Beneath the Ice: A University Love Story

9 (M) | Stepping into the Unknown

The night of the victory party for the basketball team was in full swing. The university had arranged everything perfectly-streamers, lights, music, and enough food to keep the guests going all night long. Everyone from IDF University was buzzing with excitement, celebrating their win against Bangkok National University. The basketball team, led by Heng, had pulled off an incredible victory, and now it was time to relax and let loose.

Everyone was already at the party, mingling, laughing, and enjoying the celebration. Freen, who normally kept her distance at such events, found herself glancing around the room more than usual, searching for one person in particular. Her eyes kept scanning the crowd, her heart skipping a beat each time someone new walked in. Where was Becky?

Nam, ever the observant friend, caught onto Freen's subtle unease. With a sly grin, she nudged Freen's shoulder. "You're looking for Becky, aren't you?"

Freen didn't deny it, her lips pressing together in a thin line. "Hm."

Nam chuckled. "She'll be here soon. She's just running late. Irin told me," she said with a reassuring smile.

Freen frowned slightly. "Oh," she murmured, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation.

As the minutes ticked by, Freen's mind wandered. She replayed the events of the last few weeks-their intense kiss in the office, the way Becky made her feel, the unexpected and undeniable connection that had grown between them. It was confusing, exciting, and terrifying all at once. Freen wasn't used to this-feeling so out of control around someone else. And yet, every time Becky crossed her mind, her heart beat a little faster.

Nam's elbow jabbed Freen's side again, pulling her from her thoughts. "Look, your Becky is here."

Freen's head snapped toward the entrance, her breath catching when she saw Becky walking in with Nop by her side. Becky was wearing a sleek black coat that hugged her frame perfectly. She was laughing at something Nop had said, her hand playfully slapping his shoulder as they made their way into the party.

"Damn," Noey whispered, clearly impressed. "She looks hot."

Nam laughed, giving Noey a high five. "Exactly!"

Freen's heart raced as her eyes met Becky's. The moment Becky spotted her, a wide smile spread across her face, lighting up her features. Freen felt a sudden rush of warmth in her chest, her breath hitching slightly.

Becky wasted no time making her way toward them, her gaze locked on Freen the entire time. "Hello, guys," Becky greeted Freen's friends with a charming smile.

"Hey, Becky!" they greeted her back with enthusiasm.

Then, Becky leaned closer to Freen, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper as she greeted her. "Hi, beautiful."

Freen ignored the butterflies in her stomach and went straight to the point, pretending to be unaffected. "How are you now? Is everything okay?"

Becky smiled at her, her eyes softening. "I'm totally fine."

Freen leaned in a little closer, her lips brushing Becky's ear as she whispered, "And how's your junior?"

Becky's face instantly flushed red, her confident composure momentarily faltering. But she quickly recovered, leaning in to whisper back. "He's perfectly fine. Ready to be used whenever."

Now it was Freen's turn to blush, heat rushing to her cheeks. Before she could respond, Nam chimed in, her tone playful. "Okay, you two can stop flirting now. You're both already red!"