Chapter 159: Hm, it makes me feel relaxed?
"Daddy," Olivia called and then turned her face to look at him with her puppy eyes. "I don’t want to go to school today. Let me stay with you today."
Noah paused for a moment, staring at his daughter’s eyes.
Ah, what was he supposed to do at this point?
He believed this was the time when he would tell her that school was important and it wasn’t good to skip school, but the more he looked into those eyes, the more reason he had to allow her not to go to school.
First, he wanted them to bond as a family. Second, he wanted them to bond as a family, ahem. And third, she just said she wanted to spend time with her Daddy, whom she was meeting after so long, so they needed time to bond as a family.
Convinced by these reasons, he responded,
"Alright, you don’t have to go to school." He said and her eyes twinkled.
What was just filled with tears a moment ago was twinkling like a child who had entered Disneyland for the first time.
"Really, Daddy? No take backs."
"Yes, yes, you can stay with us." He hugged her.
"But what if Papa says I have to go to school?" She asked, looking back at Michael who was sound asleep.
"You don’t have to worry. Your Papa won’t wake up any time soon. So, by the time he wakes up, it would already be way past the time to take you to school." He said and Olivia felt happy.
She didn’t hate school.
She was friends with all her classmates, and her teachers loved her because she was very smart and mature, but there were times when kids would rather want to stay home than go to school, and spend time with the people they’re most familiar with.
"Then, Daddy, will you rub my tummy?" She asked, which came off as odd to Noah.
"What does that do?"
"Hm, it makes me feel relaxed?" She sounded like she wasn’t sure, but she definitely wanted that at this moment, so Noah did it.
He rubbed her tummy.
Even against her nightdress, he could feel her big tummy that was suited to her age. She was small.
He wondered if all five-year-olds were this small or if she was just smaller than her age. Probably, right?
He had never met another child before so he couldn’t tell. But she was definitely fragile.
A little slip-up could break her.
It was probably cause she was a child. Neither Michael nor he was that fragile.
He had worked Michael to the extreme just a moment ago, but he still didn’t break.
’I guess children are born fragile.’ He thought and kissed the top of her head.
He looked towards Michael and pulled him in as well, kissing the top of his head.
"Good night." He muttered and then fell asleep.
Michael had a dream that night.
He was in Noah’s arms. Everything felt just right, and he no longer had to be lonely, but then, Noah turned into dust, leaving him alone in their big bed.
"Noah?" He called out, looking around but it was dark.
The room was dark, and the bed that once had white sheets was gradually turning dark, and then a spark of flames caught the edge of the bed sheets.
"Noah!" Michael called once more but there was no answer. He called again, but this time, it looked like his voice wouldn’t come out.
The room was on fire and the fire was slowly getting to where he was.
He couldn’t even call for help if he wanted to. He needed to get out of there to stay safe but his heart was more occupied with finding Noah than getting to safety.
He was scared and his tears began to fall.
Noah had left him again. And soon, he would be burned by the embers of loneliness.
He could feel his heart ripping to pieces and his body burning up.
"Noah," he called once again and then he shut his eyes open, waking up with heavy pants and cold sweat dripping down his skin.
Was that a dream?
"Noah," he instinctively called, and turned his head to find Noah sleeping peacefully next to him. His raging and unsettling heart quickly fell at ease.
Noah was right next to him. That was all just a dream.
He felt relieved and snuggled into his arms.
"Oh, Noah," he muttered.
"What’s the matter?" Noah asked as he woke up.
Michael’s snuggling woke him up from sleep.
"I just want to hold you." Michael said and Noah felt the discomfort he was feeling in his heart. He held him close and kissed the top of his head.
"Alright," he said. "Do you want to sleep more?"
"Hm," Michael answered, snuggling more. "What time is it?" He asked and Noah reached for his phone.
"A little past 11." He answered.
"Alright. We should probably get breakfast and..." He raised his head to look into Noah’s eyes. He was feeling hot down there. "What about a quick round?"
"Michael, you need to calm down." Noah said, covering his face as he felt he would be tempted if he looked into those alluring eyes for even a second.
"Come on, just one round." Michael said but Noah shook his head.
"We did it till you passed out this morning." Noah pointed out.
"So what? That just means I was exhausted. I feel full of life now." Michael said, slowly sliding his hand into Noah’s robe and then whispered. "Just put it in and we can--"
"Are you awake, Papa?" Olivia’s little voice rang in the room and Michael flinched.
Olivia?
He quickly took his hand out of Noah’s robe and looked down at her standing by the door.
She was still in her nightdress.
Michael looked confused.
It was already past 11 so what was she still doing here?
"Olivia, honey, why aren’t you in school?" Michael asked and she giggled.
"It’s because Olivia wants to spend time with Papa and Daddy today." She smiled. "And Daddy says it’s okay not to go to school."
Michael turned his head to Noah, who instinctively averted his eyes, sensing danger.
"You told your daughter what?"
