He held my gaze for a moment, as if trying to decipher some hidden truth, but eventually he let out a soft chuckle—a sound so rare I felt a small thrill of victory. We ordered our drinks, and as he took his first sip, I watched the tension slowly melt from his shoulders, his expression softening.
“Feeling better?” I asked, breaking the silence.
He nodded, looking down at his cup. “Yes. Thank you, Yesoh. You…didn’t have to do this.”
“Oh, please,” I teased, leaning back in my seat. “I’m just here for the free drinks. Besides, you looked like you needed it.”
He shook his head, still looking faintly amused, but there was something else in his eyes now—a warmth, a kind of quiet gratitude that went unspoken.
“So,” he asked after a pause, “do you always know the right thing to say, or do?”
I shrugged, meeting his gaze without hesitation. “It’s called paying attention, Wynter. And trust me, I do.”
“You always have, haven’t you?” he said.
Just then I heard a familiar voice coming from behind me, I turned around as my gaze met that of Remi. She wore a long flowing white skirt and fluffy green sweater; she carried a brown Chanel bag with trinkets hanging from it. “Oh my God what a coincidence?” she gasped and I rolled my eyes immediately knowing it was nothing of the sort.
“Hey Remi.” I smiled as she invited herself to sit down at our table. “What brings you here?”
“You know I love anything matcha, and I saw online that this place has matcha mochi balls.” She smiled then turned to face Wynter. “We meet again.”
“Hello,” he greeted as she reached to shake his hand. “Are you a friend of Yesoh’s?”
“Yes I am. I’m Remi, it’s nice to meet you. My sister loves your work, she used to watch you all the time during the Olympics,” she gushed, “my whole house was rooting for you!”
“That’s so kind, I’m sincerely honoured.” He bowed his head, and she damn near toppled over her seat.
“If you wouldn’t mind, would you sign—” she said, taking out a scrapbook from her bag, but I leapt and stopped her mid-way.
“Okay, that’s enough, Rem!” I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry about her today, she’s off her meds.”
“It’s really no problem. I don’t mind doing this for your sister, her support means a lot,” he responded with perfect chivalry, taking the pen from her and signing the scrapbook. “What’s her name?”
“Wendy,” she told him. “That’s W-E-N-D-Y.”
“I think he’s got it…” I seethed, and she finally caught the drift.
“I’ll see you both around, have fun!” She giggled before the barista called for her order. She took her overpriced mochi balls and left screaming to her sister on the phone.
“I’m pretty sure you just made her year,” I informed him.
“Quite the contrary, that made my day.” He smiled, glancing down as his fingers brushed mine on the table. “So did you, Soh.”
“I—it’s not like It was myintentto aim to please you or whatever.”
“Doesn’t matter, I appreciate you being there when I need you. You’ve always been that way,” he recalled as my pinkie brushed his.
“It’s nothing,” I assured him.
“You should know, the uh—the girls, they really missed you.” He hummed, taking a slow sip from his green drink.
“The girls remember me?” I questioned, at a loss for words.
“I don’t think anyone could forget you,” he assured me with the kind of certainty that moved mountains within me.
16
Growing Pains
