Becky Armstrong had always thought of herself as a people magnet. Making friends was easy—whether it was joking around with classmates, giving pep talks to younger students, or being the shoulder to lean on when someone had a bad day. But Freen Sarocha? Freen was a puzzle wrapped in a mystery and covered in an enigma. Quiet, focused, and seemingly allergic to small talk, Freen was unlike anyone Becky had ever met.
Her first thought was, Why bother? Freen didn’t seem interested in friendship, after all. But her second thought—the thought that made Becky grin—was, Why not? Freen intrigued her in a way no one else ever had. She’d seen glimpses of something deeper behind Freen’s reserved exterior, little cracks where emotions peeked through—whether in the way she gripped her books a little too tightly or the subtle softening of her eyes when someone mentioned her favorite subject. Becky was determined to reach that part of Freen, even if her attempts ended in awkward silences or baffling replies.
Thus began Becky’s bold mission: Operation: Befriend Freen.
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Scene 1: Lab Partners
The chemistry lab was filled with chatter as students paired off to complete their experiment. Freen Sarocha, as usual, was sitting alone at her station, meticulously measuring chemicals into a flask. Becky spotted the empty stool beside her and saw it as her golden opportunity.
Sliding into the seat, Becky said brightly, “Hey there, science genius. Need a partner?”
Freen glanced up briefly, her expression blank. “If you want to.”
“Great!” Becky replied, refusing to be deterred by the lack of enthusiasm. She leaned forward, peering at Freen’s experiment. “What’re you working on?”
Freen adjusted her glasses and replied matter-of-factly, “Measuring the reaction rate of varying concentrations. It’s standard.”
“Uh-huh,” Becky said, pretending she understood. “So… do you like chemistry?”
Freen paused, her fingers tightening slightly around a dropper. “It’s logical.”
“That’s it?” Becky asked. “Just ‘logical’?”
Freen looked at her, an unreadable expression on her face. “Logic is reliable. Unlike people.”
Becky blinked at the unexpected response, her grin faltering slightly before bouncing back. “Wow, that’s deep. You’re basically saying people are unreliable, right?”
Freen hesitated, her gaze flickering as if searching for the right words. “Not all people,” she said quietly. “Just... some.”
Becky smirked. “Am I one of the unreliable ones?”
“You’re... tolerable,” Freen replied, her lips twitching slightly in what could almost be considered a smile.
“Gee, thanks,” Becky said, laughing. Maybe Operation: Befriend Freen wasn’t impossible after all.
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Scene 2: Dodgeball Dilemmas
The echo of bouncing balls filled the gymnasium during sports class, and Becky practically skipped to her assigned pair. When Ms. Narumon announced, “Becky and Freen, you’re together!” Becky grinned while Freen stiffened slightly, clutching her water bottle like it was a lifeline.
“Alright, partner,” Becky said, tossing the ball up and down as they stood on the court. “You ready?”
Freen adjusted her glasses, her voice calm but wary. “I’d prefer not to engage in projectile-based activities.”
YOU ARE READING
Finding a way back to her!
FanfictionIn a bustling high school in the heart of Bangkok, two unlikely worlds began to overlap. Freen Sarocha was the quiet newcomer, a reserved and brilliant student who seemed more comfortable buried in books than surrounded by people. Her mind worked wi...
