FORTUNE: A FREENBECKY STORY

Chapter 27 🛬

Becky and Richie stepped off the plane hand in hand. Becky looked more sombre than usual. Their Ma was just behind them holding a big bag.

They continued to cling onto each other as they made their way through the airport towards the exit.

As they exited customs and headed towards the exit a voice called out "Becky!"
Becky recognised that voice, sort of, she recognised the tone of voice but not it's unusually raised pitch and volume.

Becky turned around to check who it was, it was a flustered Baitoey. Baitoey had offered to pick up her and her family from the airport. This was a sweet gesture that Becky refused but Baitoey would not take no for an answer. Becky was already too emotionally drained to argue so she had accepted.

Becky did not smile to greet Baitoey or even so much as look her in the eye. Baitoey realised that her gesture had not been received kindly, she realised that she had imposed and Baitoey hated to impose. The Becky that had returned from London felt like a different Becky, to Baitoey and to Richie who tried to cover up her mood.

"Thanks for picking us up P'Baitoey, I know you didn't have to" Richie said
Baitoey tried to meet Becky's eyes but it felt like there was nothing behind them.
"That's okay, it's the least I can do" she replied
Baitoey ran over to take the bag out of Becky's mums hands and placed them in her boot.

The airport was only a 15minute drive from Becky's home as they didn't live in the city. As soon as they arrived home Becky got out of the passenger seat where she sat in silence next to Baitoey the whole way home and went over to help Richie out of the car, handing him his crutches. She went over to the boot and grabbed Ma's bag and entered the house.

Becky did not make eye contact with or acknowledge Baitoey once the entire trip.
"Come in for some coffee" Ma said smiling at Baitoey

When Baitoey entered the house she felt incredibly uncomfortable. She could not turn down Becky's mum but knew that Becky did not want her there right now. When Becky's mum handed her a cup of coffee she tried her best to finish it as soon as possible.

-DING DONG DING DONG-
The doorbell rang.

Becky came down the stairs to open the door.
It was Freen. As soon as Freen saw Becky she sprung a hug on her before she could think. Becky did not have an opportunity to refuse it nor did she push Freen away.

After a few seconds comfortable in each others embrace Freen caught sight of Baitoey sitting in their living room with a cup of coffee. Baitoey also acknowledged Freen's arrival and tried her best to look away.

Freen finally let go of their embrace and Becky slipped out into the front yard closing the door behind her.

"What are you doing here?" Becky asked
Freen noticing a change in her countenance stepped back.
"I wanted to make sure you were ok" Freen replied
"Why?" Becky asked
"I heard your Da died" Freen confirmed

Becky fell silent and hung her head. Her expression was cold and disconnected. Freen grabbed her hands and cupped them in hers attempting to comfort her. Becky slapped Freen's hand away.

"I don't know what you think you're doing but my girlfriend is waiting inside for me" Becky said sternly
"Girlfriend? P'Toey?" Freen said
"I think you better leave." Becky said with the coldest expression Freen had ever faced

Becky did not wait for her to leave before she entered her house and slammed the door shut.

Freen took a step back. She was truly confused. She entered her car and started it. On the drive back home Freen was riddled with thought. "When did they get together? Was it before the fundraiser? Or after? Was it before our date? Or after it?"

Freen was going through every possibility to understand what she could have missed and what she could have done differently. She however came to the same conclusion every time. She was too late. The woman she loved had fallen in love with someone else. She had been too unkind to her, messed her around too much, confused her and eventually taken too long to admit to her how she felt about her.

When Freen arrived at home she fell to her knees and sobbed for hours and when day was about to break she carried herself up the stairs and spread herself on the bed.

When Freen woke up the next morning she could not muster up the courage to go to the office so she stayed in bed all day and all night. The following day the same and the day after that until a week had passed.

-RING RING RING-
Freen's phone was ringing again. She had been deflecting calls all week but this time it was Heng and she always picked up Heng's calls.