FRESSIA

Tension

Silence filled the car.

His hands were still on her face, his eyes locked into hers.

“You know” he said after a pause, “I used to think you didn’t like letting your hair down… But now I hope you never do again.”

She frowned in confusion. “Why? Does it look bad?”

He shook his head. “No. You’re stunning. That’s the problem. When your hair is down, you’re breathtaking. And I don’t want anyone seeing that when you’re alone.”

She smiled shyly, and flinched when he leaned closer.

If only you knew how much I longed to see you… It’s like fate finally answered me.

“Adam… can we go now?” she asked, her voice small.

He smiled at her flustered face. “Alright, let’s go.”

🌺

He parked in front of her apartment building, where she lived with her parents.

He looked over and saw her fast asleep, clutching his jacket like a child with a blanket.

He liked seeing her wear something of his.

He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then quickly pulled back, wondering what made him do that—and what she truly meant to him.

He watched her for a moment before gently waking her.

“Freesia, we’re here” he whispered, brushing her hair with his hand.

She stirred, realizing she had fallen asleep during the drive.

“Thank you, really. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there.”

“You can call me anytime, Freesia. I’ll always be there” he said, smiling.

“Thank you, Adam.” Her gaze dropped to his jacket.

“Looks like we’ll need another meeting to return this” he teased. “But this time, I expect the invitation from you.”

She smiled. “I’d like that, Mr. Adam.”

“Thank you again. Ever since I met you, you’ve always been there for me.”

“I’m glad I could be, Freesia” he said, eyes diving into her hazel ones.

🌺

“Do you know what Adam’s planning?” Kevin asked Edward over the phone.

Edward hadn’t waited long before calling his friend. He needed answers.

“I don’t know, Kevin. That’s why I called. I don’t know what he’s thinking… He was furious. If she hadn’t been there, he might’ve killed that guy. You didn’t see the way he looked at him.”

Kevin sighed. “I trust Adam won’t do anything to hurt Freesia… But I also know him. He doesn’t fall for girls.”

“What if he tries something? He’s been with a lot of girls, but Freesia… she’s different. He’s never dealt with someone like her.”

“That’s not Adam, Edward. He won’t ruin our friendship—or Lily—for this. Just stay close to him until I get back, alright?”

They hung up, both thinking about Adam.

Both sensing something, but from different angles.

Kevin suspected Adam might be falling for her…

Edward, however, was certain—Adam was torn between using her… and listening to his heart.

🌺

Adam lay on his bed, staring at his phone.

He noticed Freesia was online on the chat app.

He wanted to talk to her—or at least make sure she was okay.

He opened their chat. It was still empty.

Adam: “Still awake?”

Seen.

Freesia: “Yes.”

He sighed.

‘She must still be thinking about what happened…’

Adam: “You’re still haunted by what happened, aren’t you?”

She sighed when she read it, her eyes welling up.

“I’m trying to forget, but I can’t. He keeps appearing whenever I close my eyes.”

He stared at the screen, unsure what to say.

Then, an idea hit him. Something he hadn’t done for anyone—not since his mother.

Adam: “Can I call you?”

She replied: “You can.”

She needed someone.

She couldn’t tell Lily what happened—it would only hurt her.

All she’d said was that she got home safe. But inside, she wasn’t.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone ringing. His name lit up the screen.

She answered.

“Freesia…”

At the sound of his voice, she began to cry.

He heard her sobbing.

Adam closed his eyes, feeling an ache in his chest.

When she finally stopped, he began singing.

He chose the perfect song—her favorite.

“Lost Stars” by Adam Levine.

She closed her eyes, tears still falling, but this time for a different reason. His voice was soft, soothing, like a balm to her soul.

A smile spread across her face as she listened.

When he finished, silence hung in the air.

Then her voice came through.

“Can you sing another one?”

“You liked my voice?”

“It made me feel safe” she whispered, smiling.

His grin widened.

“Alright. What do you want to hear?”

“Can you sing A Welcome Rain by Lee Moon Sae?”

He exhaled deeply.

“That’s one of my favorites. I know it well.”

She laughed, and his heart lit up at the sound.

He began to sing again, and she listened, a soft smile on her face.

His voice drifted into her heart, and her eyelids grew heavy. She tried to stay awake to thank him, but sleep overtook her.

She drifted off peacefully, his voice still in her ears.

The first peaceful night she’d had since it happened.

He finished singing, realizing she had fallen asleep.

“Sleep well, Freesia. Sweet dreams.”

He said gently before ending the call and placing his phone beside him.

He closed his eyes, trying to drift off into his own world—but his heart was in disarray. Ever since he met her, things had been spiraling inside him.

He knew himself too well. He couldn’t take things seriously with any girl. And Freesia… was no exception.

🌺

Adam sat amidst the loud chaos, a drink in hand, with a girl beside him who wouldn’t stop whispering in his ear.

She almost leaned in to kiss him—

Until his sharp tone cut through the noise.

“Don’t even think about getting close. I’ve tolerated your nonsense long enough.”

The girl raised her eyebrows and let out a mocking laugh.

“Seriously? Who do you think you are to be so full of yourself?”

Adam sighed deeply, stood up, and faced her with a smug tone.

“I’m the one who pays for this place to even exist—people like you wouldn’t survive here if it weren’t for the money I pour in.”

With that, he ended the conversation and ignored his friend Edward calling after him.

He headed out to his car, dropped into the seat, and tilted his head back, exhaling hard.

Anyone who saw him would know—he was a mess.

He pulled out his phone and opened the messaging app.

His eyes landed on the last conversation with Freesia.

There it was—her message, unopened for two weeks.

“After that night, I decided to stop. I didn’t want to talk to her. I didn’t want to go near her. And here I am—two weeks have passed. I haven’t texted her. I haven’t seen her. I even ignored her calls the day after the incident… and the day after that.”

“But something feels wrong. And I truly hate this feeling.”

🌺

September 23, 2022

“Hello, Kevin.”

Freesia’s voice reached the husband of her best friend.

“Freesia, hi! Good to hear from you.”

“I’m sorry for calling at this time. I know it’s late over there.”

She was right. In New Zealand, it was already 1 a.m.

“You can call me anytime, Freesia. Is something wrong?”

He could tell there was something on her mind.

“I just… I haven’t been able to reach Adam. I wanted to thank him for something, but he hasn’t answered for two weeks…” she said, releasing everything she’d been holding back.

“Ah, I’m not sure. Maybe he’s just busy—you know how his job is” Kevin replied, frowning. It was strange. He never expected Freesia to ever ask about Adam.

“Yeah… I just wanted to make sure he was okay” she said, her voice tinged with sadness. He noticed.

“Don’t worry, he’s fine. He talks to me every day.”

As soon as he said that, he regretted it. She’d know now—Adam was ignoring her on purpose.

“That’s good… You two are coming back the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah, I know you must miss your best friend. I’d let you talk to her if she were awake, but you know how much she loves to sleep.”

Freesia smiled. She knew that all too well. Poor Kevin must’ve struggled with Lily’s sleep all honeymoon.

“Alright, Kevin. I’ll see you soon” she said, ending the call.

“Maybe I did annoy him too much lately, and that’s why he’s acting this way… Doesn’t matter. I need to focus on finals now. They’ve already begun.”

🌺

Four Days Later

September 27, 2022

“Are your exams going well?”

Lily asked as she watched her best friend slice carrots.

Freesia nodded.

“I know my best friend will top the class again this year” Lily grinned.

“Okay, okay, stop talking and finish cooking! Or did you invite me over just so I’d do it for you?” Freesia joked, laughing.

“Of course not! I’d never make my best friend work.”

“Yeah, right. That’s why I’m the guest, and I’m standing here helping in the kitchen.”

A familiar voice broke in, “She’s right, you know. Freesia, just come sit down—you’re the guest.”

It was Kevin, clearly enjoying teasing his wife.

Freesia laughed. “No need, Kevin. You know I like helping Lily.”

Lily gave Kevin a triumphant look and stuck out her tongue. “Now hush.”

Kevin retreated, knowing better than to get between these two women.

About thirty minutes later, Freesia sat watching TV while Kevin kept stealing glances at her.

He knew—Adam had been ignoring her. And that could only mean two things: either he was stepping away for Lily’s sake, or… he’d lost interest. Maybe she was just like the others after all.

The doorbell rang, pulling him from his thoughts. He went to answer it.

The moment Freesia heard Adam’s voice as he entered, her heart skipped a beat.

“You didn’t want to come back from your honeymoon, admit it” Adam teased his friend.

“Where’s Lily? Shouldn’t she be welcoming her guests?” Edward chimed in as they all walked to the living room.

And that’s when Freesia and Adam locked eyes.

“Hi” she said softly.

But silence followed.

Kevin noticed the tension and quickly stepped in, “Edward, you haven’t met her yet—this is Freesia, Lily’s best friend.”

Edward smiled and reached to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you, Freesia.”

She smiled back and returned the gesture. “Nice to meet you, too… Hello” she added again, more directly to Adam.

“Hey” he replied flatly.

She smiled weakly and turned back to her seat, pretending to watch the TV pretending nothing was wrong.

“Don’t overthink this, Freesia. Just get through today. You’re here because Lily and Kevin invited you nothing more.” She tried to reason with herself, to calm the ache in her chest.

Lily soon joined them, and the room warmed with her and Kevin’s hilarious honeymoon stories.

But then Freesia’s face twisted as a smell reached her.

“The oven, Lily! You forgot the food!” she called, jumping up.

“Oh no, guess we’re ordering lunch” Edward teased.

Lily shot him a glare. “Careful, Freesia! When you open the oven—”

She didn’t get to finish.

A scream tore through the house, followed by a loud crash.

Lily ran, but someone beat her to the kitchen.

Adam.