bChapter /bb318 /b

    Yosef was always the most disciplined of the group. He only drank a little at business dinners. When they went out to bars together, he never touched a drop.

    For him to act like this now, something must have gotten to him. Volker sighed. “Yosef, drowning in sorrows won’t solve anything you know?

    “Just take your buddy’s advice and go ask Skr straight up what’s going on between her and that guy.

    “If it’s like the rumors say, at least you’ll know where you stand.”

    “No way. She would never fall for that useless thing!” Yosef told himself. But even as he said this, doubt gnawed at him.

    Yosef was afraid. Afraid he might be wrong. Perhaps someone indeed stood between him and Skr.

    ‘Love does breed fear for us all,‘ he thought. Even when it came to love.

    as

    decisive and ruthless as Yosef could be hesitant and uncertain

    Leyton shook his head slightly. Never had he seen Yosef look so utterly lost and despondent. ‘From lovees worry, from worryes fear. Ah, perhaps expressing love is not his strongest suit.’

    Leyton took a sip of his drink and advised, “Yosef, why lie to yourself? If you believed Skr would never fall for someone like him, you wouldn’t be here drinking your sorrows away.

    “Honestly, man, the best thing you can do right now is talk to her face to face and clear the air.

    “Instead of guessing and overthinking, try to be more direct and talk things out honestly.”

    Yosef wanted to confront her and get to the truth. But he felt he had no right to ask.

    Cecil had zero experience with rtionships and honestly had no idea how tofort Yosef. He sighed, raised his ss, and said, “Yosef, my man, I’ve never been through anything like this either, so I don’t know what to say.

    “All I can do is ride or die with my bro tonight. So, let’s drink ourselves until we getpletely hammered!”

    He leaned in, clinked sses with Yosef, and gulped his drink in one go. The other two fell silent as well, drinking with them in quiet

    support.

    By the end of the night, Volker was the only one still sober. He was about to take Yosef home when a brilliant idea struck him.

    Pulling out Yosef’s phone, he used facial recognition to unlock it, found the contact saved as “Wife,” and dialed the number.

    “Yo, Skr? This is Volker. Yosef knocked himself out, and I’ve got two other wasted guys to deal with. I can’t get him home. Could you please pick him up? I’ll wait.”

    Skr was momentarily stunned by the way he called her. “I’m not your sis. Stop opening your sentence with ‘Yo.‘ Will you?”

    “Alright, noted. But you’re Skr, right?” he asked.

    “Yeah, that’s me.”

    “Exactly. You’re Yosef’s wife, and I’m his bro. Doesn’t that make us close? Come on.”

    b07:58 Mon/bb, /b25 Aug 11 (7

    bChapter /b318

    bSkr /bthought about it for a moment and sighed. “Whatever helps you sleep at night,” she said,

    b“/bAlright, Skr,e quick. Yosef looks bad. I can’t talk now. I’ll send you the address ASAP Worried she might refuse, Volker hung up immediately and sent her the location.

    Skr stared at the address on her phone, feeling torn.

    “Given how things are between me and Yosef, I’m not obliged to pick him up. Besides, he seems super drunk,” she mumbled.

    “But if I just leave him there and something happens, Adam will be heartbroken.” After much deliberation, for Adam’s sake, Skr decided to go.

    She nced at her sleeping Adam, changed out of her sleepwear into casual clothes, and set off to pick up Yosef.

    Yosef was surprisingly docile after drinking, lying quietly on the couch without making a fuss. Skr walked over and gently patted his cheek. “Wake up. Can you hear me?” she asked softly.

    Yosef blinked, his eyes unfocused. “Skr, is that you?” Before she could answer, he murmured to himself, “No, you can’t be Skr She hasn’t forgiven me yet. Why would shee to see me on her own?”

    AD