FAR FROM ERIS • FreenBecky •

THIRTEEN

Freen seriously began to worry about her mental health when she started to watch the pigeons flying around the bookstore, as if one of them would actually bring a message from Becky. It had been two days since the girl had shown up, proposing that dinner and hinting that she would return, and Freen was starting to go crazy, jumping at every sound of the door, hoping it would be her.

She scolded herself for the fifth time that afternoon when, once again, she looked up expectantly at the sound of the door. But no, Rebecca still hadn't shown up. Freen couldn't understand where this need to know about her came from. Especially in this age of communication where she could find her on any social media platform, yet here she was doing nothing. Why? To keep the magic alive, perhaps, so that Rebecca would actually have to come see her to confirm the dinner plans? What was she thinking? Did she want a date with Becky? Did she even want a date in general? Plus, maybe she was taking too many liberties thinking that someone like Rebecca could be interested in someone like her. The sound of the door brought her back to reality once again.

-I don't know what you were thinking, but I bet it wasn't about books- Nam said as she entered the store. -Are you busy?-

-No, not really,- Freen yawned. -I'm about to close up. Do you have everything ready?-

-Yeah, everything's packed up at your place. As soon as we get back, I'll order an Uber to the airport.-

-I'm sorry you have to take an Uber. I thought my car would be fixed by this week.-

-Don't worry about it, idiot,- Nam said affectionately. -I'll just grab some junk food from the store next door for the trip while you finish up here. I'll see you in a bit.-

-Great, give me five minutes,- Freen said as Nam left the store with the colorful bells jingling behind her.

Freen bent down to unplug her phone charger from under the counter when she heard the door again.

-Wow, you're lightning fast,- Freen said, straightening up. But it wasn't Nam.

-That's something that nobody have ever told me-

-Oh, Becky,- her voice barely came out. -Hi.-

-Hi, Freen.-

Another shiver ran down Freen's spine. What was wrong with her? Becky walked down the two steps that separated the door from the rest of the store and started walking towards the counter, pushing her hair behind her ear.

Freen watched Becky's movements as if they were in slow motion, feeling like they were part of a scene from a movie. Lately, her life felt like that constantly. Suddenly, she didn't know where to put her hands or what she was doing.

-What...what's up...how are you?- Freen stuttered.

-Good,- she smiled with her dimples. -And you?-

-Me? Good, you know, here, as you can see.-

-Yeah, I see. Here.-

-I was getting ready to close up. Did you need something?-

-No, actually, I just came to see you.-

Freen's heart skipped a beat.

-Well, I'm the least interesting thing in this whole store, huh?- she tried to joke, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

Becky didn't reply but looked directly into Freen's eyes and smiled, squinting her eyes and shaking her head slowly. She wrinkled her nose, and Freen thought it was the most adorable thing she had ever seen.

-Well, if you're here in the store, maybe I can buy you like a book and take you with me.-

-So you'd pay for me?-

-I would, yes.-

-Well, at least you wouldn't have to pay much,- Freen said, hoping Becky wouldn't notice the tremble in her voice.

-You have very low self-esteem, Miss Sarocha.-

-Well, I'm just stating the truth.-

-The truth is, I think you have no idea the value you have.-

Freen was about to reply when the door rang again. This time it was Nam.

-Oh, sorry Freen, I didn't know you were busy,- Nam said as she entered.

-Don't worry, come in. We're about to leave. Look, she's Rebecca,- Freen pointed to Rebecca. -Rebecca, this is Nam.-

-Ah, Rebecca,- Nam said with sudden interest. -Nice to meet you. I've heard about you.-

-Oh, really?- Becky raised her eyebrows, looking at Freen. -I hope it was good things.- Nam was about to answer, but Freen interrupted her.

-Shall we go?- she said quickly - Sorry, Becky, it's just that Nam has to catch a flight and we still have to go home to get the luggage and call an Uber and all that.-

-Do you want me to take you? I came by car, it's parked right there- Becky said, pointing to the street.

-We don't want to bother you, really...-

-Well, it would be ideal, and I would really appreciate it,- Nam interrupted. -That way, I wouldn't get anxious about being late, and besides, Freen wouldn't have to go back alone from the airport, as stubborn as she is about coming with me. She'd board the plane to fasten my seatbelt if they allowed it.-

-But Nam, I...- Freen began, but Becky interrupted her.

-Freen, seriously, I don't mind. In fact, I'd really enjoy a ride to the airport. That way, we can also talk about what I came to tell you.-

It seemed that Nam and Becky had already organized the outing, so Freen had no choice but to accept. They took Becky's car to Freen's house, and the girl waited downstairs while the friends went up to get Nam's luggage. She didn't think it was appropriate to join the visit because she had the feeling that Freen was the type of person very jealous of her space and privacy. When they came down, Becky was outside, leaning against the passenger door with her hands in her pockets, smiling as always. They loaded Nam's things into the trunk, and Freen sat in the passenger seat after Nam practically pushed her into it.

-So she's Rebecca,- Nam said when the two friends were picking up Nam's luggage in Freen's apartment. -You didn't tell me she was Miss Florist.-

-Nam, what are you saying, shut up.-

-Oh, so you're going to tell me you haven't noticed how cute she is, right?- Freen shrugged. -I know you have some loose wires, but you're not blind.-

-Nam!- Freen complained, feeling her cheeks getting warm.

-And besides, I think she...-

-She what?- Freen interrupted.

-She's looking at you, Freen, she's looking at you.-

-Well of course she's looking at me, Nam, just like I look at you when I'm talking to you because it's weird not to look at people when you're talking to them.-

-You know exactly what I mean.-

-Well, I don't know, and I don't want to know, because I don't want anyone to look at me.-

-Freen, but...-

-No, Nam, that's it. Let's go.- Nam fell silent as they slung their backpacks over their shoulders, and Freen thought the subject was closed. Wrong.

-But she's absolutely gorgeous, Freen, seriously,- added.

-Nam!-

*