Chapter 14: Just Friends

After Faye's last message, which is saying goodnight, Yoko bolted to the bathroom, her heart racing as if she had just run a marathon. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her chest tight with an unfamiliar mix of excitement, anxiety, and something she couldn't quite name. She leaned over the sink, gripping the edge tightly, and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "And what are you doing?"

The composed and confident Yoko earlier was nowhere to be found. Instead, she saw a woman unraveling—giddy, nervous, and utterly captivated by someone she had never even met in person.

With a frustrated exhale, she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower. The cool water rushed over her skin, grounding her, but her thoughts were anything but calm. Memories of Faye's words and the subtle tension between their messages replayed in her mind like a loop. Open to suggestions. That single sentence had flipped her world upside down.

After a quick shower, Yoko slipped into a pair of comfortable pajamas, hoping the routine would steady her nerves. Yet, as soon as she picked up her phone, reality hit her like a tidal wave. The screen was flooded with notifications—texts, missed calls, and a slew of social media alerts.

Her team.

Her siblings.

Her fans.

Yoko groaned softly, rubbing her temples. She could already feel the chaos brewing in the wake of tonight's live. Reluctantly, she opened Twitter.

There it was—trending at number one: #FayeYoko.

Yoko squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to will away the growing storm. She took a deep breath, but curiosity got the better of her. She opened her team's group chat first.

P'Freen:

What the hell was that, Yoko?! OMG! You've NEVER flirted like that with anyone—not even me! 😂

Yoko rolled her eyes, unable to stop a small smile from forming. Trust P'Freen to turn a crisis into a joke.

P'Freen:

I mean, seriously, the tension was THICK. Everyone could feel it through the screen. Is this a new PR strategy? If it is, I need to know! 😂

P'Lookmhee:

Yoko, what just happened?! My phone is exploding with media requests, and now everyone's asking if you and Faye are a couple! I'm honestly worried about how the FreenYoko fans are reacting—they're really upset right now. What's going on?

We need to talk tomorrow. This is blowing up.

Don't forget we have a morning interview. No sleep for you! 😜

Yoko sighed. Of course, P'Lookmhee would be thinking about damage control.

P'Chai:

Yo, the fans are going wild. I've seen hundred of fan edits of you two already, and it's been less than an hour.

Oh, and the admin of your fanbases called, asking about that. I didn't know how to answer, so... yeah, good luck with that conversation.

Yoko sighed again, feeling nervous now that the reality sinks in.

P'Freen:

By the way, if this turns into a public relationship, I'm calling dibs on planning the couple's photoshoot. Just saying.

P'Lookmhee:

Stop it, Freen! 😂 Yoko's probably freaking out right now.

Yoko:

Freaking out is an understatement. 😵‍💫 Let's talk tomorrow. I need to breathe first.

Next, she opened her siblings' chat.

Nana:

Yoko... what's going on? Is this real?? 👀

Bam:

You're trending again, sis. AGAIN. What did you do this time? 😂

Yoko:

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Bam:

Yeah, sure. Nothing. That's why #FayeYoko is trending and half of the internet is shipping you two.

Nana:

Be honest. Do we need to prepare for paparazzi camping outside the house?

Yoko sighed, typing quickly.

Yoko:

Calm down. It's just the internet being dramatic. Nothing is happening.

Nana:

Oh? Then why did you look like you were about to melt on that live? 👀

Bam:

We saw it. Everyone saw it.

Yoko:

Good night.

Bam:

Haha! Avoiding the topic? Classic Yoko.

Nana:

Get some rest, sis. And maybe figure out what you're feeling before tomorrow, okay?

Yoko dropped her phone on the bed for a moment, her heart still racing. She wasn't ready to process it all—not yet.

Yoko woke up to the soft chime of her alarm, stretching lazily as the early light filtered through her curtains. She instinctively reached for her phone, hoping for a message from Faye.

Nothing.

A pang of disappointment flickered in her chest. She bit her lip, glancing at the clock. Maybe she's still asleep. It's late in New York.

Pushing the thought aside, she shook herself awake. There was no time to dwell on it; today was packed with a morning show interview, and she needed to focus.

She got ready quickly, slipping into a sleek black blazer and tailored pants, her makeup understated but flawless. Her team had been meticulous about her appearance lately. No room for mistakes.

As Yoko's car pulled up to the TV station, something felt... off. She noticed an unusual number of people gathered near the entrance—fans, reporters, photographers.

"Why are there so many today?" she muttered to herself, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

The driver stopped, and security personnel immediately approached her car. Inside, Yoko spotted their CEO, her manager, P'Freen and the rest of her team already waiting inside.

Weird. They didn't mention this.

When Yoko stepped out of the car, the chaos erupted.

Flashes from cameras nearly blinded her, and the cacophony of shouting voices made her ears ring.

"Yoko, how true is it that you and Faye are a couple now?"

"Yoko, when did you start dating Faye?"

"Yoko, is FreenYoko just a fanservice to trick your fans into supporting the series?"

"Is it true you cheated on Freen? Is that why she's not with you today?"

The questions hit like a barrage of bullets, each one more shocking than the last. Yoko froze for a split second, her mind scrambling for a response, but nothing came.

Security surrounded her, ushering her through the throng of reporters and screaming fans. She kept her head down, her heart pounding, until they safely reached the building's entrance.

Inside, she was immediately greeted by P'Freen, and P'Lookmhee, their CEO. Freen reached out, guiding her inside with a firm hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?" Freen asked softly, concern evident in her eyes.

"I'm fine," Yoko managed to say, her voice steadier than she felt.

Once they were behind closed doors, P'Chai sighed heavily. "I'm so sorry about that, Yoko. We weren't informed there would be that many people waiting outside. We should've been warned."

"It's not your fault," Yoko replied, forcing a smile.

P'Freen crossed her arms, frowning. "Still, it's unacceptable. You shouldn't have been ambushed like that."

"No, it's okay. I brought this upon myself. I'm really sorry, I said, bowing my head."

P'Lookmhee chimed in, "Yoko, you didn't bring this upon us. Don't apologize."

Yoko glanced at them, guilt creeping in. "But I did, didn't I? This... all of this is because of the live last night."

P'Lookmhee stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Yoko's. "You didn't do anything wrong. Where this leads, we'll support you. But maybe... let's lie low for a bit, at least until after the series premieres."

Yoko nodded slowly. "I understand."

P'Lookmhee hesitated, then asked, "Faye is just a friend, right?"

Yoko looked down, unsure how to answer. "Honestly... I don't know, boss. I feel something for her. Something strong. And I'm sorry if that puts the series in jeopardy."

Freen shook her head. "Jeopardy? No way. Maybe some of our shippers will be upset, but true fans will support us. We'll explain it at an exclusive fan meet—no media, just our community. For now, we stick to the plan: no public flirting, focus on promoting the series. Faye wouldn't mind, right?"

Yoko paused, thinking of Faye. "I don't think we're there yet. I don't want to assume... So yeah, I think she wouldn't mind if I tell people we're just friends. Because... we're not anything. Yet."

Her cheeks flushed at the last word, and Freen grinned. "Yet, huh?"

Everyone laughed, easing the tension.

The interview started smoothly, though the first question made Yoko's stomach tighten.

"So, Yoko," the host said with a knowing smile, "the internet is buzzing about you and Faye. What's going on there?"

Yoko kept her composure, smiling politely. "It was just playful banter between friends. Nothing more."

The host raised an eyebrow. "Just friends? That's what you say about you and Freen too. Are you this close with all your friends?"

Yoko laughed, keeping it light. "I think it's just how I am. I'm lucky to have such amazing people around me."

The host didn't push further, moving on to questions about the series.

Later, they were asked to play a game—a series of lighthearted challenges. The final challenge had Yoko and Freen almost kissing, sending the audience into a frenzy. Freen hugged Yoko afterward, making everyone laugh.

The perfect fan service.

As they left the building, reporters and fans were still waiting. Freen instinctively wrapped an arm around Yoko, shielding her from the crowd.

"FreenYoko is still sailing!" someone shouted, and the crowd cheered.

Yoko smiled, waving briefly before they slipped into their car.

Over lunch, they discussed how to handle the remaining days before the series premiere.

"We'll keep things simple," P'Lookmhee said. "Yoko, you can still go live on TikTok, but avoid any direct flirting with Faye for now. Just until the release."

Yoko nodded absently, her mind wandering as her gaze shifted to her phone. She glanced at the screen again, her heart sinking a little when she saw there was still no message from Faye.

Should I text her first?

Just last night, they had been happily chatting, laughing over silly things, their conversation flowing effortlessly. But now, the silence between them felt heavy and unnerving. Did I say something wrong?  Yoko wondered, her fingers hovering over the screen. She considered sending a simple "Good morning," or maybe asking what time it was in New York, just to start a conversation. But then doubt crept in—What if she thinks I'm being too forward? What if I come across as clingy or desperate?

She chewed her bottom lip, fighting the urge to overthink. Am I overreacting? She couldn't expect Faye to message her every day—not when she was the CEO of a global brand, with an endless stream of responsibilities. It made sense that she might be too busy to text. But still, this silence felt so... unexpected.

Her thumb flicked nervously across the screen as she imagined all the possible responses—or worse, the lack of one. The uncertainty gnawed at her, and she found herself wondering if she was making too much out of something so small.

With a deep sigh, Yoko locked the phone and slid it back into her pocket, her chest heavy with indecision. Not yet. She wasn't ready to take that step, not without knowing where they stood. Not without giving her the space she needed.

Author's Note:

It looks like the chapter "Between Midnight and Morning" really sparked some comments from some of you! I've noticed some of my silent readers are now commenting, and I absolutely love it! I enjoy reading every single one of your comments.

So, this chapter is especially dedicated to @micarlene, @KTDOTC, @Ruby03020, and @BelindaRea8. You guys mean so much to me—thank you for all the love and support. 💖

One question though—do you think it's possible for someone to truly fall for another person they've never met in real life? Would love to hear your thoughts!