The Glory ( Freen❣️Becky)

14

"Would you have turned her down if she'd offered an affair?" Nam asked.

"Yes."

"But would you have slept with her that night if you'd had the chance?" Tee asked.

Freen grinned. "Probably."

"So that's the last time you saw each other?"

Nam asked. "Five years ago?"

"Yes. But the avoidance was mutual this time. She saw my mother often, but she never came around if I was there. And as you know, that's not often."

"You're going back now, though," Tee said.

"What's going to happen?"

Freen shrugged. "If I'm staying with my mother, then the chances of seeing Becky are good. What'll happen, I don't know."

And she didn't. It would be awkward. It always was. But to be there, for months, was going to be challenging. Keeping memories away was one thing. Being back in Surat Thaini, where all the memories were real, where Becky was real, would no doubt be a test of her resolve. Because, for her own sanity, she had to stay away from Becky.

"Well, I don't envy you," Nam said. "I'm sure it will be stressful for you."

"Stressful or not," Tee said, "the romantic in me hopes you do get to see each other." She smiled at Freen affectionately. "I know you're still in love with her. You deserve a happy ending."

Freen sighed heavily. Was she still in love with Becky? Probably. But she shook her head slowly.

"This isn't a fairytale. I'm afraid there will be no happy ending for us."

***

Becky pov

Becky Hugged Kovit tightly, embarrassed by how much she was going to miss him.

"Mom, it's not like you're sending me to another country," he reminded her.

"I'm just going to miss you," she said. "You're...well, you're all I have."

His intelligent brown eyes studied her for a moment, then he took her hand and led her to the sofa.

"We should talk."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm the mother," she reminded him. "You're fifteen."

"Yes, but I'm the smart, mature one," he said. "I don't have to go, you know."

"Kovit, it's the best medical school in the country. Of course you have to go."

He tilted his head at her, his watchful eyes carefully studying her expression. "Have you stayed married to Dad all these years just for me?"

The question caught her off guard. She had played the game so long, she thought she was quite good at it. Had he seen through her façade?

"Why would you ask me that? Your father and I "

" are not happy. At least you're not."

She stood, keeping her back to him. She wasn't prepared to answer his questions, wasn't prepared to see the truth in his eyes.

"Kovit, you have a car waiting to take you to the airport. This is not the time-"

"Mom, it's Grandfather's private jet. I think I can be a little late." He came to her and turned her around. "This is important. I'm leaving. I'm not going to be here to take care of you."

She smiled at his statement. He was so grown up, yet he was still a boy. She sometimes wished he had been just a normal kid, but that was selfish of her. He had a gift and he never shied away from it. She brushed the brown hair on his forehead, pausing to cup his cheek.

"I love you, you know."

He nodded. "I love you too. That's why I want you to be happy."

"Oh, Kovit, it's not that simple. When I was your age, there were no choices for me. Your grandmother had everything arranged." She looked him in the eye, hoping he would understand. "That included who I would date, where I would go to college...and ultimately who I would marry. Being happy wasn't part of the equation. I don't want that for you. I want you to make your own choices and do what makes you happy."

"You mean if medical school is not for me?"

She nodded. "I know your father, your grandparents, all pushed you down this path. I know first hand how good they are at pushing in the direction they want. But it needs to be your decision. I don't want you to have any regrets."

"Like you do?"

She smiled sadly. "Yes. I have regrets. Lots of them. But it's too late for me. You have the world in front of you. Don't let them influence you too much."

"Mom, you're only thirty-eight. You could still

"I'm only thirty-seven," she corrected with a smile. "I still have a few months to go, thank you very much."

"Sorry," he said with a grin. "What I mean is, it's not too late. If you want to make changes, well, you have my blessing," he said, his young face sporting a blush now. "With Dad, I mean."

She pulled him into a hug, then released him. "Thank you. But it's not that simple."

He cleared his throat slightly. "Miss Alice said the happiest she's ever seen you was when you were young and you and Freen were always together. She said your eyes always had a spark in them. Then you left for college and... well." He looked at her sadly. "I don't ever see that spark, Mom."

"Oh, honey," she whispered, hugging him yet again. "It's...it's so complicated."

Yes, everything with Freen was complicated. She hadn't seen her in five years. She knew from Alice that Freen would be back in town in the next month or so. They were going to open up another store. She knew Alice was proud of the success Freen and Sam had, rightfully so, but she sensed Alice was happier with the fact that they would be around more.

She knew a big part of that was her fault. Freen stayed away because of her. Maybe that's one reason she'd always felt the need to check in on Alice. Alice was the person she wished her own mother had been. And she knew for a fact that Kovit was much closer to Alice than he was to his own grandmother. Alice was warm and caring, two things glaringly missing from her mother's personality.

Yet Freen was coming back to Surat Thaini. They would surely run into each other at some point. Would it be awkward, like it usually was? Would they warm up to each other eventually? Would they dare be alone together? Would the spark still be there after another five years had passed? A part of her hoped it still burned as brightly, but another part feared that it did.

With Kovit leaving, her life was at a crossroads. Dare she make a change? Was she strong enough to stand up to her mother? To Nop? Was she brave enough?

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Second update 💓

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