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At David's House…
David stormed into the mansion, his steps unsteady from the alcohol, fury burning hotter than the liquor in his veins. The moment he entered the lavish living room, he swept a vase off the table, sending it crashing against the marble floor.
"Useless! All of it useless!" he roared, knocking over chairs, kicking at the glass table until shards scattered.
A servant rushed in, pale and trembling. "M-Master David, please calm down..."
"Shut up!" David shoved him hard to the ground, eyes blazing. "How dare a lowly servant like you try to stop me? Do you think you have the right to touch me?"
He raised his hand as if to strike again...
"David! Enough!"
The booming voice froze him. His father descended the stairs, every step echoing authority. His sharp gaze cut straight through his son's rage. He reached David, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I know why you're angry," his father said, tone measured but cold. "But I had no choice today because Noah stepped in. Maybe he was bored and wanted to have some fun by playing a hero." He smirked slightly. "I had her investigated. That girl has no ties to him. She's nothing. And nothing can stand in our way. I'll make sure she learns her place."
David's breath came out ragged, hatred twisting his features. "No, Father. This time, I'll do it myself. Because of her, I had to bow down… I had to apologize in front of those nobodies. She humiliated me." His eyes gleamed with malice. "I'll make her regret it. I want her to crawl for mercy."
For a moment, silence stretched, then his father chuckled, a deep, proud sound.
"That's the spirit. That's my son." His smirk widened, cruel and approving. "Fine. She's yours. Do whatever you want with her. And when the mess is done…" His eyes hardened, voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "…I'll clean it up."
David's lips curled into a vicious grin. The bloodlust in his eyes promised only one thing: Yunah would suffer.
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At Yunah's Apartment…
Yunah pushed the door open, stepping into the apartment with her brother, Yogesh, and Noah trailing close behind. After slipping off their shoes, Yogesh and Noah carried the luggage towards the living room. Meanwhile, Yunah, balancing heavy grocery bags, carefully made her way towards the kitchen.
Noah frowned and darted forward, gently pulling one bag from her hand.
"Di, let me carry this. It must be heavy for you," he said, his voice soft but threaded with complaint. "I told you earlier to let me help."
Yunah tilted her head at him, half-smiling as she set her bag on the kitchen counter.
"And how exactly would you manage that? You got four hands hidden somewhere?" she teased lightly.
"I'd have figured it out," Noah muttered as he placed the bag beside hers. His eyes lingered on her, not like a younger brother's glance, but with something steadier, heavier. "You just had to trust me with it. I wouldn't have had a problem."
Yunah chuckled, though she felt a faint unease under the weight of his gaze. She bent down, busying herself with unpacking groceries.
"Fine, fine. My mistake for not handing them over earlier," she said, brushing him off gently. "Now go change, Noah. If you want to freshen up, ask Yogesh where the washroom is. I'll handle dinner." She glanced at him with a playful grin. "I know I promised to treat you both outside, but trust me, my cooking's better than half the restaurants in this city."
Yunah's smile lit up her face, warm and sincere. For a moment, Noah's guarded expression cracked, his eyes shimmering with something unspoken. A quiet smile tugged at his lips.
"Then I'll be looking forward to it, Di," he said, his tone carrying a strange mix of tease and something deeper. With that, he turned and headed towards the living room, where Yogesh was rummaging through his luggage.
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In the Living Room…
"Here," Yogesh said, pulling out a black trouser and a plain white T-shirt. He held them out to Noah with a faint shrug. "Wear these. They might be small on you, though."
It was an obvious truth. Both were eighteen, but built like opposites. Noah towered with a well-trained, muscular frame, while Yogesh's body was slim, untouched by exercise.
Noah accepted the clothes with a polite nod. "Thanks. Where's the washroom?" His deep, almost detached voice filled the room.
Yogesh stood, leading him towards the washroom. He hesitated several times, as if fighting with his thoughts. When they reached the washroom door, Noah noticed and stopped him.
"If you've got something to say," Noah spoke evenly, leaning against the doorframe, "then say it. Don't waste time hesitating."
Yogesh exhaled sharply, then turned to face him."Why?" he asked bluntly. "Why are you suddenly doing all this? As far as I know, you've never cared about anyone before. So why now?"
Noah chuckled, a low sound that seemed both amused and dismissive."Maybe I got bored," he said casually. "Maybe I just wanted to play the role of the good guy for a while. But one thing's real. I meant it when I called you my friend. Don't overthink it. I'll protect you until our high school graduation." His lips curved in a smirk. "Now, if your interrogation's over… may I shower?"
Yogesh, instead of shrinking back, met his gaze firmly this time. His eyes hardened with rare defiance.
"I don't know what you're after," he said coldly. "But stay away from my sister. I've put up with a lot from bullies. But I won't tolerate anyone hurting her."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Noah staring after him.
Noah blinked, then let out a surprised laugh, muttering to himself as he pushed open the bathroom door.
"Unbelievable… he actually warned me. I thought he was just a scaredy cat. Turns out, he's got more bite than I imagined."
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After a while…
Noah stepped out of the washroom, towel in hand, ruffling his damp hair. Droplets slid from his hairline down the curve of his neck, tracing over his collarbone and disappearing beneath the snug T-shirt that clung to him. Even in Yogesh's slightly tight clothes, he looked effortlessly striking, like someone who didn't belong in an ordinary apartment, but on a magazine cover.
Yunah's breath hitched the moment her eyes landed on him. She swallowed hard, scolding herself silently as her thoughts betrayed her. "Get a grip, Yunah. He's just a boy… your brother's age… stop staring." But time seemed to slow, her gaze catching on the way the water shimmered against his skin.
"Di… are you done cooking?" Noah asked casually, stepping closer, still drying his hair.
His voice snapped her halfway out of her trance, but she remained frozen, eyes trailing his face instead of answering.
Yogesh, who'd been watching the whole thing, groaned and turned away, muttering under his breath, "Unbelievable. I warned him not to mess with her, but now she's the one acting weird. This is so embarrassing… I can't even admit we're related right now."
"Di…" Noah repeated, leaning slightly forward.
That jolted her. Yunah shot up from her seat so abruptly that Noah flinched back, startled. Avoiding his gaze, she blurted, almost too fast, "Dinner's ready!"
She darted towards the kitchen, her cheeks burning crimson. Once out of sight, she pressed her palms to her face, lightly smacking her cheeks as if to knock sense into herself.
"Yunah, have you lost your mind? Imagining things about a kid like him? Aish!" She exhaled in frustration, whispering under her breath, "I think I've been single for quiet long.... it's time to find someone now, Yunah...."
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The three of them gathered at the dining table. Noah and Yogesh sat side by side, while Yunah settled opposite, carefully serving food onto their plates. She lingered, watching Noah expectantly, her eyes full of curiosity and hope as he lifted his spoon.
"Well… how is it?" she asked, almost holding her breath.
Noah scooped a spoonful of rice and chicken curry, chewing thoughtfully. For a moment he paused, long enough for Yunah's stomach to twist in nervousness, before a warm smile spread across his lips.
"It's delicious, Di," he said simply, and without hesitation, dug in for more.
Relief washed over Yunah. She smiled brightly, finally picking up her own spoon. But across the table, Yogesh gave her a look of pure annoyance.
"What's there to be so happy about?" he muttered. "The food's just okay. He's only complimenting you because you stared at him like some scary teacher waiting for the right answer. Anyone would say it's good just to survive that look."
"Yah!" Yunah snapped, narrowing her eyes. She reached out as if to snatch Yogesh's plate away. "If you don't like it, then stop eating!"
But Yogesh jerked his plate back, holding his spoon like a shield. "Who said I don't like it? I just don't like wasting food, that's all. Someone has to eat it."
"Ugh, you brat!" she huffed, rolling her eyes.
Their bickering carried across the table like a tennis match, sharp words volleyed back and forth. Noah, however, didn't seem the least bit bothered. He kept eating quietly, a small, amused smile tugging at his lips as he watched the sibling squabble.
For someone with a notoriously short temper, it was strange. Normally, loud voices during his meals would have been enough to set him off. But here… for the first time in a while, he found himself enjoying the noise.
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After dinner, the question of sleeping arrangements finally came up. With only one bedroom and three people, Yunah thought for a moment before speaking.
"I have a sleeping bag. Yogesh, you take that. And Noah…" Her eyes flicked to the couch, then back to him. It was clearly too small for his tall frame. After a pause, she sighed and made her decision. "You both can share my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
Noah immediately shook his head. "No. I'll take the couch. You don't have to give up your bed because of me."
"It's fine," Yunah insisted firmly. "It's just one night, and I'm smaller, I'll fit on the couch comfortably. You both take the bed. End of discussion." Without waiting for his reply, she stood up and walked briskly into her room. Noah could only exhale in defeat.
Moments later, Yunah returned carrying a pillow and blanket. She set them neatly on the couch, then stretched her arms with a little yawn. "You two should go get some rest too."
Yogesh didn't argue. He trudged into the bedroom with a muttered "Night" and disappeared behind the door. Noah, however, lingered in the living room, his gaze fixed on Yunah.
She noticed. "What?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Noah hesitated, then gave a small smile. "Nothing… I just wanted to say good night." His voice was softer than usual, almost careful.
Yunah's lips curved into a gentle smile of her own. "Good night. And don't forget to turn off the lights, hmm?"
"Hmm," Noah nodded, his eyes still lingering a moment longer before he finally turned away. After switching off the light, he disappeared into her bedroom, leaving Yunah alone with the quiet.
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In the middle of the night, Noah woke with a jolt, his chest heaving. Another nightmare. It wasn't the first time. Ever since the accident that had taken his parents, his sleep had been haunted by shadows darker than memories. Nights were always the hardest.
He sat on the edge of the bed for a while, pressing his palms against his face, then quietly stepped out to get some water. The house was dark, silent, but as he passed through the living room, he froze.There was a sound of labored breathing.
Noah's brows knit together. He moved closer to the couch and his heart tightened at the sight. Yunah was tossing restlessly, her forehead damp with sweat. Her lips trembled as she whimpered through tears, trapped in her dream.
"I-I'm sorry… I-I'm so sorry…" she hiccupped, her voice broken.
Without a second thought, Noah dropped to his knees beside her. Gently, he cupped her face with both hands, wiping the tears streaming down. His voice was soft but firm.
"Di… Di, wake up."
Yunah jolted awake, gasping as if she had been drowning. Her body trembled and tears spilled again, silently this time.
Noah's chest ached at the sight. He couldn't bear it. Pulling her into his arms, he held her tightly, one hand stroking her hair with a calming rhythm. His voice was steady, a whisper against her ear.
"You're safe with me…...go back to sleep."
Her breathing slowed down, her weight sinking against him as if surrendering her fears. Still nestled in his arms and drifted back to sleep, peacefully this time. As her tears dried on his shoulder.
Noah didn't let go, even as the silence returned.