Chapter 28
The next day arrived, and Becky headed straight to college.
She was greeted with cheerful smiles and belated birthday wishes echoing from every corner. Her classmates showered her with heartfelt greetings, wrapped gifts, and warm hugs that wrapped around her like comfort.
Finally—
Irin, Nam, and Kade were able to do what they’d been trying to do for weeks:
Make Becky feel special again.
Even though she hadn’t wanted a celebration, they still managed to pull off a small surprise party in her classroom.
There was laughter, cake-cutting, gift exchanging, and a burst of joy that Becky hadn't felt in a while.
And Becky—
She was smiling.
Genuinely.
She felt every bit of the celebration.
Every wish. Every hug. Every bite of cake.
But the truth was—
She already had the one thing she wanted most.
Freen’s wish.
Freen’s presence.
Freen’s quiet, soft love from last night that she tucked in her heart like a secret gift.
There was a shift in Becky’s energy—something lighter, warmer, alive.
Nam noticed it immediately.
And though she didn’t say it aloud, she smiled to herself.
Because deep down, she wondered if the reason behind that glow was Freen.
Becky’s day went surprisingly well.
The celebration at college had filled her with warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging. Yet—through every cheer, every slice of cake, and every hug from her friends—her eyes kept searching.
For someone.
Someone who wasn’t there.
Not that last night’s unexpected visit gave her any permission to hope.
But she couldn’t help it.
Her thoughts kept circling back to Freen.
To that soft moment.
That hug.
That whisper—
"Proud of you."
It echoed more deeply than any I love you ever could.
Because to Becky… that was the only compliment that ever truly mattered.
Evening arrived, and she quietly made her way back to her dorm—Room 805.
The corridor felt longer without Freen.
The walls echoed louder.
The hallway lights flickered like old memories.
Room 805—once home—felt hollow in her mind.
But today, Becky’s mind wasn’t on the silence.
It was on her.
Replaying every second of last night like her own private movie reel.
She reached the door. Slide the key into the lock.
A soft click.
The door creaked open—
And her entire world paused.
A warm, familiar aroma greeted her.
Coffee.
Freshly brewed.
Becky froze in the doorway. All the lights inside were on.
She blinked.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Could it be…?
No. That wasn’t possible.
A moment of panic rushed through her—what if the room had been reassigned? It was meant for two, after all. What if someone new had moved in?
Tiptoeing inside, heart racing, she turned her head—
And then she saw it.
The bed. Freen’s bed.
Laptops. Documents. Bags carelessly tossed.
And there, lying boldly a pack of cigarettes, Freen’s pack of cigarettes —like a piece of home
Becky gasped.
In her wildest dreams, she never thought she’d feel so happy seeing that pack of cigarettes.
Before she could think twice, she dashed toward the kitchen—
And stopped dead in her tracks.
There she was.
Freen.
Standing at the counter in loose shorts, an oversized t-shirt, and her hair tied up in a messy bun, looking completely at ease—completely real.
Becky froze right then and there with wide eyes, still in haze if it’s all real.
Freen glanced up, eyes meeting Becky’s stunned expression.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Freen said in her usual cold tone with her lips twitching into an invisible to becky smirk. “There’s a new set of rules, a list pasted on the fridge. And this time—you better not break any.” she announced trying to be firm, loud and clear.
Before another word could be said, Becky threw herself forward and enveloped Freen in a desperate, breathless hug.
“It’s a dream, right? I know it’s a dream—please, please tell me it’s not a dream.” Her voice trembled with emotion.
Freen didn’t hug her back, but she didn’t move either.
She stood there, quietly taking in Becky’s warmth, letting her cling.
Then, gently, she placed her hands on Becky’s arms and pushed her just far enough to see her face.
“I said, don’t flatter yourself.”
With that, she turned Becky around and pointed to the fridge.
There, in bold marker on a long list of rules, was Rule No.1:
“Never interrupt the personal space.”
And just like that, Freen strolled over to the couch—coffee in one hand, and trying to open her laptop with another—cool as ever.
Becky stood frozen, blinking at the list.
Then the joy burst out of her like sunshine after a storm.
She laughed. A full, wild, tear-filled laugh.
She jumped in place. Spun in the kitchen.
Hugged everything within reach—the pan, the water jug, the refrigerator.
She even kissed the long list of rules.
This was real.
Freen was back.
And Becky wasn’t going to take a second of it for granted.
She wrapped her arms around the refrigerator like it was Freen herself, holding on for a full five minutes, whispering promises:
“This time… I won’t push you away.
I won’t cross your lines.
I’ll cherish every second of your presence. That is all that matters.
Just stay.”
Her tears sparkled in the kitchen lights, but they were happy tears.
In mere seconds, Freen’s presence had brought Becky back to life.
Her grin stretched ear to ear, her eyes twinkled, her legs couldn’t stop bouncing.
The old Becky was back—
Hopeful.
Loved.
Alive.
And all it took… was her.
While freen was trying so hard to pretend to be cold, calm, and composed, even though the weight of the moment she just shared with becky was something that can not be put into words.
What changed?
Well, she had spent the entire last night thinking about Becky.
How her absence had left a hollow so deep in beckys life that it swallowed even Becky’s dreams. Her career, her spark, her laughter—none of it seemed to matter to her anymore.
And then Freen thought of Becky’s mom. The way she hugged her. The gentle consolation in her touch as she spoke of Becky’s growing silence and dull life. In that brief embrace, Freen had felt it all—the care, the grief, the unspoken desperation in a mother’s eyes.
But what stayed with Freen the most were Becky’s words.
"Thank you, P’Freen… for everything."
Despite everything Freen had taken from her, despite turning Becky’s vibrant world into something lifeless, becky had shown nothing but gratitude.
No blame.
No resentment.
Just quiet, aching grace.
And all Becky had asked for—was her.
Not love.
Not explanations.
Just her presence.
That simple wish stirred something deep in Freen.
She had asked herself over and over: Could I not at least give her that?
So, through the long hours of the night, she searched her soul. And the answer was clear—
Yes, she can at least try, maybe one last time.
With a steady breath and a heart still learning how to be brave, she dared. Just a little.
She drafted a new set of rules—ones that promised distance, boundaries, safety. Rules that protected Becky from getting too close, and Freen from falling all over again. But this time, she came to terms with the one thing she could offer becky—Her presence.
Because Freen, being Freen, couldn’t turn away from Becky’s birthday wish. Not when it was asked with such honesty. Not when it was deserved.
So she made up her mind.
And now, here she was— Back in their dorm room.
Not to resume what they once had, but to help Becky regain her lost self. To watch her laugh, perform, live the life she was meant to live.
After all, Becky wasn’t just the star of the college.
She was the princess of Freen’s world as well.
They were both quietly elated—excited and happy from the depths of their hearts—but beneath that joy lay a shared understanding: if they wanted this fragile connection to survive, they had to maintain their distance. No matter how overwhelming the urge to care, to love, or to reach out—neither of them was allowed to get emotionally entangled any further.
So, with a determined heart, Becky made up her mind to double down on her studies and immerse herself in her music. It would be a welcome distraction, something to channel her emotions into. And Freen—well, she would do what she does best: watch over Becky from afar, silently guarding her peace, making sure nothing ever blurred the boundaries they had drawn with such care.
But now the real question is—will they actually be able to maintain that carefully drawn distance?
Because Becky just turned 18. She’s stepping into a world that’s finally letting her explore: drinking, driving, late-night parties, and the thrill of taking risks for the sake of experience. Her spark is back, her charm undeniable. And with that, can Freen really hold herself back? Will she manage to keep her emotions at bay?
And Becky—can she resist the urge to get too close, too personal, too honest?
Let’s be real... isn’t it a bit naïve of them to ignore the one thing they absolutely can't control called Hormones ;)
So stay tuned—for the very few remaining chapters of this story. Because they still have one battle left to win...
They still need to beat Freen’s fate.