Ineffable

18 | GOOD NIGHT

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Iris

"Want to get out of here?" Noah asks me, looking down at me.

We have been sitting at the same place for two hours, two minutes and thirty-one seconds as we have been looking at the sky. Ever since I have told him, Noah hasn't said anything to me, and I don't mind that. I like the silence. It helps me to gather my thoughts well.

I laugh, genuinely.

He raises his eyebrows. "Why did you laugh?"

"Just... wanted to," I reply, tilting my face as I look at him. "Also, I am hungry," I add, shrugging.

"Should have told me," He says, getting up.

I keep on sitting while I give him a fake incredulous look. "I thought you were gonna say something about eating and then, we were gonna go to those 24/7 diners I see in movies but have never visited."

He narrows his eyes a bit and I frown. Well, I didn't just say that for no reply, am I right?

"Come on, Bella." He holds out his hand.

"I don't have your car keys."

His lips twitch upwards. Noah looks at me with amusement and says, "I am asking for your hand, Bella, this time."

"I can't cut it and—"

He takes my hand and pulls me up.

"Bella," He starts as I stand, and I look at him in surprise. "You are incorrigible."

I can't stop the smile from spreading across my face. "I know."

***

After a comfortable car ride to one of the 24/7 diners (yes, he listened to me), we are sitting in a booth in a corner.

"Ew, mustard." I shudder a bit, looking at Noah as he puts it in his very large burger, smirking at me.

"You are missing out," He says, eating his burger.

"I am happy I am missing out," I tell him as I eat my quadruple-decker cheese and chicken sandwich.

"So..." I look at him, confused, as his fingers run through his hair. "Your middle name's Katherine?"

I smile. "No. Officially, I don't have a middle name. It is just something Grandpa called me when he wanted to be firm because saying just Iris Cooper doesn't have any impact."

"Well, I don't disagree with him."

I roll my eyes. "Stupid."

He winks. "Only for you, Bella."

"What about your middle name?" I ask, keeping my elbows on the table.

He copies the same posture and asks back, "What about my middle name?"

"Like what's the relevance? You know like Daisy has Annabeth because it is Halmoni's name. Halmoni means grandmother in Korean and I mean Dad's mom here; in case you were wondering."

"Korean?"

"Dad and Caleb's mom were adopted into a Korean family."

"Ah," He nods. "As far as I know, Nonna and Grandmother came to a decision to call me Arthur-they still do-but it became my middle name."