Self

Chapter 5

“What’s up with Yale?”

Zachary eyed the brooding figure nursing his drink and subtly slid closer to Michael.

Yale had stormed in with a thundercloud over his head, and the once- buzzing room had toned down.

“She blocked him,” Michael said, unable to resist stirring the pot, clearly not one to shy away from a bit of drama.

Yale’s scowl deepened at the words.

Crash!

He slammed the glass down on the table as he yanked at his shirt buttons, a storm brewing in his movements.

“I told you to drop it. Are you deaf?”

Michael just shrugged, keeping mum after that.

The mood shifted; the singing crowd clammed up, and everyone else went silent, not daring to make a peep.

Zachary nearly coughed up his drink. Yara meant business, then?

Feeling the buzz, Shane leaned in and whispered to Zachary, “Had Yara gone back yet?”

Zachary shook his head and mumbled, “I don’t know.”

Shane figured Yara probably had not.

The bartender lined up a fresh round of drinks, and someone, feeling brave, piped up.

“Hey, how about a game of Truth or Dare?”

The room was full of savvy players, each with a plus–one in tow. With Just a couple of sly winks, everyone was on the same page, quickly stepping up to break the ice and smooth over any awkward vibes.

“Truth or Dare rocks, it’s my absolute favorite.”

Just then, a woman walked in.

“Angie, right over here, you’re just in time. Yale is one short…”

They gently nudged the woman to sit by Yale. She was the club’s star hostess and no stranger to keeping Yale company.

“Young Master Johnson…”

Yale shot up from his seat, clearly over it. “You all have fun; I’m here.”

OUL of

He left a room full of stunned faces and a disappointed Angie, who just missed out on a big payday.

After Yale stepped out of the bar, the driver checked with him in the back seat for the destination.

With two glasses of brandy under his belt, his head was doing somersaults.

As he thought of his lonely villa, he muttered, “To the company.”

“Mr. Johnson? What are you doing here?”

At ten at night, the assistant was just about to clock out when he spotted Yale exiting the elevator and entering the office.

The assistant’s surprise only made Yale more annoyed.

Usually, Yara would be on his case about his sleep schedule, playfully nagging until he gave in and went to bed. He would act annoyed, but The would always end up following her advice.

“You heading out?”

“Yes, do you need anything else, air?

Yale almost said no, but his empty stomach and the alcohol were a bad combo, making him turn a bit pale. “Grab me some soup, will you?

He thought for a second, then said, “From the top spot in town.”

The assistant was quick, and in 20 minutes, he was back with a fancy. meal box for Yale.

The moment Yale opened it, his brow furrowed.

“Seafood soup?”

The assistant was clueless. “But that’s the signature dish. You-”

“Never mind, just go.”

The seafood soup was a feast for the senses, bursting with color and aroma, and each spoonful was a delicate blend of light fragrance and the sweet taste of the ocean.

However, he barely managed a few spoonfuls before his appetite vanished, and he tossed the spoon aside with a clatter.

Yale’s thoughts drifted to Yara’s mushroom soup.

“Ugh, what’s gotten into me!”

Back at the apartment, after leaving the hospital.

Yara flicked on the light switch and was greeted by heavy breathing.

The room lit up, revealing Rainie in a slinky silk nightgown, draped over a young guy in a way that left little to the imagination.

They were tangled on the couch, her pale, soft hand boldly exploring under his shirt, tracing the lines of his abs.

Their lips were locked in a hungry dance, leaving telltale red marks on

her neck:

The room was thick with a steamy, tangled vibe.

Rainie blinked against the sudden brightness, her face a mix of surprise and confusion as she instinctively stopped the guy from planting another kiss.

“Oh? Yara, you’re back.”

“Maybe you two should, you know, get dressed?”

Yara’s lips twitched in an awkward half–smile as she quickly turned her back, giving them a moment to sort themselves out.

She let out a sigh. Staying at Rainie’s had started to seem like a bad idea.

Even the closest friends needed their space, and crashing there was getting too complicated.

Rainie, unfazed, flashed a cheeky grin and slipped her arms into a coat, casually tossing the guy’s jacket at him.

He was left with a smudge of her lipstick on his cheek and a dazed look in his eyes as Rainie gave him a reassuring pat. “Hang tight. I’ll be in the bedroom.”

The young man grabbed a shirt and slung it over his chest, not quite covering the love bites peppering his shoulders. He flashed a cheeky grin at Yara. “Hello, good evening.”

Yara’s response was automatic. “Hi, Keven.”

He chuckled, not bothering with more words, and strolled into the

room.

Rainie treated herself to a glass of red wine, savoring the sweet yet slightly tart flavor as it danced on her tongue. She let out a pleased sigh before correcting Yara in a leisurely tone. “It’s Steven this time,

not Keven.”

Yara just blinked, speechless.

Rainie’s eyes narrowed in concern as she noticed the redness around Yara’s eyes. “Why are you back so late? Have you been crying?”

Yara poured herself some warm water. Her voice was distant when she said, “I visited Professor Olson in the hospital today.”

They were both alumni and former students of Wendy Olson. Rainie,

who was still in the college’s Facebook group, had heard the news

She gave Yara a furtive look. “You…

Her words trailed off, filled with hesitation.

동

Yara had been Wendy’s star pupil back in the day.

Rainie knew the inside scoop, having seen the professor go out of her way to mentor Yara, hand her choice projects, and even co–author papers with her. Yara was just an undergrad then; she was not even Wendy’s official mentee.

She had poured so many academic opportunities Yara’s way.

If Yara had stuck to the path Wendy had laid out for her, she could have been the country’s youngest Ph.D. in biosciences within five

years.

Rainie still could not wrap her head around why Yara would walk away from all that.

As Rainie thought about the professor’s soft spot for Yara, a wave of emotion hit her. She realized that perhaps receiving something

without a struggle made Yara value it less.

That was the perk of being a genius, though, right? Yara could get away with being a little unpredictable.

“Did you hear anything about how the professor’s doing? Her illness

6/6

sounded pretty serious, and she had surgery, right?” Rainie asked.

Yara just shook her head.

Rainie could not help but laugh, though it was more out of frustration

than anything else. “Seriously, what kind of hospital visit did you make if you didn’t find out anything about how she’s doing?”

“I… I just couldn’t bring myself to go inside.”

“That scared, huh?” Rainie caught the look on Yara’s face and blurted out, “Well, that’s what you get!”

Yara’s eyelashes fluttered, but she did not say a word.

Rainie noticed her defiant silence, and it clicked–the breakfast she had seen Yara with that morning was all meant for the professor.

“Are you going to keep avoiding him?”

Yara was usually the type to face things head–on, but she acted like she could not bear to be seen.

Yara seemed to snap out of it a bit. “I’m going to have to face the professor sooner or later. Some people, some things… I can’t just run away from them.”

Then, lifting her eyes, she asked, “Rainie, would you come with me to see the professor?”

“What are you thinking of?”