Chapter 62

Noah and Zoe went out for dinner the following day,they hadn’t been taken a car as they intended to stroll back to his house. She was spending the weekend at his house,they had became almost inseparable now and if things were up to Noah,he would have popped the question already.They had been dating for a month and he felt that was enough time to know that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Zoe. After dinner,they left the restaurant hand in hand and then Noah thought about how miserable Tristan had been. “I saw Tristan yesterday.”He began glancing at Zoe. Zoe really didn’t give a fuck about Tristan but Noah continued. “Can you really not tell me where Cora had gone to?” “So you’ll tell Tristan?” “He just wants to apologize.” Zoe stopped walking and turned to face Noah.”Cora is taking time away from him,away from everyone to heal and you want me to lead the one person who broke her straight to her doorstep?” “He’s really remorseful,Zoe.You should’ve seen him.He…he can’t even sleep at his house anymore.I know he did her so much wrong but I…” “Noah,even if he’s remorseful of not,I really don’t want to meddle in this.Because if we do and something goes wrong again,if we do and Tristan hurts her again,do you think we would be able to forgive ourselves?I,for one will not be able to forgive myself.” Noah sighed,heavily.Zoe had a point.Even if he could see how remorseful his friend was but the deed had already been done.He had already hurt Cora too much. Zoe placed her hand on his arm. “With everything that has happened with those two,I don’t think they’re meant to be so it’s better this way,Noah.I believe with time,Tristan will get over his guilt and Cora will get better.I know Tristan is as important to you as Cora is to me but we had agreed not to let our friendship with them affect our relationship.So let’s not argue about this,okay?” Noah beamed at her.”I don’t want to argue about this either and I don’t want it to affect us as well.Like you said,with time,both of them will eventually get better.” Zoe nodded and then she saw a claw vending machine behind them. She smiled,excitedly and hurried up to it.Noah walked up to her.He quickly bought some coins for her.Zoe inserted a coin into the machine but failed to get any teddy bear. Noah laughed when he saw that she had exhausted the coins. “You think this is easy?”She eyed him. He bought more coins.”Let me try.”Noah had originally thought it would be very easy but the claws just kept dropping the teddy bear. Zoe laughed at him but behind that laughter,he could tell she really wanted the teddy bear.He could have easily gotten one from the convenience store nearby but he felt she’d be happier if he got one from this machine so he kept trying. “Noah,that’s enough.Let’s just go home.”Zoe let out when she saw him purchase a fifth set of coins that night. He was even sweating now she was feeling sorry for him but he didn’t listen. He meticulously tried to get a teddy bear with the claw and at long last,he did it. “Here you go.”He said,proudly when he finally handed it to her. Zoe giggled,happily.”Thank you so much.”She let out and hugged him. Noah was all smiles,happy that his hard work was worth it. With how hard she had seen him try to get this,she was going to cherish it for life. “I’m so thirsty.”He let out and saw a store opposite the street.”I’m going to get a bottle of water,do you need anything?”He asked her. “Milkshake.”She replied. He nodded.”Wait here for me.” Zoe smiled at him as she watched as he hurriedly crossed the road. She stared at the cute teddy bear in her hand and smiled.Noah makes her so happy even with the little things he does. ******** As Noah walked back to her with the bottle of water and milkshake in his hand,he saw Zoe talking to a man and then the man’s phone was stretched to her.She took the phone and seemed to be giving him her number. “I’ll text you later.” Noah heard the guy say as he got closer to them. “Oh,Noah.”Zoe grinned at him as she took the milkshake from him. “Who’s this?”He asked,curiously. “This is Jasper.Jasper,this is Noah,my boyfriend.”Zoe introduced. Both men only eyed each other with shaking hands but Noah couldn’t miss the look on Jasper’s eyes. This Jasper was clearly interested in his girlfriend. “I’ll see you around,Zoe.”With that,Jasper walked off. Noah held Zoe’s free hand as they continued walking towards the direction of his house. “Who was that man?”Noah asked,curiously. “Jasper.” “I know.You already said that.I mean,who is he to you?You clearly know him.” “My ex-boyfriend”She replied,honestly. He glanced at her.”The one you caught cheating?” “No.Jasper was my first boyfriend.” That instantly made Noah.”Your…your first love?” “I wouldn’t really call it love.More like puppy love.We dated in high school and when we got into university,we kind of grew apart.” “What made you two grow apart?” “I guess it’s because we attending different universities,I don’t really know,it’s been so long,it’s unimportant.” “So you haven’t seen him ever since?” “Why are we still talking about Jasper?” Noah shrugged.”I saw you give him your number.”He blurted out. Zoe stopped walking.”Does it bother you that I did that?” Noah stared at her.It was at the tip of his tongue to tell him that it bothered him and it had made him upset. Ever since he started dating her,he didn’t give his number or give any wrong signals to any woman who appeared to be interested in him and he had hoped that she was doing the same. After all,they were in a committed relationship but then he recalled why his previous relationship ended. His ex-girlfriend had lots of male friends and it bothered him so much that she was always hanging out with them,calling and texting them and each time he brought it up,she would say he was being paranoid and controlling. Eventually,she told him she has had enough of his controlling attitude and broke up with him.He didn’t know if he was really being controlling,he had only kept telling her what made him feel uneasy in their relationship and he had hoped she would change.It didn’t hurt him too much when that relationship ended because she had always made him feel ill at ease. But Zoe,Zoe had become his home,his safe place,his peace and he knew it would kill him if he were to lose her. He didn’t want her to see him as a paranoid loser and a controlling dude so he bottled up his real feelings and said instead. “It doesn’t.I trust you.He’s just some random boy from your past.I’m your man now and your present.” Zoe smiled at him.”Yes,you are.” **************** That night as they laid down to sleep,Noah sighed,blissfully enjoying the feeling of holding her in his arms when her phone suddenly beeped. Zoe moved away from him to pick up her phone and then he watched her smile at the text and she started to text back. He slowly turned to face the phone. Who was she texting? He kept hearing the beep sound and she even laughing as she continued texting the person. Could it be Jasper? He had said he’d text her later. She couldn’t possibly be texting that man so happily while he was right here? As much as he didn’t want to have any disturbing thoughts,he couldn’t help it. What if that man was trying to win her back? After all,he was her first love.