The bet

Philip Fong was the most punctual person in Year 11. He was never late, not even by one minute. Even during exams he was serene, as calm as a lake with no wind.

Before the holidays, Fiza laughed at him. "You love timetables, but you never go anywhere."

"I could visit all eleven state capitals in Peninsular Malaysia in eighty hours," said Philip. "Only buses, trains and ferries. No cars."

"That's outrageous," said Fiza. "Eleven capitals in three days?"

"Then let's make a wager. If I lose, I buy nasi lemak for the whole class. If I win, you do."

Fiza was doubtful. She did not believe him, but she wrote the rules on the board and took a photo. Rule one: a photo at every capital, sent to the class chat. Rule two: back at the school gate within eighty hours. Rule three: the eighty hours begin with the first photo.

"My clock starts at the school gate," said Philip. "I don't want one free minute."

That night he wrote an itinerary, a plan of every bus, train and ferry, with times. His best friend Pathy read it. "It's flawless. Not one mistake. But real buses don't read plans."

At seven on Friday, they walked out of the gate. "Finish: Monday, three o'clock," said Philip.

At nine they took the first photo, in Shah Alam. By the afternoon they had Seremban and Melaka too. At the bus station, Pathy saw a girl in a black cap watching them.