7
Freen POV
A week passes and we continue to make coffee in the office. Usually I make us both a cup with Becky assisting from the side. Sometimes before I get into the office she surprises me with a cup she's made. She uses the different flavored syrups and ingredients to come up with unexpected (often delicious) combos. Her light eyes and easy smiles also factor into the taste of these drinks.
"Becky this…" Her latest concoction was…something.
She bites her lip. "I might have taken cheese foam in the literal sense."
I gently push the cup into her hands. "Try it."
She takes a sip and immediately sets it down. Her face contorts trying to mask her disgust.
"Back to the drawing board."
I giggle and step behind the station to make us something that'll wash the taste of 'cheese foam' out of our mouths.
…
It’s finally time for BillyBabe’s engagement party.
Both May and Babe insisted on dressing up Nat and I in matching outfits. Nat looks dapper in his suspenders and little black bow tie. His purple button up matched my knee length dress. A pastel purple ribbon tied to my half up, half down hairdo matching Nat’s knee length trousers.
“Mae looks like a princess!” Nat squeals in delight.
“If I’m a princess, does that make you a prince?” I tease, lightly pinching his cheeks.
Nat shakes his head. “I’m a knight, Mae.”
“A knight?”
“Because I’ll always protect Mae.” He puffs out his chest, making a fist atop his heart.
“Well said, Knight Nat,” Fay says, wrapping an arm around May’s waist. The two are paired in a beautiful combination of blacks and tans. I just know May will be insufferable about Fay's slicked back hairstyle the whole night. “Our ride awaits.”
The four of us head to the venue with big smiles.
When we arrive, Fay hops out of the car to open May’s door. She kisses Fay's outstretched hand that helps her out of the door. Such a chivalrous couple.
Nat turns to me all serious. “Mae! Don’t get out yet!”
I nod, watching him fondly as he scrambles out of the car. He closes the ajar door and motions for me to move up from the backseat.
“Your son’s a good boy,” the driver chuckles, watching the exchange. “Wish my boys were more like him.”
“Thank you,” I wai to him. “For the compliment and for driving us, sir.”
Nat opens the door, a hand outstretched toward me. He has a big smile, “Take my hand, Mae!”
“Thank you, my kind knight,” I grab Nat’s hand and step out of the car.
“Freen.”
I turn my head in surprise.
“Becky?”
Becky POV
Wow.
She’s stunning.
She looks phenomenal in purple-
I glance down at my own suit, perfectly matching the shade of Freen’s dress.
I lock onto BillyBabe and FayMay who are huddled together, snickering.
Those little…I was tricked.
“Mae.” The little boy beside her, tugs on her hand. He eyes me curiously with his matching purple button up..Wait.
Mae?
His Mae…
“Mae?” I stare at Freen in shock. She has a child…
“Nat!” Billy interrupts, hoisting the boy atop his shoulders. “We’ll be right back, Freen.”
“Uncle Billy!” he squeals, covering Billy’s eyes then grabbing at his ears.
“Let’s gooo!” Billy zooms away with Nat, introducing him proudly to the guests who’ve already arrived.
I watch Freen whose endlessly deep, kind eyes are locked onto Nat.
“Welcome N’Freen!” Nam comes over, pulling her into a hug. “I love the matching outfits. Did you and Nong Bec plan this?”
“No, we didn’t,” Freen smiles awkwardly at P'Nam before turning her attention to... “Babe.”
She glares at him sheepishly hiding behind May. She holds her hands up, claiming innocence.
“It was all Babe’s idea.” May squeaks, jumping away when Babe pinches her waist. "Hey!"
“May was the one who got the clothes.” Babe replies, pointing at May.
If looks could kill, Babe and May might as well be 10 feet under with the piercing stare Freen has trained on them.
“-I just met Nat. I told him he can be Billy’s Best Man but he refused,” Heng huffs out a laugh into the conversation. “Guess he’s stuck with me as his Best Man.”
“Oh Nat!” Nam carries on without a care. “Where are his parents, Babe?”
Freen whips her head toward Nam. She sighs.
“That would be me.”
“Hmm,” Nam tilts her head at Freen. Her eyes widen before she plasters on a smile. “You’re Nat’s Mae..”
Freen nods, eyes cast down.
“And his father?” The words leave my mouth without a thought.
“Out of the picture.” Freen’s eyes harden as she grits out the response. Yikes. He must’ve fucked up if sweet, kind Freen hates his guts.
“You’re so young-” Heng coughs, receiving an elbow to the stomach courtesy of Nam. I would’ve done it myself if she hadn’t. She drags Heng away. Probably to scold him or flirt with him. I never know with those two.
The others make themselves scarce, leaving just Freen and I.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her, slipping my hands into my pants pockets to hide their slight tremor. It's comical that only now I have the courage to voice my inner thoughts. That and it'd be inappropriate to 'flirt' with my cute secretary at work.
Freen smiles, a blush lightly coating her cheeks. “Yeah well you look handsome.”
I watch in fascination and awe as her face blooms red.
“I mean-”
“Thank you for the compliment.” I laugh, smiling. Warmth spreads throughout my body, all the way down to my fingertips.
“No problem.” Freen mumbles, swaying her arms.
“Could I escort you inside, Ms. Chankimha?” I extend my elbow, nervous as hell. I exhale when she wraps her hand around my forearm.
“Thank you, Ms. Armstrong,” Freen giggles. I’m positive the tips of my ears are turning red.
Freen POV
The minute I take my assigned seat, Nat pounces into my lap. “Who was the cool person Mae was with?”
He wraps his arms around my neck and tucks his head underneath my chin.
“That was Becky.” I speak softly, rubbing his back in a soothing rhythm just like how Mae would.
“Bec Bec,” Nat mumbles. He pulls back to look at my face, grabbing onto my arms. “I like her.”
“Oh.” I raise an eyebrow. Becky's just that charismatic. I understand.
“I like the way she makes Mae smile.”
“O-oh.” I don’t know how to respond to that.
“Does Mae like Bec Bec?”
“I-" Do I like Becky? "Well..”
“Yeah~ do you like N’Bec ka?” someone says, coming up beside us to pat Nat on the head.
I narrow my eyes at her. P'Nam and her timing. “Hmph-”
“Oh you’re gorgeous!” Nat looks up innocently at P’Nam. She melts at the compliment. I’m surprised that Nat even knows what the word means. “You're Auntie Gorgeous ka?”
“Auntie Gorgeous?”
“Uncle Heng called you gorgeous,” Nat tells her.
P’Nam blushes.
"Did he?" I tease P'Nam. It's refreshing to not be on the receiving end of these kinds of remarks.
"He did, he did," Nat insists. "He pointed to her and said gorgeous."
P'Nam covers her face. "Oh god."
I decided to be nice and clear up the misunderstanding. "This is Aunt Nam."
"Aunt Nam?" Nat tilts his head to the side, a pensive look on his face. "Then who is gorgeous?"
I can't help laughing aloud, drawing the attention of a few passersby.
"Oh god." P'Nam groans, sinking into the seat beside ours.
"Your Uncle Heng called her another word for beautiful," I patiently explained, fixing the stray hairs on Nat's head.
"Oh." He bobs his head, thinking it over. "Why didn't he say that then?"
"I think you should ask your Uncle Heng that," I whisper loudly to Nat, cupping my hands around his ear. "And take Aunt Nam with you."
"Ok!" Nat hops off and tugs on P'Nam's hand till she stands with him. "Let's go, Aunt Nam!"
P'Nam sends me a stink face over her shoulder and I stick my tongue back at her. Serves her right.
PING PING
I glance down at my phone notifications to see messages and attachments from an unknown number. I check them briefly and my phone clatters atop the table. I quickly scoop up my phone and leave my seat.
"Freen, where are you go-"
"Restroom." I interrupt May and speed past her.
I lock one of the single room stalls and open my messages with shaky hands.
you're going to regret everything bitch
you can't escape retribution
how does little Natthawut feel about losing his mae
[image] [image] [image]
There are photos of Nat at his daycare, with me and his aunts and uncles.
if you want the boy to live to his next birthday, come to this location ALONE
[pinned location]
time is ticking freen
..I can't think.
Losing his mae…
Do they know? How much do they know? What will happen to Nat if I don't go?
"Breathe Freen." I look at my reflection in the mirror and glance at my lock screen. Mae smiles back at me, holding a distracted five year old Freen.
I know what I must do.
…