9. Unexpected Encounters

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Nam and Kate sat at their usual spot in the corner of the cozy, dimly lit restaurant. The chatter of other patrons and the clinking of silverware created a soft background hum. Nam, with her elbows resting on the table, let out an exaggerated sigh, dragging her fingers through her hair as she spoke.

"I'm fed up of shipping everyone around me, Kate. I mean, seriously, when do I get my turn? When do I get someone to date?" Nam said, slumping in her chair dramatically, acting like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

Kate raised an eyebrow, pausing mid-sip from her juice. "Wait, wait. I was about to say... I have a crush on—"

Nam rolled her eyes and cut her off, leaning forward with a smirk. "You? A crush? On someone? Oh please, you get a crush on every single person you meet. Shut up, you horny ass."

Kate gasped, feigning shock, before laughing and punching Nam lightly on the arm. "You're so rude! Just because I appreciate beauty doesn't mean I'm a—"

"A horny ass," Nam finished for her, grinning mischievously.

"Nam!" Kate made a face, puffing out her cheeks in mock anger before sinking back in her chair, sipping her juice like an irritated child. "I swear, if you weren't my best friend, I'd be plotting your downfall right now."

Nam snorted, waving her hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You love me, and you know it."

Kate eyed Nam playfully, leaning forward with a smirk. "You're lucky you're cute. I've been thinking of having you for myself."

Nam smirked back, playing along with their usual banter. "Yeah? Join the line, sweetheart. But let's be real—you couldn't handle me."

Kate laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, please, Nam. I'd break you in a week."

Nam chuckled, shaking her head, but before she could respond, she noticed something—or rather, someone—out of the corner of her eye. Her playful smile faltered slightly, and her eyes narrowed in focus as she recognized the figure at a nearby table.

It was Freen.

But she wasn't alone.

Nam's eyes flicked to the woman sitting across from Freen—a woman she didn't recognize. Her mind raced, trying to put the pieces together. Who was this stranger, and why was Freen with her?

Kate, noticing Nam's sudden distraction, followed her gaze. As soon as she spotted Freen, her eyes lit up with mischievous intent. A slow, sly grin spread across her face, and she glanced at Nam with a knowing look.

"Ohhh, this is going to be fun," Kate whispered, her voice dripping with excitement.

Nam bit her lip, trying to suppress her own smile. She had to admit, the idea of messing with Freen was appealing. But there was something... off. Freen looked unusually tense, and that wasn't something Nam was used to seeing. But before she could think it through, Kate had already made up her mind.

"Come on," Kate whispered, standing up and nudging Nam with her elbow. "We're going over there."

Nam hesitated for a brief second, but Kate's enthusiasm was contagious. With a sigh and a grin, she stood up and followed her friend across the restaurant, their footsteps light and playful as they approached Freen's table.

Meanwhile, at Freen's table, things were less relaxed. Becky had been quietly eating her dinner, her mind filled with questions. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. The phone call from Nam earlier—it had triggered something in Becky's mind, a suspicion she couldn't quite place.

She had heard Freen's side of the conversation, and while it wasn't incriminating on the surface, Becky knew how to read between the lines. Freen had been too quick to dismiss it, too calm in her explanation.

"It was just Nam," Freen had said, flashing a casual smile. "She's dealing with something at work. Nothing important."

But Becky had seen the brief flicker of shock in Freen's eyes, the way her voice had tightened ever so slightly when she talked about Yoko. Freen was hiding something, and Becky knew it. She just didn't know what.

Now, as they sat together, there was an unspoken tension hanging in the air. Freen, calm on the outside, but cautious, was watching Becky closely, measuring her every move. Becky, on the other hand, was trying to act casual, but her mind was racing with questions.

They finished their dinner in relative silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When Freen offered Becky the guest room for the night, Becky had accepted, but now, the next morning, they were sitting across from each other again, sharing an uneasy breakfast.

"I appreciate you letting me stay," Becky said, her voice trying to sound light but failing. "Let me buy you breakfast to thank you."

Freen nodded, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sure. It's no big deal."

As they ate in the restaurant, Freen couldn't help but notice the tension between them. It wasn't the kind of tension she had with other people—this was different. There was something almost electric about it, as if they were both waiting for the other to make the first move.

But before Freen could dwell on it any longer, she saw something—or rather, someone—that made her blood run cold.

Nam and Kate were walking towards them, grinning like two mischievous schoolchildren up to no good. Freen's heart skipped a beat. She had hoped to keep her personal life separate from her darker world, but now, her two childhood friends were heading straight for her table, and Becky—a cop—was sitting right there.

Freen's mind raced, but there was nothing she could do. It was too late. Nam and Kate had already arrived.

"Well, well, well," Kate said, plopping herself down in the seat next to Freen with a wide grin. "Look who we have here. Freen Sarocha, the one and only."

Nam slid into the seat on Freen's other side, grinning just as wide. "And who's your lovely friend, Freen?"

Freen shot Nam a look, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she forced a smile. "This is Becky. Becky, meet Nam and Kate. We go way back."

Becky raised an eyebrow, looking between the three women. She could sense something was off, but she wasn't sure what it was. Still, she extended her hand politely. "Nice to meet you."

Kate smirked, shaking Becky's hand with a wink. "Oh, the pleasure's all mine, sweetheart."

Nam, ever the instigator, leaned in closer to Freen, lowering her voice in mock secrecy. "So, Freen, what's going on here? A little breakfast date?"

Freen clenched her jaw but managed to keep her smile in place. "Just breakfast."

Kate, sensing the tension but enjoying every second of it, leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Come on, Nam, don't tease her too much. Poor Freen here looks like she's about to have a heart attack."

Nam laughed, nudging Freen playfully. "Yeah, yeah, don't worry. We'll behave... for now."

Freen let out a small, nervous laugh, but inside, she was anything but calm. She had to play this carefully, or everything could unravel in an instant.

Becky, for her part, watched the exchange with quiet curiosity. She didn't know what was going on, but she could sense the underlying tension between Freen and her friends. There was something unspoken here, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

As the conversation continued, Freen forced herself to stay calm, to act like everything was normal. But deep down, she knew this situation was far from normal. She just had to hope that Nam and Kate wouldn't push too far, wouldn't say something that would blow everything wide open.

Because if they did, there would be no going back.



..............

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