FORTUNE: A FREENBECKY STORY

Chapter 39 🙅🏽‍♀️

Noey had been waiting at the airport for over 30 minutes when Nam finally pulled up at the pick up zone.

"Did you stop for food?" Noey asked
"No there was traffic" Nam laughed
"Oh you left the house late?" Noey remarked

Nam rolled her eyes and proceeded to start the car. They drove into the city and parked up at a familiar restaurant. When they entered Freen was sitting at the back table and she locked eyes with Nam and Noey.

"Fee!" Nam shouted as they made their way over to Freen.
"I told you not to do that, I can see you P'Nam. I'm sitting at the same table we always sit at" Freen quipped
"Whatever!" Nam said
"Hey Fee!" Noey said
"Hello" Freen replied

They sat around the table excitedly and ordered their food.
"So how was your trip Noey?" Nam asked
"It was refreshing! And full of surprises" Noey said
"Really? What kind?" Nam continued
"Well, for one, I bumped into Heidi" Noey asked

Freen was sitting in silence. She had not said a single word since Hello. She was huffing and puffing incessantly. Noey adjusted their gaze towards Freen.

"Fee, are you with us?" They asked
Freen didn't react.
"Fee!" Nam shouted
Freen jolted out of her seat.

"She's absolutely incompetent" She said banging her phone on the table.
"Who?" Noey asked
"I've just fired my secretary. She's useless." Freen said crossing her arms.

Nam and Noey looked at each other.
"That poor girl" Nam said.
They knew instinctively that something was up as soon as they arrived but figured they'd warm Freen up before asking.

"What's the matter?" Noey asked
"Nothing." Freen sighed
"That's not true" Nam said
"What are you? a lie detector?" Freen snapped
"I just know you. We both do. And we know it's not about your secretary. So what's the point of beating around the bush?" Nam said firmly

Freen looked away while Noey slapped Nam on the leg. Nam was known to be a little impatient and had a straightforward personality. She liked to get straight to the point and also appreciated straight talkers. So it was a mystery how Freen and Nam ever became friends.

Freen had always been the type of person who needed a little encouragement to express her true feelings.

Noey blinked their eyes at Nam, scolding her.

"Alright, sorry. What's up fee?" Nam
"Did something happen while I was away" Noey asked
"I bet it's about that girl Becky again" Nam said
Freen looked up, her eyes softening.
"I guessed as much" Nam said
"Did something happen Fee?" Noey asked

Freen remained tight lipped for a moment.
"Fee, I know you don't want to hear this and I'm trying my hardest to control my passionate impulses and deliver this properly but you need to get over the girl" Nam said
"Nam!" Noey complained
"What it's true, she doesn't feel the same way as Freen that's clear" Nam said

Freen sighed.
"I know, I am" Freen said
"Really?!" Nam said with surprise in her voice.
"Yes." Freen answered
Nam looked at Noey confused.

"What happened Fee?" Noey asked
Freen sighed again, "she was just using me like everyone else" Freen replied
"Hmm.. that doesn't sound like her" Noey said
"How would you know?" Nam asked
"Well, she's not that type of girl" Noey replied
"She is." Freen interrupted

They all paused for a moment to think.

"Tell us what happened Fee" Noey said
"Well I don't care to know Noey, can't you tell our friend is hurt? And you're defending that girl." Nam said
"P'Nam you don't even know what happened yet" Noey argued

"I know enough. She used Freen. That's enough for me" Nam said crossing her arms and legs.

Nam had seen what Freen had been through since she was young. How she dealt with her parents death. How she gave up on her dreams to join her family company and how people had continue to treat Freen as a tool in their little games. She had become increasingly protective of Freen over the years so her response did not surprise Noey.

"Okay. That's fine. I want to hear what happened" Noey said looking over at Freen
"Well you know her dad died" Freen started
"Yes she took a lot of time off" Noey replied
"I was so worried about her. I know what is means to lose parents. I even asked you when she was coming back because I wanted to check in on her" Freen continued
"Yes, I remember" Noey replied

"When I arrived at her place she was different. Something had changed. Her eyes were glazed over and I could feel a coldness that I'd never felt before. She sent me away saying she and P'Baitoey were together." Freen said
"Baitoey? Haha! That can't be true." Noey remarked
"Why?" Freen asked
"Well Baitoey has been chasing her since they started. If Becky liked her back I'm sure she would have confessed a lot earlier. And if she had, I would have noticed." Noey said

Freen paused to think for a moment then continued.
"Anyway, I left there ... heartbroken" Freen said
"I knew this wouldn't work out" Nam said
"Let her finish!" Noey said

The food arrived and so silence fell for a few moments while they were served. They all took a few bites of the food in silence but there was anxiousness in the air ahead of Freen continuing her story.

"I hadn't seen her since then. Till a few days ago. She turned up at my house and asked me if I was in love with her" Freen continued as they ate.
"What did you say?" Noey asked
"Well.. I told her the truth. I told her that I was in love with her." Freen replied

Noey smiled but quickly fixed his expression when they noticed Freen's countenance drop.
"Then what happened?" Nam asked
"I thought you had heard enough" Noey quipped
"Shut up" Nam said leaning in

They both stared at Freen anticipating the conclusion of the story.

"We slept together" Freen said