The Wish You Left Behind

Chapter 8: The Residence

Note:

There's a Japanese phrase that I like: Koi no yokan. It doesn't mean love at first sight. It's closer to love at second sight. It's the feeling when you meet someone you're going to fall in love with. Maybe you don't love them right away, but it's inevitable that you will.'

- Nicola Yoon, The Sun is Also A Star.

FAYE

Yoko is heavier than she thought, and Faye needs to carry her with both of her arms. Seeing them earlier, Ice teased where the honeymoon would be. Her boss makes it harder too, when the woman keeps snuggling her neck.

"Yoko's flirty and clingy when drunk," Ice said when she noticed how her boss clings to Faye's neck.

The doctor carries Yoko's crutch in one hand while squeezing Marissa's waist in the other. The younger woman sways as the three of them navigate the parking lot.

"Besides," Ice continues as she struggles to keep Marissa upright. "You smell good. Yoko's words, not mine."

Faye doesn't need to hear that. But as always, the doctor has no filter she opted to lie to make it less awkward.

"It's fine. Where's your car?"

"Mine's on the upper level. We'll take Yoko's and stay at her house tonight. Marissa will freak out if I take her home with me."

"Why would your girlfriend freak out?" The words spill out of her mouth before Faye can help it.

Ice looks at her with a smirk. "She's not my girlfriend." She leans closer to Faye before adding, "Yet."

Oh.

Instead of focusing on the woman's love life, Faye shifts her attention to the matter at hand.

"I will stay at Ms. Yoko's house, too?"

Ice sigh. "This isn't up for discussion, Faye. It's already late. We have to go."

Faye takes the wheel because as per Ice, Yoko might wake up with the doctor's not-so-gentle way of driving. Faye keeps on checking the dashboard, making sure the speedometer remains at 60.

Before Faye knows it, they're already navigating towards Thong Lo's rich neighborhood.

"I saw Earn earlier, by the way," Ice said.

Faye looks at the rear mirror. The doctor has her elbow on the window sill while Marissa's head rests on her shoulder. Ice lowers her voice when Yoko stirs on the shotgun seat. "She seems upset, though. She didn't even say goodbye on her way out."

"Really?"

So what Yoko did worked.

Faye can still feel the shadow of Yoko's grip on her neck. She tries to forget the way Yoko's closeness makes her breathless.

Despite everything, Faye feels pathetic. It has been so long since she let anyone come close that a mere touch takes her breath away.

But it's just that. Longing; nothing too deep.

After what felt like an hour of driving, they reached Yoko's home. The outdoor bollards light up as they pull over the house's parking. The gentle sound of falling water fills the rather quiet night. Faye shuts off the car's engine and marvels at the sight of a small pond on the side of a two-story house.

"Let's go," Ice said.

Faye ignores the aching of her arms as she carries her boss towards the tall, front door.