Within the spaces

Episode 4

A/N: I plan to publish more frequently moving forward, though there are still several things that need editing. Please be aware that certain elements of this story are purely fictional and created for narrative purposes. These fictional aspects should not be seen as disrespectful toward the actual artists, whom I admire deeply. 

Yoko stared at her phone, scrolling through social media once again. She had tried to avoid it, tried to distract herself with reading, cleaning, even binge-watching a new show. But every time she opened Instagram, Faye's face seemed to be everywhere -- smiling, laughing, and... flirting. It was like the universe had decided to taunt her. Faye at a rooftop party, Faye at a fashion show, Faye in her latest viral video. The constant barrage of Faye-related content was inescapable, each new post pulling Yoko deeper into an emotional whirlpool.

There was one clip in particular that she couldn't stop watching -- Faye at an event with another actress, a famous model whose arm was casually draped over Faye's shoulders. The two of them were laughing, whispering like they shared some secret the world wasn't in on. The camera zoomed in just as Faye leaned in closer, her lips inches away from the other woman's ear, a playful smile on her face. The internet was buzzing with it, calling them the "it couple of the night." People were commenting things like "soulmates!" as if it were undeniable.

Yoko replayed the clip over and over, watching as Faye's hand slid up the other woman's back, tracing lazy circles across her bare skin. The model leaned into her touch, her smile widening as if Faye had cast some kind of spell over her. The worst part? Faye looked like she was enjoying every second of it.

The pang of jealousy that twisted in Yoko's chest felt irrational, almost embarrassing. Faye wasn't hers. She wasn't anyone's. But that didn't stop the hurt from blooming in her stomach every time she saw another clip, another picture of Faye with someone else. She knew it was ridiculous. She and Faye weren't even close - at least, not like that. They were co-stars, nothing more. And yet... every time Faye smiled at her, every time she teased her, Yoko felt her heart race in a way that was becoming harder to ignore.

The realization hit her hard, like a wave crashing down with unrelenting force. It wasn't just admiration. It wasn't just excitement at working with a star like Faye. It was a crush-a full-blown, heart-thudding, stomach-flipping crush. And it terrified her.

Yoko flopped back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling as if it held the answers. "What am I doing?" she muttered to herself. She'd only known Faye for a short while. How could she already be feeling this way? It wasn't like her to get so wrapped up in someone, especially someone like Faye - someone who had an entire world of admirers at her feet. And yet, here she was, falling for a woman who was probably out of her league.

But Faye wasn't available. She had made that clear, even without saying it outright. She was flirty, yes - infuriatingly so. But Faye was flirty with everyone. It was part of her charm, part of her public persona. Faye was flirty with everyone... except Yoko.

That thought gnawed at her. Faye had never flirted with her. Not once. She was her "Phi". While Faye teased her, it was always lighthearted, never crossing the line into the kind of playful flirting she displayed so easily with others. With Yoko, she seemed... reserved. Friendly, yes. Kind, definitely. But never flirtatious. And Yoko wasn't sure what to make of it. Did Faye see her as too young? Too inexperienced? Or worse - did she not see her at all?

Yoko groaned, rubbing her temples. "Get a grip, Yoko, Maybe she just doesn't like you like that," she scolded herself. The thought made her stomach churn. What if Faye never sees her the way she saw those other women? This thought was ridiculous. Faye was a star, adored by millions, especially in the queer community. She wasn't just famous-she was an icon. People loved her not just for her looks but for what she represented. Faye had been one of the first major figures in the industry to openly support queer rights. She was vocal, unapologetic, and embraced by the LGBTQ+ community like no other. The fact that she was openly flirty with women only fueled the fire.

There were entire fan pages dedicated to Faye's every move. Tumblr and Twitter were filled with gifs and fan edits of her interactions with other women-clips of her dancing, hugging, laughing with other famous figures. Queer women especially idolized her, and it wasn't hard to see why. Faye was the dream-a charismatic, confident woman who knew exactly how to charm anyone in the room. Yoko had seen firsthand how Faye could light up an entire space just by walking in. She could make anyone feel special, even if just for a fleeting moment.

But that's all it was for Faye-fleeting. Yoko wasn't sure if Faye could even see her beyond her being a "Nong". The thought made her chest tighten. How could she compete with all the women who had Faye's attention? Women who were famous, successful, and stunning. She was just... Yoko. Just some actress who had landed a role alongside her. What chance did she have?

Her thoughts drifted back to a particular video that had been circulating online-a video from a party where Faye had danced with another woman, a singer. The way they moved together had set the Internet on fire. Faye had her hands on the singer's waist, pulling her close as they swayed to the music. Their bodies were pressed together, faces inches apart, and the singer had been blushing, her eyes locked on Faye's lips. The dance had been slow, sensual, almost hypnotic. It was the kind of dancing that made it impossible not to notice the chemistry between them. Yoko had watched the clip more times than she'd like to admit, each time feeling a stab of jealousy. She could practically feel the heat between Faye and the singer. The way Faye moved, the way her fingers trailed down the singer's back-it was too much.

But Faye never acted that way with her.

In fact, Faye seemed to keep a professional distance from her, always just on the edge of something deeper, but never fully diving in. Why? Yoko wanted to ask her. Wanted to scream it, even. Why wasn't she worth flirting with? What made all these other women so special?

Was it her age? Her lack of experience? Yoko didn't know. But it hurt more than she wanted to admit.

She sighed, pulling herself off the bed. "It doesn't mean anything," she whispered, trying to convince herself. "Faye is flirty with everyone. That's just how she is."

But the thought didn't comfort her. Because deep down, Yoko wanted Faye to be flirty with her. She wanted to be special. She wanted to be the one Faye smiled at with that playful glint in her eye, the one she leaned into during events, the one she shared private jokes with.

But she wasn't. And maybe she never would be.