Serana bit her lip, silent.

Straightening up in her chair, Yasmine’s gaze grew colder. “You might not like

hearing this, but you knew what you were doing getting into this. So don’t play

the victim.”

Casting a glance at the sandwiches left on the table, Yasmine let out a sarcastic

chuckle. “To win a man’s heart, you gotta win his stomach first. Have you

managed that over all these years?”

The words were blunt, and any pretense of ignorance Serana had maintained

was now impossible to continue.

Enter title…

Perhaps Yasmine hit a particularly sore spot, Serana finally met Yasmine’s eyes.

“No one knows Boyd better than I do.”

Yasmine raised an eyebrow, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at

Serana with feigned interest, as if waiting for a sermon.d2

Serana didn’t disappoint, continuing, “Sure, you knew him before I did, but you

left his side for nine years. During those nine years, I was the one by his side.”

The expression on Yasmine’s face grew darker by several degrees. “Are you

bragging or giving me a friendly reminder of my place? That it’s about time I

stepped aside?”

Shaking her head, Serana clarified, “I’m not bragging, nor reminding you of

anything. I’m just laying out the facts to explain that I’ve grown up with him, I

know what he wants, and that’s why I’ve come to accept him being with you.”

Yasmine nodded, “It seems I should thank you for being so gracious about us

being together.”

“I know you must think I’m a fool, but if I…”

“What’s going on here?”

Boyd’s voice suddenly cut in, interrupting Serana. He placed a plate of spaghetti

in front of Yasmine. “You ordered it. You better eat it all.”

“But I didn’t say I wanted two eggs.”

“Just eat it.”

Boyd sat beside her, giving Serana a fleeting glance. “What were you two

talking about?”

Serana’s complexion paled slightly as she gently shook her head. “Nothing

important.”

Boyd turned to Yasmine, only to hear her say, “It’s not ‘nothing.’ I’m actually

quite curious about what you were about to say.”

sip of her milk,

half her pancakes

“Are you full?”

himself. “I don’t think you want to hear

with a napkin, Yasmine

forces others?”

“I’m not full.”

bite of the half-eaten sunny-side-up egg Yasmine

Yasmine smiled.

Yasmine’s phone rang. She answered

second’s delay. “I’ll

“I’ve arranged

won’t be going to

her hair back and exited the dining

it, but if Yasmine had

there was nothing

Yasmine

reminded him, “Don’t

paper.”

kissing her forehead,

Boyd headed to

then talk less. If you

sweet-talk her.”

Boyd’s car pulled away, Serana stood

was Yasmine who

driver beside

reality, took a deep breath, and got into

lingered in Yasmine’s mind.

worry about it, but they always seemed to creep into

moments.

But what if…

What if what?

pretty sure, given the context of

such an exchange with Serana could only happen

unanswered, fading over

issue too, rarely visiting

not absent. After all, they had grown up together. The ties

completely cut.

few months of university, the students’ emotions

They were less boisterous, more silent than before,

farewells, the pressure to advance, embarking on

of an uncertain

some, like Yasmine and Boyd, these concerns held little significance.

had

things, played the hands-off boss

she could stay in school

challenges weren’t too great

didn’t hesitate to refuse, seemingly

at a

couldn’t fault her, except when it came

had felt uneasy around Serana since their reunion.

as just that—play, and the near-death experience as

too far. She couldn’t deny Serana’s present

prejudices forever, but as time and events

didn’t mesh.

off. Her intolerance grew day

her displeasure was

had passed since

came to pick up Yasmine from school. She

for the front passenger seat, but

gesturing towards the back seat for her. Boyd

ducked in and sat down, “Mr. Boyd, you’re really

driving your own

“Can’t drive today. Got a

Tired of playing

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