Thousands of Birds

~Part 13~

          A few days later, Freen finally arrived in Vietnam. She got a call and hoped that was Becky. But it wasn't, it was from Rin.

"Helloooo, Phi kaaa"

          Rin's voice was cheerful.

"I heard you are in Vietnam"

          Freen was surprised, then,

"Huh??"

"I knew from the news!"

"Really?"

"Yes, I am so proud of you, Phi. I will come there!"

"Wow... any work here?"

"No... I just want to support you"

          Freen hadn't expected this.

"Oh, that's really kind of you, Nong"

"I will be arriving in a couple of days"

          Then, they hung up. Freen felt a mix of emotions. Freen's mind – "Nong Rin will visit here. Then, why won't Beck??". She stared at her phone, waiting for the call from Becky but there were no messages or calls. She was worried about Becky but she didn't start the call.

~~

          Rin finally arrived in Vietnam. She ran to Freen at the airport, then hugged her tightly.

"I'm so glad to see you. Let's go to the café..."

          As they went to the café, Freen said,

"Nong, I thought you were busy"

"Yes, I am... But I rescheduled"

          They visited around Vietnam together the whole day. Later that night, Freen looked at her phone screen. There're no messages and calls from Becky.

"Hi, Beck. I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you. Things are going well here. Rin also came here to support me. I miss you so so so much and I love you. Please call me when you can"

          Freen hit send, hoping that Becky would respond soon...

~~

"Are you okay, Phi. I can see something is still bothering you"

          Rin asked Freen, actually she knew what Becky and Freen were going through. They were now at the competition.

"Come on, don't be sad"

"Hmm..."

          Freen sighed heavily. She stared at Rin and,

"Actually, Becky and I are dating, Nong Rin"

          Rin's mind – "I've already known that Phi. I will take you from her". She smirked, then,

"Don't worry. I am also here for you"

"It's not the same Nong Rin... She is just going through a busy time. I know she cares about me even if it doesn't always seem like it"

          Rin's expression changed,

"It's just hard to see you upset over someone who isn't making the effort to be there for you"

          The competition started, Freen couldn't control her mind. It just about Becky... But whatever she did her best for her arts. And finally, she passed that competition smoothly.

          After the competition, Rin hugged her tightly.

"You did your besttt!!"

          Then, Freen pushed away. Rin was confused and smiled,

"Yeah... Phi... I am going back to Thailand"

          Freen smiled back and,

"Hope you safe..."

~~

          The finale competition was in Paris... As Freen arrived there, Freen took her phone out of the pocket and,

"Hi, Beck! I am in the finale competition and have to stay 4 or 5 months. They will choose 3 people. I really wish you could be here with me. I miss you so much and hope you're doing well. Please reach out when you can. Love you"

          Freen smiled and tears came out of her eyes. There's been no reply for the last few months. In the evening, Freen walked around the Eiffel Tower. She breath in and thought about Becky.

"I miss you so much..."

          Time flew by fast, the finale competition began. Freen's hands were cold as she took her place. The judges began their rounds, watching the artist's arts. As the hours passed, Freen's hands grew colder. She couldn't stop thinking about Becky.

          The head judge stepped up and a room fell silent,

"Thank you all for your incredible efforts"

          Freen held her breath, the judge continued,

"The 3rd winner is – Liam Robert Donovan!"

          A man smiled brightly and then the judge shook his head and,

"And the 2nd is Oliver Jane Harrison! And the 1st one is..."

          The room was filled with silence,

"Freen Sarocha Chankimha!"

          Freen couldn't hold her excitement anymore. She smiled and shook the judge's hand. She couldn't believe it...

~~

"Hello, Beck. I am coming back to Thailand. The competition in Paris has ended and guess what, I won! I hope we can talk soon, Love you"

          She hit send... The flight was long but Freen's thoughts were about Becky. She missed her a lot. But sometimes, she thought Becky didn't love her anymore. It's been a few months that Becky hadn't respond to her messages. She really wanted to know the reason.

          As the plane arrived in Thailand, Freen stepped into warm embrace of her home country. Her phone buzzed with incoming messages but she could only think of one person she wished to hear from.

          Suddenly, she spotted her family and friends in the crowd. Nam hugged her and her mom was standing beside her.

"I was missing you"

          Nam said warmly,

"Welcome back!!"

          Freen looked around and Nam realized and broke the hug.

"Freen, we need to talk. About Nong Becky"

"What happened to her?"

"Relax Freen... Shall we go to café first?"

          Freen was worried about that and then she nodded her head slowly. As they arrived to the café, Nam gave a seat. Freen looked at Nam, her face showing concern.

"Phi Nam... Tell me what's going on with Becky?"

          Nam took a deep breath, then looked into Freen's eyes.

"Becky is in coma..."

"What??"

          Freen fell down, she couldn't believe what she heard.

"Freen, I know this is a lot to take in. Becky's been in the hospital for a few months now. We didn't want to tell you until you were back"

"Where is she??"

          Freen immediately went to the hospital where Becky was. When she finally reached Becky's room, she saw Becky lying in the hospital bed. She reached out and took Becky's hand.

"Beck... I'm here. I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner. I didn't know... I didn't know the was happening. Please, hold on... I love you"

          Freen's tears fell freely...

~~