be a temporary escape had gifted Natalia a lifetime of happiness and a new family, and for that, Sonya was excited for what the future had in store for their new family.