Chapter 119: Let’s head out for dinner
Noah transformed into a wolf in front of Michael, and though the process seemed grueling, Michael did not look away even once, though it looked uncomfortable.
But his discomfort turned into fascination as Noah drew near to the end of the transformation, and what seemed to be a huge wolf was in the living room, staring into Michael’s eyes with its big golden pupils.
"Wow," Michael exclaimed and hugged him, melting into the comfort of his pelt. "This is great." He exclaimed and Noah nodded.
He couldn’t talk in this form but he had something similar to voice transmission in which he could communicate with his mate.
"How long do you want me to be like this?" He asked through the transmission, and Michael paused, surprised that he was hearing Noah’s voice in his head. "Don’t be surprised. I can communicate with you because you’re my mate."
"Wow, that’s so cool." Michael said, his arms roaming through the fur. "Haa, it feels so nice and comfortable. I wish I could sleep on you like this? Why didn’t I think of this earlier when..." He pissed and pouted his lips. "...it was still fine."
"You would’ve fallen in love with this form even more and made me transform every day." Noah said.
"Well, yeah. Is it difficult?"
"Not exactly difficult but it takes a toll on me to transform regularly since my bones are being restructured in the process." Noah explained and Michael nodded, his gaze falling sadly as he felt roaming his hands through the fur.
It was soft and black and... He didn’t want to let go. This kind of comfort, he wanted to sink into it for a while longer.
But then his stomach grumbled, loudly.
"We’ve delayed quite a lot. Let’s go out and eat." Noah said and Michael pursed his lips, hesitant. But he ended up nodding regardless and said,
"Alright."
Noah transformed back into a human and started putting on his clothes with Michael assisting him from behind.
"Ah, I almost forgot to tell you this," Michael said and Noah glanced over his shoulder to look at him smiling. "As much as you look even more handsome with your hair slicked back, I like you better with your hair down."
Why did he suddenly bring that up?
Maybe he felt it would be too bad if he didn’t let him know his preference right now. It wasn’t like Noah would use it for anything but anyhow...
"Then, shall we head out?"
"Yes," Noah said, taking his hand and kissing it. "Let’s head out for dinner."
They walked out, hand in hand and fully clothed to keep out the cold.
Noah made sure to wrap the scarf around Michael’s neck properly and even covered his mouth.
"Is this necessary?" Michael asked, his voice muffled through the scarf and Noah laughed.
"Yes, I can’t have you catching a cold." Noah said, gently patting his head. "It’s so cold outside."
"I know. I went out for a while too, remember?" Michael asked, attempting to pull down the scarf but Noah grabbed his arm and shook his head. "What?"
"Let’s just say it’s a kind of disguise," Noah said and then helped him put on the beanie. "This way, even if someone spots you, they can’t tell your identity and..." He grabbed his arm. "... you’ll be safe."
It was so like Noah to be cautious and knowing the reason he was going this far, Michael smiled happily and nodded his head.
"Alright." He said. "I’ll keep it on. But you have to cover up as well. You’re quite the eye-catcher; you know that?"
He picked up a cap and placed it on Noah’s head, their gaze locked in that instant and Michael smiled.
Noah leaned down and kissed him on the lips lightly and softly.
They made their way out shortly after that, hand in hand, and walked the whole way.
There was snow piled on the paths and there were more people on the roads compared to earlier.
"This feels nice." Michael heard Noah say and then smiled.
"Yeah, it sure does." He hardened his grip on Noah’s hand.
They got to the restaurant and were talking heartily. It was a top floor that had a window view. There weren’t a lot of people, but some were there, spending their Christmas evening with a candle-lit dinner.
It was nice and while they talked so much, laughing and smiling at each other, Noah reached for Michael’s hand with the hand that had the ring.
As soon as he caught Michael’s hand, Michael looked up and found him smiling at him.
"I wanna give you a ring as well." He said and Michael looked at the ring in his finger.
"Why? Are you jealous of my gift?" Michael asked, taking it lightly but Noah shook his head and said,
"I want anyone who approaches you to know that you belong to someone. You belong to me." He said and gently pulled Michael’s hand closer and kissed it.
This made Michael’s heart warm up and he smiled.
"Sure. But how will you give it to me?" Michael asked and then his eyes widened, thinking Noah would try to see him again before he left. "Will you get it and come to me?"
"No, that’s too risky." Noah said, dashing Michael’s hopes. "I wish I could but sorry." He sadly said, his eyes falling down. "I’m not doing enough for you."
"No, that’s okay. This is enough already." Michael said and smiled. "If you give me a ring, however, if it’s through Sebastian of Alyssa, I’ll take it, and I’ll appreciate it. But I’d appreciate it better if you gave it to me with your own hands." He smiled sadly.
"Michael,"
"Well, I can’t have it all, right?" Michael asked and laughed but even that laugh felt forced.
He was trying hard to hide his disappointment.
Noah clenched his fist. Maybe he should take the risk?
No, but what if it leads to a bigger issue?
He shouldn’t try to feed his greed.
"I’m sorry, Michael." He said and let go.
Michael nodded and turned his gaze towards the see-through glass, gazing out into the world.
Whatever it was, he wasn’t going to leave until the new year so even if he couldn’t see Noah, he would be in that house where they shared so many memories for a little longer.
"It’s fine." He said and genuinely smiled this time. "I’m prepared for this."
After their dinner, they walked down and Michael noticed Sebastian waiting by the car.
Wait, was he going to leave from here?
He turned to Noah who looked sadly at him.
"Already?" He asked and Noah nodded, forcing him to bite his lips and furrow his eyebrows.
He immediately threw his body on Noah, burying his head in his chest and hugging him tightly.
"I’ll miss you. I’ll miss you so much." He said, his eyes tearing up and Noah hugged him back, dropping his head on Michael’s.
"I’ll miss you too, Michael."
They stayed like that for a while, giving each other warmth.
Sebastian watched but could not even think of anything concerning this situation. He only thought it was rather unfortunate.
He could see their pain and feel it, but he couldn’t understand it.
Maybe it was because he had been alive for way too long to remember the feeling of parting with someone precious. In the first place, he had no one precious.
The time he had someone precious to him was... Ah, the topic caused his throat to itch.
It was a topic that he couldn’t even bear to think about. The memories were blurry as well but when he thought of the feeling of parting with someone precious, the feeling he had long forgotten came back to him.
It was torture. It was cruel.
He... He didn’t want to remember it.
He placed his hand on his chest, his heart thumping painfully and an expression of anguish washed over his face.
Why did he have to remember that feeling now?
He couldn’t even remember her face. All he remembered was the smile she always smiled at him and the sun shining brightly behind her head.
It was such a warm feeling to be with her. It was so beautiful.
"Sebastian," She would call.
The memories were gone so why now? Why did they come back?
"Sebastian," Noah called and Sebastian paused, raising his head to find Noah looking at him and Michael wiping the tears in his eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked.
Sebastian knew he had shown a side of him he shouldn’t have so he quickly apologized.
"I apologize, sir. I... It won’t happen again."
But Noah didn’t care about that. He just wanted to know if he was okay. The way he held his chest and his face twisted made him worried that something might’ve happened for Sebastian, who seldomly expressed any expressions, to look so anguished.
"You’re not in pain or anything, right?" He asked and Sebastian nodded, though his heart was still racing.
"I’m completely fine, Sir." He said.
