Chapter 16: Under the Rooftop Sky

It had been 10 days.

10 days since Yoko last heard from Faye.

The messages, once playful and full of promise, had dried up into nothing. Not a single text. Not a sign that Faye was thinking about her. Yoko had tried to distract herself with work, throwing herself into the release of her new series with P'Freen. And it worked—for a while.

But tonight, even the glittering success of the series couldn't erase the quiet ache in her chest.

The premiere had been a resounding triumph.

Two days ago, the first episode aired, and it shattered every expectation. The viewership ratings broke records, making it the highest-rated series premiere in Thailand's history. Social media exploded with praise:

"Yoko and P'Freen's chemistry is off the charts!""I've never seen a Thai series with such emotional depth in the first episode.""The acting! The storytelling! This is going to be THE series of the year."

#FreenYoko trended worldwide within hours, and their global fandom doubled overnight. Fans from across Asia, Europe, and even the Americas were raving about the show, sharing clips, memes, and fan edits that showcased Yoko and P'Freen's dynamic on-screen.

The industry took notice too. Journalists called it a "game-changer" for Thai entertainment, and prominent directors and producers reached out to her team, congratulating them on their achievement.

Tonight, the team had gathered to celebrate.

The rooftop bar buzzed with energy. Yoko's manager, P'Lookmhee, had booked the entire place for an exclusive celebration. Champagne flowed freely, laughter echoed across the space, and the entire cast and crew reveled in their success.

But Yoko? She was on her fourth drink, and it was barely an hour into the party.

P'Freen noticed first.

"Yoko," she said softly, sliding onto the barstool beside her. "You've been quiet all night. What's going on?"

Yoko smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Nothing. Just... enjoying the moment." She raised her glass in a mock toast and took another sip.

P'Freen frowned. "That's your fourth glass. You usually stop at two."

"Guess I'm celebrating extra hard tonight," Yoko replied, forcing a laugh.

But P'Freen wasn't convinced. She glanced over her shoulder at P'Chai and P'Lookmhee, exchanging a concerned look with them.

"Yoko," P'Lookmhee called from across the room, making her way over. "Are you okay? You've been off tonight."

"I'm fine," Yoko replied quickly. Too quickly.

"You don't look fine," P'Chai added, joining the small circle forming around her. "You should be on top of the world right now. Highest-rated premiere in history. Global fans. The whole industry talking about you."

"I know," Yoko said, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. "It's amazing. Really. I'm grateful."

"But?" P'Lookmhee pressed gently.

Yoko hesitated, then sighed. "It's nothing. Just... personal stuff."

"Personal stuff?" P'Freen raised an eyebrow. "Is it about... Faye?"

Yoko froze. Her grip on the glass tightened.

The silence was answer enough.

P'Lookmhee placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yoko, you've been distracted all week. You're here with us, but your mind is somewhere else. Or... with someone else."

"She hasn't messaged you, has she?" P'Freen guessed.

Yoko shook her head, her eyes downcast. "Not a word."

"Maybe she's busy," P'Chai offered, trying to be optimistic. "New York fashion week just ended. She might be caught up in work."

"Or maybe..." Yoko's voice trailed off, her thoughts darkening. Maybe it didn't mean as much to her as it did to me.

"You're overthinking," P'Freen said softly. "Faye doesn't strike me as someone who plays games. If she was interested, she'll reach out."

"Will she?" Yoko whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

The conversation was cut short by the arrival of more cast members, pulling P'Freen and P'Chai away. P'Lookmhee stayed for a moment longer, giving Yoko a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before heading off to mingle.

Yoko was left alone again, her thoughts louder than the celebration around her.

As the night wore on, Yoko found herself retreating to a quieter corner of the rooftop, her phone in hand. She opened her messaging app, her thumb hovering over Faye's name. The chat was still there, frozen in time from their last exchange over a week ago.

She had read the conversation a hundred times, searching for clues, for anything she might have missed.

Was it all in my head?

She stared at the blinking cursor in the message box. Should I text her first?

Her mind wrestled with the idea. Would it make her look desperate? Clingy? Or would it be a reminder to Faye that she was still thinking of her?

Before she could decide, a new message notification appeared.

Her heart leapt—Faye.

It was from a fan, tagging her in a post about the series. Yoko's heart sank, the brief flicker of hope extinguished in an instant.

She locked her phone and leaned back against the wall, staring up at the night sky. The stars above twinkled brightly, scattered across the dark expanse like tiny points of light.

Are you even thinking about me, Faye?

The celebration continued around her, but Yoko felt worlds apart. The music thumped, the glasses clinked, and everyone seemed to be caught up in the excitement of their success, but Yoko felt numb. Success had wrapped itself around her, but it felt hollow—empty—without the one person she wanted to share it with.

Yoko swirled the last remnants of her drink in her glass, the amber liquid catching the soft glow of the rooftop lights. The celebration was in full swing—laughter filled the air, the clink of glasses rang out, and the energy was palpable—but Yoko barely felt present.

The record-breaking success of the series, the global praise, the fact that she was now a household name beyond Thailand—it all felt muted, like a distant echo. The one message she had been waiting for all week still hadn't come.

She leaned against the wall, her phone resting loosely in her hand. Her thumb hovered over Faye's name once more, and before she could stop herself, she unlocked the chat.

Still no new message.

"Yoko!" P'Freen's voice called out from behind her, snapping her from her thoughts. "Come on, join us! Don't sit there sulking."

Yoko turned, forcing a smile. "I'll be there in a bit. Just catching some air."

P'Freen nodded but gave her a knowing look before heading back to the crowd.

Yoko exhaled deeply, glancing at her phone again. Her thumb hovered over the screen, tapping absent-mindedly as she debated whether to send a message herself or continue waiting. 10 days... and nothing.

The rooftop celebration hummed around her—the success of their series premiere had everyone in high spirits. Their show had broken records, trended worldwide, and catapulted her and P'Freen into global stardom. Yet, amidst all the noise and triumph, Yoko felt completely out of place.

Her mind wasn't on the accolades, the praise, or even the fans chanting their ship name. It was on Faye.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her hand.

A message.

Her heart jumped, and for a fleeting second, she dared to hope. Quickly, she opened the message, expecting another congratulatory text from a fan or someone from the industry.

But it wasn't.

It was from her.

Faye.

Yoko's breath caught in her throat, her pulse racing as she read the words on the screen. The message was simple, but it felt like the most meaningful thing she had seen in days:

"Congratulations on the premiere. The world seems to be in love with you right now. Hope you're celebrating... properly."

Yoko stared at the screen, disbelief washing over her like a wave she hadn't been prepared for. Finally. The simple word echoed in her mind, a bittersweet relief unraveling the knot in her chest. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held her phone tighter, her breath shallow, as though the act of breathing too loudly might shatter this fragile moment.

For days, she had carried the weight of silence, replaying their last exchange until it became a blur of hope and doubt. But now, there it was—proof that Faye still thought of her, that she hadn't vanished completely. Yoko exhaled shakily, feeling a mix of emotions rise to the surface: joy, hesitation, and a pang of something she couldn't quite name.

Her thumb hovered over the screen for a beat too long, the cursor blinking in the empty reply box. What should she say? She wanted to be calm, nonchalant even, but the swell of emotions threatened to break her composure. Slowly, she began typing, her thoughts racing ahead of her fingers.

"Thank you. It means a lot to hear that from you."

She paused, reading the words. Too formal? Too distant? She deleted them, the blank space mocking her indecision.

"I'm glad you messaged me. I've been thinking about you."

No. Too direct. Too vulnerable. Her heart thudded in her chest as she erased the words again. She wanted to say the perfect thing—something that would keep the conversation alive without revealing how desperately she had missed Faye. Her mind replayed the message Faye had sent: "The world seems to be in love with you right now. Hope you're celebrating... properly."

Finally, she settled on something simpler:

"Hey, Thanks. Didn't think I'd hear from you. How have you been?"

She hit send before she could second-guess herself, her heart pounding as though the act had taken all her courage. Setting the phone down on the table beside her, she stared at the glowing cityscape beyond the rooftop. The stars above twinkled faintly, but her focus was on the screen that seemed to hold her world in its glow.

Seconds stretched into eternity as she waited for a response, the buzz of the celebration around her fading into the background. Yoko wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the cool breeze against her skin. It was a small comfort, but nothing compared to what she really wanted—a sign from Faye that she was still someone special, still someone who mattered.