Rassel woke up feeling refreshed, her limbs loose beneath the soft sheets. The silence of the morning was calming, but it didn't last long. As the sunlight spilled through the curtains, her mind wandered straight to Noah.
The way he looked at her, the way he touched her.
She exhaled, the memory warm and maddening all at once. Her smile faded slightly. Why didn't I get his number?
Before she could fall too deep into regret, a knock at the door startled her.
She blinked and quickly wrapped herself in a robe before heading to the door. Standing, a deliveryman was holding a black gift box tied with a silver ribbon.
"Morning!" he said brightly. "Delivery for Ms. Smith." She blinked in surprise. "That's me."
Her heartbeat stuttered. She signed and gently took the box from his hands.
The moment the door closed behind her, she placed the box on the table, heart racing. It felt expensive. Important. Carefully, she untied the ribbon, peeled back the lid, and there, nestled inside, was a small folded note.
"Hey, beautiful. Good morning. Did you sleep
well? This gift is for you. I hope it brightens your day. Kiss, kiss."
She pressed the card to her chest, a strange mixture of joy and anxiety bubbling inside her.
Her breath hitched. She didn't need a name. She knew. It was Noah.
Her phone buzzed in her hand. An unknown number.
A wave of warmth rushed over her… then faded just as quickly into confusion. Why didn't he contact me directly? As if on cue, her phone buzzed. An unknown number.
She hesitated for a second, then answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, beautiful." His voice poured through the speaker like honey, smooth and casual, like they'd known each other for years. "How did you sleep?"
Rassel smiled, her fingers curling around the phone. I sleep so well.
They talked quietly for several minutes. His tone was relaxed, teasing, and full of that quiet pull she hadn't been able to stop thinking about.
"I might be busy," he said near the end, "but I'll always find time to reach out. Take care, pretty."
The call ended, but the echo of his voice lingered in her chest. Slowly, she closed the box, not even bothering to see what was inside. Some things were better kept secret.
Moments later, another knock pulled her out of her haze.
This time, it was Nuala, grinning in high-waisted jeans, sunglasses pushed up into her hair.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Nuala joked as she stepped in.
Rassel quickly moved the gift box out of sight and forced a casual smile. "Just tired."
"Liar," Nuala said, collapsing on the couch. "You've been glowing all week. What's going on?"
Rassel dodged the question. "Want tea?"
As they settled into their usual banter, Nuala didn't press further. But when a message flashed on Rassel's phone—Smile for me today—Rassel's lips curled despite herself.
Nuala noticed. "Okay, who is it?"
Rassel looked up, hiding the screen. "No one. Just a guy I met at work."
Nuala raised a brow. "At the hotel?"
Rassel nodded quickly. "He's not important."
That was a lie, and they both knew it.
By evening, the two friends dressed up for a night out. Nuala had suggested their favorite upscale bar—luxurious and mostly out of reach for people like Rassel, but not when your best friend was the daughter of a wealthy businessman.
As they entered the bar, the sounds of laughter and music enveloped them, and Rassel felt her worries slowly unravel. Nuala, ever the socialite, ordered a round of drinks, and Rassel, caught up in the excitement, found herself drinking more than she usually would.
The night wore on, with Nuala and Rassel dancing and laughing together, their cares forgotten. But as the hours passed, Rassel began to feel the effects of the alcohol, her words slurring and her steps faltering. Nuala, too, was far gone, and her driver carefully escorted her to the car, where she promptly vomited. Spent some time with her outside, making sure she was fine and safe.
The driver, concerned for Rassel's safety also, He returned to the bar to collect her, but she was nowhere to be found. In the midst of the chaos, Noah's call came through, and Rassel, in her drunken state, answered, the loud music and laughter in the background making it difficult for Noah to discern her location.
"Hello?" she murmured, voice sleepy.
"Where are you?" Noah's voice was sharp this time, laced with concern.
I don't know," she whispered, glancing around at the spinning city lights. "I was with Nuala… now I'm not…" What location are you in? I will check… no I will send__ after a long talk, she get to share her location. Stay where you are."
Noah moved fast.
Baseball cap. Mask. Black hoodie. His car weaved through traffic until he spotted her outside the club, seated on the curb like a forgotten starlet.
He crouched in front of her, eyes narrowing beneath the brim of his cap. "If you can't drink, why did you drink so much?"
Rassel blinked at him, her lips trembling with a sleepy smile. "Noah…?"
"Come on," he said, lifting her to her feet and guiding her into the passenger seat. She slumped against the window, barely awake.
When the driver returned to the bar, looking for her, he called her number, and Noah answered.
"She's with me," Noah said, tone low and unreadable. the driver was trying to ask, Who is on the phone before he could finish, Noah said to him 'She's safe. Don't worry." and end the call.
Back at her apartment, he helped her inside. She leaned against him, barely conscious.
"You smell like vodka. Do you swim inside the alcohol instead of drinking?" he muttered, scooping her up.
"Don't be mad," she whispered, burying her face into his shoulder.
"I'm not mad," he said tightly. "Just… worried."
He laid her gently on the bed, removed her shoes, and sat beside her, watching over her like a storm waiting to pass.
When Rassel finally came to realize time, it was already the middle of the night, and she was shocked to find a man sleeping beside her. Panic set in as she fumbled for the light switch, and when the room was bathed in a warm glow, she saw that it was Noah. Noah's eyes sparkled with amusement as Rassel struggled to comprehend the situation.
"Oh, so you know you don't want just any man beside you on the bed," he said, his voice low and husky. "And you drank that much."
Rassel's explanation was cut short by Noah's warning. "Let it be the last time you drink this much. What if I'm not close by to take care of you?" His words were laced with a possessiveness that made Rassel's heart skip a beat.
As Noah stood up and hugged her tightly, Rassel felt a sense of safety and security wash over her.
She knew that she had found someone special, someone who cared for her deeply. And as she hugged him back, she knew that she would never let him go.