Chapter 38 - Still Hurt (1/2)

”See you tomorrow, Yanee. Good night…”

The soft and gentle baritone partnered with that easygoing smile, made Yanee's brain cells and heart stop working. She stood there frozen on the spot in front of the elevators as the man turned around and walked away towards his own suite. She remained watching his broad back until he disappeared behind the door.

Er…

Yanee snapped out of her trance as soon as the door made a clicking noise when it shut, and she involuntarily shivered.

”What are you doing, Yanee Lee?” she grumbled as she semi-ran towards her own suite.

As soon as she entered her room, she closed the door and leaned against it. Her heart still beat fast, most especially when she remembered her boss' smile, and she forced herself to calm down.

”I'm not having a crush on the potato, right?” she asked herself suspiciously before quickly shaking her head.

Nah, it couldn't be.

If she was an airhead, she'd quickly misunderstand and form unwarranted romantic thoughts again.

Just as she did years ago.

But, Yanee was no longer the naïve romantic fool from so long ago. She had been burned so badly, and she had vowed to never let it happen to herself again.

And it wouldn't…

As she lay herself down on the bed, Yanee's stared up at the ceiling, and an image of a smiling young man appeared in her mind. Almost instantly after she conjured the image of the man, her eyes clouded over, turning defiant as her heart flooded with hate.

She was very vulnerable at this moment, showing raw emotions when no one was looking. She hadn't bȧrėd herself like this since she came to Tokyo, and she was surprised to realize that she was still angry – not at the man because he broke her heart, but at herself, because she was too naïve.

The shame, the pain, they were still raw and alive in her heart. She would never go through that again. She couldn't afford to. It took her a very long time to pick up the pieces of herself before she could hold her head up high again. It would be stupid to let herself fall once more.

Cynical laughter escaped her lips.

It's really ironic that in the end, she'd end up working around the thing that she had no penchant with.

Oh well.

It was a good thing that she's working with very kind people – oh, and she had to applaud her ability to be professional as well. Yanee reckoned, she'd need to keep her feet on the ground and be conscious or else she'd be swept away and let unnecessary feelings get to her.

With her resolve revived, Yanee's eyes closed and let herself be lulled into a dreamless sleep.

In another room, not far from Yanee, a handsome young potato – er, man was busy with his phone, unaware of the stormy thoughts of the woman down the hall.