How to be loved

16 - Officially Forgiven

HOW TO BE LOVED

16 – Officially Forgiven

In the days that followed, the atmosphere between Freen and Becky slowly began to thaw, though tension still lingered just beneath the surface. Their interactions became less strained, but unresolved issues cast a subtle shadow over their every word and action.

One morning, as Becky was swamped with paperwork, she heard a knock on the door.

"A delivery for you, Becky," Kristine, her secretary, said as she entered the office with a smile.

With a furrowed brow, Becky accepted the paper bag. "What is this, and who sent it?"

Kristine shrugged but gave her a knowing look.

Becky opened the bag and felt a rush of happiness when she saw her favorite milk tea from her most beloved shop. She eagerly took it out and found a note attached:

"Just a little peace offering. I know it's your favorite. From your sorry ass friend, Freen."

Becky couldn't help but smile. She grabbed her phone and snapped a selfie, playfully sipping the milk tea, and sent it to Freen with a message:

"Hey to you my sorry ass friend. The milk tea made my day, but don't think this means you're off the hook." She hit send, followed by a smiling emoji.

Moments later, her phone buzzed with a response from Freen: "I wouldn't dream of it. Just happy to make you smile."

Becky chuckled softly, her heart feeling lighter. "You surely did," she replied, adding a thumbs-up emoji.

As the day progressed, Becky decided to visit the shoot for the lead brand of the month, which had cast Freen as the main female model alongside a new model, Loveruck.

"These look great," Becky remarked, her eyes fixed on the screen. "The models are bringing the concept to life."

"Yes, Becky, I do agree, especially our main model," Josh, the project director, responded.

Josh continued, "Freen really captures the essence we're aiming for. Her presence on camera is striking."

Becky nodded in agreement, feeling a swell of pride for Freen despite their recent tensions. "She's really owning the role. And Loveruck brings a fresh dynamic too."

Josh smiled, clearly pleased with Becky's assessment. "Absolutely. Their chemistry is coming through beautifully. It's going to resonate well with our target audience."

As they reviewed more shots, Becky found herself genuinely impressed by the teamwork and professionalism on display. Her initial worries about Freen's performance were replaced with a renewed sense of confidence in her abilities.

Later that afternoon, during a break in shooting, Becky approached Freen as she reviewed some notes with the photographer. "Hey, Freen," Becky began tentatively, "I just wanted to say you're doing a fantastic job today."

Freen looked up, surprised but pleased by Becky's compliment. "Thanks, Becky. I appreciate that."

Becky glanced at Freen, sensing an opportunity to bridge the gap between them further. "Freen, I was thinking... since it's the weekend, maybe we could grab lunch together tomorrow? In exchange for the dinner you offered."

Freen's eyes lit up with hope. "I'd like that, Becky. I'd really like that a lot." Overwhelmed with excitement, she impulsively hugged Becky. The embrace was warm but suddenly felt awkward, and Freen quickly pulled back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, I got carried away," she mumbled.