Chapter 12
Days passed, and the interactions between Freen and Becky grew longer, deeper. Beneath Freen’s cold, rude, and mystic aura, her quiet care for Becky was becoming increasingly obvious—not just to Becky, but to Kade and Nam as well.
Becky, on the other hand, found herself slipping, falling—though she stubbornly named it “just curiosity.” A curiosity to know more about Freen. But what she failed to realize was how her heart longed throughout the day just to be in the presence of a certain someone at night. She had memorized Freen’s daily routine like the back of her hand, and at college, her eyes instinctively sought even the briefest glimpse of her. Just one. Because for some inexplicable reason, whenever their eyes met, it was as if her soul recharged. And the same went for Freen.
With the fresher’s event approaching, the entire campus was buzzing with preparations. Kade and Nam were swamped, overseeing every tiny detail, while Freen made sure everything ran according to plan. The President’s room was in complete chaos—papers scattered everywhere, schedules pinned up, guest lists half-finalized, and performance lineups still under discussion.
Amidst the madness, Freen’s phone rang, her grandmother’s name flashing on the screen.
“Good morning, Ma. Everything good?” Freen answered the call, holding her phone between her shoulder and ear while her hands continued juggling between forms, her laptop, and event schedules.
“Good afternoon, Saro,” Grandma corrected, her voice laced with knowing amusement. “I bet you haven’t even taken a break for lunch, have you?”
Freen sighed, barely paying attention. “Yeah, we’re just about to,” she muttered, absentmindedly responding while her focus remained glued to the work in front of her.
“Alright, well, I’ll be there for the fresher’s event,” Grandma continued. “And I’m so looking forward to meeting your little princess! What was her name again? Acca? Recca—”
Freen’s head snapped up. “It’s Rebecca. You can call her Becky. And no, you are not going to set any such intention,” she warned, her tone sharp.
Across the room, Kade and Nam’s ears perked up at the mention of Becky. Their eyes lit up with excitement—Grandma meeting Becky? This had all the makings of a dramatic, romantic development. But just as their imaginations began running wild, Freen turned around and shot them a glare that could kill. That was enough to shut them up. They quickly returned to their work, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the call, Grandma was far from done.
“No, no, I’m serious. I want to know more about the girl for whom you, Miss Freen Sarochaa, have been ordering late-night milk tea,” she teased. “Because as far as I know, you only drink coffee.”
Freen’s face turned red in an instant. “GRANDMA, HOW DO YOU… AND WHY DO YOU—? I’M SO DONE WITH YOU.” And with that, she ended the call, flustered beyond belief.
Back at home, Grandma simply sighed in pure satisfaction. “All these years, I kept throwing boys her way, only to find out a little princess was all it took,” she mused, grinning to herself. Then, with a laugh, she muttered, “Sorry, Krik, I can throw you under the bus anytime now. Kidding! …Maybe.”
With that, she sat back, already looking forward to the fresher’s event. And more importantly—to meeting Becky.
On the other side of campus, the Singling Illiet Club was abuzz with energy as performances were being finalized. Becky was thrilled—this would be her first time performing on such a grand stage, a potential breakthrough for her singing career. Irin was just as excited, but unlike Becky, her enthusiasm was mixed with a sharp watchfulness. She had her protective eyes on Becky at all times, and for good reason.
Mike, a senior and a known charmer, was trying his best to build a bond with Becky. There was nothing inherently wrong with that—except for the fact that his intentions weren’t entirely pure. Kade and Nam, however, were already aware of Mike’s reputation.
“Kade, I was thinking,” Mike approached Kade with a casual confidence. “A blend of my voice with Becky’s would be magic on stage. You could pair us up for the duet.”
Kade raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him carefully. “You think so?” she asked, trying to gauge any hidden motives. But Mike’s face remained unreadable.
“Yeah, I mean, we have the group performance, then solo songs for the newbies, and finally the duet. Becky and I would make a great pair,” he pressed on, his tone as genuine as he could make it.
Kade, knowing Mike’s history—how he had been with countless campus sweethearts, only to leave them heartbroken while somehow always maintaining his innocent facade—wasn’t about to let Becky be his next target.
“Actually, Nam already paired Becky with Jeff,” Kade said, shutting the idea down. “And you know Nam—once she makes a decision, it’s final.”
Mike’s expression darkened. He despised Jeff. Not only was Jeff wildly popular, but he also had a successful singing career outside of college. Mike’s blood boiled at the thought.
“Okay, but what if Becky wants to perform with me?” Mike pushed further. “We get along well, and that’ll help with rehearsals.”
“That’s great, Mike,” Kade replied smoothly. “You and Becky can perform together when we go for inter-college competitions. You might even bring home a trophy. But for now, we’re sticking to the plan.”
Mike hummed in response, clearly dissatisfied, before walking off. But he wasn’t about to let Jeff take what he had already claimed as his in his mind.
Later that day, while Becky was rehearsing with Jeff, Mike saw his opportunity. Jeff, a true sweetheart, was in his final year and had already established a music career outside campus. He was more than happy to mentor Becky, sharing insights and helping her refine her talent. Becky admired him, knowing she could learn a lot from his journey.
“Becky, do you have a moment?” Mike called out.
“Yeah, sure,” Becky excused herself from Jeff and walked over to him.
“Bruno Mars is in town,” Mike said, pulling out two tickets. “And I have two extra tickets. I was thinking you and Irin could join me. I mean, come on—IT’S BRUNO MARS, DUDE.” His eyes sparkled with excitement, hoping for the best.
“Seriously?!” Becky’s face lit up. It had been ages since she’d attended a concert. “What time is it?”
“After six tonight. We’ll be back by eleven—I promise. And half the club is going anyway,” Mike reassured her.
But Becky’s excitement was quickly overshadowed by a single thought—Freen.
She would definitely fume in anger if she found out Becky had gone without telling her. But they hadn’t even exchanged numbers yet. Damn it.
“I’ll ask Irin and let you know, alright?” Becky said hesitantly.
“Ask her quick! Everyone wants to go—Bruno Mars, Becky. BRUNO. MARS,” Mike teased.
The problem was—it wasn’t Irin’s permission that Becky needed. It was a certain someone else’s. But how could she go and ask Freen directly? They weren’t that close. And yet… they weren’t that distant either.
Frustrated, Becky stomped toward Irin.
“Hey hey hey, what’s up, Angry Bird?” Irin teased as Becky approached.
“Bruno Mars concert is tonight. Mike has extra tickets for you and me. Half the club is going. And I really want to go because—it’s BRUNO MARS. But…” Becky blurted out in one breath.
Irin giggled. “Whoa, slow down. Why are you talking like me? What’s the ‘but’?”
Becky turned away, squeezed her eyes shut, then blurted again, “But if I’m not back in my room by seven, Freen will probably be looking for me. And she’ll be mad. And we’re finally getting on good terms. But we haven’t exchanged numbers because we’re not that close, obviously. But also, I can’t just not tell her because she’ll be waiting… but we’re not that distant either. Ugh!” Becky groaned.
Irin’s eyes widened in shock. “I did not know she had you in her claws like that. Oh my God, Becky, you’re so down bad.” She grinned mischievously.
“Shhh!” Becky hissed. “Don’t say things like that unless you want to lose your head. Because Freen—”
She was interrupted by Kade’s voice who was already over hearing their entire conversation and was surprised how becky & freen relationship was developing but knowing freen won’t give in that easy. Kade approaches them “I get it, Patricia. I’ll call you Pat.”
Becky and Irin turned to her in confusion.
Kade just smirked. "It’s fine. Go to the concert. I’ll vaguely mention to Freen that some club members—including you—are going. Nothing too specific, just enough to keep things smooth. But—" she held up a finger, her tone turning firm—"you have to promise to stick with Irin and follow campus rules."
Relief washed over Becky as she practically launched herself at Kade in a hug. "Thank you! You’re the sweetest! You know how Freen is—she cares way too much but will never admit it, and that’s why I can’t just… ask her directly. Not yet."
Kade chuckled knowingly. "Oh, I totally get it. But just so you know—even if I tell her, she’s still going to be restless until you’re back. So be on time. And Becky—watch out for the guys. Not everything that looks sweet is sweet."
Becky nodded, taking the warning seriously.
"You’re going with club members, so it should be safe, but I want both of you in your rooms by exactly 11," Kade added, her voice leaving no room for argument. And with that, she walked off, giving them her final word.
As soon as Kade left, Irin grabbed Becky’s arm excitedly. “WELL WELL WELL. Somebody is starting to understand Freen all too well! What was that about ‘she cares too much blah blah blah’?” she teased.
Becky blushed furiously, shushing her. “Let’s just get ready for tonight.”
But deep down, a part of her still wished she could see Freen—just for a few seconds. Just enough to lock eyes with her and recharge her soul.
More than the concert, Becky was excited to see how Freen would react. Would she be completely unbothered? (Because I don’t matter? Which should be the case.)
Or would she be clearly affected? (Because she really cares? Which—I kind of hope is the case.)
With that, Becky and Irin, along with the rest of the club—especially Mike—headed out of college for their first outing together.
Kade approached Nam with a mischievous glint in her eyes, armed with juicy details about Becky and Freen. Inside the canteen, Nam sat hunched over her laptop, cramming every last detail for the upcoming event while sipping on her coffee.
"Nam, I have so much to spill—just shut your laptop already," Kade exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement as she snatched Nam’s coffee and took a sip.
Nam sighed, closing her laptop with a resigned expression. "Oh god, what is it now?"
And with that, Kade spilled everything—about Mike, Becky, Freen, and the whole concert situation.
Nam’s eyes widened, the weight of this new information settling in. "Oh boy…" she muttered, both thrilled and slightly overwhelmed.
"So, what do you think?" Kade asked, leaning in. "Should we tell Freen about Mike? He’s really trying his best."
"It’s too soon," Nam replied without hesitation. "You know how Freen is. She’ll overreact and turn the club’s good vibes into a constant state of fear."
"Exactly my thoughts," Kade agreed. "It’s too early to bring up Mike. I’ll keep an eye on him, and if he starts acting suspicious, we’ll deal with it. But I absolutely need to tell her about this concert thing—"
She was cut off as Freen suddenly pulled out a chair and sat at their table.
"What concert thing?" Freen asked, her tone laced with concern.
Kade and Nam exchanged a quick glance before Kade finally spoke. "Oh, just some of our singing club members went to the Bruno Mars concert tonight. Including your roommate, Patricia. They’ll all be back by 11." She delivered the information confidently but hesitated for a fraction of a second before adding Becky’s name.
"What?!" Freen’s expression turned icy in an instant. "You’re the one always lecturing about safety, about how girls should be careful around guys—and now you’re letting them leave campus when you are not even sure if they’re safe here in college?"
Kade met her glare head-on. "Correction. A) I didn’t send them anywhere—they’re college students, Freen. They can make their own choices. B) I’m just informing you that I knew about it beforehand, so no rules are being broken if they return late. And C) I made absolutely sure they’ll be back by 11.
Freen fell silent for a few seconds before finally speaking. "Give me the names of everyone who went."
Kade listed them off, but the moment she mentioned one particular name, Freen’s entire demeanor shifted.
"Mike."
She went completely on alert. Knowing his track record with girls, her jaw clenched. "What about Jeff? He didn’t go?"
Kade shook her head. "Freen, he’s a star. He barely even comes to college except for performances, practice, and exams. He doesn’t have time for this kind of stuff."
Freen tensed. Jeff was the only guy she trusted, the one person whose integrity was as clear as glass.
Another heavy silence settled over the table. Meanwhile, Nam, thoroughly entertained, watched the confrontation unfold with a smirk. She was enjoying it—but deep down, she was just as concerned for Becky.
Before she could speak, Kade leaned back and reassured them both. "Don’t worry. I have my guys in the group. They’re keeping an eye on your princess, my Pat, and Nam’s Nong, alright?"
Freen scoffed. "It’s not about her. I’m just… you know—worried. They’re freshers, newbies, and this is their first time going out like this."
Nam leaned forward, grinning. "Sooo… would you like to go to the concert too? Because we totally can."
Freen’s eyes flickered with interest, but she quickly masked it.
"We could go," Kade added. "Not with them, obviously—we’d stay in the VIP lounge. Just to keep an eye on things."
Freen shot them both a deadpan look. "Are you two seriously suggesting that we—college presidents—stoop so low as to sneak into a concert just to spy on our juniors?" She did her best to sound stone-cold, unbothered, and dismissive. But deep down, she wanted to go—badly. She just wouldn’t admit it without a fight.
Nam sighed dramatically. "Oh well, never mind then."
"Yeah, totally fine," Kade chimed in with fake nonchalance.
Freen narrowed her eyes at their fake indifference, exchanging glances between the two. After a long pause, she finally muttered, "Unless… you two actually need a break. You have been working too hard, you know."
Nam and Kade immediately grinned, standing up in perfect sync.
"Let’s go!" they said in unison.
Freen rolled her eyes, but the small, hidden smile tugging at her lips didn’t go unnoticed.
At the concert, everyone was enjoying the show, but Freen was far too concerned about Becky. Her eyes remained glued to Becky, who was having the time of her life with Irin, completely lost in the music. Meanwhile, Mike kept inching into Becky’s personal space, making Freen circle his name with a red highlighter in her mental list of people to keep away from Becky.
Becky, being Becky, was too caught up in the moment to notice. It was music—her lifeline—and it was Bruno Mars. She had grown up vibing to his songs, and tonight, she was living her dream.
Later that night, Mike dropped off Becky and Irin at their dorm. As Becky was about to say goodbye, Mike took his shot.
“Hey, what’s your Line ID? I’ll send you the pictures I took at the concert,” he said smoothly.
Before Becky could respond, Irin stepped in like a real MVP. “Here’s mine. Give it to me, and I’ll share it with the entire group. Thanks, Mike! It’s getting late—bye!” she said with a polite but firm smile.
Mike’s frustration was palpable, but in his mind, he was on the right track—building his bond with Becky slowly, safely, and sweetly.
Inside the dorm, someone was waiting. Someone who had arrived much earlier than Becky and was now fully prepared to pretend she had been in her room all along. Freen knew how to play her own games, too.
Becky tiptoed inside, thinking she was in the clear. The room was dark. But the moment she took off her shoes and stepped further in—click! The lights snapped on.
There, standing in her pajamas, arms crossed, and eyes narrowed like an angry tigress, was Freen.
“Not that I care,” she began, voice laced with irritation, “but you should have at least informed or taken permission from Miss Orantara, the dorm dean, before coming back this late. I’ve been getting way too many concerned calls. What the hell, Rebecca?”
“Oh no. My full name. I messed up bad,” Becky thought to herself, her stomach dropping.
“Uh… I told P’Kade,” she hesitantly replied. “She said she’d inform everyone…”
“Then go sleep in Kade’s room,” Freen shot back sulkily, her arms still folded tightly. It was obvious—she wasn’t mad, she was concerned. Becky should have at least told her.
And Becky felt it. That warmth beneath Freen’s cold exterior.
“P’Fiiiiiiiin, I didn’t have your number, and I tried looking for you on campus, but P’Kade said she’d inform you, so…” Becky trailed off, her voice sweet & small, eyes wide, playing every ounce of her innocence card.
Freen scoffed, refusing to be swayed. “Did I say you needed to inform me? I said you should’ve had the decency to tell the dorm authorities. What if something happened? Who would be responsible for letting dorm students come in late at night, huh?”
“Okay, okay, it won’t happen again. I promise,” Becky said quickly, then perked up. “Oh, and I went to Bru—”
“Did I ask?” Freen cut her off, raising a brow. “You do what you want. Why would I care if you wanna be young, dumb, and broke?”
Becky grinned. She was enjoying Freen’s little caring banter far too much. And because she was in an absolutely great mood, she decided to push her luck.
“Phi, give me your number, please,” Becky said sweetly, holding out her phone. “I don’t have anyone on my emergency contact list besides my parents, and I don’t want to bother them if something happens.”
Freen rolled her eyes. “And you think I’m your bodyguard now?” she scoffed, but still took Becky’s phone, typing in her number.
Becky’s smile widened as Freen handed it back.
And just like that, another night wrapped up, leaving behind a warmth between them—stronger than caffeine, sweeter than words.