Still Into You

10 - Sleepless Currents

Yunah’s POV

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUU—"

"CHEEEEERS! WHOOO!"

"LONG LIVE THE DEAD!" someone drunkenly yelled, earning a round of laughter.

We each had a drink in hand. I was sticking to mild cocktails for now—hard liquor could wait. The party was set outside the rest house, beside the indoor pool. As usual, these lunatics couldn’t resist—half of them were already in the water, splashing around like hyperactive kids.

Me? I had no intention of joining them. I sat at the edge in a red tank top and black velvet shorts, watching as Ry and Kit wrestled each other into the pool while Justin and Ej lounged lazily nearby. Amber and Iza seemed lost in their own little world with another friend of theirs.

A tiny pang hit me. Maybe I should’ve insisted Iyah come. At least then I’d have someone to talk to.

I caught sight of Rai heading inside, probably to grab more drinks. Jacob was across the yard, chatting up one of the resort staff—and was apparently generous enough to offer them alcohol.

"Feeling lonely?"

I turned. Rai was there, holding a glass of Red Horse. The smell alone made me want to gag.

"Then keep me company," I said with a half-smile.

He sat beside me, taking a slow sip before glancing my way.

"So… how long have you and your boyfriend been together?"

I nearly choked.

"What?!"

"You okay?" He offered me his glass without thinking. I took it out of reflex, downed a sip—then instantly regretted it.

"God! Why Red Horse?!"

He looked at the glass, startled. "Oh! Crap, sorry! Hahaha!"

"The taste is awful," I groaned, clutching my chest.

He scratched the back of his neck, still chuckling. "My bad, seriously. You alright now?"

I took a deep breath, eyes drifting toward the chaos of the pool—shouts, teasing, laughter. They all looked so happy together.

I reached for a shot glass, poured tequila, and tossed it back in one go. The burn seared down my throat like fire, making me grab a lemon slice and bite down on it instantly.

"Didn’t your boyfriend say you shouldn’t drink hard liquor?" Rai reminded me, gaze still fixed on the others.

"It’s fine. I’m in the mood. Besides—" I smirked. "—you have Jack Daniel’s, right? I saw it earlier. Bring it out!"

He rose to fetch it.

"Wait—tequila? Oh, I’m dead! Ree’s gonna kill me!" Justin scolded as he walked by.

What the hell? Did Ree text him too?

That meddling i***t… always insisting I shouldn’t drink too much because I ‘lose my poise.’ Translation: I get stupid when I’m drunk.

Rai returned with the Jack and a plate of sizzling sisig. Kit and Ej quickly gathered around, opening the ice box packed with more booze.

"WHOOO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDGARDO!!"

We sat in a loose circle on the floor, bottles at the center. Justin to my right, Ej to my left, Kit beside him, then Iza, then Amber and Jacob, then Rai near Ry.

"You know what, guys," Ej started, cheeks flushed, "I’m just thankful I get to celebrate my birthday with you all… and thankful Yunah came back home."

Jacob laughed. "Don’t cry, bro!"

"Showbiz doesn’t suit you, Ej!" Kit teased.

"Yunah Faye!" Ry turned to me. "You’ve been gone for ages—what happened in those three years?"

For a moment, I just stared at them. What did happen to me?

"Nothing much, really," I began. "My first year in Korea, I started late in college because I had to recover."

They quieted, listening. Everyone… except Amber, whose eyes stayed glued to her phone.

"I did home schooling for a while while getting treatment. After a few months, I enrolled at Seoul University. After my third semester, I came back home and studied at XU. Finished two years here. Then before Iyah’s PU, I returned to Korea again for more treatment. That’s it."

Honestly, it wasn’t that exciting a story. But they seemed oddly invested.

The party carried on. Iza and her friend went upstairs first—said they felt dizzy. I noticed, though, that Iza seemed… distant with me. I’d ask her about it tomorrow.

"Ry, you’re drunk already? Weak!" Kit teased, hauling him up to bring him inside.

Ej had already fallen asleep on Justin’s shoulder.

"I’m heading up too," Justin said, carrying Ej like a child.

"Lightweights!" Jacob crowed, still sipping his drink. Then, in random English, "You know what, bro? She’s pretty perfect, but I don’t know why I think about her every day!"

Rai and I exchanged a look as Jacob staggered off.

We were the only two left. We started cleaning.

"I’ll handle this," Rai told me. "Just grab the paper plates inside and throw them out."

He walked away without looking back. Seriously—did he just make me his assistant?

When I got back to my room, I showered, changed, and flopped onto the bed. I texted Ree:

To: ReeCES babe

Sleepy now. Gn!

A moment later, his reply:

From: ReeCES babe

That’s a short goodnight! Sleepy too, girl. Luvyuu!

I didn’t reply. I was too tired.

Or at least, I thought I was.

By 3 a.m., I was still rolling around like a restless rotisserie chicken.

Fine. Walk it off. Maybe I’d get sleepy.

I put on a jacket and slipped downstairs quietly. Everyone was out cold—of course, they were all drunk.

The cool night breeze met me as I wandered to the shore, until I noticed a small cabana with its door open and the light spilling out.

"OH! YOU DROPPED YOUR HEART!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

It was Rai. His hair was wet, beads of water sliding down to where his boxers clung to his hips. He’d clearly just come from the ocean.

"s**t! I’m sorry—I didn’t know you were here!" I spun around, eyes squeezed shut.

"What are you doing here?"

"I swear I’m not following you! I just… saw the light," I stammered.

His footsteps approached from behind.

"Why are you out at this hour?"

"I… couldn’t sleep," I admitted softly.

He exhaled, and I slowly turned—still keeping my eyes half shut.

"i***t," he muttered, and flicked my forehead.

"Ow!" I rubbed the spot, glaring.

"Go back. Get some rest." His tone had softened, almost tender.

He stepped past me, leaving the cabana.

Wait…

"Did you go swimming at this hour?" I called after him.

"No," he said without missing a beat. "Just took a dip."

…Smartass.

He chuckled, like he could read my mind. "Couldn’t sleep, so I swam."

We walked in silence until we reached our rooms.

"Stop thinking about me too much—then you’ll be able to sleep," he said casually before disappearing into his door.

I froze.

Wait. Was I thinking about him?

The nerve! The arrogance!

…And yet, my heart was pounding.