Within the spaces

Episode 11

It was Christmas Eve, and the world felt wrapped in a blanket of calm. The streets outside glowed with festive lights, garlands of red and gold adorning every corner. Yoko loved this time of year-the stillness, the warmth of home, the way the world seemed to pause and breathe for just a moment. No work. No shoots. Just decorations, laughter, and her dad's silly news channel marathon.

The smell of her favorite cake wafted through the house, pulling her out of a light nap. She hadn't expected it this year; her dad seemed too caught up flipping between political debates and economic updates. But there it was-the unmistakable aroma of her favourite bakery's cake, a blend of butter, sugar, and nostalgia. She rushed to the kitchen, her tired eyes lighting up as she saw the familiar white box waiting for her.

"Didn't think I'd get it this year," she murmured, her voice teasing.
Her dad, without looking up from his screen, smirked. "It's Christmas. What's Christmas without your cake?"

After savoring every bite of the treat, Yoko sat on her bed, phone in hand. The festive mood pushed her to finally do something she'd been putting off-posting pictures. She scrolled through the camera roll, her thumb hesitating on every photo before moving to the next. It took her almost an hour to choose four pictures that struck the balance between cute and hot. She wanted to look irresistible, not just to her fans but to someone in particular.

Her thoughts drifted to Faye. Just a few days ago, Faye had compared her face to a monkey-a cute monkey, but still, a monkey. She blames her fans for coming up with a new animal to compare her to every day. Because as much as Yoko loved Faye's teasing, she longed for Faye to see her differently-not just as adorable, but as someone she couldn't take her eyes off.

Finally satisfied with her selection, Yoko hit "Post" and closed the app. Her family was gathered in the living room, and she joined them, snuggling into the couch. It wasn't often they got to spend time like this, and she wanted to cherish it.

But her phone kept drawing her attention. She checked it once, twice, a dozen times.
"Waiting for a phone call?" her dad asked, his eyes narrowing playfully.
"No, no. No work this week. All my time is yours, Papa," she replied, her signature smirk in place.
"Hmm, I see. Must be the cake making you this sweet," he said, pulling her into a side hug.

A notification buzzed. Yoko's heart leapt, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't check it-not now, not with her dad watching. She waited, fidgeting for what felt like an eternity, before feigning exhaustion.
"Ahh, I'm so sleepy. I'll head to bed, okay?" she said, stifling a fake yawn. Her dad chuckled, letting her go.

Once safely in her room, Yoko threw herself onto the bed and grabbed her phone. The notification was from Instagram-a comment from Faye.
"Suay ❤️"
Yoko's breath caught. Her smile grew so wide it hurt. Faye thought she was pretty. Suay. And with a heart. Did that mean something? Her mind and heart were both racing.

She deliberated for a moment. Should she reply? Would a simple "Thank you" seem lame? What if she didn't respond at all-would Faye think she didn't care? And before she could overthink herself into oblivion, she switched apps and opened Line.

"Merry Christmas ❤️" she typed, staring at the screen for a moment before hitting send.

She placed the phone beside her and flopped back onto the pillows, her heart pounding. It was a good day-a very good day. But as she lay there, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts kept circling back to Faye.

Minutes turned into what felt like hours before her phone buzzed again. A reply. Yoko snatched it up, her fingers trembling with anticipation.

Merry Christmas to you too, Nong! Sorry for the late wishes-I thought I had already wished you. Turns out I sent the message to my friend instead-she has a similar Line ID. So funny!

Yoko froze. The words didn't feel funny. They felt like a gut punch. Her chest tightened, tears welling in her eyes before she could stop them. Her brain told her it didn't matter-this was nothing. But her heart ached, twisting painfully at the thought of Faye texting someone else first. Of Faye thinking of someone else. She knew who Faye meant-her "friend." The one everyone shipped Faye with, the one Faye had been so close to in the past. Too close.

Yoko stared at the screen, her vision blurring. She wanted to say something, to reply, to make a joke. But she had no right. Not really.

So she shut off her phone, rolled over, and buried herself under the covers. She tried to tell herself it didn't hurt, that it was silly to feel this way. But no matter how much she tried, her thoughts stayed on Faye-bright, beautiful, and just out of reach.