Unpredictable Connection

5.Hurt

Becky's POV:

At lunch, I met up with Irin and Char. We were all starving, so we decided to grab a bite at a nearby café. As we sat down, I was surprised to hear that both Char and Irin had been invited to the same party. They had been selected as representatives, just like me.

"Congratulations, you two! I'm so happy for you!" I said with a smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes.

"We're glad too, but now it's treat time!" Char said with excitement, her voice bubbling with joy.

"But... are we really going to that party in these dresses?" I asked, suddenly unsure.

"Irin doesn't overthink things like that. Everyone will be wearing something simple. It's just a birthday party, so chill out," Char said, waving away my concern.

Becky's right, Irin," I added. "Now that we're done here, shall we leave?"

"Of course," Irin agreed, with a shrug.

Just as we were about to leave, my eyes caught sight of her. Freen was having a conversation with P'fa and P'heng, but something felt off. They were talking seriously, and I saw Freen showing them a ring. My heart sank. Was she going to propose to someone today? Was she already moving on? I tried to shake the thoughts from my mind, telling myself, Think positively, Becky.

Char must have noticed my silence because she leaned in and whispered, "Don't overthink it, Becky. You made mistakes, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve love."

I nodded slowly, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in my chest. "Let's just leave, Char."

Irin grabbed my hand gently, and the three of us left. We found a quiet bench where we could talk, but I couldn't hold back my tears. The dam broke, and I let the emotions spill out, quietly sobbing.

Char immediately wrapped her arms around me, offering comfort. Irin just sat beside us, silent, but present. Eventually, I stopped crying and took a deep breath. Irin handed me a bottle of water.

"Becky," Irin said softly, her voice firm yet gentle. "I know you've been working hard for this, for Freen. You can't let yourself break down now. You've fought for so long. Stay strong."

"She's right," Char added, her voice a little sharper. "If Freen chooses P'Nam, you need to be strong. You can't hold on to something that's slipping away."

My breath caught in my throat. "How am I supposed to stay strong? After everything, I'm just... I'm just so lost. I tried to reach her, but she was always so distant. When I finally found her on social media, I followed her. I thought maybe I could prove myself. Maybe then my parents would let me study here, in Thailand, where Freen is. But now... she doesn't even know me. She doesn't even care. It hurts, Char. It hurts more than I can explain."

Char reached out and squeezed my shoulder. "I know it's painful, Becky. I really do. But you can't beg for her love. You deserve more than that."

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," I said through my sobs. "I just want my bunny back."

"We'll always be here for you, but we can't watch you suffer like this," Irin said, trying to offer support, though there was a note of concern in her voice. "Stop crying, and start thinking about how you'll talk to Freen."

I wiped my tears away, trying to regain some semblance of composure. Irin then tried to lighten the mood. "How about we pray that Freen doesn't propose to P'Nam?" she joked, but I shot her an angry look.

"Relax, Becky," Irin continued, trying to reassure me. "I've heard from my classmates, Freen doesn't just fall for anyone. She's cold as ice around everyone except her friends."