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Iris
I wipe off the non-existent sweat on my face. Sitting on one of the benches nearby, I say, "Aunt, I am tired!"
"We just went to five shops," she says back.
"And shopped so much!" I look at the five bags, near me.
Out of every place she could've taken me to, she chose the mall. She adores shopping, probably more than Aunt Gabyâwhich she always denies to but I know the truth.
So, now while she is in her trial room, I have been squashed in between the twins as we wait outside for her. I smile at the twins who are giggling among themselves.
But my main concern is I left Noah Arthur Radcliffe alone at the hands of my other Aunt. Aunt Gaby has made it so clear that she doesn't like him, or trust him. Noah has made it clear that he isn't going to back down if she says anything to him. Me? I can only hope that the gunshots aren't being fired.
"Aunt, how much time more?" I groan just when she comes out.
"So, how do I look?" She says, twirling. She is wearing a turquoise-colored sequin dress.
"Expensive," I state.
"True that." She nods, admiring herself in the mirror. "Gaby would like it."
I make a face. "She would?"
Aunt Tam just winks at me in reply. I nod, awkwardly, like I know what she means but I don't really know what she means.
She looks at me. "You don't want toâ"
"Nope."
Of course, she ignores me and gets a black dress out of the rack. "What about this?"
"Aunt," I say. "I am okay with not shopping more."
She pouts. "But you didn't get any dresses."
"Because I don't wear them a lot."
"Noah would like it."
"Really?" I let out a laugh in disbelief. "You pulled out that card, huh?"
She shrugs. "Whatever that makes you buy a dress."
"Aunt," I tell her. "I think Noah likes me just the way I am. I don't want to dress up for his affection." She raises her brows. "What? Okay, I might have done that once but I didn't wear a dress then."
She laughs, keeping the dress back on the rack. Going into the trial room, she says, "I can see it, you know?"
I furrow my brows. "What?"
"The way you both act around each other," she says. "It is almost too cute to watch." She puts her head out of the door. "Has he made you his girlfriend yet?"
I remember the long hours of flight and how everyoneâliterally everyone regarded me as 'Mrs. Cooper-Radcliffe'. Noah was too amused to see my red face anytime someone said it. Because of my stupid ability to blush, most of the crew thought that we were newlyweds and literally gave us sweetsâwhich was the only good outcome.
But still, we aren't really official. Soâ "No," I reply to Aunt Tam.
She just smiles at me and says, "He better do it soon then."
***
The shopping might've not ended if Aunt Tam hadn't got a call from Aunt Gabyâwho in turn must've gotten a call from the bank. I mean wow, the shopping we've done today probably would last me a whole lifetime.
But when it was time to go, Aunt Tam took me to dinnerâwhich felt a little suspicious. The suspicion doesn't last very long as she tells me Aunt Gaby told her that she is going to cook and the whole family knows how long it takes Aunt Gaby to cook dinner. Thankfully, Noah's there to helpâI hope.
So, right now, it is almost late and we have come home, now.
"That was quick," Alex greets us at the door. "Really quick."
I smile. "Alex, when did you come home?"
"Long agoâvery long ago," She tells me, eyes wide.
Aunt Tam looks at her and asks, "When did you start using sarcasm? Wasn't that the lowest form of wit?"
Alex replies, "The situation called for it, and seriously, Mum? This amount of shopping will last us a year or two!" She turns to me. "You couldn't stop her, could you?"
I huff. "Okay, someone's not in a good mood."
Alex just rolls her eyes. "I'm preparing you for the futureâyou are going to live here during college, right?"
On that, I cannot say anything. Truthfully, DEU is not quite far away from this neighborhood but I've always imagined myself living in dorm rooms and living the actual 'uni' life. Sure, I've thought about living here but I don't really know.
"Uhm," I look for Aunt Tam for some help but she just shrugs and goes away with the twins; indirectly, telling me that I am on my own for this.
When Alex doesn't back down, I change the topic. "Have you seen Noah?"
"No."
Taken aback, I look at her. "No?"
She shrugs her shoulder. "I've not seen him since dinner. He was very busy, I think."
I am about to question more, when Aunt Gaby comes and says to Alex, "Alexa, go to bed. It is past your bedtime."
Alex pouts but agrees. "Fine." She turns to me and says, "I hope you find Noah alive."
"What?" I gape at her retreating figure and then, at Aunt Gaby. "Why would she say that?"
She rolls her eyes and tells me, "She's just being overdramatic. Anyway, you should go to bed too."
"Butâ"
"No buts. Go."
Then, she leaves too.
Why is no one telling me where's Noah?
Going upstairs, the first thing I do is check Noah's room but he isn't there. Thinking for some reason he can be in my room; I check my room tooâbut no. I am about to call him when I see a post-it note on my dressing table's mirror.
Just have gone out for some things. Don't worry about me.
âNoah
I let out a breath of relief. This guy scares the bejeezus out of me when he disappears like this. I almost thought Aunt Gaby had made him pack his packs and sent him off to States. What? It is a possibility and it has happened.
Mom told me how Aunt Gaby almost made Dad leave the house when they were dating. I don't know many details but I know that incident is what makes Dad a little scared of her.
I come out of the bathroom, dressed up in the oversized shirt and trousers when there is a knock on my door. Almost immediately, I rush to open the door. Noah smiles at me when I open the door, and I sigh at the sight of him.
I say, "Where were you? You know, I thought you ran away after guns were fired."
He chuckles, pushing his hair back. "I didn't when it happened."
"Oh my god, it happened?"
"Only words, though."
I sigh, holding my hand on my chest. "Then, that's fine." I look back at him and push the door, wide open. "Come on inâ"
Noah holds my hand, before I can turn away, and says, "Actually, I want to take you somewhere."
"It is late night, Noah," I state, dryly.
He grins, holding out his hand. "Exactly the right time."
Though very unsure about what is happening, I take his hand.
There is something in the air, something I can't exactly pinpoint. Maybe it is from the way Noah is actually smiling or the shine in his eyes he usually has when he gets an idea.
Even though I am happy that he is enjoying it, I am just...suspicious of what is going on in his mind.
"Bella, stop staring at me."
I blink, coming back to my senses, as I see Noah smiling at me. It takes me legit two seconds to realize he has opened the door for me.
Right.
I start, "Noahâ"
"Bella, trust me," he says to me and pulls me into the place.
When I enter, I justâI am surprised and all for the happy reasons. I had forgotten that there was a small balcony near our rooms but apparently, Noah found it and... has decorated.
I walk towards it, looking around, with Noah's hand still in mine.
In the corner, a comforter has been twice folded and put on the floor with a lot of pillows over it. Using the railing of the shelter on the balcony, mini lanterns are put perfectly while candlesâscented, probablyâlead the path to space. Lastly, on the supposed seat, there is Noah's laptop with the starting scene of 'Say Anything...' on pause and two small tubs of vanilla ice-creams.
He pushes back his hair and looks back at me, nervously. "You like it?"
When we sit down, I am still looking around but a little confused this time."Why does it smell likeâ" I gape at him. "The beach."
He closes his eyes and grins as if he got caught. He opens his eyes, saying, "I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
"This whole place smells like the beach and you thought I wouldn't notice? You are..." I let out a laugh. "I can't believe it. I love it," I reply, truthfully.
Gazing into my eyes, he, tentatively, reaches out and tucks back my hair around my ear. I smile at him when he kisses my forehead. When he pulls away, then, I point at the laptop.
"Can we change the movie?"
He rolls his eyes. "I knew you would say that."
I gape. "Then, why would you put it?"
"A romantic date called for a romantic movie," He states, shrugging. I give him a look and leaning forward, I change the movie to 'Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift'
Taking one of the ice-cream tubs and a spoon, I lean back into the pillows as the movie starts. "Now, we have the perfect movie."
"Bella..." Noah laughs, running a hand over his face. He tilts his head and looks at me. "You remembered."
"Of course, I remember," I say, "Also, it is not a competition but you only are not the romantic one among us."
He nods, slowly. "Take me on a date and we will see."
I eat a scoop of the ice cream and say, "I will take you on the best date you'll ever have."
We smile at each other but I burst out laughing when he says, "Till now, I am the romantic one."
"Shut up." I nudge him on his chest. "Watch the movie."
Noah tells me, after some time into the movie, "Huh, suddenly, I remember how Chris couldn't watch the whole 'Cars' movie the first time and ran around the house shouting something about how the cars in our garage will come alive and run us over."
I make a face. "That's very specific for a kid."
He smiles. "But Charles broke that record with 'Toy Story' a year later. Rina and Beth haven't stopped teasing him till now. But you have to admit, Disney does make scary movies for kids."
"Oh my god," I grin. "Do you know about Colt's unhealthy obsession with Peter Pan? You have to know this story..."
And just like that, we forget all about the movie as we just talk. We just don't talk about ourselves but our families and friends; we share memories and stories and... it feels almost intimate, knowing each other a bit more by our memories. It is romantic like this is the place I want to be inâwith him.
One shared a tub of ice cream and a blanket later, I look up at the sky.
Like the usual, the sky is very cloudyâit can rain anytime soon and thus no stars or the moon can be seen. The silent cold breeze makes me slightly shiver and lean into the warmth of Noah. He notices it and pulls me towards him. I put my head against his chest as he wraps his arms around me.
We are both quiet, by now, but this one is comforting. Both the quiet and the warmth from each other.
"Bella?"
"Hmm." I look up at him only to find him looking at the same view but with a look, I have never seen him with.
"You like the darkness?" Noah asks.
"I like the night sky. I like black but darkness is a heavy term, Noah," I tell him. "Why do you ask?"
He, slowly, turns towards me. "Darkness hides the scars we have, Bella, but..."
"But?"
It has started to rain, now. But for the first time, I welcome it; not the cold wind, the soft drizzles of it on the face, or the earthy smell. It is the feelsâlike destiny wants this moment to be just about our feelings, about usâjust Noah and Iris.
Noah puts his hand against my cheek, so tenderly that I swear I can feel the calloused and rough edges of his fingers. Leaning forward, he puts his forehead against mine. My heart jolts against my rib cage.
"But I do not want to stay in this darkness of the mine."
Our breaths get tangled just as our noses touch ever so delicately. A million shivers run down my spine as I close my eyes, instincts taking over.
Then, he whispers something that makes my thoughts spiral out of control.
"I don't want to go back, Iris. Not anymore. I just found youâmy home."
When I'd imagined kissing Noah, I knew it would knock out every breath in my body butâgod damn hell. It is nothing compared to the real one.
His kisses are gentle like a feather at first as if giving me a chance to reject him. But when he knows I won't, he slowly caresses my lips with his, with a little pressure. And, then, everything becomes a blur.
I lose control of my own body as it moves on its own accord. It leans forward and closes any more space between our lips, climbing onto his lap. My hands find solace in the warmth of his cheek and the nape of his neck, while his hand wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him and the other bury into my hair.
The kiss is fierce and intense as our lips move in sync with each other. The kiss is desperate as if making up for all the pent-up emotions we have been feeling. But at the same time, we both are trying to piece back all of our broken pieces together to be one that we can call ours.
I cannot think of anything else but him. Noah. All I know, right now, is Noah. All I care is about is this man who is lighting up every electron in me with simple touches on my body. All that matters now is the way he tugs my hair and grazes my lips, making both of us moan when he deepens the kiss.
The world seems to burn around us with fire, heating up with passionâit may kill us but we are ready to accept the consequences.
We kiss each otherâsoftly yet roughly, slow but fast too, with trembling fingers as if we are scared to lose each other. But no more running away. No more doubts, no more secrets. We're all in.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
- a u t h o r ' s n o t e -
soooooo they kissed! ;)
i think iris in my mind was like: dude. just please. just do it. And so, here it is. just 52 chapters later :p
this chapter was supposed to be posted next week but heh, why not now?
until the next chapter,
inerys