Worst Nightmare

Chapter 6

The Next Morning

"Princess..." Su-Ho called out to Yoko, but she shot him a glare. He chuckled and, with a playful tone, said, "Sorry... Yoo~." At the sound of the endearing nickname, Yoko's expression softened, and she gave him a sweet smile.

"Yoo," Su-Ho continued, "don't take this the wrong way, but don't you find the Prince a bit odd? He's kind of weird..." As he spoke, he helped Yoko with cooking. Yoko looked at him with a hint of confusion, but after a moment's reflection, she realized that she did indeed feel uneasy when she thought about her feelings toward the Prince.

"I suppose... a little uncomfortable," Yoko admitted with a slight nod. Su-Ho raised his eyebrows and smiled at her response.

Unknown to them, Faye was standing near the door. As Yoko turned around, Faye quickly moved behind the door and pressed herself against the wall.

Faye sighed deeply, closing her eyes as she tried to manage her emotions, memories of her mother flooding back. She took a deep breath, adjusted her goggles, and walked into the kitchen.

Faye took a seat at the opposite end of the table and picked up the newspaper, immersing herself in its content. As she read, Yoko and Su-Ho couldn't help but notice Faye's appearance and tried to stifle their laughter at the sight of the goggles.

Faye silently read the newspaper, glancing up intermittently to observe Su-Ho's playful interactions with Yoko. Su-Ho was being particularly animated, much to Yoko's delight, though she remained blissfully unaware of Faye's presence. Yoko seemed to thoroughly enjoy cooking and the company of Su-Ho.

Faye kept the newspaper partially obscuring her face but watched from the corners of her eyes. She noted how Yoko appeared so lively and happy around Su-Ho. Yoko's smile faded as she noticed Faye's presence, her expression turning neutral. She called out to the Prince, and Su-Ho took a phone call, leaving the room.

As Yoko placed the food on the table, Faye nodded in acknowledgment, moved to the dining area, and took a seat. She served the food, and they began to eat in silence. Yoko ate without making eye contact with Faye, her mood noticeably subdued. Faye, feeling the weight of Yoko's gloom, watched as Yoko's expression shifted with Su-Ho's return. Yoko brightened as Su-Ho joined her at the table, sharing the meal with him.

Seeing them interact, Faye felt a pang of sadness. She quickly finished her meal and, after clearing her plate, retreated to her room.

Once inside, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to steady her breathing. She slowly approached the mirror near the wash basin, removed her goggles, and looked at her reflection. Her eyes were red and tearful, tears streaming down her cheeks. Faye splashed water on her face in an attempt to regain composure.

Moving to her bed, Faye discarded her yellow hoodie and lay down, pulling the pillow close and hugging it tightly. She tried to find solace in sleep but was plagued by haunting thoughts. Voices in her mind echoed,

You're not enough...

You're just a burden...

Wish I didn't have you...

"Stop," she whispered, trying to quell the inner turmoil. Despite her efforts, the tears continued to fall. Faye turned her gaze to the ceiling, unable to silence the voices. She finally took some medication to help her sleep and, after a while, gradually drifted off into a troubled sleep.

Faye observed from her room as her mother busily prepared a meal, her face radiating joy. Her father stood behind her, embracing her affectionately and assisting with the cooking. It was a picture of a happy family, a stark contrast to the strained reality Faye was living.