FORTUNE: A FREENBECKY STORY

Chapter 16 💰

Freen felt the weight of Heng's stare coming down on her. She persisted.

"40 million baht!!" She insisted. Becky was a little shocked at the back and forth.

Baitoey looked over at Freen. She did not like to force anything so she yielded. "40 million baht, going once..." Heng said with a shaky voice "twice..."

A voice called out from the back of the room. "500 million baht." It was Noey.

Freen turned around. She knew they had no interest in Becky but it still somehow enraged her to think that Becky would be going on a date with Noey. Someone Becky already spends a lot of time with and her boss.

"So this is the girl Fee" Noey whispered
Freen adjusted her body back into a forward facing position. She carried her head up and said with confidence, "1 billion baht".

Becky gasped, Noey gasped, Heng gasped. Everyone gasped.

The room was rumbling with chatter. People had started to notice who Freen was.

Freen continued to wear a stern look. She was a little pissed off that other people were trying to see Becky romantically. She had no right to be of course, she knew that, but she was.

Becky descended from the stage and a shyness overcame her. Becky wasn't typically confident in an outward way but she definitely had an inner confidence about her. However, today she felt so uneasy with just about everything that was happening.

Becky's phone began to ring. She ignored it. It rang again so she took a peak at who it was. It was her Ma. Becky immediately picked up the phone and headed towards the exit slowly but midway her walk turned into a sprint as Baitoey, Freen, Heng and Noey watched on.

"Who is that girl?" Heng asked, now standing with Freen and Noey. "Just one of our new professors" Noey replied. "She's very bright and loves the work".

Freen turned to follow Becky but bumped into Baitoey who had come over to say hello.

"Freen, it's been a long time" Baitoey said. Freen stared at Baitoey but did not say a word. "Ha... you haven't changed" she continued. "Toey!" Heng exclaimed. "Hengy!" She replied. "It's nice to see my fellow alumn here again. We haven't seen each other in about two years!" Heng said excitedly
"Yeah, when did you get back?" She asked
"Yesterday actually, but I'm leaving again during the weekend" he confirmed.
"We should catch up before you go" she concludes.

Baitoey glanced at Freen one final time with a smile and made her way back to her seat.

"We should go." Freen said under her breath. Both Heng and Noey heard her but that mattered very little to her. Her eyes had been fixed on the door waiting for Becky to return but it was getting late and it didn't look like that was going to happen. She grabbed Heng by his shoulder and headed for the exit.

"Okay I have to go, I guess I'll see you at the wedding?" Heng said to Billy
"Yes, see you in 3 months, safe trip!" Billy replied.

Once Freen arrived back home she felt uneasy. She went to wash up, got into her pyjamas and laid in bed but she could not sleep. Her eyes continued to scan the ceiling late into the night until she picked up her phone and sent a message.

[OVER THE LINE APP]
🖤: where did you go?

Freen placed her phone on the dresser and flipped her body to the side. She laid in bed waiting for a response periodically checking her phone until her eyes became heavy and she eventually fell asleep.

The next morning as soon as Freen woke up she sprung up and immediately checked her phone. No response.

"She hates me!" Freen thought. Freen had not been the best version of herself for the past week, she had not been honest or kind to Becky since that night. She had so many regrets already but had no intention of giving up.

Freen went to work as usual but when work was finished she rushed over to the university. She waited outside the faculty office in hopes that Becky would walk by.

An hour had passed before Noey came out of their office and spotted Freen. "Fee! What are you doing here? Forget something?" Noey remarked. "I- I came to pay my donation for the auction" Freen said handing over a cheque.

"Mhmm..." Noey said with a suspicious look. They took the cheque and headed back into their office to lock it away in a safe place. Freen followed Noey in.

"How do I collect?" Freen asked with the side of her mouth raised into half a smile. "You mean Becky?" Noey asked. Freen stared at Noey stubbornly not wanting to admit she came all this way for Becky.

"Urmmm you're going to have to wait a while" they continued.
"I've been here for over an hour." Freen said
"No I mean she's not here and we may not see Miss Armstrong for a while" Noey explained
"Why?" Freen enquired

"Her brother was in a car accident yesterday, he's in the hospital" Noey stated.