Yoko sat on the edge of her hotel bed, her heart pounding as the evening's events played over and over in her mind. Faye's tear-streaked face haunted herâthe confusion, the pain in her eyes, and the sharp edge of her words had cut through Yoko like a knife. Her hands trembled as she wiped at her own tears, the overwhelming weight of guilt and helplessness pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket.
How did it come to this? she wondered bitterly. Faye thought she had been hiding out in the Philippines with Engfa. And worseâYoko couldn't blame her for believing it. From the outside, it looked damning. How could she not see it that way?
A soft knock on the door startled her out of her spiral, and for a fleeting moment, her heart leapt with hope. Faye? Could it be her?
She opened the door to find Lingling standing there, her face etched with concern. Yoko's shoulders sagged as the momentary hope was replaced by deep disappointment.
"Yoko," Lingling said softly, stepping into the room. "What's going on? Why are you crying? I just saw Faye in the elevatorâshe was crying too. I tried to talk to her, but she got off before I could say anything."
Yoko swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she struggled to get the words out. "She thinks... she thinks Engfa and I are together. I tried to explain, to tell her it's not true, but she wouldn't listen. She was so upset, Lingling. And then she found out I've been here in the Philippines for a month without telling her." Her voice cracked, tears threatening to spill. "I hurt herâI hurt her so badly. And now... now I don't know where she is or what to do."
Lingling sat beside her, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "That's bad," she said plainly. "But you can't let her believe that. You need to fix this, and fast. The longer she thinks it's true, the harder it'll be to clear up."
Before Yoko could respond, the door opened again, and Engfa walked in, carrying two cups of tea. She set them down gently on the small table and glanced at Yoko with quiet sympathy. "I told her," Engfa said softly, her tone apologetic. "I told Faye that there's nothing going on between usâthat we're just friends. But she was too upset to hear the rest."
Lingling let out a sigh, pacing the room with a frustrated frown. "Yoko, you can't leave things like this. You have to find her. Sitting here isn't helping."
"I've tried!" Yoko said, her voice cracking as she pulled her phone from the bed beside her. "I've called herâover and over. It just goes to voicemail. I even tried Sonya and Namtan, but their phones are unreachable too. I don't know what else to do."
Lingling stopped pacing, her expression turning thoughtful. "How about Sofia? Maybe she knows where Faye might be. Or she could at least help you get in touch with Sonya."
Yoko's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "Sofia," she whispered, as if clinging to the name like a lifeline. Without wasting a second, she scrolled through her contacts and dialed Sofia's number. The phone rang a few times before Sofia picked up.
"Yoko?" Sofia's voice came through the line, tinged with curiosity and concern.
"Sofia, please," Yoko said quickly, her words rushing out. "I need your help. I'm looking for Faye. Do you know where she is?"
There was a brief silence on the other end before Sofia spoke again, her tone careful. "I haven't heard from her tonight. But Yoko, you sound desperate. What happened?"
Yoko exhaled shakily, the emotions flooding back as she struggled to explain. She recounted the evening, her words stumbling and her voice quivering. "I hurt her, Sofia, but I swear I didn't mean to. Now, I'm desperate to explain everything to her. I just want to talk to her."
Sofia sighed, the line crackling slightly. "Yoko... if Faye's upset and not answering her phone, you need to think bigger. She might not want to hear from you directly, but she can't ignore what's public."
"What do you mean?" Yoko asked, confused.
"Go public," Sofia said firmly. "You have an audienceâa massive audience. Do a TikTok live. If she won't answer your calls, maybe she'll see that. If she sees you're serious, if she hears your side of the story, maybe she'll understand."
Yoko hesitated, gripping her phone tightly. "A live? I don't know, Sofia... that feelsâ"
"You don't have time to second-guess this," Sofia cut in gently but firmly. "It's not about your pride or what feels comfortable. It's about reaching Faye. She needs to hear you, and this might be the only way."
Yoko sat still, Sofia's words sinking in. The idea felt daunting. Going live meant opening herself up to thousands of people, putting her vulnerability on full display. But deep down, she knew Sofia was right. Faye needed to hear her side, and Yoko had to do whatever it took to make sure she did.
Minutes passed as Yoko turned the idea over in her mind, anxiety swirling in her chest. Finally, desperation outweighed her fear. She looked up at Lingling and Engfa, determination flickering in her tear-stained eyes. "I'll do it," she said quietly. "I'll go live."
Lingling smiled faintly, nodding her approval. "Good. You're doing the right thing."
Before going live, though, Yoko knew there was something she needed to do first. She had to reach out to the people who mattered mostâthe ones who had always stood by her, reminding her of who she was and why she was fighting so hard. She grabbed her phone, taking a deep, steadying breath before dialing a familiar number.
Whatever it takes, she thought to herself. I'll fix this.
Her first call was to her parents. Her voice wavered as she spoke, her emotions threatening to spill over, but she managed to explain everything on her mind. She needed their understanding and reassurance. To her relief, their love was as steady as ever. "We're proud of you, Yoko," her mother said warmly. "No matter what, we're here for you. Trust yourself."
The words steadied her heart, grounding her in the way only her parents could.
Next, she reached out to P'Lookmhee, P'Chai, and P'Freenâthe people who had been like pillars in her life, always there to offer strength, wisdom, and guidance.
P'Lookmhee, calm and protective as always, listened intently before speaking. "Yoko, you've always had my support. Whatever you decide to do, know that we're behind you. Trust yourself. Do what feels right."
Her words were simple, but they carried the weight of absolute trust, wrapping around Yoko like a shield.
Then there was, P'Chai, who had a way of saying exactly what she needed to hear, spoke with quiet conviction. "Yoko, just listen to your heart. Don't overthink it. You know what you need to do. I believe in you, and I always will."
Lastly, P'Freen, whose familiar voice was filled with emotion but no hesitation. "FreenYoko is forever," she said with a small laugh, lightening the mood. "No matter where life takes us or who we end up with, you'll always be my Yoko. Do whatever makes you happy, because you deserve that happiness."
"Can't wait to watch the live," P'Freen teased at the end, breaking the tension with her playful tone. "Don't make us wait too long, okay?"
A soft laugh escaped Yoko's lips despite herself, and for the first time all day, the tightness in her chest eased. A wave of comfort and warmth washed over her as she listened to their words, each one a lifeline pulling her closer to solid ground. They reminded her that she wasn't aloneânot in this decision, not in the battle she was facing. Their support gave her the courage she so desperately needed.
Yoko sat quietly for a moment after the last call, staring at her phone as she let their encouragement settle deep in her heart. I can do this, she thought, the flicker of resolve now a steady flame. With every word of love and reassurance, she felt stronger, more certain of what she needed to do.
She inhaled deeply, her fingers hovering over her phone screen. It was time to take the next stepâto face the world, to reach Faye, and to fight for what truly mattered.
The TikTok Live
Yoko felt the heavy weight of the moment pressing down on her chest. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she carefully propped up her phone on the table. Lingling and Engfa were seated on the couch across from her, offering her quiet encouragement. Engfa flashed a grin, trying to lighten the tension in the room.
"This is going to be entertaining," Engfa teased, nudging Lingling. "Baby Yoko goes viral."
Yoko rolled her eyes but managed a faint smile. "I'm not doing this for the views," she said softly, her voice shaking just slightly. "I'm doing this for her."
Lingling nodded in silent understanding, her expression soft but supportive. She knew what Yoko was about to do was more than just addressing her followersâit was about trying to repair the wreckage of her own heart and the love that had become so complicated.
The live stream started, and within seconds, the viewer count began climbing rapidly, flashing across the screen. Comments flooded in like a tidal wave, messages of excitement, curiosity, and love from her fans.
"Yoko, you're amazing!" one fan wrote, quickly followed by another: "We love you, Yoko! We missed you!"
Yoko took a deep breath, adjusting the camera slightly. She was shakingânervous and unsureâbut this was something she needed to do. For her, for Faye, and for herself.
"Hi, everyone," Yoko began, her voice wavering ever so slightly, though the sincerity behind it was unmistakable. Her gaze drifted to the phone screen in front of her, its soft glow reflecting the countless names of viewers who had already tuned in. The comment section buzzed with excitement, anticipation, and curiosity, but Yoko forced herself to block out the chaos. This moment was too important.
"I know this is a little unexpected," she continued, pausing briefly to steady her breath, "but there's something I need to sayâsomething I need you all to hear directly from me. First and foremost, I want to thank you for being here, for your unwavering support. It's something I never take for granted, and honestly, it's more than I ever thought I deserved. You've cheered me on through my highest highs and stood by me through my lowest lows. I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to me."
She let the words settle for a moment, clasping her hands together tightly as her eyes flickered toward Lingling and Engfa, who were perched on the couch just out of frame. Lingling offered a soft smile, her eyes warm and reassuring, while Engfa gave a small, playful thumbs-upâan unspoken "you've got this." The quiet support grounded Yoko, helping her push forward.
"But tonight," she said, her voice growing steadier with every word, "I need to be completely honest with all of you. I've always tried to keep my personal life... well, personal. I thought that by keeping certain parts of myself off-screen, I was protecting my peaceâand maybe protecting some of you, too. But I realize now that it's not fair to keep hiding when so many of you care about me. You deserve honesty, and I owe it to myself to speak my truth."
The comments continued to scroll at lightning speed, fragments catching her eyeâ"What's happening?" "Yoko, we're listening."âbut she didn't let herself linger. Not yet.
She exhaled, hands trembling just slightly, as she spoke the words that had been building up for so long. "I know there's been a lot of speculation. You've seen me with P'Freen, and I know what some of you might think, or even hope. And I get it. I really do. But the truth is... we're just friends. P'Freen is like family to meâshe's like a sister. She's been someone I can laugh with, cry with, and rely on, and I'm so grateful to have her in my life and I love her. But that's all it's ever been. Nothing more."
The room felt heavier with the confession, though Yoko wasn't entirely sure why. Perhaps it was because she knew how much her fans cared, how deeply they sometimes attached themselves to her relationships. She didn't want to disappoint them, but she also needed to be truthful.
Her gaze softened as she leaned closer to the camera, her voice quieter but no less certain. "I know some of you might feel confused or even hurt by this. Maybe you've built your own stories around us, and maybe this doesn't fit into those stories. Whatever you decide to believe after this, I'll respect. I can't control anyone's opinions, but I can askâno, hopeâthat you can understand where I'm coming from. At the end of the day, I need to live my truth, even if it's not the one you expected."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. The flood of comments hadn't stoppedâ"Thank you for sharing this with us," "We love you no matter what!"âbut others were still processing.
Yoko swallowed hard, her throat dry, but she pressed on, a new resolve strengthening her voice. "What I'm about to say next... it's not easy. It's probably the hardest thing I've ever had to share, especially here, in front of all of you. But this is me and this is my truth.
"There's someone elseâsomeone who means everything to me. And I messed up. I hurt her." Her voice trembled, the rawness of her emotions bleeding through each word. "Now, I'm here, speaking to all of you, because she needs to know how much I love her."
The comments were coming in so fast that Yoko could barely keep up. She saw people tagging their friends in the chat, asking questions, expressing their thoughts. But she stayed focused, her eyes never leaving the camera.
She paused, exhaling shakily as unshed tears glistened in her eyes. "I know this is a public platform. I know millions of people might be watching right now, but none of that matters to me. She matters to me."Â Â Yoko said, her voice breaking on the last word. "This isn't some fleeting feeling or a passing crush. This is real. It's always been real. I love herâI've always loved her. And I will do whatever it takes to make things right."
Her gaze softened as her resolve deepened. "Even if it means doing thisâlaying my heart bare for the whole world to seeâI'll do it. Because she deserves that. She deserves to know how much she means to me. And after everything... I owe her that. I owe us that."
Her voice caught on the last word, and her hand instinctively went to her chest, as though trying to contain the ache that threatened to break through. She blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. The vulnerability in her voice was impossible to miss, but Yoko didn't look away from the camera. This time, she wasn't hiding.
The comments exploded in real-time. Fans were in shock, some trying to make sense of what they had just heard, while others immediately offered their support.
"Is she talking about Faye?? ð³" one fan commented.
"Oh my god! Yoko and Faye? I had no idea! ð±" another wrote, followed by a flood of hearts and fire emojis.
"Yoko, you deserve happiness! Get her back! ðâ¤ï¸" a third fan exclaimed.
But Yoko didn't read the messages. She wasn't seeking validation from anyone right nowâshe was speaking directly from her heart.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" Yoko's voice was soft, filled with a mix of nostalgia and regret as she spoke, her fingers gently brushing the screen as though trying to bridge the distance between them.
"It was here, on TikTok, of all places," she continued, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips as the memory flooded back. "It was just a fleeting moment, so quick that you didn't even give the camera a chance to capture it all, but you were mesmerizing. I couldn't take my eyes off of you. Everything about youâyour energy, your laugh, the way you looked at the cameraâdrew me in. I was so captivated that I didn't know what to do with myself. So please, tell meâhow could I be with anyone else when, from the very first moment I looked into your eyes, I was already lost?"
Yoko paused for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.
"And then, I finally met you in person. It was everything I had imagined... and so much more. You brought more joy into my life than I ever thought possible. You cared for me, loved me, even more than I loved myself. You made me feel like the most special person on earth, to the point where I sometimes question what I did to deserve someone like you. I didn't realize how deeply someone could affect me. But somewhere along the way, I made mistakes. I hurt you. And for that, I will always regret it."
As Yoko spoke, the live chat began to explode with messages from the viewers:
"Omg, it really is Faye!"
"Wait, is this Faye? Is Yoko talking about her?!"
"Yoko, what happened? Please tell us! ð¢"
"I'm sure it's Fayeâthere's no way it's anyone else! ð±"
"Yoko, don't be sad, we're all here for you!"
The comments flooded in as fans tried to piece together the emotion behind Yoko's words. Everyone could feel the weight of what she was saying, and many of them were left wondering what had happened between the two of them.
She took a deep breath, her heart heavy with emotion. Each word she spoke was raw and honest, every syllable carrying the weight of the pain she had caused. And yet, beneath the grief, there was hopeâhope that it wasn't too late to make things right.
"You deserve all the happiness in the world, Faye," she said softly, her voice trembling. "And I will spend the rest of my life making up for the times I failed you."
Her voice cracked as she leaned closer to the camera, wiping away the tears that threatened to fall. "Faye, I know I've hurt youâI've hurt us. But I need you to know that I never meant to cause you pain. I need you to know how much I love you. And I will do anythingâanythingâto make this right. I don't care if you're angry at me or if you don't know how to feel right now. Just please, hear me. Please know that I love you, and I will do whatever it takes to earn your trust again."
The room was quiet, her words hanging in the air like a fragile promise. Every ounce of her vulnerability poured into the space between them, even if that space was miles apart. She held her breath, her gaze unwavering, as though willing her words to reach Fayeâwherever she was.
The comments scrolled past, a blur of reactionsâsome supportive, some shocked, but none louder than the silence she hoped Faye was filling with an answer.
"OMG! I told you it's Faye!!!! #FayeYoko
"Yoko, you're so brave. This is real love â¤ï¸" one fan commented.
"I'm in tears ð This is beautiful. We're all rooting for you both." another wrote.
"I hope Faye sees this and forgives you! This is so genuine!" someone else added.
The comments were overwhelming nowâsome filled with support, others asking for clarity, but many expressing gratitude.
"You're so brave, Yoko. We believe in you," one comment read.
"Please, take care of yourself, Yoko. We're with you," another wrote.
And one comment stood out above all: "You're loved, Yoko. Don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. You're not alone."
Yoko exhaled slowly, the steady flow of love and support from her fans easing the tightness in her chestâif only just a little. The love she had received over the years had always been there, steadfast and undeniable, but in this moment, it felt different. She could finally see it for what it wasâproof that she wasn't alone. Even now, they were still there for her.
Her gaze drifted to Engfa and Lingling, who watched her in silence, their expressions glowing with quiet pride. Lingling leaned forward, her voice soft but brimming with admiration. "Baby Yoko," she said, her words thick with emotion, "you're braver than I thought."
A shaky laugh escaped Yoko's lips, a mix of relief and lingering nerves. Her chest still felt heavy with everything she had said, but there was a lightness now, tooâsomething like hope. "I just hope it's enough," she whispered. She wiped at her eyes again, tears still threatening, but her heart no longer felt so weighed down. It wasn't just about the apology anymoreâit was about taking that step forward, being honest with herself, with Faye, and with the people who cared about her.
Maybe, just maybe, she could find her way back to the love she had lost.
As Yoko prepared to end the live broadcast, she thank her fans, for their support and love, she sat still for a moment, her heart racing as the echoes of her confession lingered in the air. The uncertainty of what would come next loomed large, but she stayed calm.
Just as Yoko reached for the button to end the broadcast, a soft chime broke the silenceâa notification popped up on her phone. Her breath hitched, her pulse quickening as her eyes darted to the screen.
"FayeMalisorn has joined your live."
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey there, beautiful people! Here's a surprise double update for you because you've been so patient and supportive all weekend!
I woke up to so many votes and comments, and honestly, we're nearing the end, so I'm aiming to give you the final chapter on ChristmasâGod willing. ðð
You are all amazing, and there are so many times I mention people here because I see them commenting and voting, but I see all of you. I see the love you've shown by adding this story to your reading list, voting on every chapter, and leaving your comments. I might have missed replying to some of them, but I'm doing my best to acknowledge everyone and let you know that I truly appreciate every bit of support.
I love you all so much, and this chapter is for all of you, my babes! ð