Just Love, Not Desire

"Yvette! Have you heard the news? We've got a new female pilot at the base!"

Sylvia Evans, Yvette Orlando's best friend, burst into her office and grabbed Yvette, who was busy organizing medical files.

Yvette frowned slightly. Of course, she knew about this famous person—her "boyfriend's" ex-girlfriend, Violet Swift.

Top of her class in flight school, overshadowing many male pilots, and even compared to the legendary "Eagle" Albert Valdemar.

"Oh," Yvette responded indifferently.

"And then?"

"What do you mean 'and then'? Aren't you surprised? They were such a perfect couple! They were the talk of the school and dated for years. Then, for some unknown reason, they broke up. I was so bummed about it. I even started a thread on a forum about them. And now, they're back together! Isn't that amazing?"

"Who said they're back together?"

Yvette gathered the scattered files Sylvia had opened.

"Maybe they broke up for good and have no relationship now."

"No way! I heard the base is throwing a welcome party for Violet today! And just now, Albert personally went to the gate to bring her in. Have you ever seen him so enthusiastic about anyone?"

Yvette's lips curled into a faint, bitter smile.

Yeah, when has Albert ever been enthusiastic about anyone? Even when they made love, it felt like a routine task, without a word. Sometimes there was foreplay with him kissing her, and other times he just walked in and started undressing, like a hurried "client."

Last night, after forty minutes of passion, he didn't say a word, just left a box and walked away.

Despite this, Yvette was madly infatuated with Albert, being his secret lover for two years.

But so what?

She was willing.

After all, she gave her first time to Albert.

She had attended a welcome party before, and it was then that she mustered the courage to talk to Albert. He simply said, "Come with me."

Yvette dropped all her pretenses.

Like countless star-struck girls, she threw herself into the fire, not for fame or fortune, just for fleeting pleasure.

She even thought, if possible, she would be his secret lover for life.

But Violet's arrival was clearly going to end her dream.

Sylvia asked, "What are you standing there for? We don't have any patients this afternoon. Come with me. The welcome party is a big deal. I can't believe you're still single in a place full of rich men. Are you too picky, or do you lack charm? I'm worried for you. Your mom has been nagging you about it."

Sylvia urged, "Let's go to the party. It's hosted by the base, and there's no restriction on who can attend. Hurry up, change into casual clothes. Don't go in your white coat and scare people."

Yvette tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The earrings she wore were a gift from Albert last night.

Even though she already had three identical pairs, she still loved them.

Anything from Albert, she would wear.

When Albert had back-to-back flights and she couldn't see him, she would touch her earlobes, as if feeling Albert's soft lips, reminiscing the thrill he brought her.

"I'm not going."

Yvette shook her head.

"Why not? This is a rare opportunity. We might not get Albert, but there are plenty of single pilots. I heard there are at least six or seven. We can definitely find someone suitable."

Sylvia insisted, "I'm going, even if I have to sneak in. You're my only best friend. Come with me. What if you meet your dream guy today?"

"No need. I've seen them during their medical exams."

Yvette still refused.

"That's different! When you see them, you're either making them open their mouths or take off their pants. Who dares to look at you properly? Even if you're beautiful, you wear a mask all the time. They can't see your face! We women can't be too reserved. We need to get out and see the world. If you don't show yourself, how will others know you're amazing?"

"Please, please! I'm almost an old maid. Do you really want me to be alone forever? Come with me. It's no fun going alone." Sylvia grabbed her hand and pleaded. "And I don't know those pilots well. I'll look like an idiot standing there alone. You don't want me to come back depressed, do you?"

Yvette had to admit, she couldn't argue with Sylvia. In a few words, Sylvia had her out the door.

As Yvette stepped out of the hospital, she saw Albert walking with Violet.

"Albert, I told you, it's nothing. I just got my finger caught in the car door. Look, no broken skin."

Violet looked confident and composed, but her voice was soft and gentle, making it easy to feel sympathetic.

"It's not up to you. A doctor has to check it. You know pilots can't have injuries, especially not on their hands."

Albert didn't stop walking. He looked up and saw Yvette standing at the hospital entrance.

"Off work?"

"No."

"Then why aren't you inside? Smoking?"

"I don't smoke."

"Come in."

"Okay."

Yvette followed Albert, walking behind Violet.

Sylvia watched the three of them go inside, sighed, and followed.

"Where does it hurt? Here? How about this? And here?"

Violet kept shaking her head.

Yvette put down Violet's hand and said to Albert, "The bone is fine, just some soft tissue bruising. The nail isn't broken. It won't affect her flying."

"Good. Does she need medication?"

"If the pain is severe, I can prescribe painkillers, but she would need to stop flying."

Yvette wrote the prescription and glanced at Violet.

As expected, Violet grabbed Albert's wrist with one hand and pressed the medical record with the other.

"I can't stop flying. Doctor, my finger is really fine. Look, I can squeeze it. It's just a little sore. It'll be fine by tonight."

Yvette admired Violet's composure as she squeezed her already swollen finger. They say pain in the fingers is the worst. Clearly, Violet was tough.