Chapter 18

Faye Malisorn's POV

After our encounter with the woman, I noticed a change in Yoko's behavior. She becomes slightly less affectionate, and a bit more distant. It worries me, and I can't help but wonder if the old woman's words have really got to her more than I thought.

I try to brush it off at first, thinking that maybe she's just processing what happened. But as the days go by, I can't help but notice that she's still not quite herself around me.

She's a bit more reserved, less likely to reach out for my touch or initiate casual moments of intimacy. It's not like she's completely closing herself off from me, but there's definitely a difference in how she interacts with me now.

I can't help but wonder if she's come to some kind of realization about us, or if she's ashamed of our relationship now. I hate that these thoughts are even crossing my mind, but a small part of me can't help but worry.

The uncertainty and lack of communication are making me increasingly anxious.

My brooding thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a loud blaring sound in my ear. I let out a yelp and jump, jerking away from the source of the noise.

Pam is standing nearby, a playful grin on her face as she holds a speaker close to my ear.

"Wake up, girl!" Pam exclaims, her tone light and cheerful.

I groan and rub my ear, glaring at Pam in mock annoyance. "What was that for?"

She just chuckles, holding up the speaker with a shrug. "You were stuck in your head again. I thought you might need a little shock to snap you out of it."

I roll my eyes, but can't help but smile a little. Pam can always find a way to put a smile on my face, even when I'm deep in thought.

"You can't just do that, you know. But thanks, I guess," I say, sticking out my tongue at her.

"But seriously, are you alright? You looked like you were lost in thought for a while there."

I let out a small sigh, my earlier worries coming back to the forefront of my mind.

"Yeah, I was just... thinking," I say, my voice a bit quieter now.

Pam immediately picks up on the shift in my tone and her playful demeanor drops, replaced with a look of concern.

"Thinking about what?"

I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to burden Pam with my worries. But the weight in my chest is too heavy to keep to myself.

"It's just... Yoko. She's been acting distant lately, and I don't know why."

"Yoko's being distant? What do you mean? Are you sure it's not just a bad day or something?"

"No, it's been going on for a while now. There was this incident a few days ago. We were out shopping, and this woman came up to us. She was really judgmental and rude, and it really got to Yoko."

I sigh, leaning against the wall and running a hand through my hair. "And ever since then, Yoko's been more distant. She's not as affectionate as she used to be, and it's making me worry."

"Did you talk to her about it?"

I shake my head, a pang of guilt in my chest. "No, not yet. I've been so caught up in my own thoughts, I haven't really had the chance to talk to her about it."

Pam gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You should definitely talk to her. It's possible that she's just processing what happened, and maybe she's not even aware that she's been acting differently."

"I just... I don't know, I guess I'm just afraid of what she might say," I admit, my voice quiet.

"Don't spiral into those negative thoughts, okay? You won't know how Yoko feels until you talk to her. Don't jump to conclusions until you've actually heard what she has to say."

As Pam's words sink in, I realize that she's right. I can't keep tiptoeing around this issue. It's time to talk to Yoko and get to the bottom of what's going on.

"You're right. I'm going to talk to her."

As my decision settles in my mind, I remember that Lux is coming to the salon today.

As much as I would prefer to talk to Yoko as soon as possible, I also don't want to rush into it while I'm still dealing with Lux's situation and the salon responsibilities.

Maybe the best course of action would be to talk to Yoko after Lux leaves. It'll give me some time to gather my thoughts and approach the conversation with a clearer mind.

As I'm mulling over my plan, I remember Pam's playful interruption from earlier. The thought of revenge suddenly crosses my mind. Smiling devilishly, I turn to Pam with an idea in mind.

"Hey, Pam," I say, my voice a mix of sweet innocence and mischievous intent.

Pam, seeming to sense something is up, eyes me warily. "Yeah?"

"You remember how you just surprised me with that speaker earlier?" I ask innocently, feigning ignorance.

"Yeah..." she says slowly, waiting for the punchline.

I let out a small, innocent-sounding hum, as if I'm still just having an innocent conversation.

"Well, I just thought it's only fair if I get a little bit of revenge, don't you think?" I ask, a sly smile playing at the corners of my lips.

As soon as the words leave my mouth, Pam's eyes widen in realization.

I see her backing away, her eyes wide with fear, and a wicked grin spreads across my face. I can feel the adrenaline pumping, ready to give Pam a taste of her own medicine.

"Wait, wait!" she exclaims, her eyes darting around for a place to hide.

With a smirk, I start to slowly advance towards Pam, my fingers wiggling ominously as I prepare to give chase.

"Run, Pam, run," I tease, my voice laced with playful menace.

Pam, clearly trying not to smile, quickly sprints away, weaving through the salon and dodging furniture.

"Perayaaaaa!" she calls back over her shoulder, her laughter blending with her footsteps as she runs.

As Pam darts away from me, I let her run for a moment, enjoying the sight of her playing along. But I don't actually plan to chase her. I just wanted to have a bit of fun and get back at her for the speaker incident earlier.

After a few seconds, I let out a laugh, shaking my head.

"You can stop running, Pam. I'm not actually chasing you," I call out, still chuckling.

Pam, realizing that she's safe, stops running and turns around, a mix of relief and disappointment on her face.

"Oh, that's just cruel," she accuses with a fake pout, hands on her hips.

The lighthearted moment with her passes as we both notice the familiar sound of the salon's doorbell ringing, signaling that Lux has arrived.

"Looks like our guest is here," I say, pushing the playfulness aside for now.

As I finish speaking, the door opens again, and Tanya appears, looking flustered and a bit embarrassed.  "Sorry, I'm late! There was some serious traffic on the way here."

Pam immediately springs into action, running towards her with a grin on her face.

"Taaaaaanya!" she squeals, enveloping the other girl in a tight hug.

We all chuckle at Pam's enthusiastic greeting, and our attention now turns to Lux. She stands in the middle of the salon, looking as regal and fashionable as ever.

"Lux, it's so good to see you," I say, walking up to her and giving her a warm smile. "How have you been?"

She returns the smile, her eyes sparkling with her usual charm. "I've been good, thank you. And the salon looks absolutely lovely, as always."

As we chat casually, I lead Lux to my station and start preparing to work on her hair. Pam and Tanya step back, giving us some space while they start to work as well.

I begin to work on Lux's hair, my fingers moving nimbly to style it just the way she likes. The conversation flows easily, covering everything from fashion trends to the latest gossip, until it takes a more personal turn.

She suddenly leans back in the chair and looks at me through the mirror.

"So, Faye," she starts, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "How's your love life these days?"

I pause for a moment, my hands stilling in her hair. Lux's question makes me a bit wary, but I try to maintain a casual demeanor.

"Well, I have found someone."

Lux raises an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Let me guess... It's Yoko, isn't it?"

Pam and Tanya, who are both eavesdropping in the background, immediately perk up, their eyes widening with interest. I feel my cheeks warm slightly, but I try to maintain my composure as I continue working on Lux's hair.

"Why do you say that?" I ask, hoping my voice sounds casual rather than nervous.

Lux gives a knowing smile, studying me through the mirror. "You've always had a soft spot for the cute and charming types. And Yoko fits that bill perfectly."

I can feel Pam and Tanya's gazes on me, their curiosity piqued. I feel a little embarrassed that my preferences are so obvious, but I try to play it off with a shrug.

"Yeah, I guess you've got me there," I admit with a small laugh.

The tension easing for a moment, Lux lets out a small laugh and teases, "Oh, I'm crushed. I'm not your one and only 'baby' anymore?"

Pam and Tanya snigger from the background, clearly enjoying the exchange. I roll my eyes and playfully smack Lux on the shoulder.

"Lux,"

Lux chuckles and shakes her head, a playful grin on her face. "I'm just kidding,"

I give her hair a few final touches, making sure every strand is in place. I take a step back to observe my work, satisfied with the result.

"There, all done," I say, gesturing for her to check herself in the mirror.

"Thanks, Faye," Lux says, examining her hair in the mirror. She looks pleased with the results and turns around to face me. "You did a fantastic job, as always."

Pam and Tanya also chime in with their compliments, expressing their approval of the hairstyle.

"Yeah, gorgeous as always," Tanya says, giving me a thumbs up.

Pam nods, admiring Lux's hair. "I wish I could look this good."

I chuckle at the compliments and grin at them. Lux turns back to me and gives me a warm smile.

"We should definitely hang out again soon. Let's plan something when our schedules are free."

"Yeah, that sounds great," I agree, feeling a pang of guilt as I remember the conversation about Yoko from earlier. But I quickly push it to the back of my mind for now, not wanting to ruin the moment with my concerns.

We spend a few more minutes chatting and planning, but eventually, Lux gathers her things, preparing to leave.

"I'll text you later and we can figure out the details," Lux promises, giving me a quick hug before saying her goodbyes to the others.

Pam and Tanya chorus their goodbyes as well, bidding Lux goodbye as she exits the salon.

As Lux says her goodbyes and leaves, we're just starting to tidy up the salon when my phone suddenly rings. I pull it out of my pocket and see that it's P'wan calling.

I raise an eyebrow and answer the call. "Hey, P'wan. What's up?"

P'wan's voice comes through the speaker, sounding serious and urgent. "Hey there, Faye. Can you come to my office for a bit? There's something important we need to talk about. I've already informed Yoko, Marissa and Ize as well."

I can't help but feel a pang of worry at P'wan's serious tone. I can practically sense the seriousness of the situation through the phone.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be there soon," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.