Self

Chapter 86

At the sound of footsteps, Zachary bolted to the door to welcome the arrival.

The next second, he was taken aback. Yale walked in, arm in arm with Xandra?

Hold up!

Zachary gasped.

Yale greeted him with a nod. ‘Zachary.”

“Hey, Yale, you’re here! Come on in, have a seat. Zachary was all over the place, pouring drinks and passing out snacks.

Later, when Xandra went to the restroom, Zachary could no longer hold back. “Dude, what’s the deal? I thought you two split. Why’d you bring her?”

Yale’s gaze turned hazy after a couple of drinks. “She’s young, we’ll take it slow. She might need time to adjust.”

Zachary felt a twinge of annoyance.

Really?

Too young? She was already in college!

Yale was not in his right mind.

“And what about Yara? You’re not trying to get her back?

If that were true, Shane would be over the moon.

At the mention of Yara, Yale felt a pang. “Who said I’m not?”

“So, you’re juggling two girls now?” he said, eyeing how Xandra had gone.

+h Yara

“Chill! Once I sort things out with Xandra, I’ll make it right with

Zachary bit his lip.

He wanted to tell him that chances would not wait around. Yara might be long gone by the time Yale got his act together.

However, seeing that look of sheer determination on his face, Zachary decided to zip it–there was no point in stirring the pot.

The party wound down as dawn crept up.

Zachary, drunk, somehow managed to sign off the tab

and let the club’s staff guide

him to his ride.

The designated driver was ready to get him home safe and sound.

Michael was doing alright; he had not drunk much, just smoked a few extra cigarettes, leaving him smelling less than fresh.

He had booked a sulte at the hotel nearby and could crash there.

That left Yale and Xandra hanging by the curb, waiting for their ride.

Xandra, playing it coy, latched onto Yale’s buff arm and snuggled up to him. “Babe, it’s super late. Let’s head back to the villa, yeah?”

She was hinting at spending the night.

Yale paused.

After a beat, he said, “You have class tomorrow. It’s better to drop you off at your dorm.”

Xandra’s smile tightened, and there was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, but she played it cool.

“Sure, your call.”

Yale’s face eased up a bit.

He dropped Xandra at the University of Science and Technology gates and watched her disappear inside before pulling his gaze back.

The driver piped up, “Sir, where to now?”

Yale peered out the window, made a snap decision, and hopped out of the car. “Just take the car back. I feel like taking a walk.”

Yale wandered, lost in thought until he found himself standing before the grand entrance of Bellmere University. He knew this place like the back of his hand; he had spent countless hours waiting for a glimpse of Yara.

Sometimes, a mere ten–minute wait rewarded him with her presence. Other times, he would linger for over half a day, and still, she might not appear. Yale never complained; the hope of seeing her was enough.

He made his way to the narrow alley that led to Yara’s place, not pausing for a second before heading up the darkened stairwell. He stumbled over beer bottles and trash, the stench almost overpowering, but he pressed on until he reached her door. He knocked. “Yara, it’s me.”