Chapter Five - The deal, His terms

Noah didn’t sleep that night.

His room was a small cubicle at the end of the hallway. It could only fit in his bed and a reading table. The small window high on the wall was half opened yet the room was a furnace.

Noah was stretched out on his student-sized mattress with eyes to the ceiling. Exhaustion sat behind those eyes like bruising.

He had spent the entire night awake thinking of his debts. He calculated the numbers over and over again in the dark, as if they might somehow rearrange themselves out of mercy.

The loud bang on the door wasn’t a wakeup call but a call to reality for Noah. He didn't move until the knock came a second time. It was Max, the building manager. Noah wasn’t surprised. Neither did he have the strength to plead.

“I have been patient with you,” Max said, ignoring his tired looks.

Noah just stared on.

“Noah?”

Noah staggered back. “I have it already. I will bring it to your room tonight when I get back.”

Max weighed him for a bit, unsure if to believe or not. He gives up.

“If I don't get it tonight, I am kicking you out,” Max bounces away.

The sound of his footsteps can still be heard even after Noah closed the door.

Noah picked up his phone and immediately bluttered. “Oh, shit!”

He quickly slid into the jumpers and hood that slept on the chair through the night, grabbed his bag and dashed out.

---

The door to the lecture hall creaked open, getting everyone's attention.

Noah entered and instantly wished the ground would swallow him. He put on a brave face and walked quietly to his regular spot.

“Hey,” he whispered to Bena, sitting down

“Hey..You look like a zombie.”

Noah managed a weak smile. “Well, the price of being a student.”

“Had a busy night, Mr. Ola?” Elliott asked.

Noah felt the words settle like weight.

“A little bit, sir,” Noah answered.

“More important than your classes?”

Noah stammered. “I… N…”

“The very reason you are at Valemont in the first place,” he added.

“It won't happen again sir.”

“Of course it won't.”

Elliott returned to the rest of the class. “Well that is it for today. I will be expecting your papers to be turned in next week.”

He packed up his books and left. A few students followed suit, hoping to have a discussion with him.

Noah and Bena remained seated. Her worried eyes were over Noah for the longest time.

“Are you okay?” She finally asked.

“Yes. Just didn't get enough sleep.”

“Don't let the mail get to you. I'm sure they will extend the exam registration deadline.”

“Exam registration? What mail?”

She hesitated. “The admin office sent another reminder to those yet to pay up tuition fees.”

His stomach dropped. “What reminder?”

“You didn't know?”

He shook his head.

“They’re freezing portal access for unpaid fees.”

He leaned back into the chair, deflating like a punctured tire as he exhaled a long, slow stream of air that seemed to carry away the last of his hope, leaving him feeling empty in the middle of the quiet room.

Bena put her hand over his and gave a gentle squeeze.

“When?” he asked.

"By Weekend."

He forced a neutral nod. “Thanks.”

Bena watched him carefully. “Noah…”

“I’m fine.” He looked at her with a smile through his misery ridden face.

She forced a smile back at him.

---

That evening, Black Halo felt different.

In private room 9, Noah got up from his knees, wiping his mouth while a client zipped up his trousers.

He dipped his hands into his pocket, brought out a bill and hooked to Noah's strap.

Noah's eyes widen. He removed the bill and examined it.

“My money is not complete.”

“Tell that to your manager. That was what I was charged.”

Noah looked shocked. “I gave you a blow.”

“And I barely came.” He grumbled.

Noah stormed out and into the fairly crowded hall of Black Halo. His brows furrowed as he surveyed the space.

Finally, his eyes caught Damien by the bar, putting glasses on a tray to carry. He hastened up to him.

Shoving the bil to his face, Noah barked. “This is what I get for giving a blow?”

Damien didn't loose composure.

“I told you, you are slipping.” He dropped the tray then continued, “I practically had to beg him to accept you.”

“What?”

“Last week, you were the star of Black Halo. But this week, you are barely present even when you're here. Missing your steps during polling, barely showing interests to clients in private bookings and even missing outcall services without communicating.”

Noah had calmed down and guilt well written over his face.

Damien sighed. “What is going on?”

“I got an offer.” Noah resigned to being truthful. “He wants me exclusively for himself.”

“I see.”

“Five times what I earn here weekly.”

“Then why are you still here?”

Noah sat on a stool. “I don't know.”

“You do.” Damien pulled a stool and sat across from him.

“You know the moment you accept that money, you sign off your rights to him. He will own you.”

Noah shrugged. “Well, I don't think it will be happening again because he hasn't been here since that night and haven't bothered to ask me what my answer is.”

“Well, men like that don’t chase. They wait.”

The truth sank into Noah.

Damien got up. “Don’t let someone buy you because you’re tired.”

He carried the tray and walked away.

Noah didn’t respond.

---

His final set ended past midnight. The locker room was nearly empty when he sat down. He emptied his pockets on the table. Folded cash, a key set and a card. He arranged the cash and counted.

“Barely enough for rent,” he mumbled.

He tucked them into his pocket then picked up his keys and the card. He held on to it for a moment, staring at it.

The number hadn’t changed, he thought. But everything else had. There was Max waiting for him at home to pay rent or be thrown out. There was tuition due in 3 days or his admission will be withdrawn.

He stared at the phone on the table. His eyes lingering, contemplating.

He looked away. He could apply for another job, borrow, beg, continue like this, or, choose differently.

He picked the phone up and dialed the number. He held on, his thumb hovering over the number.

He inhaled deeply, then pressed call.

It rang. Each second stretched thin. No answer.

He dialed the second time. After what seemed like eternity, the line clicked.

“Elliott.”

His voice was calm and sounded awake.

Noah swallowed.

"It's Noah."

A pause.

"You finally called. Why this late?"

“You said to take my time.”

“I did,” Elliott replied flatly.

Noah leaned back into the chair, staring at the ceiling.

“I have terms.”

Silence on the other end. Then…

“I’m listening.”

“No public acknowledgment,” Noah said first. “Not here. Not on campus.”

“Okay.”

“No interference with my academics.”

Noah hesitated.

“And I set availability around my schedule.”

A beat.

“Within reason,” Elliott replied.

That was a subtle push. Noah caught it and it didn't go well with him

“I won’t jeopardize my degree for...”

“You won’t need to,” Elliott cut in

The certainty in his tone unsettled him again.

“And payment,” Noah continued, forcing steadiness, “is transferred monthly. Upfront.”

“Of course.”

Silence lingered between them.

“You understand,” Elliott said quietly, “that this means I expect you to be unavailable to others. Not even a love interest.”

Noah closed his eyes.

“I understand.”

“And?”

He exhaled slowly.

“I accept.”

The word felt heavier than it should. Noah knew his life was about to take a turn and worse, he had no idea what was waiting for him ahead but he was almost certain it wasn't good.

Elliott did not celebrate neither did he gloat.

“Good,” he said softly.

“When do we begin?” Noah asked.

“Tomorrow evening,” Elliott replied. “I’ll send a location. And you will get your money first thing in the morning.”

Noah nodded once before realizing the gesture couldn’t be seen.

“Fine.”

He ended the call first.

The locker room felt quieter than before. Noah looked down at his hands. They were steady. He wasn’t sure if that was strength or shock.