Love In Memory's Wake

Chapter 22

Hana secretly talked to her party manager to not bother Noah about the incident and said she will take full responsibility for it.

She was scared her father might punish the guy just to satisfy the model's agency when he didn't do anything wrong.

After talking to Noah that night and hearing each other's story, she felt comfortable with him knowing they are almost in the same boat.

Noah's mother lives off of gambling but most of the time, she loses all their money. Leaving nothing for food at all, the reason Noah started working at an early age. He never met his father but he was actually thankful for it since he heard from their neighbors that he was the one who taught her bad habits.

He stopped school and started taking more part time jobs after their house got wrecked by the loan sharks. He desperately needed to pay his mother's debt so he would often get taken advantage of but he tries his best to fight back and earn legal and morally. That's how he ended up working for Hana's birthday after begging a friend of his. He submitted fake IDs, etc. Just to get the job.

After that night, they had no time to see each other in the morning so Hana never got Noah's number.

They flew back home and she immediately asked for the Manager's number then asked the manager for Noah's contact.

She called him the moment she landed and asked to see him.

She felt comfortable talking to him so she wanted to keep him close. It's not like anyone knows her real story and still looks at her normally. There was no judgement in his eyes. No pity. He looks at her and sees her. And she loved that.

They were together so much that Hana's group started digging about Noah. At first they were mad at him for taking Hana away but when they met him, they asked her to always bring him so their eyes could rest from all the stress.

Noah started hanging around Hana's friends too and they bonded nicely. He adjusts very quickly and is very polite to them which they like.

It was like time just passed by and it's already been 2 years since they met. It is now Hana's 20th birthday party.

She plopped on the long couch and groaned from the pain of her feet.

It's 2 in the morning and the club is still lively and loud. Everyone is drinking and dancing. She's been living her life freely ever since she turned 18. Going out, partying, and flirting so much since her father cared much less to her now as long as she doesn't get pregnant or die of drugs because that would humiliate him. Hana was sure those two won't happen because first, she only does kisses and second, she doesn't do drugs.

Hana almost had a heart attack when someone suddenly held her feet and pulled her.

"Ah! What the fuck!" She kicked him.

Noah laughed and rubbed his stomach, "Ouch, that hurts!" He complained before lifting her legs a little to sit down and then put them on top of his lap. "Why is the birthday girl laying down in the corner like a dead twig?"

She lifted her leg and poked his thigh with her heels.

"Hey!" He pushed it down. "Don't do that."

"What? It hurts?" She smirked.

He clicked his tongue and glared at her, "You're wearing a dress, dumbass."

"So?"

He gave her an annoyed look. As if judging how she could be so dumb. "You wanna display your underwear for everyone to see?"

Hana laughed at him being overprotective, "At least it'd make the headlines."

He rolled his eyes, clearly not having it. "No one would want to see that."

She rose using her forearms, "Even you?" She asked.

She knows Noah doesn't see her that way but it's fun for her to tease him since she knows she can affect him even a little. He's still a guy after all.

His attention went back to her. He stared at her which made her a little nervous. Hana was about to ask him what he wanted when he suddenly leaned close to her.

Her heart beats quickly, it's almost jumping out of her chest. She couldn't move because if she does, it's either she will fall or kiss him. And neither is good.

"Especially me." He answered before sitting back properly.

Hana glared at him. She knew she shouldn't want him to say he wants to see her underwear but the way he said it made it sound like he's disgusted by her...or she's too drunk to understand, she doesn't know.

Hana punched his arm, "Why? Am I disgusting, huh?"

He winced as he rubbed his arm. He glared back at her and said, "Yeah, definitely."

She sat up and wrapped an arm around his neck while her legs were still on his lap. She playfully strangled him, "I'm disgusting, huh?! Say that again!"

Noah laughed as he struggled to remove her arm with one hand. "Hey, careful!" He said while holding her knees down with the other hand so she won't lift her legs and accidentally show her undergarment.

Hana noticed that and let go of him. She laid back down and pouted.

"What? Dizzy?" He asked. Sounding worried.

"No." She said. "My feet hurt."

He chuckled, "That's what you get for dancing so much."

"It's my birthday!"

"I never said it wasn't."

"I have to dance and have fun! I know how to have fun, unlike you!"

He raised his brows after hearing that, "Unlike me?"

"Yeah! All you do is drink a little and look around." She nagged, "I did not invite you to watch people have fun! I bring you with me to parties so you can be happy too! Stop acting like a security guard keeping people in check!"

He laughed at her drunken nagging. "I don't act like a security guard, excuse me."

"Yeah right."

He can't help but smile at her adorable attitude. Her lips are always pouted when she's annoyed and Noah finds it incredibly cute.

"I don't keep people in check." He argued. "I keep YOU in check."

She looked at him, "Why?"

"Because you drink so much."

"So?"

"You cause trouble."

"No way." She glared at him. Not accepting the truth.

He chuckled as he reached for her feet to remove her heels. "Yes, you do. If I don't keep you well and away from troubles..." He started massaging it, "You'd get hurt again."

He's still the same. Always thinking about her. Always worrying to keep her out of trouble so her Dad won't raise his hand on her again.

It always bothered Hana how much Noah cared for her but she never asked him about it. She never complained. She secretly... secretly enjoyed it. His care. His attention. His hand on her.

She closed her eyes and focused on the massage. Not caring if the music is too loud. If people are passing by and seeing them.

After a long quiet massage, she broke the silence. "Noah."

"Yeah?" He answered almost instantly. He turned to look at her face. "Sleepy?"

She shook her head, her eyes still closed.

"Then?"

She pushed herself up to sit down. "I'm..." She swallowed, "I think I..." She leaned in and held onto him.

"Yeah? What is it?" He asked as he grabbed her shoulder to stop her from falling off the couch.

"I'm... gonna—" and before she could even finish her sentence, she threw up all over him.