The Boys Who Stayed

“Why did you save me yesterday?” — Wei Jian
“Simple. Because we’re brothers.” — Danial

Eleven-year-old Wei Jian’s only ambition was to be the class clown; it was the only way to drown out the loneliness of his quiet home. But life had other plans. When his mother transfers him to a Sekolah Kebangsaan to save on costs, Wei Jian is crushed.

Suddenly an outsider in a Malay school, he struggles with a language he only knows from textbooks. He spends two weeks eating alone—until a game of guli leads to a friendship that changes everything.

Through Haziq, Danial, and Syafiq, Wei Jian finds a world he never knew existed. His life becomes a whirlwind of kompang, fasting, and Raya; all while trying to ignore the tension at home. As he fights his own demons, he begins to uncover the hidden stories of the boys. Their sorrows, their happiness, and the bonds that hold them together.

Mamak. Four boys. Their table.

This is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching story of a group of boys who found comfort in each other against all odds.

“Kita semua or no one.”

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A story by Jellybean, the author behind the viral Threads sensation Four Brothers.