Blag! The sudden sound of paper being slammed onto her desk made Namtan almost jump out of her chair, heart pounding. She had been too absorbed in answering emails to notice anyone entering her office.
She looked up, scowling, only to see Sonya laughing, clearly enjoying her reaction.
"You should've seen your face!" Sonya said, still chuckling as she made herself comfortable on the couch.
Namtan glared at her. "What do you want, boss?" she asked sarcastically, folding her arms.
Sonya ignored the sarcasm, pointing to the folder she had just dropped on the desk. "Open it, you idiot," she said, smiling mischievously.
Reluctantly, Namtan opened the folder and frowned when she saw what was inside-a boarding pass and a memo. She scanned the contents quickly. It stated that she was being assigned to oversee the headquarters of Faye City... in New York.
Her eyes widened in confusion. "I'm going to New York?" she asked, disbelief evident in her tone.
"No, you're going to hell," Sonya replied dryly, rolling her eyes.
"But I can't go to New York! I'm still waiting for the bar exam results!" Namtan protested, panic creeping into her voice.
Sonya rolled her eyes again. "Did you even check the date? It's three weeks from now. The bar exam results come out on Monday. Today's Friday, in case you forgot."
"But why would I be the one overseeing the headquarters in New York when you're the COO?" Namtan asked, still trying to make sense of it all.
Sonya laughed again, pointing to the folder. "Read it properly, dumbass. Honestly, I'm starting to doubt if you're even going to pass the bar at this point-you're so dumb."
"Hey!" Namtan shot back, glaring at her. "Knock on wood. If I don't pass, it'll be your fault."
Sonya laughed harder but leaned forward to knock on the wooden table in front of her. "There. Happy?"
With a huff, Namtan flipped open the folder again and reread the memo carefully. Her eyes widened even more when she reached the end-it wasn't just an assignment. She was being promoted to Managing Director of the New York headquarters.
Her head snapped up to look at Sonya, who was smiling warmly. "That's only if you want the job," Sonya said softly. "Faye and I know that once you pass the bar, you'll want to set up your own law firm. It's up to you-you can choose whichever path you prefer."
Namtan stood up and walked over to the couch, plopping down beside Sonya. "Yes, I've been thinking about starting a law firm, but not yet. I'll take the job and manage the headquarters in New York. While I'm doing that, if you and Faye agree, I'll train Claire to take over my current responsibilities. She's been doing a great job already, and I have no doubt she'll excel."
"Of course," Sonya agreed. "I believe in Claire too. And thank you for staying on with Faye City a little longer. We're proud of you, Namtan."
"Hey, I'll still work as your company lawyer," Namtan said, laughing lightly. "And don't jinx it! What if I don't pass the bar?"
"You're an idiot in life, but you're book smart. You'll pass," Sonya said with a grin.
Namtan smiled at her friend's faith in her. But before she could say anything else, Sonya's expression shifted slightly.
"Speaking of being an idiot," Sonya said, "why haven't you contacted Film yet?"
Namtan scowled. "How did you know I haven't?"
"Because you still look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Don't think I haven't noticed you working late every night and sleeping here on your couch. Let me guess-you're trying to keep yourself so busy that you don't have time to think about her."
"What do you know?" Namtan muttered, sulking. "You don't even have a boyfriend."
"Who said I wanted a boyfriend?" Sonya retorted, laughing.
"You want a girlfriend too?" Namtan asked, her eyes wide in mock shock. "What the hell is wrong with us?"
"Boys are dense" Sonya said, standing up and heading toward the door.
"But you don't have a girlfriend either!" Namtan called after her.
"Who said I don't?" Sonya replied with a playful wink before closing the door behind her.
Namtan laughed and shook her head, but her smile quickly faded as reality set in. In three weeks, she'd be leaving for New York. A dull ache settled in her chest as thoughts of Film resurfaced. Sonya had been right-she was burying herself in work to avoid thinking about the pain.
Even though Faye had given her the green light to pursue Film, Namtan didn't know where to start. She couldn't bring herself to reach out-not when she was still holding on to the letter Film had left behind. The pain of that letter continued to haunt her.
No, Namtan didn't have the courage to face Film-not with the mix of emotions swirling inside her: hurt, sadness, anger, and longing.
With a heavy sigh, she placed the folder containing the boarding pass and contract into her drawer. She tried to return to her work, but her focus was gone. Film occupied her thoughts completely.
Glancing at the clock, she saw it was almost 6 PM. After spending the last two days at the office, she decided it was time to go home. Exhausted, both physically and emotionally, she stood up and gathered her things, hoping that the warmth of her bed would provide some comfort.
When Namtan finally arrived home, exhaustion clung to her like a second skin. Her steps were sluggish as she entered her apartment and set her things down by the door. Without wasting time, she grabbed a towel and headed straight to the bathroom. A long, hot shower washed away the grime of two days spent in the office, but it did little to ease the tension knotting her shoulders or the heaviness in her heart.
After drying off, she slipped into a pair of comfortable pajamas, tied her hair up loosely, and padded barefoot into the living room. Too tired to cook, she ordered her favorite takeout, curled up on the plush sofa, and turned on the TV. For a while, she just mindlessly flipped through channels, hoping to distract herself.
Her food arrived shortly, and she began eating, keeping the TV on in the background. The news was covering the usual-politics, finance, world events-until it transitioned into the entertainment segment. Namtan barely paid attention at first, but her ears perked up when she heard a familiar name.
It was Film.
The anchor's voice filled the room, speaking enthusiastically about Film's latest project. "Renowned actress Film Rachanun is currently shooting a highly anticipated series based on a popular novel. Industry insiders describe it as one of the most complex and demanding roles an actress could take on."
They showed a brief behind-the-scenes clip of the shoot. Film stood in the center of the set, surrounded by her co-stars. Despite the chaos of production around her, she radiated confidence and grace. The anchor continued, "The series will explore themes of love, betrayal, and self-discovery, with Film portraying a character entangled in a complicated relationship with another woman. The producers and the author of the original book have both expressed their admiration for Film, praising her for her dedication, talent, and willingness to take on such a bold role."
As the clip played on, the camera lingered on Film's interactions with her co-stars. Even off-camera, she appeared comfortable and close with them, laughing and chatting easily. One of her co-stars, a stunning actress with flawless features and an effortless charm, leaned in playfully, and Film responded with a warm smile.
Namtan felt a pang in her chest-pride mixed with something sharper. Jealousy.
She watched, unable to tear her eyes away from the screen. Film looked radiant, her beauty almost otherworldly under the soft studio lights. The ease with which she interacted with her co-stars, especially that gorgeous woman, gnawed at Namtan's heart. She clenched her fork tightly, her appetite fading.
She doesn't like me, Namtan thought bitterly, forcing herself to keep watching even though it hurt. Look at her. Look at them. They're perfect. So glamorous, so bright. She deserves someone like that. Someone who belongs in her world.
The news segment wrapped up, but the damage was done. Namtan sat in silence, her food half-finished, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of emotions. She knew she had no right to feel jealous-not after everything. But the ache wouldn't go away.
Feeling restless, she picked up her phone and opened Instagram. It had become a habit of hers lately-checking Film's profile, hoping for some glimpse of her life. But Film wasn't one to post often. Her last post was from two weeks ago-a simple shot promoting a luxury brand she was an ambassador for. Polished, professional, distant. Nothing personal.
Namtan sighed, scrolling through the older posts. Most were work-related-movie promotions, brand endorsements, events. It had been ages since Film posted anything about her personal life. There was no hint of how she was really doing, no way for Namtan to know if she was happy, sad, or thinking about her at all.
She set the phone down with a frustrated sigh, her mind replaying the images she had just seen on TV. Film, smiling and radiant, surrounded by people who seemed to belong in her world far more than Namtan ever could.
"You're such an idiot, Namtan," she muttered to herself. "Why are you torturing yourself like this?"
But deep down, she knew why. Despite the hurt, despite the doubts, she still longed for Film. Still craved any news about her, any sign that Film might still care.
Leaning back on the sofa, she stared blankly at the ceiling. The warmth of the shower and the comfort of her home couldn't drive away the cold emptiness inside her. Her mind drifted back to the letter Film had left behind-the words that still haunted her, the pain that hadn't faded.
Faye and Sonya had told her that Film might have just needed space, that there was still hope. But to Namtan, it didn't feel that way. The letter had been clear: Film had been angry, hurt. She had left not just to get away, but to make a point. And while Film hadn't blamed her outright, it didn't mean she hadn't been deeply wounded.
Despite everything, Namtan still remembered every detail of their time together-their conversations, the warmth of Film's hand in hers, the softness of her lips. The memories haunted her, a bittersweet reminder of what might have been.
She closed her eyes, trying to will away the ache. But it was useless. No amount of distraction or work could fill the void Film had left behind.
With another sigh, she stood up and gathered her things. She needed rest, but she doubted she'd find much comfort in sleep tonight. The thought of leaving for New York in three weeks loomed over her, adding to the weight on her shoulders.
Three weeks, she thought, and I still don't know what to do.
As she climbed into bed, she told herself she'd figure it out eventually. She had to. But for now, all she could do was lie there, staring into the darkness, with the image of Film's radiant smile lingering in her mind.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey babes!
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