The sun had long set over Bangkok, and the city lights glittered outside Yoko's apartment window. It had been a long dayâa whirlwind of interviews, photo shoots, and meetings with her team. Yet, despite the packed schedule, her mind kept drifting to a single thought.
Faye.
Yoko stood, pacing the small living room. Her bare feet made no sound against the cool floor, but her mind roared with questions. Why haven't you texted? Are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?
She paused by the window, leaning her forehead against the glass. Below, the city pulsed with lifeâa stark contrast to the emptiness she felt.
Should I text her first?
The thought circled like a vulture. Yoko reached for her phone again, scrolling through her chat with Faye. Each line of their conversation replayed in her mind, like fragments of a film she couldn't stop watching.
Her phone remained stubbornly silent. No texts. No notifications. No messages from her.
Glancing at her phone every few minutes. She bit her lip, debating whether to text first.
It's late in New York, she reasoned. Maybe she's busy. Or tired. Or... just not interested.
That last thought made her stomach twist, and she shook her head, trying to push it away.
"Enough," she muttered to herself, picking up her phone. If Faye wasn't going to message, she could distract herself with something else. Something familiar.
A TikTok Live.
Yoko adjusted her messy bun, leaning into the camera as her TikTok Live lit up with viewers. Her oversized hoodie hung loosely, giving her a casual, cozy vibe, but nothing about her mood felt as calm as her appearance suggested.
As soon as she hit "Go Live," the chat exploded.
"YOKO! You're here!"
"We've missed you!"
"Please tell us Freen is there too! ð"
Yoko chuckled, waving at the camera. "Hi, everyone. How's your night going?"
The comments rolled in fast:
"Better now that you're live!"
"Did you see the edits? FreenYoko is trending again!"
"When's your next project with Freen?!"
Yoko's smile softened as she scanned the chat. FreenYoko shippers were always enthusiastic, and she loved their passion. But tonight, she braced herselfâshe knew what was coming.
It didn't take long.
"But wait... what about Faye? ð"
"Isn't Faye the new star of your story?"
"Forget FreenYoko, we're here for FayeYoko!"
Yoko tried not to laugh. "Wow, you guys don't waste any time, huh?" she teased, sitting back. "I just got here, and you're already stirring things up."
The chat spiraled into a frenzy:
"FreenYoko forever!"
"FayeYoko is the future!"
"Yoko, blink twice if you like Faye more than Freen!"
Yoko shook her head, laughing. "I'm not answering that. No way."
But that didn't stop the fans.
"Yoko, come on, we all know Freen is your favorite."
"FayeYoko stans, sit down. Freen has been there since day one!"
"FayeYoko shippers are just delusional. Freen is endgame!"
Yoko raised an eyebrow. "Okay, okay, let's all calm down. You're going to give me a headache."
One comment caught her eye, making her pause:
"But FreenYoko is REAL. Faye is just a new friend, right?"
Yoko hesitated, her fingers tapping the side of her mug. She could feel the weight of their expectation, and she wanted to respond carefully.
"Look," she said with a small smile, "I think it's amazing how much you all care about the people in my life. But, sometimes, we should remember that not everything has to be a competition and not everything you see online is... what it seems, sometimes, people are just friends. Freen and Faye are both important to me in different ways."
The chat erupted again:
"OMG, she just said Freen is important!"
"She likes Faye more!"
"No, didn't you watch the interview, she said Faye is just a friend!"
"Guys!" Yoko exclaimed, throwing up her hands. "You're going to drive me crazy."
Her voice softened as she added, "Freen has been my partner through so much. We've worked together, laughed together, and supported each other. She's family to me."
The FreenYoko shippers flooded the chat with hearts:
"See? FreenYoko forever!"
"FreenYoko is canon!"
"You heard herâFreen is family!"
But before Yoko could move on, another comment stole her attention:
"And what about Faye?"
The question lingered, and Yoko's smile grew faint. She glanced off-screen for a moment, gathering her thoughts.
"Faye..." she started, her voice softer, "Faye is... someone I'm still getting to know. But she's kind, talented, and genuinely one of the most amazing people I've met in a long time."
The FayeYoko shippers went wild:
"We won!"
"She likes Faye more, I'm telling you!"
"FreenYoko shippers, pack it up!"
Yoko laughed nervously, shaking her head. "You guys are impossible. I'm not picking sides. Don't even try."
But the chat only grew more intense, with fans arguing back and forth:
"Freen is her soulmate!"
"Faye is her destiny!"
"She said Freen is family, so she's off-limits romantically!"
"Then Faye it is!"
Yoko rubbed her temples dramatically, exaggerating her frustration for the camera. "Why are you all like this? Do you know how hard it is to read your comments when you're fighting like this?"
Her playful tone brought laughter to the chat, but the debates continued.
"Okay, Yoko, real talkâwho makes you smile more: Freen or Faye?"
Yoko's eyes widened. "Nope. Absolutely not. I'm not answering that."
The comments came faster:
"Blink twice if it's Faye!"
"Cough if it's Freen!"
"Just tell us who you're thinking about right now!"
Yoko groaned dramatically, slumping forward until her forehead touched the edge of her desk. "Why do I even go live? You guys stress me out more than my work does."
The fans flooded the chat with laughing emojis, clearly enjoying her reaction.
But amidst the chaos, a softer comment slipped through, one that made her pause.
"It's okay, Yoko. Whoever makes you happy, we'll support you."
She read the comment loud as her heart swelled, and she sat up, a genuine smile breaking through her playful exasperation. "Thank you," she said quietly, her eyes flicking to the camera. "That means a lot."
The chat slowed for a moment, fans seemingly touched by her sincerity.
Yoko leaned closer to the camera. "You know," she said, her voice steady, "at the end of the day, it's not about ships or preferences. It's about the connections we make and the people who bring light into our lives. So, whether it's Freen or Faye, or anyone else, I hope you'll trust that I'll figure it out in my own time."
The comments turned supportive:
"We're with you no matter what!"
"Take your time, Yoko. We love you!"
"You deserve to be happy, whether it's Freen, Faye, or no one at all!"
Her smile widened, and the tension in her chest eased. "Thanks, guys. You're the best."
The conversation shifted, and Yoko leaned into it, letting her fans guide her away from her restless thoughts. She answered questions about her favorite foods, shared funny behind-the-scenes stories from the set, and even gave a little spoiler of their upcoming series.
But no matter how much fun she had, her eyes kept flicking to the chat, hoping for one familiar name to appear.
Nothing.
The night stretched on, and as the hour grew late, Yoko's energy began to wane. She could feel the weight of the day settling in, and the silence from Faye gnawed at the edges of her mind.
"Alright guys, It's getting late. I think it's time to call it a night" she said with a soft smile.
"I'm logging off before you all drag me into another argument." she added with a mock-serious expression"
The fans begged her to stay:
"Don't go!"
"Just one more hour!"
"Please give us a hintâTeam Faye or Team Freen?!"
Yoko laughed, waving at the camera. "Goodnight, everyone. Take care, okay? Love you all. Sleep well, and rememberâalways be kind!"
As she ended the live, the familiar emptiness settled in. Yoko stared at the black screen for a moment before locking her phone. She leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
The room was quiet, save for the hum of the air conditioner and the faint sounds of the city outside. Yoko's mind raced with thoughtsâwondering if she'd misread Faye's signals, if she should've texted first, if she was just setting herself up for disappointment.
Her phone buzzed.
Her heart leaped, but when she grabbed it, it was only a notification from a fan account tagging her in another #FayeYoko post.
Yoko sighed, tossing her phone onto the couch beside her. She closed her eyes, letting the exhaustion pull at her.
Yoko sat cross-legged on her bed, the soft glow of her phone screen illuminating her face in the dimly lit room. The cool breeze of the night blew through the open window, but it did little to soothe the restlessness bubbling inside her.
She had told herselfâmaybe Faye is just busy today. That's reasonable, right? After all, Faye was halfway across the world, likely drowning in the chaos of a post-fashion-show whirlwind. Yoko tried to dismiss the uneasy feeling gnawing at her, but curiosity quickly took hold.
Her fingers moved on their own, opening TikTok and typing in Sofia's account. Sofia would've posted something about Faye by now... right?
Wrong. Nothing.
Sofia's page was a flurry of her usual tiktok challenge, travel clips, and some short vlogs. But nothing about Faye.
Yoko sighed in frustration, closing the app and switching to Instagram. She navigated to the official account of Faye City, the brand that carried Faye's name and influence. The latest posts were sleek and polished:
A highlight reel from the New York fashion show.Close-ups of their new collection, each piece more stunning than the last.A press release announcing the show's success.
But nothing personal. Nothing that gave her any insight into Faye.
Where are you?
Desperate for any clue, Yoko scrolled through other associated accounts. She even searched for Sonya, another friend of Faye's, but her Instagram was private. Yoko's frustration grew until something caught her eye on Sofia's IGâa tagged post from a user named Namtan.
Curious, Yoko tapped on the name.
Not private.
Relief washed over her as she clicked into the profile. Namtan's account was full of vibrant photosâfashion, travel, and glimpses of her wearing Faye City. Is she working in Faye City too? Yoko wondered, she check the latest post, just an hour ago and it stopped her cold.
It was a selfie.
Namtan sat in what appeared to be the plush interior of a private jet. She wore a relaxed but satisfied expression, her hair slightly tousled, a hint of exhaustion in her eyes.
The caption read:
"Exhausted but fulfilled. Time to go home. âï¸"
Yoko's heart skipped a beat. Home? Was Faye with her? Were they heading back to the Philippines?
Her fingers tightened around her phone as she scrolled down Namtan's profile, looking for more clues. Post after post documented the fashion showâthe glamorous runway, the after-parties, and moments with industry elites.
And then she saw it.
A photo that made her breath hitch.
It was a candid shot of Faye and Namtan, sitting close together on a velvet couch. Faye's posture was relaxed but elegant, her eyes gleaming with the soft glow of ambient lighting. Namtan was leaning in, her head tilted slightly toward Faye as if whispering something only she could hear. And the only caption is the silence emoji.
Yoko felt a sharp pang in her chest. Jealousy.
Why do I feel like this?
She stared at the photo, her mind racing. What made me think Faye was single? Faye was stunningâbeautiful, successful, and effortlessly charming. Women and even men were probably lining up just to have a chance with her.
Did I really think someone like Faye would stop everything for me?
The chats, the playful banter, the teasing... Had she misread everything? Was it just harmless flirting for Faye? Maybe it meant nothing.
Yoko swallowed hard, her throat tightening. The way Faye seemed effortlessly included in every photo, every social circle, every momentâit made Yoko wonder.
What if she's already involved with someone else?
Her heart sank at the thought, a dull ache spreading through her chest.
And then another thought hit her, one that stung even more.
Maybe I'm just assuming everything. Maybe to her, I'm just another friend.
Yoko leaned back against the headboard, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her chest felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on her ribs. The room, once comforting, now felt suffocating.
She opened her messaging app, her thumb hovering over Faye's name. The last conversation lingered at the top of the chatâplayful, light-hearted. Nothing that hinted at the turmoil building inside her.
She wanted to type something. To ask if Faye was on her way back. To ask if they were okay. But the words refused to come.
Maybe... maybe it's better if I don't ask.
Because deep down, she was afraid of the answer.
She placed the phone back with a frustrated sigh, turning onto her side.
Maybe it's better this way, she thought, her heart heavy with resignation.
She stared at the darkened room, the city lights beyond her window casting faint glimmers on the ceiling.
Don't ask, she told herself. Don't push. If she cares, she'll come to you.
But as her eyes closed, one final thought slipped through the cracks of her resolve.
Please let her come to me.
Author's Note:
As promised, this update is dedicated to @zxcvb1234q. Thank you for your love and support of this story!
And of course, a huge thank you to everyone who commented on the previous chapter: @OhCrap6, @Doryn25, @LiJenKM, @ArgentRegal, @BelindaRea8, and @kTDOTC. Your feedback means so much!
And to everyone who's been voting consistentlyâthank you so much for appreciating my effort, babe. And to all my silent readers, I see you. Thank you for the love! ð