As I stepped outside, my brother reached for my luggage. The morning air was crisp, and the clock had just struck 8 a.m. We were ready to head back home. For my family, that meant returning to Chiang Mai; for me, it was Bangkok. All of us were heading to the airport together.
My flight was only an hour earlier than theirs, so they decided to accompany me and wait for their flight at the airport.
I climbed into the SUV, joining my siblings Nana and Luke, who were already settled in the backseat. As I fastened my seatbelt, my mom turned around from the front passenger seat, her eyes filled with concern.
"Are you okay, dear?" she asked softly.
I smiled, brushing off the exhaustion. "Yes, Mom. Just didn't get enough sleep last night."
She nodded but didn't let it go. "Oh, I see. So, it has nothing to do with the rich CEO?" she teased, a playful grin tugging at her lips.
My eyes widened in shock. "What? How do you know about that?" I asked, my voice slightly higher than usual.
Mom's gaze drifted toward Nana, sitting beside me with a sheepish look. I followed her line of sight, and Nana, caught in the act, shrugged guiltily.
"What?" Nana mumbled. "I was watching your live last night... and Mom watched it too. So did Dad. And Bam. Oh, and Luke," she added as if it were the most casual thing in the world.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. "What is wrong with you guys?" I groaned, sulking.
As if on cue, Bambam and Dad climbed into the car, laughing as they overheard my reaction.
"Why? Are we not allowed to watch your lives?" Dad asked, his voice filled with amusement.
I stared at him, incredulous. "When did you start watching my lives? I've been doing TikTok lives for five years! You never watched them before. Why now? Why last night?"
Nana jumped in to defend herself. "Hey, I've been watching since last year!" She crossed her arms. "Ask Bam why. He's the one who told Mom to watch it with me."
I turned to Bam, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Bam shrugged nonchalantly. "I saw on X that the CEO was going to join your live. We were curious."
Dad grinned. "Yeah, just curious."
I slumped in my seat, arms crossed, determined to ignore their teasing.
But then Dad's voice cut through the laughter. "Can I ask you something?"
I looked up, confused. "Of course, Dad. What is it?"
"Why did you end the live?" he asked casually.
Silence filled the car. For a moment, nobody spoke. Then, as if on cue, Nana burst into laughter, followed by Mom, Bam, and even Luke, who had been half-asleep. Their laughter echoed around me, but I wasn't laughing.
I inhaled deeply, gripping my hands together. "Because..." I started but trailed off. I didn't have the answer, or at least not one I wanted to admit. "Because I was about to cry," I whispered.
The laughter stopped. Mom immediately shifted closer to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Oh, honey... why?" Her voice was gentle, filled with worry.
I blinked back tears. "I don't know, Mom. I just... felt overwhelmed and... offended. At the same time."
"Overwhelmed, I understand," she said softly. "But offended? Why?"
I swallowed hard, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "I don't know. It felt like... like she was flexing her money."
Dad coughed, exchanging a glance with Mom. "Do you really think she's that kind of person?" he asked carefully.
I hesitated. "I don't know. I don't know her, Dad. I've never even met her. And yet, she's sending me these expensive gifts. Why? What does she mean by that?"
Before Dad could respond, Bam jumped in. "She said you deserved it. And I agree with her."
His words hit me hard. "That's exactly what confuses me," I said, my voice rising. "Why does she think I deserve it? Does she know me? Does she know that I've been struggling financially?"
Bam's eyes widened, and he shot a glance at Mom, who quickly intervened.
"Hey, calm down, honey," Mom said, rubbing my back soothingly. "You're not struggling anymore. You've built a career, and even if you were, you have us. We'd support you. But don't you think it's unfair to assume the worst about her? You didn't even say thank you on the live."
Tears welled up again, spilling over. "I'm sorry, Mom. I was confused. I didn't know how to react... or how to feel."
Dad's voice broke the tension. "It's understandable, baby. But... maybe it's because it was Faye?"
I stared at him, incredulous. "Why would you think that?"
Dad smiled knowingly. "If it wasn't Faye who sent you the gifts, would you still feel this way? If it were just a fan, would you have been overwhelmed? Or would you have simply said thank you?"
His words sank in. I didn't answer, but I knew the truth. If it had been anyone else, I wouldn't have felt this conflicted.
Mom kept me close, her warmth comforting. I leaned my head on her shoulder, tears silently falling.
"Maybe," I whispered, "it's because... she feels like an impossible dream. She's not just rich, Mom. She's rich rich. I don't think we can ever work."
Mom sighed softly. "Yoko, is someone's social status really the biggest obstacle in a relationship?"
She cupped my face gently, her eyes filled with love. "When you told us you might like girls more than boys, we never thought you were anything but normal. And Faye being rich doesn't make her abnormal either. She's just a person, like you."
Mom continued, her voice steady and wise. "If you're afraid of her intentions, you won't know until you talk to her. But you don't have to do it today or anytime soon. Just think about it. Follow your instincts. You've always made decisions that were right for you. You've been living on your own for five years, and we trust you."
She smiled softly. "Faye didn't choose to be born rich, just like you didn't choose to be born average. But from what I've read, she's not just some wealthy CEO. She does volunteer work, donates to charity. Should we dismiss her kindness because of her wealth?"
Her words lingered in the air. I stayed quiet, hugging her tightly.
As we neared the airport, I thought about Fayeâthe girl who had been on my mind all night. After ending the live, I had cried for hours. When I finally stopped, I picked up my phone, only to find it flooded with messages from my team and fans. We were trending. I ignored it all and went straight to Faye's profile.
Her eyes stared back at me from her profile picture, and I felt the ache in my chest again. I typed a message to her: Why do you think I deserve the universe?
I read it ten times before hitting send.
I waited for a reply. None came.
I showered, completed my nightly routine, and still, nothing. Sleep claimed me while I held my phone, waiting.
Now, as we arrived at the airport, I checked my phone again. Still no reply. I smiled sadly, tucking the phone away.
We said our goodbyes at the gate. My family promised to visit for my graduation, just a week before my birthday. I boarded the plane, settled into my seat, and checked my phone one last time.
Nothing.
With a deep sigh, I put on my headphones and pressed play on my music. As the plane began its journey, I stared out the window, the question still lingering in my heart.
Why do you think I deserve the universe, Faye?