Please forgive any errors — English isn't my native language.
The next morning.
Faye woke up early, as always. She had no classes today, but that didn't mean the day would be easy. On the contrary — there was a mountain of organizational work ahead, and each task required her personal involvement. Participant lists, coordinating gallery space, approving documents, arranging transport for artworks from other universities, confirming the committee's visit schedule — all of it had to be kept in mind and handled on the go.
She didn't complain. In a way, Faye needed this constant busyness — the rhythm where there was no room for pauses or doubts. And today, that was especially welcome. The less time for stray thoughts — the better.
Still, as she walked across campus with her tablet and a stack of papers, something inside felt off. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, but there was a shift within her — like a precisely tuned instrument suddenly hitting a barely perceptible wrong note. From the outside, it was invisible, but to her, it was painfully clear.
Yoko's morning, however, began quite differently. She woke up before her alarm — echoes of the previous day still lingered in her mind. Her life was still chaotic: her recent return to Bangkok, the tense relationship with her family, a completely unfamiliar university filled with unfamiliar faces. But for the first time in a long while, something warm had appeared in that chaos — something glowing softly from within. Her meeting with Miss Malisorn.
Yoko got ready and headed to the university. She suspected that, after yesterday, she would be the center of attention — and she was right. In the hallway, people glanced at her, some turned their heads, others whispered. Yoko tried not to pay it any mind. She'd felt like an outsider too often to let something like this affect her.
In her literature lecture — she had arrived a bit early — a girl with short dark hair and an open, attentive expression sat beside her.
"You're new? From the art department?" she asked. "I'm Lin. Literature major."
"Yoko," she smiled. "Nice to meet you."
Lin grinned.
"Oh yeah. You really stirred things up yesterday."
"Me?" Yoko asked, surprised.
"My friend Cha's in the art department. She told me everything. About 'the charming little conversation between the new girl and Miss Malisorn.' Said everyone was shocked."
Yoko lowered her gaze. She had a feeling she'd gotten herself into trouble from day one. She didn't like drawing attention, but this time, avoiding it wasn't an option.
"I was just being polite," she said quietly.
"Oh gods. You seriously don't know who Miss Faye Peraya Malisorn is?"
Yoko shook her head silently.
"Wow... She's a local legend. Bright, talented, untouchable. Half the university is in love with her, and the other half — quietly resents and envies her. Her beauty, her style, the way she carries herself... No one can compare. Tons of professors have tried flirting with her, not to mention a few especially bold students — all rejected."
Yoko's eyes widened.
"Yup! We all have that same face every time she shuts someone down — which happens, like... a couple times a semester. But you! She was nice to you. She smiled. That's unreal. You clearly got to her."
"What? No." Yoko shook her head. "It was just a polite conversation."
"Sure, tell yourself that," Lin snorted. "It's the only thing people are talking about today. You're a star now."
YOU ARE READING
Closeness Between the Lines
RomanceIn a studio where every brushstroke is a confession and silence speaks louder than words, a story is born - one that cannot be spoken aloud. Faye has learned to keep her distance. Yoko's honesty cuts through all barriers. They find themselves in a f...
