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"Do you… perhaps… have a crush on me?" Yunah asked at last, her voice quiet but edged with suspicion. She held his gaze, unflinching, as though determined to read the truth straight from his eyes.
"WHAT?!" Noah nearly choked, his composure slipping for a fraction of a second. The question hit him like a dart to the chest. Of course he did—more than just a crush—but this wasn't the time, and she couldn't know. Not yet. If Yunah discovered his real motives for staying close to her and Yogesh, she'd shut him out completely.
"Was I too obvious." Noah thought, forcing a laugh. He lifted his glass and took a slow sip of his green apple shake, buying himself time. When he lowered it, his expression was calm, almost teasing."Was that supposed to be a joke, Di?" he asked lightly, his voice smooth, carefully stripped of the nerves clawing at his chest.
Yunah narrowed her eyes, studying him in silence. She searched his face for even the slightest crack in his mask—anything to betray guilt or nervousness. But Noah was skilled at this game. His heart raced, every muscle taut, but outwardly he was steady, unreadable.
Inside, though, her question echoed like a storm.
"Then tell me—why are you helping me?" Yunah asked, her voice sharp at first, but softening as she leaned forward. "I've been piecing things together. You shielded me from that basketball, stood as a witness for Yogesh and me against the bully, carried me home when I was drunk, and…" She paused, locking eyes with him. His gaze was already on her, steady, intense. "…you even saved my dignity in front of my ex-best friend and ex-lover by pretending to be my boyfriend. You cooked me hangover soup, checked if I was okay or not, and the way you look at me....all of these things only points out to one thing—you having a silly teenage crush on me."
Her tone hardened again. "If you don't have a crush on me, then give me a good reason for all of this. Because if you can't… I won't see you again. And Noah—don't forget, I'm older than you. A puppy crush is unacceptable."
Her words cut sharper than she intended. When Noah heard "I won't see you again," something inside him twisted tight. The thought of her leaving—of her truly pushing him away—stabbed deeper than he expected. His chest ached, his breath heavy.
He stayed silent for a long moment, avoiding her piercing gaze. Finally, he forced himself to look up, meeting her eyes.
"You're right," he said quietly. "I did have a motive at first. I was bored. Playing the good boy felt… amusing."
Yunah's eyes narrowed "So.....you admit it."
Noah gave a short laugh, but it held no humor. "Yes. But now.....it's different" he paused, swallowing hard. "I don't just want to hang around anymore. I want to be here— for your brother...and maybe for you too."
Yunah's expression softened slightly, though her tone stayed sharp "That doesn't explain why?"
He took a breath, the mask slipping. His words came slower, heavier with emotions and a mix of vulnerability."I've always been alone." Noah began while Yunah listened to his explanation, patiently being attentive.
"My parents died in an accident when I was ten and everyone blamed me for it. Cursed me, called me a monster who ate his own parents. No one asked about me. I don't even know how love of a family feels like...No one ever came to my room to check for me and those who came, it was only for money—not one of them was real. I stopped expecting anything. I stopped living, really. Until… you. At first it was just for fun, but then I saw your warmth towards your brother, how you protected him, defended him. I craved it. That night we had dinner, for the first time in years, I felt… human. I felt like that's what was missing from my life...so...."
His eyes locked onto hers, no hesitation this time. "I'm not asking you to care for me like you do for Yogesh. But can't you give me… just a little affection too, Di?"
Yunah's breath hitched. Her eyes shimmered as she tried to hold back the tears burning their way out. "He's… just like me. A child who never knew warmth, never knew what a family felt like." For a moment, she saw her own reflection in him.
The emotional reason that Noah gave to Yunah, only he knows how much of it has truth. But truth or not, it worked on Yunah.
"It must have been… so hard for you," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I know how that feels."
"Di… are you crying?" Noah shot up, kneeling before her chair. He gently turned it towards him just as the first tear slipped down her cheek.
"No…" she said quickly, shaking her head as her voice broke. "I'm not crying. Something just got into my eyes." She rubbed at them in denial.
Noah caught her hand, stopping her. "Don't. You'll hurt you eyes and they might turn red too if you rubbed it hard."
"It's all your fault." Her lips trembled as she lowered her hand, staring at him. "Why do you have to say such emotional things…?"
A soft chuckle escaped him. Kneeling there, looking up at her, his voice gentled. "Because you told me to give you a good reason. And I did."
Yunah fanned her cheeks with her hand, trying to dry her tears. "So now it's my fault?" she muttered, half-offended. Then she shot him a glare, poking his forehead with her finger. "Rhea was right earlier—rich kids really are crackheads. And you're one of them, Noah."
"Whoa—!" Noah stumbled back, nearly toppling, but caught the side of her chair to steady himself. He straightened with a grin, brushing dust from his clothes. "Then, can I stay with you and Yogesh? I told you everything." His eyes shone, boyish, almost pleading.
Yunah exhaled slowly, standing and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Fine. You can stay. But about the wedding invitation…" She shot him a look. "I'll handle it. I'll tell Meena we broke up, so you couldn't attend. Now stand up. You look like I bullied you. Thank God the café was empty today...."
Noah scrambled up and hurried after her. "Di, wait! I can still help you. You can take me. I'll act mature if you want—serious face, deep voice. I can do it!"
"No." She strode towards the entrance, her tone final.
"Di, think about it!" he pressed, walking beside her. "It's your ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend's wedding. Do you really want to show up alone? I swear I'll play the part perfectly—"
"No, Noah." Her words cut sharp, but not cruel. She didn't slow, didn't waver. She just kept walking out the café doors, while he trailed beside her, still trying to win her over.
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Few hours later.
At Serenity Villa, Noah stood in front of the massive painting that dominated the pristine white wall of his bedroom. His aura here was nothing like the calm, teasing boy from the café. In this space, he radiated power, danger, and something darker—his hair slicked back, revealing the sharp cut of his forehead, his eyes cold and sharp, stripped of all softness.
With a deliberate motion, he pressed a small, hidden button carved seamlessly into the painting's frame. A soft click echoed, and a concealed door slid open, revealing a staircase descending into the shadows.
Noah's footsteps echoed as he walked down, swirling the wine lazily in his glass. The secret room opened wide before him, exuding both opulence and obsession.
The walls were painted a stark white, the brightness only amplifying the unsettling focus of the room. A grand chandelier spilled golden light across the polished floor, but the glow only drew attention to the countless portraits that lined the walls—every single one of Yunah, captured at fifteen, her innocence frozen forever in oils and canvases.
A sleek black leather couch stretched luxuriously across the room, facing a towering bookshelf stacked with rare volumes. One side of the space was cluttered with brushes, unfinished canvases, and spilled tubes of paint—a shrine to the only subject he never tired of. In the far corner, a private bar gleamed under soft light, bottles of aged liquor and crystal glasses standing like sentinels.
But the centerpiece of the room commanded attention. Draped beneath a white cloth, an easel stood in the middle. Noah approached slowly, savoring the moment. With one hand, he sipped his wine. With the other, he pulled the cloth away.
The painting beneath was breathtaking. Yunah—no longer the young girl of his earlier portraits, but the woman she had become—stared back at him in color and life, her expression so vivid it felt almost alive.
Noah's eyes darkened as he reached out, his long fingers tracing the curve of her painted cheek. His voice dropped, smooth and venomous, a vow dressed as a caress.
"I'll make you mine, Yunah. No one else will exist in your world but me. You'll crave me, surrender to me, and when the time comes… you'll claim me with your own lips. That day isn't far. Just wait…"
He took a slow sip of his wine, a dark, obsessive smile curling his lips as he gazed at her face, every inch the predator savoring his prize.