It's Okay To Be Different

Grateful

Chapter 23 : Grateful

"She sabotaged it 8 years ago."

I raised by eyebrow in confusion, to which he shrugged and started noting down notes. The class passed smoothly.

We reached the cafeteria and I bought a sandwich with coffee. We took a corner table and I started digging into the cheesy heaven. Few minutes passed and Noah joined us. I looked at Ryan but he didn't seem to be bothered by that, which is a good thing I guess.

Noah read the confused expression and smiled. I smiled back, still in confusion.

"We talked it out." Ryan spoke out. "Stop staring at each other now."

Noah smirked and I grinned looking at my coffee.

I wanted to know what happened between them but I didn't feel like I had the right to after rejecting him. We joked around for few minutes and it literally felt good to know they made up. I wondered what happened due to which they were suddenly close. Days ago, Ryan complained about how Noah sent guys to murder him and now we are here, on the same table, spending our break time together.

I smiled pushing away my thoughts and focusing on the present.

Ryan's POV

She was smiling regardless the confusion which was further puzzling up inside her mind.

I kept looking at her and was thinking about when to tell her. Yesterday was full of chaos and someone would have ended up in the hospital if it wasn't for Haans.

Yesterday. At an isolated place secured by Haans' men

"What is he doing here?" Noah screamed when he saw Ryan along with Lucas sitting on the entrance of what seemed like an old building.

"Noah, it's better if you cooperate." Haans calmly said and started walking towards Lucas and Ryan.

"Why did I even trust you enough to follow you here? I'm out of this place." Noah started to walked in the opposite direction until Ryan's voice stopped him.

"Noah, let's end it all." He turned back, unsure of what Ryan was talking about.

"What the fuck do you mean by that?" Noah spat those words out with all the rage he had buried inside him.

"I'm telling you to be honest. To clear all the misunderstandings. Please let's just put an end to it." Ryan said calmly.

"End to it? Be honest? With who? The guy who wished his uncle and aunt were dead? The one who was so selfish to say fucking cruel things to his only family left?"

Ryan's eyes turned red but no one understood whether it was anger or guilt. His fists curled but he didn't move from his place. Lucas' face was blank while Haans eyes was widened.

"What the fuck, Noah? You are talking as if you're an innocent puppy." Lucas defended.

"I never wished for anyone to die at least." Noah spat looking straight into Ryan's eyes. Challenging him.

Silence hung in the air for few seconds until Ryan broke it.

"I was crazy. I know. I was stupid to say that. But I can't change it now. I am grateful for what I have at this moment, including you." Noah's eyes narrowed but no one knew the pain he was going through.

"Noah, all I know so far is that you are not what you show. Nothing is what I thought it was. And I want to change things now. I'm done being weak. I want us to be like.." his words paused as he looked down. "to be like brothers." his voice cracked as he remembered how his father wanted them to get along.

Noah laughed at the last words. "Brothers? Don't tempt me to murder you now."

"Don't test my patience, Noah." Ryan looked at his step brother. With hurt and anger on his face, Noah marched towards Ryan and threw a fist punch leading him to stumble back. Lucas went to hit Noah while Haans tried to help Ryan. Ryan got up quickly and grabbed Lucas' elbow to prevent him from hitting Noah. Haans stood their looking at all three of them.

Noah smirked as he kicked Lucas on his thigh and he went to punch Ryan again. However, Ryan ducked this time as grabbed Noah from back. Noah attacked Ryan with his elbow several time until it worked. Ryan stumbled back. Lucas covered Ryan while keeping an eye on Noah.

He ran towards the two but a gun shot caused him to shake and turn back. Haans stood with his hand holding a gun, facing the sky.

"I won't hesitate to shoot any of you cause the company is thousand times more important to me." He looked dead serious. Lucas knew enough to look down at his feet while Noah looked puzzled.

"Don't test me kid." Haans said while sliding the gun back into his suit.

"All of you. Inside the building."

Haans was a funny guy but Lucas and Ryan knew the consequence they would face if they disobeyed him at moments like this. They looked at each other and headed towards a small block of building which looked super old.

They stepped inside and found everything in there to be shabby and old. Haans crossed the three boys and pulled up a tile from the floor. Steps came into the scene as Lucas and Ryan looked at each other in surprise while Noah's eyes stayed narrowed on Haans the whole time.

They all went down and found an office with people working on computers.

"Follow me." Haans directed them to a small office with white marble floor and the place was luxurious.

"Have a seat." They sat on the sofa at a corner while Haans stood beside his desk.

"Noah. You have two options. Leave this place and have a hand in your mom's works. But I promise you, I'm gonna destroy everything your mom built so far. Second, stay with us. At least we'll make sure your mom is not given a death sentence for killing my brother."

Lucas stayed neutral while Noah looked down. Ryan turned to his side to find Noah already aware of the truth.

"You knew it?" Ryan asked while he held onto his emotions.

"And you still wanted to kill me?" Ryan asked again while Haans shook his head.

"It wasn't Noah. Those attacks, it was his mom. He was taking the blame so that she didn't have any on her." Haans was the only man who knew everything in the room

"Not all of them. I hated you at one point."

"So you don't now?" Lucas looked at Noah. Noah ignored him and turned to Haans.

"My mom is not bad. She cares for me. It's not her fault." Noah defended his beloved mother with all his gut but he knew he was wrong.

Haans sighed as they wrapped up the matter. Everything was now to happen smoothly, if only Noah's mom didn't had something else cooking.

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A/N

Hate me for being lazy. I won't blame you. It was a break kind of thing. And the comeback chapter is kind of boring I know but there's been a hell lot going on recently and I have so many stories in my mind that I want to write all of them here. But my school work is going pretty badly so I gotta concentrate there. I'll try to update twice a week but once a week for sure.

I, again, apologize for the delay. Next chapter is a roller coaster.

Speacial thanks to 5_bumblebee
arpitapatelyoyo for sticking even when I was being irregular. Have a great time ya both.