FORTUNE: A FREENBECKY STORY

Chapter 8 📱

Becky felt her phone vibrate another 3 times. Perhaps it was an emergency.

"Can you excuse me for a second?" Becky said.
"Sure, let's catch up later"

Becky pulls out her phone in haste to see who was messaging her. It was Freen.

[OVER THE LINE APP] 📱
🖤: Hi
🖤: I know you probably don't want to hear from me
🖤: And I understand that but...
🖤: It feels like you're angry at me.

Becky read the messages in confusion. She figured Freen probably thought she was angry at the news that Freen was engaged. When in actuality Becky believed she had no right to be.

🐶: I'm not angry at you.
🖤: I'd like to clear things up.

Becky felt her heart sink. It felt like Freen was going to explain that it was a one night stand and a mistake and that she had a loving fiancé. It felt like this chapter was about to end and Becky desperately did not want to face that.

🐶: I'm busy on campus all day.
🖤: I'll come to you.
🐶: No, I won't be free at any point today.
🖤: I'll be there in the afternoon. I won't be able to sleep if I don't clear things up with you!

Becky felt torn. She wanted to see Freen again but did not want to say goodbye to her and Freen would not take no for an answer. She yielded.

🐶: ok, but not here.
🐶: Can we meet somewhere else, in the evening?
🖤 Yes, do you know the North Hann Spring Gardens?
🐶: Yes
🖤: 9pm?
🐶: ok.

Becky put her phone back into her pocket. She felt mixed feelings. Excitement at the thought of seeing Freen again but sadness at the thought of losing her.

-

As soon as Freen dropped the phone she packed up her things, put her coat on and left the office. She drove at speed in silence to a restaurant on the other side of the city.

When she arrived she waved to a woman already sitting at a table for two. "Fee!" The woman called out as Freen made her way over to her. "P'Nam, I can see you why are you shouting", Freen rolled her eyes.

"I'm just excited. I rarely get lunch dates with you unless something is very wrong" Nam replied. "And you're excited about that?" Freen asked. "Yes" Nam confirmed.

Freen sat down in silence and began to play with the cutlery. Nam tried to meet her eyes as difficult as Freen was making it to do so. "So, What's the matter?" Nam said finally. "Did you see the announcement?" Freen asked trying to change the subject  "Yes, you're really going to marry that guy?" Nam replied

Freen retreated into silence once again until the food arrived. Just as Freen was about to dig into the food Nam placed her hand over Freen's plate stopping her. "Talk!" Nam insists.

"I- I- think I'm being haunted" Freen says under her breath.

"What?" Nam replies.

"I keep thinking about someone and dreaming about her." Freen clarified

Nam's eyes lit up and her body leaned in. "Who?" Nam asks now wearing a smile. "A girl I met on Friday" Freen states

"She's in your dreams?" Nam says laughing at Freen. Freen begins to pout. "I can't sleep or stop thinking about her" Freen mumbles.

"You think she's haunting you? Like a ghost?" Nam continues
Freen gasps, "a ghost! MAYBE!"
"So she's dead?" Nam asks
"No, alive." Freen confirms

"Are you a dummy?" Nam asks
Nam shakes her head.
Freen is puzzled by Nam's question. "You think you're being haunted by a living being because you keep thinking and dreaming about her?" Nam continues

Nam smirks and says "I've heard of that before."
"What?" Freen enquires
"They're called Sirens. The moment you lock eyes with them they're able to control your dreams and desires." Nam muses
"Really?" Freen asks
"Yes, they're quite common in Thailand" Nam confirms
"How do I reverse it?!" Freen asks
Nam leans in "You have to..."
Freen leans in.
"...have sex with them"

Freen sits back, "I've already done that" she says once again confused.
"That means it didn't work" she continues.
"Dummy!" Nam exclaims "you had sex with someone and can't stop thinking about her so you think she's a mythical being? You're stupid for someone so clever"

"Yes! Exactly!" Freen snaps her fingers pointing at Nam
"You like her" Nam insists

Freen places her hand on her chin and thinks for a moment. "Siren, like a mermaid right?"
"Dummy!" Nam repeats. "So when are you seeing her again?"
"Tonight! I think she's angry at me and that's why I can't sleep. I have to clarify things with her" Freen says, oblivious to Nam's exhausted expression.
"Ok, you do that" Nam concludes

They continue eating. "Anyway, tell me exactly how you met?" Nam says with a knowing look.