“You won’t,” Remi said firmly. “You’re Yesoh freaking Yeo. You’ve got this.”
“Yeah, and if anyone was going to be chosen, it was destined to be you, no one else,” Sydney comforted.
I knew empires could fall and the world could end, but Sydney would always be my number one cheerleader.
I smiled despite myself, the warmth of their support starting to chip away at my nerves.
When I got home later that evening, a note from my mom was waiting for me on the bed, her handwriting as neat and deliberate as always.
Congratulations, sweet girl. I’m so confident in you that I sent this gift three weeks in advance, I’m proud of you.
Mummy
Beside the note was a wrapped box. My hands trembled as I tore the paper away, revealing a sleek black Canon camera. I turned it over in my hands, my chest tightening as I traced the smooth edges.
“She knew,” I whispered to myself. Because, despite how far away, my mother always did her best to keep up.
Months ago, I’d mentioned wanting a camera, inspired by a street photographer I’d seen near Central Park. My mom thought it would be a good idea for me to scrapbook my memories so that she could see them. I’d thought she’d forgotten, but here it was—a tangible reminder of her quiet, constant support.
I snapped a photo of the tulips she’d placed on the table, the click of the shutter grounding me.
Later that night, as the city lights twinkled outside my window, I picked up my phone and dialed Wynter.
He answered on the second ring, his voice slightly breathless. “Hello, darling.”
“Hey,” I said, curling up on the couch. “Guess what?”
“Hold on,” he said quickly. “Practice ran late, and I’m drowning in work right now. Can we talk later?”
“Oh,” I murmured, my chest tightening. “Yeah. Sure.”
“I’ll call you back, okay?” he said, but before I could respond the line went dead.
I stared at the phone for a moment, the earlier high of the day dimming slightly. I wanted to share this with him—to hear his excitement, to feel like he was part of this moment. But he was busy, as he usually was, and that was okay. I knew what I was getting into when I got with him.
Setting the phone aside, I picked up the camera again, aiming it out the window at the glittering skyline. The click of the shutter was steady and grounding, a reminder that this moment was still mine. I had done it. And even if Wynter couldn’t celebrate with me just yet, I knew he’d be proud.
The apartment was quiet that evening. I ran into Cahya and Wyn downtown after celebrating with the girls. My brother was sprawled out across the couch with his feet kicked up, absorbed and some novel. I was beside Wynter, my shoulder brushing his, but it felt like there was a subtle distance between us—he was here with me physically, but his attention was entirely elsewhere. His laptop in his hands, his gaze focused and tumbling on it, he was on the phone with his manager for an hour before, he was mindlessly scrolling through messages and emails demand after demand for his presence.
I wanted so deeply to tell him about my good news, but I didn’t want to distract him.
I shifted in my seat, trying to ignore the growing ache inside me. Cahya’s voice, casual but knowing, broke through my thoughts.
“So, when are you going to tell him?” Cahya asked, his eyes glinting with excitement. He put his book down and turned to me, his grin wide, practically teasing. “You got the lead inThe Rite of Spring. You can’t just let that slide, Yesoh.”
I hesitated. “I don’t know,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “It feels like the right moment keeps slipping away. He’s been so busy, and I don’t want to interrupt him.”
Cahya rolled his eyes dramatically. “Interrupt him? Come on, you’ve been working toward this forever. It’shuge. Tell him.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice, but his grin didn’t fade. “You can’t keep it to yourself forever, you know.”
I wanted to explain that it wasn’t about not sharing it. It was about timing. He has so, so much going on, and I didn’t want to feel like just another item on his already crowded list.
“Fine,” Cahya said after a moment, his eyes glinting with that teasing spark of his. “I’ll do it for you.”
“Why must you be so messy?” I swatted his boulder.
“Because it’s in my nature as your brother,” he reminded me, much to my detriment.
Before I could react, Cahya turned toward Wynter, who had barely been paying attention to us. “Did you hear Yesoh’s news?” Cahya asked, his voice full of mischief.
