FAR FROM ERIS • FreenBecky •

TWENTY - FIVE

-It was more embarrassing than anything else- Heng added.

-Heng, I still remember Freen practically passing out at the sight of your bloodied face- Irin retorted.

-Don't remind me- Freen said, intervening in the conversation for the first time. -I had nightmares with that image for at least a month.- Heng shrugged.

-I could have had a sexy scar on my eyebrow- he looked at Becky to continue explaining, -but instead, I had a shaved patch on my head for several months.- They all laughed. -It wasn't pleasant.-

-That's for you to learn your lesson and not suggest ideas like that again- Irin said.

After they finished eating, they took both cars and, just like they had arrived at the cabin, went to pick up the materials. After nearly three hours of choosing, packing, and loading things into the van, they were exhausted.

-Guys, go to the cabin and start the fire and prepare the beds while we go to the village to get something for dinner- Irin said, getting into the car.

-Yes, sergeant- Heng said with a military gesture, getting into the van with Freen, who was already seated and buckling up.

-I wonder when they'll stop taking walks together- Freen muttered.

-What? I didn't hear you,- Heng said as he finished settling in.

-Nothing, nothing. I hope they bring something tasty for dinner. I deserve it after getting six splinters loading wood-

Becky and Irin left the small village supermarket with several bags. They had bought a bit of everything for snacking, several beers, and a couple of bottles of wine in a moment of euphoria they had in the beverage aisle. Becky really liked Irin, she got along with her very well. She had a strange kind of connection with her, but nothing like the one she had with Freen.

-Hey Irin, do you mind if I stop by a store for a moment?-

-Not at all, in fact, I'm going to buy some postcards at the gift shop. I'll see you here in the car in fifteen minutes.-

-Perfect, see you in a bit,- Becky said, walking away. She knew where she had to go.

Freen had taken the opportunity to shower while Becky and Irin returned from the village. She stayed under the hot water for quite some time trying to get rid of all the dust from the warehouse and the dirt embedded in her skin after several attempts to light the fireplace with Heng. Attempts, thank God, that were successful. She felt the water hitting her crown almost painfully, but she enjoyed that sensation. She needed to stop being like this with Becky. It might seem silly, but she missed her. She missed talking to her normally, listening to her laugh and her inside jokes; she even missed her teasing her about anything.

When she came out to her room after showering, she heard Irin and Becky's voices in the living room. She put on a pair of loose light gray sweatpants and a long-sleeved black shirt, and she left the room with her hair still wet. Becky looked up when she heard the door, and although there was some distance, Freen could perfectly recognize the scent of her shampoo that emanated from the bedroom like a tsunami enveloping her brain and clouding her thoughts for a few seconds. She remembered it perfectly from the hug at the river, but her wet hair was like a bomb, and Becky felt her hands tremble a bit as she watched her approach the sofa.

-Hi,- Freen said, addressing Becky, who was alone in the living room for the first time all day.

-Um... Hi, Freen,- Becky replied, surprised. -You smell good,- she said without thinking.

-I took a shower.-

-I can see.-

-It's a bit of a strange habit, I know- she shrugged, -you could try it.-

-Don't I smell good?- Becky joked. Freen then leaned on the backrest of the sofa in the middle of the huge living room and leaned forward to bring her face closer to Becky's neck, who tensed. In fact, she got so nervous that her body didn't react, and she remained petrified.

-I think that would be impossible- Freen whispered very close to her ear. Then she straightened up and headed to the kitchen where Irin and Heng were talking about what they were going to prepare for dinner.

Becky sat on the sofa, immobile. She tried to remember how to breathe. Freen had been ignoring her all day, and now she was doing something like that. She looked at the water droplets that had wet her shoulder from Freen's hair; she had been that close. She shivered. -You need cold water- she thought as she got up and went into her room. What she had bought lay on the bed. She looked at it and wondered if maybe it wasn't too explicit, but at this point, she was totally out of control.

**