Self

Chapter 45

In the still of the night, a soft and dreamlike voice suddenly broke through. “Yara, it hurts.”

Yara listened closely, the man’s voice quivered ever so slightly.

Yara’s heart clenched with a spontaneous wave of sympathy.

Yale

e was the kind of guy who played the hero, stubborn to a fault, with a sharp tongue. Whether it was drinking himself into a stomach ulcer or pulling all–nighters and skipping meals, he was no stranger to pushing his limits.

Back then, Yara bent over backward to try to nurse him back to health.

She monitored his eating habits around the clock and even learned some massage tricks from an old- time herbal medicine practitioner.

It was a Herculean task that took ages, but she managed to get his digestive system back on track.

However, all she got for her trouble was a gruff voice telling her she was a nuisance and the occasional question of why she had to be like his mother that came with an annoyed scowl.

Those memories, nearly buried by time, flashed before her eyes, but their sting faded just as quickly.

Yara said, “I’m not a doctor. If it’s that bad, go to a hospital.”

When he heard her icy tone, Yale paled. However, he still clung to hope. “I just want some of your soup!”

Yara stayed silent, just listening.

Neither side spoke, locked in a soundless battle of wills.

Finally, it was Yara who hung up first.

Yale was still holding the nurse’s phone like a lifeline. The nurse, thinking he had dozed off, casually glanced and saw he was wide awake and looking worse for wear.

“Young Master, are you-

The nurse was taken aback.

Yale handed back the phone, his eyes heavy, and he did not say another

other word.

At the crack of dawn the following day, Yara was already up.

She grabbed her phone and called Zachary,

“How’s the stomach? Any better? You still up for some mushroom soup?”

Zachary was out like a light, thinking the ringing phone was just another annoying call, so he did not bother to open his eyes.

Then, he heard Yara’s voice and bolted upright in bed.

“Yara!

“Man, Yara, that soup you whipped up was amazing. I scarfed it down in no time, and I still crave it. I can eat it every single day!”

Yara did not call him out on his obvious over–excitement; she just told him when to swing by to grab more and hung up.

She and Yale were history, those little favors were all she was willing to do for him.

– Chapter 45.

Yale had been hooked up to an IV at home for a few days but was finally on the mend.

Xandra had been showing

p at his place with her homemade mushroom soup daily like clockwork.

Yale would tell her to leave it on the counter to cool each time, and he would get to it later.

It was no different on that particular day. Xandra arrived bright and early, placed the soup on the counter, and then plopped down next to Yale, snuggling up to him.

“Babe, you’re finally better! You don’t even know how worried I’ve been about you,” she said.

Yale just smiled and did not say a word. Noticing her daily visits, he asked, “Haven’t you been attending your classes?”

Xandra shrugged with a playful grin. “I skipped ‘em all! You’re way more important, babe. I’d stay by your side all the time if I could, just to take care of you and cook for you.”

Yale paused, a memory flashing through his mind.

When he and Yara had just started dating, he wanted to take her out, but she had classes.

He tried to coax her into skipping class just once, but Yara would not budge.

He got mad and gave her the silent treatment for three whole days.

Yara was just as stubborn; she did not come after him either.

Eventually, he was the one who caved, apologizing and sweet–talking his way back into her good graces.