Work Text:
Inspired by All Time Low's Six Feet Under the Stars
1st and 2nd verses are in Faye's POV, chorus and bridge are in Yoko's
I.
You’re almost 25, and one of the supporting characters of this upcoming drama. You find calm and solace on your condo’s rooftop after a long night of shooting an episode. Surprisingly, a young girl was already standing on your spot.
“Excuse me. Excuse me, that’s my spot.” Wondering why she couldn’t hear you, you had to approach and tap her on the shoulder.
The girl took off her earphones and apologized. She was about to leave, but she recognizes you as the woman from Miss Grand Thailand, and mentions a few of the TV shows you’ve been in. You smile. You get that a lot, you said.
For some reason, you want her to keep you company. So you asked if she could stay. She agrees - reluctantly at first, but becomes at ease later.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you. Are you new here?”
“Yeah. I just moved in two weeks ago. But it’s my first time hanging out on the rooftop - practice sessions have been tough on my schedule.”
“Practice sessions for what, if I may ask?”
“Oh I’m in a girl group, about to debut soon! Although….” Her voice trailed off, then paused.
You find out she overheard a conversation earlier that day - she’s not included in the final lineup. You feel hurt, how can someone so talented not make it? But you realized you’ve just met.
You continue your conversation with her and discover that she is also an actress; acting since she was a child (ah, so that’s why she looked very familiar too). The feeling of sadness forms in your chest as she told you she was thinking of telling the agency that she’s quitting before they even tell her the news. At least she still has acting to go back to, she said.
“Looks like you’re the one who needs company.” You smiled, grabbing a Jager from your pocket and sipping a drink. You made the mistake of offering her the bottle; the young girl accepted and already took a shot before quietly confessing she’s still 18. You felt so bad you couldn’t speak for a while after you apologized.
“Hey it’s okay, don’t worry. I don’t like how it tastes anyway. But I might try it again once I get older.” Her smile became a wide, naughty grin. “But may I ask, how old are you?”
“24, turning 25 next month.”
“Really? I thought you’re just about 21 or 22! By the way, happy birthday in advance.” She smiles at you and your heart just melts a little.
You let out a chuckle. “I’m not fond of flattery, to be honest. But thank you.”
“Can we be friends?”
“Sure, why not?”
“I’m Yoko. Nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too, Yoko. You can call me Faye.”
You shook each other’s hands. The look on her face is something you haven’t seen on anyone in your life - bright, endearing, full of hope. Maybe you made the right decision of asking her to stay after all.
Hours passed by quickly, both of you really enjoying each other’s company. You suddenly realized she might be off for a schedule early tomorrow, but she told you their manager let them have the day off. Ours too, you said. Coincidence? Definitely not.
As she went on telling you about her interests and asking you about random things, you wonder - how can someone so young be so seasoned in life? You admire her already. Yes, you’ve just met. And yes, she’s 7 years younger than you. But who cares? You don’t.
You wanted to spend the rest of the night with her on that rooftop. Then again, it’s better to cut short your time with her tonight and see her often instead, right?
So you tell her, “Hey, let’s do this again tomorrow.”
II.
You’re only 18. You’ve been acting all your life, but now you’re preparing to debut in a girl group. Singing and performing has become your new form of self expression.
However, you overheard in a conversation that you weren’t able to make the cut. All these months for nothing. It hurts, but you’ve been in the show business for a long time and you easily move on and forward from matters like these. You have to be mature for your age.
It doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be sad, though. That’s why you decided to take a breather that night at your condo’s rooftop, listening to music. After some time, a woman taps you on your shoulder, telling you you’re in her spot.
“Hmm? Oh, good evening.” You removed your earphones and clasped your hands together to greet the older woman.
“Good evening,” she replied, returning the gesture. “That’s my spot,” she repeated while pointing to where you were standing.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know! I’ll go now,” you apologized and was about to leave, but suddenly stopped dead in your tracks upon recognizing the woman - winner of Miss Grand Thailand 2016 and also an actress. She smiles. “I get that a lot,” she said.
“Sorry for taking your spot. I should probably go.”
“Would you mind if you keep me company?”
For some reason you agreed, even though you hesitated at first. There’s something about this woman that you couldn’t place just yet. And you could use someone to talk with at the moment.
You tell her what happened earlier that day. She looks at your face, not with pity but with sadness - as if telling you she can relate to what you’re feeling.
“Looks like you’re the one who needs company.” She smiled, grabbing a Jager from her pocket and sipping a drink.
“What is that?”
“Oh, it’s Jager, Jagermeister. You want some?”
“Hmmm.” You took the bottle and made a quick inspection. “Can I have a sip?”
“Sure,” she said. You had already taken a shot when she realized she forgot to ask how old you are.
“Oh my god, you’re…not underage, are you?” She quickly grabbed the bottle from you.
“Uhm… I’m 18.” You quietly confessed, with a shy smile on your face.
“I’m sorry! I should’ve asked you first before offering.” She fell silent for a while, guilty of offering an alcoholic beverage to a teenager. You tell her that it’s okay; that you won’t ask again for another sip since you don’t like how it tastes anyway. You ask her how old she is, and could not believe she’s already 24, turning 25 in a month. She let out a chuckle. “I’m not fond of flattery, to be honest. But thank you.”
“Can we be friends?”
“Sure, why not?”
“I’m Yoko. Nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too, Yoko. You can call me Faye.”
You shook each other’s hands. You know she’s different from the rest of the people you’ve met - bold, confident, yet gentle and caring. Maybe you made the right decision to stay with her after all.
You went on telling her about your interests and asking her about random things. She also had her share of the conversation by telling you the places she’d been, the people she’d met. You can tell she’s loosened up from the moment you became comfortable in her presence.
Is it possible to be immediately attached to someone after meeting them once? But she said she wanted to do it again tomorrow, hanging out at the rooftop - so for sure time will work on this newly formed thing you have. She’s 8 years older than you, but it’s with this person that you have become yourself after quite some time. And you decide to take a chance.
“Yeah, let’s hang out again. See you tomorrow, P’Faye!”
III.
It was around September when you first met. For some reason you didn’t get each other’s contact numbers. You just had to be there, at the rooftop, at the same time as always - watching a movie, sharing a snack, talking for hours, or just sitting in silence. There were nights either one of you couldn’t make it but you understood.
Now it’s a random night in December. Both of you held each other’s hands at the same time. You leaned towards each other, but stopped after your faces are now mere inches apart. At that moment the two of you realized this is more than what you bargained for.
Maybe, just maybe, that the universe decided to bring you together at the right place. But unfortunately, at the wrong time.
IV.
You take the first move by letting Yoko know this won’t work. You pull back first and move a bit further from her. A few moments of silence.
“Let’s meet again when you’re older, okay?”
Your heart breaks upon seeing Yoko almost about to cry. Oh, if only this was the right time. But you know it’s not.
“Why does it have to be like this? I mean… You feel the same way about me, right?”
“Even if I tell you yes, it won’t change anything, kid. It’s just wrong timing for both of us. Let’s not push this. I know you understand.”
Yoko moves toward you and rests her head on your shoulder. That would be the last time.
V.
Your heart is crushed when Faye told you this won’t work. But you know she’s hurting too.
“Life being what it is - a series of lives and incidents out of anyone's control.” You quote a line from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a movie you’ve seen just last week.
She smiled bitterly. “The universe brought us together at the right place, but sadly at the wrong time.”
“Will you wait for me?”
“If in 5 years we haven’t met again, I guess we can let each other go by then.”
“We’ll meet again before that. I’m sure of it. Wait for me, please.”
Faye hugs you tightly, as if saying yes. That would be the last time.
VI.
Late 2023.
Faye, chosen to be the lead character of this new GL series called Blank, wonders who her co-star would be. She was told they’re still looking for someone who would play the Anueng to her Khun Nueng.
And again, the thought of Yoko crossed her mind. All these years and she still thinks of her.
“ A mindset was instilled in me to believe that no one was suitable for me. Since there is no one worthy of me in this world, I don’t plan on loving anyone….”
These what ifs. She might have loved a lot before, but in the end, things didn’t work out. Will she be given another chance with the young girl she met more than 4 years ago?
Her phone rang. It was P’Wan, the CEO of the studio that’s producing the series, informing her that there might be a chance the project won’t push through. They’re having a hard time looking for the actress who’d play Anueng.
“Don’t give up just yet. I’ve a feeling you’ll find her soon enough.”
“Oh, how I wish. I really want this to happen.”
“Me too. Best of luck! Please keep me posted.”
“Of course. Thank you for understanding, Faye.”
“No problem. Talk to you soon.”
Faye looked out of her apartment window, thinking about Yoko. She wants it to be her.
–
Yoko, scrolling through her social media one day, sees a casting call for this upcoming GL series titled Blank. She has read the novel before. If she were to play Anueng, who would be Khun Nueng?
She reached out to the production team so she could audition. Reading the script sent over by them, she thought of Faye again. As if she never stopped thinking about her.
Audition day. Yoko walked into the room, and everyone’s faces lit up including P’Wan’s.
“I love Ar-Nueng. I know that I’m not worthy of you today. But one day, I will…. I promise.”
More than 4 years have passed and she still hopes to meet Faye again.
“I think we got her, everyone.” P’Wan couldn’t contain her excitement and immediately told the team.
Yoko became teary-eyed when she heard what the CEO said. “Thank you so much! By the way, may I know who Khun Nueng is?”
“Not yet,” P’Wan told her with a knowing smile. “You’ll know once we start the workshops.”
Yoko left the audition room. Again, her heart aches for Faye. She wants it to be her.
–
The cast for Blank has already been completed.
Faye and Yoko were informed to go to an acting studio for their first workshop.
Faye got there first, and talked to the staff and P’Wan. A few moments later, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Yoko just entered the room and is now standing in front of her.
Yoko’s eyes suddenly lit up upon seeing Faye but kept her composure.
It took them a few minutes of just them getting lost in their eyes. P’Wan breaks the silence. “Do you guys know each other?”
“Oh, I’m just thinking of where I’ve seen her,” Faye immediately replied. “I’m Faye, so nice to meet you.”
“I was thinking the same too,” Yoko said. “Nice to meet you too, P’Faye!”
-
After the workshop, Faye approaches Yoko and whispers to her ear. “Are you free later? Same place?”
“Yes, see you later!” Yoko replies with her eyes glistened slightly in tears.
–
All these years and everything about them is still the same.
“Let’s do this again, Yoko.” Faye said, smiling widely.
Yoko smiled back and nodded. “It’s so good to see you too, P’Faye.”
Faye took out a bottle of Jager from her pocket. “Remember this?”
Yoko chuckled and nodded. “The number of times I stopped myself from buying one when I hit 20 is unthinkable, really.” She took the bottle and sipped a bit of the drink. “Tastes better now than it was four years ago.”
“At least you’re not underage now,” Faye laughs in response. “How old are you now, though?”
“22. You?”
“29. And when I said let’s meet again when you’re older?” Faye flashes a grin towards Yoko.
“So you really waited for me?”
Faye didn’t reply, but the wide smile on her face says it all.
They both held each other’s hands with assurance, knowing this won’t definitely be the last.