Fran had been busy for the past couple of weeks. He spent his time researching and preparing for a report with his groupmates. Because of the situation, his time for reading books had been greatly affected, of course, that was also the case with the time he had spent hanging out with Noah.
As a matter of fact, they didn’t meet at all for the entire two weeks. Fran was busy with his report while Noah had his own things to do, too. Although, they were still talking and texting the entire time.
However, it didn’t mean that Noah was entirely absent during this time. Yes, they didn’t meet in person, though, Noah made sure that he wouldn’t be forgotten by sending/buying food to/for Fran and his groupmates for the entire two weeks that they were working on their report.
Fran’s groupmates were thrilled by Noah’s generosity. Fran was happy, too. Though, there came a time when Fran thought Noah was being too much. He told Noah that it was okay to stop. However, Noah insisted, and as if he was triggered by Fran’s desire to stop him; aside from food, Noah also sent random gifts to Fran’s groupmates.
Fran knew how kindhearted Noah was. Though, Fran also knew that something was not right. Noah was trying too hard to ‘win’ his groupmates’ favor. For what reason was he doing something like that? Fran couldn’t understand.
“Well, like he’s trying too hard just to be on your good side?” Fran remembered what Addie said about Noah.
Also, that time when Noah looked angry during their minor accident but did not voice out his rage and just went back to his normal self as if nothing had happened—was still fresh in Fran’s mind.
He wanted to understand where Noah was coming from. So, Fran decided to talk to Noah in person. The day after the group report was finished, Fran went to S University (he didn’t have class that day) to meet Noah so they could talk.
Noah had no idea Fran was going to be there. Based on Noah’s text message to him that morning, there was a basketball game in Court C. Noah was playing, so Fran went there.
Many students were watching the game. Fran sat down on an empty bleacher. He was sitting far from the other students. He watched the game intently.
It was not an official game, but all the players were playing seriously. Because of his height advantage, Noah was undoubtedly the best player among the people on the court. Fran didn’t know how to play basketball, though it was still easy for him to tell that Noah could be a professional basketball player because of his moves.
“Don’t you think Noah is too perfect?” Fran sighed. Yes, Noah was too perfect.
In all honesty, Fran did not mind Noah being the Mr. Perfect that he was. However, was it really that simple? What if there was a deeper meaning behind Noah’s behavior? That was Fran’s main concern. He wanted to know Noah more than what he was showing him. Fran wanted to be of help to Noah. He wanted to reach out to Noah before it was too late.
The basketball game ended. Noah gave a god-tier performance; however, his teammates were not on the same page with him. Noah’s team had lost the game.
The students left one by one. Fran didn’t budge. He waited until the only people left in the court were him and Noah. Fran saw Noah standing on the center of the court—looking at the basketball ring as if he was lamenting why his team lost the game. Fran approached Noah slowly.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Maybe Noah sensed that someone was watching him, so he looked towards Fran’s direction. Their eyes met. The frustration on Noah’s face quickly changed into a happy expression. Suddenly, Noah was smiling from ear to ear, as if he didn’t look so annoyed before because of losing the game. At that moment, Fran somewhat understood what was happening.
“Glv sbe kjamt atf ujwf?” Rbjt jrxfv. “Vbggs, kf ibra. P ibbx qjatfalm, gluta?” Ktfc, tf ijeutfv. “Pa’r oeccs, gluta? Qfii, la’r cba j ylu vfji—”
Mgjc mgbrrfv atf gfwjlclcu vlrajcmf yfakffc atfw jcv teuufv Rbjt klat jii tlr wluta. “Tbe vlv ugfja, Rbjt. P jw qgbev bo sbe…” Lf rjlv atbrf kbgvr ogbw atf ybaabw bo tlr tfjga.
Silence emerged between them. Fran looked up to Noah. He saw the surprised expression on Noah’s face. “I…I…”
“What’s wrong, Noah?” Fran asked.
“W-well, it’s the first time since my father died that someone said that they are proud of me. It caught me off guard, Fran…”
Fran sighed. So it was like that. He untangled himself from Noah and looked at him intently. “From now on, I’ll tell you things that you deserve to hear.”
“Fran…?” Noah looked confused.
Fran cupped Noah’s face with both of his hands. “I like you, Noah. I like you very much. But, I want you to be honest with me. I want to know your true self.”
“I like you, too, Fran. I like you since day one. But, I don’t understand what you are trying to say. What true self? Do you think I’m lying to you?” Noah looked hurt.
Fran held Noah’s arm and pulled him to sit on the bleachers. When they were settled, Fran took a deep breath first before he continued to talk. “What I’m trying to say is, if you’re mad—don’t hold it in! If you feel frustrated, voice it out. If you’re hurt, tell me. Don’t bottle up your emotions and pretend that you’re happy when you are not.”
“I am always happy being with you. I am not pretending, Fran…”
“I know and I am thankful for that.” Fran held Noah’s hand. “I am talking about in general. You don’t need to put on a mask just to please the people around you. You are genuinely generous and kind, but sometimes, it’s too much. As if you’re trying to impress someone out of your reach.”
“Fran…”
“You don’t have to do that to me, Noah. I don’t need anything extravagant. You can surprise me from time to time, charm me with your tricks, or enchant me with your magic. However, I also want to see what you look like when you are mad, frustrated, or scared. You don’t have to act cool in front of me all the time. You can be silly and naughty and you can even act like a brat. You don’t have to impress me, Noah, you already have my heart. I will protect you. I don’t need perfect. I need you.”
Noah squeezed Fran’s hand. “Thank you for saying those things, Fran. Why are you making me fall in love with you harder than I am now?” Noah smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Fran didn’t say anything. He was waiting for Noah to talk more.
Noah heaved a deep sigh. “My mother was a terrifying woman…” Fran felt Noah’s grip on his hand tightened a bit. “She hated me because I was close to my father. Growing up, I tried everything to make mom love me even just for a little bit. I studied hard. I did things that mom wanted me to do. I was afraid to disappoint her. I don’t want her to hate me more. Years passed, I learned how to be pleasing to her eyes. I did manage to make her appreciate me. Though, at that point, the things I’ve been doing for my mother already became a habit. I started to crave for my brother’s approval, too. I began to hide my true emotions. I became this reliable and smart person, but I feel hollow inside. Mom died three years ago. At her deathbed, she didn’t ask to see me. It was the moment I knew that I never truly gained my mother’s affection. In her eyes, I will always be the child who was never on her side…”
Fran saw tears fell from Noah’s eyes. He felt something squeezed his heart. He was hurting for Noah. Fran cried with him.
“She died, but I am still this kind of person—a person who doesn’t want to be hated; and a person who doesn’t want to disappoint my family. Heck, I don’t want to disappoint you! I know there’s something wrong with me, Fran. I…I…I…don’t—”
Fran kissed Noah on the lips. It was just a light peck, though, the emotions wrapped in that kiss was enough to shake an entire ocean of grief. “No matter what you do, I won’t hate you or be disappointed in you. Instead of those things, I will try to understand you. I will always be on your side, Noah. I told you, I will protect you, right?”
“Thank you, Fran… I like you. I love you. Knowing you is the best thing that happened in my life. You came, and my life changed for the better. Thank you. You’re the person that I love the most.”
“I feel the same way towards you, Noah. I like you, I love you!”
“Can I kiss you right now?” Noah asked.
Fran rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to ask. Just kiss me. We’re boyfriends now.”
Noah kissed Fran on the lips. Unlike the first time, the kiss was full of passion and hunger. The kissed was deep and fierce. Fran felt the heat building up. Though, he didn’t mind. He was happy that he was kissing Noah.
It was formally the start of their romantic relationship. Fran promised to take good care of Noah. He knew that his boyfriend felt the same way, too.
They were both filled with so much happiness.
*****
Fran went home a little late than usual. Instead of going upstairs to his room, Fran went to his mother’s room. He knocked on the door. His mom’s voice told him to come inside.
“Hi, mom!” Fran greeted his mother with a smile. She was on her bed holding her phone.
Fran’s mother turned her gaze to him. “You look happy, Fran…”
He laughed out loud. Fran lay down with his mother on the bed. “I have a boyfriend now, mom…”
Fran waited for his mom’s reaction. His mom wrapped her arm on his hips and looked Fran in the eye. “Is this the guy who gave you so much presents? The same guy you cooked food for?”
He nodded. “Yes. It’s him. His name is Noah.”
“Are you happy, Fran?”
“Yes!”
“I know,” his mom said. “Your eyes have been sparkling with happiness since you came to my room.”
“Are you afraid that something will happen again with my relationship?” Fran asked straightforwardly.
Fran’s mom sighed. “Yes. Though, I can see that this person makes you genuinely happy than the person you were with before. Truth be told, I am afraid because I don’t want you to be hurt again. But, how can we truly love someone if we’re always afraid? I am happy that you manage to fall in love again despite of what happened before. I want to meet your boyfriend, Fran. You can bring him here anytime.”
Fran hugged his mother happily. “Thanks, mom. You’re really the best. Actually, Noah wanted to introduce himself to you the moment our relationship became official. It was I, who stopped him from it. I told him, I need to prepare you first before you meet him. Mom, my boyfriend is an incredible person. You will love him to bits.”
“My Fran’s being talkative now. I like that. It is surely ‘the Noah effect’.” Fran’s mom turned to the other side of the room where a small cabinet was placed. Mom opened the third drawer and got something from there. She handed the ‘thing’ to Fran. It was a small rectangular box. “It’s for you and Noah.”
“What is this, mom?” Fran inspected the box. His eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped when he realized what the box was. “MOM!!!!!!!!” he exclaimed.
Fran’s mother laughed out loud. “I’ve been preparing this ever since you come of age. It’s important to love and be safe at the same time.”
Fran couldn’t believe his own mother. Well, at least, she didn’t oppose his relationship with Noah. She even gifted them a box of strawberry-flavored condoms.
Yes, his mother was the coolest. No doubt about that.
Ok mom! 😆😆
Ah, thanks mom!
glad he spoke to him!
thanks for the chapter <3
Pfff…cool mom😎!
Thanks for the chapter 🥰🥰
Fran made the right decision to talk to him about it!
Thank you for the chapter <3
With a family like Noah’s, who all happen to like Fran, there’s bound to be some hiccups but they have a good solid start, by being friends first.
I once had to go someplace that had condoms in fishbowls. I asked how many I could take and the lady said, “All of them.” So I dumped them all into my bag. My son’s girlfriend was coming home from college 😂