6

At Faith's hotel room...

Yoko is busy trying to get her Phi be comfortable in the bed. She somehow manage to bring Faith to the room without anyone help. It was a struggle trying to figure out Faith's room number but thankfully she was able to find her keycard.

"Nong... thank you. Sorry for bothering you." Faith keeps on repeating this in her drunken voice to which Yoko replies gently that it was okay.

"Wait.. I'll bring you cold water and towels to sober you up." She said but Faith grabs her hand.

"No, no need for that. I just need some ice."

"Water with ice?"

"No. Just some ice."

Yoko was confuse but follow her Phi direction anyways.

"Here..."She gave her ice.

Faith got up from bed and reach for some ice cubes and ... crunched it.

What the fuck...

Phi look at her Nong.

"I sober up faster with this. I also don't know why." She explained when she realize how weird it is to munch some ice cubes to sober up.

"Are you sure?" She is still confused but she also found it cute and attractive...as she look at Faith munching some ice cubes.

"Yes. I always do this. I'll be fine." She smile and reach some more.

"I see..." Nong is definitely weirded out about it but just shrugged it off. "I'll wait for it to take effect before I can leave you here."

Faith nods and smile at Yoko.

"Thank you."

Yoko sat down in a couch near the bed.

"Do you always get drunk?" She asked.

"No, not always." Faith said, her speech is slowly coming back to normal again. "I have low tolerance in alcohol and I know that so I always limit myself to one to three rounds of drinks so I can enjoy and party around but I think I am over that limit tonight."

"Yeah! You definitely went over your limit." She commented trying to remember how many rounds of drinks her Phi ordered earlier.

Was it 5 or 6? Or even more?

"I'm so sorry. But I'm not usually like this. I'm usually self aware when drinking but tonight I got carried away a bit."

"Why is that?" She asked.

"Because of you..." Faith said looking directly at Yoko. "Because you are here. I'm wondering why you are here. Is it a sign to reach out to Nine again? But why do I need to reach out for him? I'm tired of reaching out."

"He will not answer even if you reach out." Yoko eyes starts to tear up.

"I know. Thats why I stop. I was the one who left so I honestly don't want to bother him but... I have to reach out. But got nothing from him in return." There is anger and frustration in Faith's expression.

Yoko hold her emotion and heave a  deep sigh. Then, she spoke, "Kuya Nine is dead. He died after a year that you broke up." She doesn't know if this is the right time to say it but she also doesn't want Faith to think that her brother will intentionally ignore her because she knows that it is not true.

"H-He is dead?"

Nong nods.

"Yes. I will spare you the details some other time." She said in low tone.

Faith becomes speechless.

She stare at the blank space and then look at Yoko again. There are tears in her eyes already.

"So...that is the reason why he never replied back to me." She said upon realization of what actually happened in the past.

Phi heart aches again like it did before.

"I'm so sorry." Yoko approached her Phi and wipe her tears away. "I'm sorry that you have to find out this way. We did not inform you because we are unsure if you still want to know."

"It's okay. I understand." She said and suddenly sob uncontrollably.

Yoko felt from the sobs how much love and affection Faith has towards her brother.

Why does it hurt me too?

Nong weep too. Her heart breaks as her Phi grieve Nine's death.

Both Faith and Yoko cried that night.

Both shared grief and lost.

They both weep for the loss of their love.

***

Lantern festival...

Yuki cancels plan to meet up for Lantern festival with Yoko. She cancel last minute so Nong just went on to the festival on her own. She is already fixated to participate to the activity and she hates changing plans so there she is, enjoying her alone time as she takes some picture to remember this day.

Yoko had her lantern with her and wrote her wish and prayers.

"Complete heart for Yoko ❤️."

That is what she wrote.

She always feels that there is a hole in her heart. A hole because of the longing from an absentee father and a void in her heart due to her Brother's sudden death.

While Yoko is setting up her lantern, Faith is also lighting up her own lantern. They are both in the same lantern festival but it is crowded that they have no idea that they are in the same area.

"Let me have another chance to love again. Help me open my heart to someone that deserves it. - Faith"

They both let go of their lantern with a smile in their face.

There is hope.

***

Faith decided to walk a bit after she let go of her lantern. She look around and saw familiar face.

She instantly smile and walk towards them.

She saw Yuki with...

She was expecting to see Yoko but Yuki is with another girl.

Phi smile fades.

What the heck!

She stop and decided not to bother them. She wanted to ask Yuki why she is with another girl instead of Yoko but she realize that it is not her position to ask. She just simply turn around and walk away.

Faith let herself to roam around freely. She have no concrete plans for today and she loves it. She ended up to some food stall.

She is hungry already.

She look around and followed the aroma of freshly baked bread.

When she finally found the store where she can smell the bread, she also found someone unexpectedly.

"Oh! There you are." Faith said with a wide smile in her face.

"Phi?"

Faith nods, still smiling brightly to her Nong.

"Yes. I found you again. Did you participate to lantern festival?" She asked as she approach Nong.

"Yes."

"Are you with Yuki?" She asked even though she already knows the answer.

"No, I'm alone. She cancels last minute."

Dick move.

"I see..." She scan the food stall. The line is long to queue up. She is deciding to line up or just find some other food to satiate her hunger.

"Do you also like bread?" She asked, she have paper bag of bread in her hands.

"Yes." Phi shyly admitted.

"Do you want some?" Yoko offered.

Faith nods and so they share the food together.

"Thank you. I'm really hungry and this is my weakness." She giggle as she savor the last bite. "Do you want some iced coffee on our way back to hotel?" She asked.

"Your treat?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Sure then." Yoko agreed happily.

***

How is the story so far?

Should I update some more? 🤔