Noah was dreaming he was standing in the middle of a flower field. Noah didn’t know how he got there or the reason why he was even there. All he knew was the flowers were too beautiful; his brain couldn’t keep up to the breathtaking view in front of him.
While Noah was thinking that it would be perfect if Fran was there with him, he heard a familiar tune. Noah found himself walking towards the direction where the tune was coming from.
The familiar tune became louder and louder as Noah approached its origin. After some time, he finally reached the place where the tune was coming from. Noah saw a small wooden table and a tiny sound device on top of it.
Noah inspected the device. It looked like a speaker and it has a button on its left side. Noah curiously observed the button. Well, to satisfy his curiosity, he pushed the button without thinking. The tune became louder. It was too loud; Noah thought his head would burst any moment.
Just when Noah thought he would die, he woke up from his dream. The familiar tune was still ringing in his ears. Noah groaned. He finally realized why the tune was so familiar and why it was still ringing in his ears. It was his phone’s ringtone. Someone was calling him.
Noah reached out his hand to get his phone from the nightstand. He didn’t look at the caller ID. He just answered his phone right away.
“Hello.” Noah said in a hoarse voice.
“You finally answered!“ said a loud voice from the other line. “I’ve been calling you for twenty minutes.”
“Good morning, boo…” Noah’s mood improved upon hearing his beloved’s voice.
“We don’t have much time. Are you decent?”
Noah was confused. “What do you mean by ‘decent’? I just woke up…”
“Oh, God…” Noah could hear the panic in Fran’s voice. “Are you naked?”
Noah snorted. “Of course I am!” He liked to sleep in his birthday suit.
“You better put some clothes on fast! My father wants to meet you.”
Noah thought he heard Fran wrong. “What do you mean? Does he want to talk to me thru FaceTime?”
“My father arrived this morning. My mom and I were surprised, too. Well, let’s talk later. Just put some clothes on immediately. My father is not a very patient man. You have five minutes.”
“What do you mean by five minutes, Fran? What’s happening?” Noah was obviously getting nervous.
“My father is too eager to meet you. He demanded to see you the moment he arrived home. I’ve been calling you since we left the house, but to no avail. Noah, as of the moment, we are just outside your apartment building. Dad is just talking with the security people. So, while he was distracted, put some clothes on. See you!“ Fran ended the call.
Noah tossed his phone and jumped off the bed. He went to the bathroom to wash his face and to brush his teeth in a record-breaking speed. Then, he went back to his room and looked for his most impressive clothes. Noah saw the pair of tuxedo and trousers he wore in one of their company parties. Without a second thought, he put them on.
Just when Noah finished combing his hair, the doorbell to his apartment rang. With a shaking hand, Noah opened the door.
Noah saw a man with a serious look on his face. The man was just a few inches shorter than him, though he looked more domineering and intimidating than what his brother Nigel used to be. It was the first time Noah felt his knees become jellies. He was even too scared to speak.
“G-good morning, sir…” Noah greeted the man. Before this, Noah only saw Fran’s father in photos at his boyfriend’s house. In those pictures, the man looked very loving and warm. However, the reality that was in front of Noah was too far from what he imagined.
“When will you going to let us in?” Even the man’s deep voice sounded imperious.
Noah was in panic. “I’m s-sorry, sir.” He opened the door wider. “Come in, sir.”
The man stepped inside. His eyes immediately wandered around Noah’s apartment.
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.
“What are you wearing?” Fran whispered in his ear.
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“Aera gfijz…” Mgjc rjlv ab tlw. “Zs ojatfg kbc’a xlii sbe. Qfii, tf’r rmjgs, P kbc’a ilf jybea atja.”
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“Yes, d-dad?” Fran’s voice cracked. He looked scared of his father, too.
“Buy some food at the nearest store. The host is not generous enough to offer us food. So, we’ll buy something for ourselves.”
Noah felt like his heart jumped in fear. “N-no, sir. I mean, I’m sorry, sir. I’ll cook something—”
“I don’t need it!“ The man’s voice thundered in the living room. “Fran, are you going to disobey me?”
“No, father.” Fran looked at Noah. “I’ll leave you with my father in the meantime.” Then, Fran was out of the door in an instant.
Noah wanted to shout Fran’s name, though he knew, he would be in more trouble if he did. Noah had to face Fran’s father head on. He could do it. Ah, everything was for Fran.
Noah sat on the La-Z-Boy chair across where Fran’s father was sitting. He looked the man in the eye. Noah introduced himself.
“My name is Noah Henry Alva. I’ve been dating your son for more than a year now. It’s nice to finally meet you, sir—”
“I know everything about you.” The man said.
Noah gulped. “Sir, I—”
“You came from a very influential family. You look good and I hear you’re smart, too. You can have anyone you set your eyes on. Why Fran? My kid is too innocent for you.”
After hearing that, Noah realized that the man in front of him was just acting like any typical father would do. He was just protecting his son. Noah’s fear for the man gradually subsided. He understood where he was coming from.
“I love your son.” Noah was speaking from the bottom of his heart. “I can’t be with anyone but him.” He stood up. “I know it’s hard on your part to see someone being close to your precious, son. But, sir…” Noah knelt in front of Fran’s father. He even bowed his head until it touched the ground. “Please, let me be with Fran. I promise I won’t hurt him. I promise to protect and love him with all of my being. If I fail to keep those promises, you are free to kill me. Just please don’t ask me to stay away from Fran. It’s impossible. Sir, your son is everything to me.”
“Raise your head and look at me.” Fran’s father said in a commanding voice.
Noah obliged. Fran’s father had an unreadable expression on his face. “Do you really love my son?“ He asked.
Noah nodded vigorously. “Yes, sir. Absolutely yes.”
Fran’s father didn’t react at all. “You said you won’t hurt him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You also said that you’ll protect him.”
Noah was seeing a sliver of hope. Maybe Fran’s father was starting to warm up to him. “That is right, sir.”
“Then, have you slept with my son? Answer me, kid.”
Noah’s eyes widened in surprise when he heard the question thrown at him. “Sir, it’s not my place to divulge such a private matter like that.”
Fran’s father looked at him with contempt. “Just answer me! Did you sleep with Fran?“
“I respect your son’s right to privacy.” Noah might face head on everything Fran’s father was throwing at him. Though, he wouldn’t let Fran’s reputation to be tarnished even if it was his father who was asking that intimate question. Not because Noah was afraid to be scorned by Fran’s father upon learning the truth, but because he really did think that it was invasion of Fran’s privacy. Noah would protect Fran even against his own father.
Fran’s father put his hands on Noah’s shoulders. “Answer me!!!“
Noah shook his head. “No, sir. You can beat the crap out of me this instant, but my lips are sealed.”
“Yeah, I’ll beat the living shit out of you.” Fran’s father was ready to throw a punch. Noah didn’t even budge. He waited for it, actually. He was ready to get hurt.
However, before the punch landed on Noah’s face, the door of his apartment suddenly opened. He saw Fran stepped inside. The expression on his face looked grim.
“Daddy!” Fran blurted out. “That’s enough. You’re going too far. I’ll tell mom!“
Fran’s father immediately let go of Noah. “Baby, why are you back so soon? You promised that you’d give me half an hour. I haven’t scared him enough.”
“I heard everything; I was just waiting outside the whole time.” Fran looked at Noah. “Sorry for my father’s behavior. He’s not always like this.”
Noah was confused. “What do you mean? What is happening?“
Fran’s father began to laugh. Not the kind of laugh like a villain’s. But, something like a father’s laugh because of making a fool out of his son.
“What is happening?“ Noah repeated the question. His brain couldn’t keep up with whatever was unfolding in front of him.
“My dad is just testing you.” Fran answered. “It’s his idea. Normally, my dad is very docile; he won’t even hurt a fly. Though, when he announced that he would be coming home, he came with a plan to do some ‘fatherly challenge’ as what he called it, to you. I was pretty against the idea. I told him that you’re someone I can trust my life with. I even told him that even if you’re really a jerk, I still love you dearly.”
Noah stood up and went to Fran. “Thank you, boo. I love you.”
Fran hugged him. “After hearing what you said to my dad, I fell in love with you all over again.”
They looked at each other. No words could really describe what they were feeling for each other at that moment.
Suddenly, they heard someone coughed. “I’m still here…” Fran’s father said to them.
Fran and Noah let go of each other. “Sir, it’s so nice to finally meet you.” Noah held out his hand.
Fran’s father smiled at him warmly. “I’m sorry for fooling you, Noah. As I’ve said, I know everything about you. I also know that you are a great partner to Fran. Though, I just couldn’t help myself to test you. As a father, it is my duty to protect my son, also. Though, I know what I did was a little over the line. Forgive me, Noah…and just call me dad.” Fran’s father motioned for Noah to give him a hug which he happily obliged.
“You passed my father’s test with flying colors.” Fran commented. “Now, can we talk about the real reason why we’re here?“
Fran’s father let Noah go. “Oh, right. Let’s do that.”
“The real reason?“ Noah asked. “Is it another test for me?“
“Silly,” Fran’s father put his arm around Noah’s shoulders. “My beloved wife is inviting you to our house for lunch. It is sort of a welcoming party for me. And, please invite your siblings, too. I want to meet them. I know Nigel because he’s someone everyone knows in the business field. But, I want to know him personally as your brother. Oh, call your dad’s partner, too. His name is Sean, right? I’d love to meet him!“
Noah scratched his head. Fran’s father really did know everything. “All right, sir—”
“Dad. I told you to call me dad.”
Noah felt something warm enveloped his heart. “All right, dad.”
“Hmm, before we leave, can you please change your clothes? You’re wearing something too formal for my party.” The old man laughed. “Then, I’ll leave first. I will wait for you and Fran in the car.”
“Okay, dad.” Fran and Noah answered in unison. They met each other’s gaze. They both smiled.
Fran father left. Noah threw himself on the couch. “Ah, that was nerve-wracking. I thought I would really get killed!“
Fran sat beside him. “You did great. Thank you for being a great person and a wonderful boyfriend.”
Noah hooked his arm on Fran’s waist. “Everything for you, boo…”
Fran placed a hand on Noah’s chest. “Do you still remember our talk about how you want to return the favor to me for helping you when we first met at the bookstore?”
Noah chuckled. “How can I ever forget that? That’s the start of our love story.”
“Hmm, now I know what I want.” Fran said in a serious tone.
Noah felt his excitement rose. “Oh, yeah? What is it? Tell me!”
“In the future, my dad will possibly act crazy just like what he did today. Promise me that no matter what he does, you won’t leave me, Noah. Stay with me always. You have to promise me.”
Noah cupped his boyfriend’s face and gave Fran a light kiss on the lips. “Nothing will change my mind. I will always be by your side. I don’t care about your dad’s crazy tendencies. He can always make the fool out of me, it won’t bother me at all. It’s you I care about. It’s always you, Fran. You’re forever stuck with me.”
“Thank you.” Fran moved closer to him. “We still have ten minutes to spare, are you up to it?” Fran gave him a naughty smile.
Noah immediately understood what Fran was talking about. “I’m always ready. Though, ten minutes is pretty risky. Well, it depends on your technique—”
Fran kissed him passionately. Then, not a moment later, they were both naked. Noah carried his boyfriend to his room.
Yeah, ten minutes was not enough. Fran and Noah didn’t leave the latter’s apartment until an hour later.
Fran’s father was still waiting for them. Although, he got a smile on his face, a vein was seen popping on the side of his head.
Fran and Noah just laughed it off. Together, they sat beside each other on the backseat of the car, holding hands, and both were looking forward to whatever the future might bring towards their way.
Fran and Noah would always be together.
Always.
–End of Main Story–
*****
Author’s note:
Thank you for reading:) As I’ve said before, ACY will have 3 extra chapters. Watch out for them.
-chasingnem
❤❤❤
❤️❤️❤️
Too sweet❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the story. It was beautiful in many ways.
Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
So cute !😍
Too sweet! 🥰
Thank you for the chapter
Thank you for such a nice story, I could not stop reading until I reached the last word.
Really enjoyed your novel, thank you very much ❤️