Yoko groaned, pulling a pillow over her head as the insistent knock on her door jarred her from sleep. Her head pounded, a dull throb she suspected was from a lack of rest rather than anything physical. Sleep had been elusive after Faye left her last night. Yoko had stayed awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment they had shared.
When she finally dragged herself to the shower last night, she felt the weight of exhaustion in her movements. Afterward, she checked her phone and saw a message from Faye: "Good night again." Yoko had replied, a simple "Good night," and moments later, a heart emoji popped up as a reply.
The memory made her heart flutter, and she lay in bed, clutching her phone, still disbelieving that Faye had been here, talking to her, holding her hand. Her thoughts spiraled back to the previous day, leaving her in a dazed, almost giddy state until another knock broke her reverie.
"Yoko! Are you not up yet?" her sister Nana called from the other side of the door. "Faye's leaving in an hour. You might not get to say goodbye!"
The words hit Yoko like a splash of cold water. She bolted upright, throwing the blanket off. "What?!" She scrambled to the door and yanked it open to find Nana grinning at her.
"So that's how we wake you up now," Nana teased, clearly enjoying Yoko's frazzled state.
Yoko scowled. "What do you mean, Faye's leaving in an hour?"
"Exactly what I said," Nana replied, folding her arms. "Everyone's downstairs at the hotel restaurant having breakfast. You're the only one still sleeping."
Yoko glanced at the clock and froze. 9 a.m.
"Wait." She grabbed Nana's arm, panic rising. "You said Faye's leaving today? As in, she's leaving now?"
Nana nodded. "Yup. Now hurry up, Sleeping Beauty, or you'll miss her."
In a flurry of movement, Yoko dashed to the bathroom, pulled on a plain T-shirt and shorts, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. When she emerged, Nana let out a low whistle.
"Wow, that was fast. Is this the power of love?"
"Shut up," Yoko muttered, rolling her eyes, though her flushed cheeks gave her away.
They stepped into the elevator, Yoko still struggling to process the information. "She's leaving already?" she asked again.
Nana sighed. "Yeah, but don't worryâshe said she'll be back tonight."
"Wait, where is she going?" Yoko asked, her confusion deepening.
"I heard her telling Dad that a client in Cambodia begged her to come for a quick meeting. Apparently, this client has been trying to meet her for ages but never managed to because of P'Faye's schedule. She's still at a seminar there and couldn't go here, so she pleaded for P'Faye to go there instead.
"It's a girl?" Yoko blurted out, before she could stop herself.
Nana smirked. "Yes, Yoko, I believe 'she' is used to address girls. She's a potential client. Stop being jealous already."
"I'm not jealous," Yoko grumbled, though her face betrayed her.
When the elevator doors opened, Nana led her into the bustling restaurant. Yoko barely registered the sound of clinking plates and light chatter before her eyes found Faye. She was sitting at the far end of the table, talking animatedly with Yoko's younger brother Luke using sign language.
Yoko froze, her heart clenching at the sight.
Nana, noticing Yoko's expression, leaned closer and whispered, "P'Sonya told me P'Faye studied sign language last week after you mentioned Luke couldn't speak."
The words hit Yoko like a punch to the chest, and her eyes filled with unshed tears. She turned to Nana, who was also misty-eyed.
"She's really kind, Yoko. Genuinely kind," Nana said softly. Then she straightened and clapped her hands. "Sleeping Beauty is finally awake!"
The room erupted into teasing remarks, everyone chiming in to make fun of Yoko's late arrival. But Yoko barely heard them, her focus entirely on Faye, who was now looking at her with a warm, gentle smile.
"Good morning," Faye greeted.
"Good morning," Yoko replied, her voice soft and shy.
Faye stood and pulled out the chair next to her. "Sit here."
Yoko quickly took the seat, immediately catching a whiff of Faye's perfume. It was intoxicating, making her feel both lightheaded and weak. She couldn't help but notice Faye's outfitâa tailored blazer over a cropped blouse that exposed her toned stomach, paired with high-waisted trousers. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Faye's abs before she snapped her head away, cheeks burning.
But is seems a little too late because out of the corner of her eye, she saw Orm and Charlotte whispering to each other, clearly amused.
Orm raised an eyebrow with a teasing grin. "Wow, Yoko, I didn't know you were into abs now. Should I start working out?"
Charlotte chimed in, her gaze playfully shifting to Faye, who was now clearly blushing. "I mean, we can't really blame her, can we?"
P'Freen leaned in, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Yoko never even looked at me like that. I mean, there are plenty of delicious meals on the table, yet her eyes were glued to Faye's abs like it was the most delicious thing here."
Laughter erupted around the room, and Yoko felt her face burn, her embarrassment turning to a mix of playful annoyance and warmth.
Then, Namtan added with a smirk, "You won't see Faye wearing a crop top again after this."
More laughter filled the air, and Faye, who was still blushing, shot a playful glare at Namtan, but her smile betrayed her amusement.
Yoko groaned, burying her face in her hands as laughter erupted around the table. Faye, for her part, just smiled, her gaze flicking to Yoko every so often, clearly amused.
As the teasing and laughter settled, Yoko turned to Faye, her curiosity shining through.
"You know sign language?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Faye blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Huh?," she asked.
Yoko continued gently, "I saw you signing with Luke earlier. It really surprised me."
Faye's face softened with understanding. "Oh, that. Yeah, but I'm still learning," she admitted with a small laugh. "I wouldn't say I'm good at it yet."
Yoko's gaze lingered on her, a mix of gratitude and admiration in her eyes. "Why did you decide to learn? It's not easy to pick up."
Faye shrugged modestly, her gaze drifting for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. "It started years ago, actually. When I was in Africa, we visited a lot of hospitals and clinics. I met so many kids there who couldn't speakâsome because they were deaf, others because of medical conditions. I wanted to be able to connect with them, so I started learning sign language."
She paused, her voice growing softer. "But then, life got busy, and I didn't keep up with it like I wanted to. When you mentioned Luke, though... I don't know. It felt important again, you know? He reminded me why I started in the first place."
Yoko felt a lump rise in her throat, her chest tightening with emotion. She glanced down for a moment, swallowing hard, before meeting Faye's gaze again. "That's..." Her voice faltered briefly, but she quickly steadied herself. "That's really thoughtful of you, Faye. I know how much it means to Lukeâand to me."
Faye shifted slightly, brushing off the compliment with a shy smile. "It's nothing, really. I mean, Luke's great. He's got this way of lighting up a room, and I wanted to be able to talk to him properly."
Yoko blinked rapidly, trying to fight the moisture welling in her eyes. Her brother Luke had always been a source of pride and love for her, but seeing someone like Fayeâa relative strangerâmake such an effort for him touched her deeply.
"It's not 'nothing,'" Yoko said, her voice firm but warm. "You didn't have to do any of that. But you did. And that says so much about who you are."
Faye looked down, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Well... I just think everyone deserves to feel included, you know? Luke's really special. He deserves to have people who try for him."
Yoko reached out, her hand resting lightly on Faye's arm. "Thank you," she said earnestly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not just for learning, but for seeing him the way we do."
Faye glanced up, her eyes meeting Yoko's, and the unspoken emotion between them felt almost tangible.
"Maybe you and Luke help me practice sometime," Faye offered after a moment, her tone teasing but sincere.
Yoko let out a soft laugh, her smile finally breaking through the emotion. "I think Luke would love that. And... so would I."
The warmth of the moment lingered between them, filling the room with a quiet sense of connection. For Yoko, the sight of Faye signing to her brother earlier wasn't just an act of kindnessâit was a glimpse into the kind of person Faye truly was, and it made her heart swell in ways she wasn't sure she could fully explain.
As they we're about finish eating, Yoko finally worked up the courage to address what had been bothering her all morning. "You're leaving today?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
Faye's smile softened. "Yes. I have a quick meeting in Cambodia. But I'll be back tonight. I still have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Yoko echoed, blinking in confusion. "What kind of surprise?"
Faye's grin turned playful. "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"
The curiosity burned in Yoko's chest, but before she could press further, Faye's team began gathering their things, signaling that the moment she had been dreading was fast approaching. She stood near the table, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, watching Faye as she moved effortlessly through the room, exchanging hugs and words with her family and friends. The sight of Faye laughing with Luke, who was signing his gratitude for their conversation, tugged at something deep within Yoko.
When Faye turned and met her gaze, the noise of the room seemed to fade. Yoko felt her heart thud loudly in her chest as Faye approached, her expression soft but tinged with something that looked like reluctance.
"Are you really leaving already?" Yoko asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
Faye nodded, stepping closer. "Yes, unfortunately, but I promise I'll be back tonight. I won't stay away for long."
Yoko bit her lip, struggling to find the right words. "It feels... too soon."
Faye's expression softened further, her gaze intent as she looked at Yoko. "I know. I don't want to go either. But it's just for a few hours, Yoko." She reached out, her fingers brushing Yoko's arm lightly, almost hesitantly. "And I'll make it up to you. I promise."
Yoko's breath hitched at the gentle touch, her skin tingling where Faye's fingers had grazed. "You don't have to make anything up to me," she said softly. "You've already done so much."
Faye tilted her head, her lips curving into a smile. "Is that so? Then maybe I just want an excuse to spoil you a little more."
Yoko felt her cheeks flush, the warmth spreading all the way to her ears. She looked down, trying to gather her thoughts, but Faye's voice pulled her back.
"I meant what I said earlier, though," Faye continued, her tone more serious now. "I have a surprise for you when I get back. Something I've been planning for a while."
Yoko blinked, curiosity flickering to life despite her lingering sadness. "What kind of surprise?"
Faye's grin turned mischievous. "You'll just have to wait and see."
"That's not fair," Yoko replied, a small pout forming on her lips.
Faye just laugh, the sounds are light but her eyes holding a depth of emotion that made Yoko's heart flutter.
Before Yoko could reply, her sister Nana appeared by her side, lightly nudging her shoulder. "Yoko, aren't you going to give her a proper goodbye? Or are you just going to keep staring at her like that?"
Yoko glared at Nana, though the teasing only deepened the blush on her face.
Faye chuckled, stepping even closer until the space between them felt almost nonexistent. "She's right, you know. I wouldn't mind a proper goodbye."
Yoko's breath caught in her throat as she looked up at Faye. "I... I hope you have a safe trip," she managed to say, her voice faltering slightly.
"Thank you," Faye replied softly. Her smile softened as she reached out, her fingers brushing Yoko's hand in a fleeting touch that sent a jolt of warmth through her. "Take care of yourself while I'm gone, okay?"
Yoko nodded, her throat too tight to respond properly.
Faye hesitated for a moment, as if debating something, before leaning in. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she added, "And don't miss me too much."
Yoko's eyes widened, her pulse racing as Faye's words sank in. She opened her mouth to respond, but the teasing glint in Faye's eyes made her forget whatever she had been about to say.
Instead, she blurted, "Just don't make me wait too long."
Faye smiled, a quiet, knowing smile that made Yoko's knees feel weak. "Never," she promised, her voice steady and sincere.
As the team began to file out of the restaurant, Faye lingered for a moment longer, her gaze locked on Yoko's as though she didn't want to leave. Finally, with a small sigh, she stepped back, giving Yoko one last smile.
"I'll see you tonight," Faye said, her voice soft but full of reassurance.
"Tonight," Yoko echoed, her chest tightening as she watched Faye turn and walk toward the exit.
When the door finally closed behind Faye, Yoko stood frozen for a moment, her heart heavy yet full of something she couldn't quite name. The promise of Faye's return hung in the air, and though the goodbye had left a bittersweet ache, it also carried a quiet hopeâa hope that tonight would bring something more.
As the others began to disperse, P'Chai reminded Yoko about her TV guesting later in the day. Both she and P'Freen would be going live with other artists, selling products to raise funds for the victims of the typhoon that had devastated a province in Thailand. The reality of her responsibilities quickly snapped her out of her thoughts. P'Freen and P'Chai had actually preferred she skip it, knowing how tired she would be after her graduation. But Yoko insisted, determined to help her fellow countrymen who had suffered from the typhoon.
As Yoko and her family made their way back to their room, her siblings couldn't resist teasing her, noticing the way her expression seemed a little down. They playfully pointed out that she must be missing Faye, given how sad she looked. The moment her brother Luke heard Faye's name, his eyes immediately lit up. He grinned and signed, "I like Faye."
Yoko's mom smiled warmly at her, a soft, knowing look in her eyes. "I don't think I've ever met a kinder or more generous person than Faye," she said, her voice full of affection.
Her siblings, sensing the sincerity in their mother's tone, eased up on the teasing. They nodded in agreement, acknowledging that Faye really was one of a kind.
Her dad, who had been quiet up until that point, added thoughtfully, "Yes, the world needs more people like her."
Yoko felt a wave of warmth in her chest. She couldn't agree more. The thought of Faye and everything she stood for made her heart swell with gratitude.