Hacker • English Version

Chapter 4

Faye's POV

Yoko lives in one of the most expensive buildings in the city. Her apartment is big—with two bedrooms and a huge balcony. That alone tells me she's really good at what she does. But when I stepped inside, I found something even crazier.

Her place looks like a jungle. I'm not kidding.

There are plants everywhere. Big green leaves, vines hanging down, pots on every surface. The air inside is warm and smells like wet soil. Like a small rainforest in the middle of the city.

She must love these plants. Running away and leaving them must've been painful. That's how I know—she'll come back. I'm counting on it.

Still, I shouldn't have called her. I warned her too early and gave her a chance to run. I don't even know why I did it. Maybe I just... wanted to hear her voice. It was a long morning, and I'll forgive myself for slipping up.

After her alarms went off, it didn't take long to find everything about her. Now I know her full name, birthday, where her parents live, and that she's only 23. Too young for me.

I've looked through her closet, checked the food in her fridge—just instant noodles. That's it. If I let her live, I swear, I'll force her to eat real food.

I'm standing on her balcony now. The breeze is soft on my skin, and my phone is cold in my hand. Still no call from her. Will she call?

Probably not. I did say I'd kill her.

But the way she called me "Faye" instead of "Mrs. Malisorn"... it felt personal. Like she actually knows me.

My phone buzzes. Finally, I pick it up fast and press it to my ear.

—Good evening, Yoko.

There's a pause. I hold my breath.

Then she answers, calm and steady: —Hello, Faye.

Her voice relaxes me. I lean on the balcony railing and look at the lights of the city. Somewhere out there, she's hiding.

—I wasn't sure you'd call.

"It's a burner," she says quickly. "By the time you find me, I'll be gone."

I loosen my collar and smile.

—I won't even try, then.

—Oh... okay.

"I'm not asking for your location," I say. "Just tell me something. What does it look like where you are? What color are the walls?"

I just want to picture her. Even grainy images of her were enough to make my throat dry.

—Do you have a safe place to stay?

She laughs a little.

—I'm with a friend.

That burns. I clench my jaw.

—I see. A close friend?

She laughs again, teasing.

—You're jealous.
—If you didn't want me staying with anyone, maybe you shouldn't have followed me home.

My smile disappears.

—I want you to stay alone.

—Well, too late. Like I said, I'm with a friend.

—Another hacker?

—No. But she deals in secrets too. She flirts with people until they spill everything.

Of course she does. But I don't care about her flirty friend. I only care about the girl on the other end of this call.

—It's platonic, okay? she says sharply. It's not what you think.

I finally relaxed. A quiet rain starts falling, and I look up at the dark clouds.

—You should come back. Water your plants. Maybe I won't kill you after all.

She lets out a soft laugh.

—Wow, what a lovely offer, Faye. Thanks.

—You're welcome. Just think about it.

Then the call ends.

I put the phone back in my pocket and stood there, letting the rain soak through my jacket and shirt. I don't go inside. I just breathe in the smell of the wet city.

Now that Yoko's gone quiet, it feels like something's missing.

I need her to call me again.

── ✦ ──

Later, I got a call—but not from Yoko.

It's my family phone, ringing after 10 PM. I groan and answer it while lying on Yoko's couch, half a bag of microwave popcorn on my lap.

—Yeah?

"Faye," my cousin Noknoi says. "Where are you tonight? Want a drink?"

He sounds nervous. He should be.

He wants me dead, but he also knows he can't handle me directly. That's why he's calling. Trying to bait me in.

He doesn't know Yoko warned me. That confirms everything I suspected.

I flip the book I took from Yoko's nightstand. Some weird fantasy thing with elves and barely dressed women on the cover.

—I'm reading.

Noknoi laughs, awkward.

—Where?

"Does it matter? I'm alone."

—So, no drink? I'm paying.

I smirk. That's a rare thing to hear from him.

—First time for everything, right?

He laughs again, but he's clearly panicking. He might be older, but I saved his ass more times than I can count. I should've let the bullies crush him back in school.

—Vinny's tomorrow?

I dig into the popcorn.

—Maybe.

He wants me dead tomorrow. Too bad life doesn't work that way. I want a hacker girl in my lap, whispering into my ear. I want more of Ola's dumplings. And I want people to stop calling me—except for Yoko.

—Sure, maybe, Noknoi says, pretending to be calm. See you at the boss's place in the morning.

He hangs up fast. Guess he's scared now.

I throw the phone on Yoko's rug and go back to her book. These characters are ridiculous. Still... kinda entertaining.

Looks like my hacker has a taste for wild stories too.