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Chapter 9

Freen wakes up the next morning feeling much more excited than she has in a while. Something about the new day feels refreshing. She goes to the curtains to open them, and the room brightens right away.

Next, she heads to the kitchen to make coffee. After finishing, she sits in the living room with her project and coffee in hand. She wants to get some work done today. She doesn’t want to waste time.

After a bit, the doorbell rings, and Freen feels confused. Who could that be at this hour? It’s still early. When she opens the door, she sees Nam on the other side, dressed in a tracksuit, probably off for a run. Freen tries to shut the door but Nam stops her.

“I’m not here to argue. Want to join me for a run?” Nam asks.

“No.”

“Freen, I promise to let you know the next time I see husbands walking dogs or with strange women. I’m sorry.”

They stand there looking at each other for a moment.

“I know I can be a terrible friend... sometimes. Not always,”

“I’m really sorry. I had no idea he was so involved. I truly am sorry.”

Freen studies her, wondering what to do.

“I’m your best friend, so you have to forgive me,” Nam says playfully.

Freen shakes her head and smiles.

Once they start running, Freen wants to talk to Nam about what happened the night before.

“I went out last night. To a bar. And I had sex with a guy.”

Nam immediately stops, looking at Freen in shock.

“What?”

“Yeah. No strings attached. Just the way everyone likes it,” Freen says plainly.

“Are you serious?”

“Mhm.”

“Tell me everything.” Nam pulls Freen into the nearest café.

“It was a bit wild. We talked, had some shots, and then I took him into the bathroom.”

“You? You, Freen Sarocha Chankimha, had sex in a public bathroom with a stranger? What is going on? The world must be ending.”

“I don’t know, it felt exciting. The possibility of being caught was thrilling. It turned me on.”

“I can’t believe this is you. Why did you do it?”

“I just wanted to see what would happen if I let everything go. If I set myself free.”

But who is really free?

We’re all bound by our fears, our past, and our own ideas of right and wrong.

Happiness often sits alongside guilt, danger, and fear.

That morning, Freen decides to visit Becky. When she arrives, she unexpectedly runs into Becky, who is on her way to the bathroom wearing only her pink panties.

“Oops! I’m sorry.” Freen turns away, embarrassed to have seen Becky like that.

“Oh, no. I should be the one apologizing.” Becky says. “I need to remember I have a housemate now and can’t walk around naked. It’s just a habit.”

“It’s fine, Becky. I do that at home too. Plus, we’re both women,” Freen brushes it off.

“So, why are you still looking away?” Becky teases.

Freen slowly turns back to face Becky.

The taller girl hasn’t put on anything but is covering her breasts with her hands, grinning as she greets Freen. “Morning, Sam!”