MasukI had just finished a meeting when Noah’s mother called me. I didn’t even know how she got my number. Well, probably from my useless father.“Yes?” I said, my voice calm, far from the way I used to treat her.“Hey. Uh, are you busy?”“I am. Why?”“Can we meet? I just want to ask you something. If only you can make time.”My eyes narrowed. What does she want from me? This is the first time she has approached me, and I don’t think this is nothing for her to even ask me to meet her.“About what?”“About my son.”“What about him?” I tried hard to sound cool.“I think it’s better if we talk about this in person. But if you’re busy today, we can schedule it whenever you’re free.”“No!” I answered almost immediately. Then, realizing I’d overreacted, I cleared my throat and tried to backtrack. “I mean, no—uh, yes, I think I can. Wait, let me just check my schedule for today.”I pushed my office door open and went in. I muted the call before asking my secretary to clear my schedule for the day
I drove Noah to his condo and changed him into comfortable clothes. As much as I wanted to spend more time with him, I couldn’t.I pushed open my condo door, and as expected, he was there again, sitting on the couch, patiently waiting for me.He stood up and greeted me with a smirk. He leaned in as if to kiss me, but I shoved him away and gave him a glare.“Fuck off,” I hissed.He’s Jacob, my obsessed ex-boyfriend. He came back months ago and started hitting on me again.Of all my exes, he lasted the longest. Maybe because, somehow, we got along on a lot of things.“Not now,” I said, fighting irritation.He scoffed. “Where have you been? It’s already dawn. Why are you just getting home now?”I bumped his arm as I walked past him.“Answer me, Kade.”I looked at him over my shoulder. “Stop calling me that.”The corner of his mouth lifted. “Why? Isn’t that what I used to call you? It didn’t bother you before, did it?”“Before,” I emphasized, mocking him, “I can’t believe you’re still as
Rage flared up in my chest the moment I heard someone tell Noah he should make out with someone.Who the hell was that asshole? I wanted to punch his face until it bled.My anger flared even more when he hung up. I tried calling him again, but he didn’t pick up. Damn it!I could tell he was in a bar from the background noise on the call. I decided to go to the bar he usually hung out at.I couldn’t rest all night until I was sure he was in his condo and alone.I kept muttering curses under my breath as I left my condominium building. On the way, all kinds of scenarios ran through my head. Make out my ass. I gritted my teeth, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Whoever touches Noah’s skin will suffer for the rest of their life.When I got to the bar owned by one of his friends, I scanned the place, but I failed to find him. He wasn’t there. I had no choice but to go back to my car.“Damn it, Noah. Don’t do something stupid,” I muttered.He won’t do it, will he? I don’t want to imagine
Days passed, and we never got the chance to talk it over and fix the problem in our relationship. He never came back to my condo after that, and I just let him. Sometimes we only talked through messages or on the phone—just checking in. Nothing more, nothing less.I could feel how our relationship had changed. Sometimes it feels like we’re not really together anymore. But maybe this was what we needed after all: a break from each other, but not a breakup.I’ve been busier with work lately, so whenever I got home, I would go straight to bed. Maybe that was for the best so I wouldn’t think about him that much.“Come on, Noah, come with us.”I had just finished a shoot for a commercial for one of the brands I endorse, and my co-models were pushing me to go to a bar with them. I refused, saying I was too tired, but they wouldn’t take no for an answer.“Pancho, try to convince Noah!” someone shouted, teasing us.Pancho, who was sitting across from us, shook his head but smirked.Pancho is
I woke up with a pounding headache. I rubbed my temples as I sat up in bed.“Fuck hangovers,” I muttered.“I told you to stop drinking so much when you’re alone.”My eyes fluttered open when I heard Kayden’s voice. He was right in front of me, standing with one hand on his waist. He was glaring at me, as if punishing me for something.I looked at him lazily.“Oh, you’re here,” I said flatly.“Oh, you’re here?” he repeated, dripping with sarcasm.“Why are you here?” I asked instead.“What do you mean by that?”His brow tightened further, like he was barely holding himself back on the verge of snapping.“Why? You’re never home anyway. Feels unusual.” I couldn’t hide the bitterness in my voice.I kept telling myself I’d try to understand him in every way I could, but I couldn’t shake what my friends had said the night before. It kept playing in my head like a broken record.I heard him sigh and sit on the bed.“Hey.” He tried to take my hand, but I pulled away immediately. “Hey, baby…” H
“I can’t come home tonight, Noah. I’m sorry.”“How about tomorrow? Hmm?” I asked in my soft tone, a bit hopeful.“I can’t either. I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to you next time.”“How about the other day—”“Hey, Kay—” It was another voice on the other line.“I’m gonna end the call now. I’ve got a really important meeting. Talk to you later. I love you. Bye.”He didn’t wait for me to reply before the call ended. I heaved a deep sigh before dropping my butt down on the couch.It’s been a couple of weeks since he became very distant. We barely even spend time with each other as he is always busy. He said he’s just busy taking care of the company. I should understand him. Even I was a bit busy with the lineup of my schedule, so I shouldn’t make a big deal out of it.However, as it continued to happen, I began to doubt things even if I didn’t want to.“I’m coming to the company,” I informed.“What?!” he overreacted.My forehead knitted. “I said I’m on my way to the company. I’ve brough







