EPISODE 20: One Conversation at a Time
1553 Words
The drive home was unusually quiet.
The city lights flickered past Liam Asterion's window as his car cut through the evening traffic, but for once, he wasn't thinking about university assignments or the stack of reports waiting for him at Asterion Global Group.
His thoughts kept drifting back to a single moment.
"I guess we should fix that."
Then...
Noah Bennett.
The name now sat quietly in his contacts.
A simple addition to his phone.
Yet somehow...
It felt like much more than that.
---
When Liam arrived home, the Whitmore residence was unusually peaceful.
Ryan hadn't returned from basketball practice.
Adrian was still at the hospital.
Richard Whitmore was away on a business dinner.
Only Victoria Whitmore was home, but she was upstairs working on sketches for her newest fashion collection.
Liam greeted one of the housekeepers before making his way upstairs.
He showered.
Changed into a loose grey T-shirt and black sweatpants.
Then dropped onto his bed with a tired sigh.
His phone rested on the bedside table.
He looked at it.
Looked away.
A minute later...
He picked it up again.
His thumb hovered over Noah's contact.
He locked the screen.
Placed the phone down.
Thirty seconds later...
He reached for it again.
"...You're twenty-three years old."
He muttered to himself.
"You negotiate contracts."
"You present business proposals."
"So why are you behaving like you've never sent a text message before?"
He let out a quiet laugh.
Just then...
His phone rang.
Falcon Hayes.
Liam answered immediately.
"Hello."
The voice on the other end sounded amused.
"I had a strange feeling."
Liam frowned.
"A strange feeling?"
"Yeah."
"That somewhere in this city..."
"My best friend is currently staring at one particular contact in his phone."
Liam froze.
"...You're bluffing."
Falcon laughed loudly.
"I'm not, am I?"
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You've become annoyingly good at reading me."
"I've known you for over ten years."
"I'd be worried if I couldn't."
Liam walked toward the balcony, leaning against the railing as the cool evening breeze brushed against his face.
"I've been overthinking."
"I figured."
"I don't even know why."
Falcon remained quiet, letting Liam continue.
"I finally have his number."
"But now that I do..."
"I have no idea what to say."
Falcon smiled to himself.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"You've stood in front of board members twice your age."
"You've negotiated million-dollar contracts."
"You've presented business proposals without the slightest hint of nervousness."
A pause.
"But one contact saved as 'Noah Bennett' has reduced Liam Asterion into a man who's afraid of typing three words."
Liam laughed despite himself.
"When you put it that way..."
"It sounds ridiculous."
"It is ridiculous."
The two friends shared a laugh before Falcon's tone softened.
"Liam..."
"Can I give you a piece of advice?"
"I'm listening."
"Don't text him because you're trying to impress him."
Liam remained silent.
Falcon continued.
"Don't spend the next thirty minutes searching for the perfect opening line."
"People don't become close because every conversation is perfect."
"They become close because they're comfortable enough to have imperfect conversations."
Liam nodded slowly, even though Falcon couldn't see him.
"Friendships aren't built on grand gestures."
"They're built on the little things."
"A random message."
"A silly joke."
"Asking how someone's day went."
"Sharing an idea."
"It's consistency that brings people closer."
Another brief silence settled between them.
Then Falcon chuckled.
"And besides..."
"Hmm?"
"You actually have a reason to text him."
Liam frowned.
"I do?"
"The birthday."
"You and Noah are planning Ava's surprise together."
"You don't need an excuse."
"You already have one."
Liam looked down at his phone again.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"...You're right."
"I know I am."
Falcon laughed.
"Now stop staring at the poor boy's contact and actually use it."
Liam shook his head, smiling.
"I'll call you tomorrow."
"You'd better."
The call ended.
For a few moments, Liam simply stood there.
Then...
He unlocked his phone.
Opened Noah's contact.
His fingers moved across the keyboard.
«Liam: Good evening, Noah. It's Liam. I just wanted to make sure I saved the right number.»
He read the message twice.
Took a deep breath.
Then pressed Send.
Almost immediately...
He regretted it.
"...Maybe that sounded too formal."
He tossed the phone onto the bed and walked toward the bathroom to grab a bottle of water.
When he came back...
The screen lit up.
A new message.
His heartbeat quickened slightly as he unlocked it.
«Noah: 😂 Good evening, Liam. You definitely saved the right number. I was actually wondering how long it would take before you texted.»
Liam stared at the message.
Then laughed.
Out loud.
For the first time all evening...
The nervousness disappeared.
He quickly typed back.
«Liam: Really?»
«Noah: Of course. We have a birthday mission, remember? I thought our planner had abandoned me already.»
Liam smiled.
«Liam: Never. I take my responsibilities very seriously.»
A reply came almost instantly.
«Noah: Then, Mr. Responsible, have you thought of any new ideas?»
What began as a simple conversation about Ava's birthday somehow grew into something much more relaxed.
They debated cake flavors.
Noah insisted chocolate was non-negotiable.
Liam argued that a strawberry cake would be a nice change.
Noah responded with a dramatic paragraph explaining why chocolate cake was "a basic human right."
Liam laughed so hard he nearly dropped his phone.
They moved on to decorations.
Liam preferred elegant gold and white.
Noah wanted warm fairy lights, colorful ribbons, and a cozy atmosphere.
«Noah: Ava isn't elegant.»
«Liam: She's not?»
«Noah: She once tried to microwave ice cream because she thought it was too cold.»
Liam burst into laughter.
«Liam: You're making that up.»
«Noah: I wish I was.»
«Noah: She also blamed the microwave.»
«Liam: I'm definitely asking her about that tomorrow.»
«Noah: Please don't. She'll know I betrayed her.»
The conversation drifted effortlessly from one topic to another.
Ava's terrible cooking.
Ryan's endless energy.
Adrian's intimidating calmness.
University.
Favorite movies.
Music.
Even childhood memories.
Neither of them noticed the time.
Until Noah finally sent one last message.
«Noah: It's getting late. We both have classes tomorrow.»
«Noah: Good night, Liam.»
Liam looked at the screen for a long moment before replying.
«Liam: Good night, Noah.»
«Sleep well.»
After the chat ended...
He found himself scrolling back through the conversation.
Not because anything extraordinary had been said.
But because...
Everything had felt so natural.
There had been no awkward silences.
No forced topics.
Just two people enjoying each other's company through a screen.
Liam placed his phone on the bedside table.
A smile remained on his face long after he turned off the lights.
---
Noah receives a text from Liam after class.
Liam: Are you free this afternoon? Ryan and I are going over the birthday plans. We could really use your opinion.
Noah: Sure. I'll head over after my last lecture.
---
Around four in the afternoon, Noah's taxi pulled up in front of the familiar Whitmore residence.
He smiled to himself.
This place had become like a second home over the years.
He paid the driver, adjusted the strap of his backpack, and walked through the front gate without hesitation.
The housekeeper spotted him immediately.
"Oh, Noah! You're here."
Noah smiled warmly.
"Good afternoon, Auntie Maria."
"Everyone's waiting for you."
She stepped aside to let him in.
"The boys are in the family room."
Noah nodded.
"Thank you."
He made his way inside, greeting a few staff members who greeted him with familiar smiles.
As he reached the family room, Ryan was the first to notice him.
"There he is!"
Ryan shot up from the sofa dramatically.
"Our guest of honor has finally arrived."
Noah laughed.
"I'm barely five minutes late."
Ryan folded his arms.
"Five minutes is still late."
Liam looked up from the dining table where several notebooks, decoration catalogues, guest lists, and his laptop were spread out.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Ignore him."
"I've been trying to do that for years," Noah replied with a grin.
Ryan clutched his chest dramatically.
"I've been attacked in my own house."
Noah chuckled as he pulled out a chair and sat beside Liam.
"So..."
He glanced around the table.
"How far have you guys gotten?"
Liam turned his laptop slightly so Noah could see.
"We've listed the guests."
"Booked the venue."
"And narrowed the cake designs down to these three."
Noah studied the pictures carefully.
He immediately pointed at one.
"Not this one."
Ryan frowned.
"Why?"
Noah looked between the two brothers before smiling knowingly.
"Because Ava hates fondant."
Liam blinked.
"...She does?"
Ryan scratched his head.
"I thought she liked fancy cakes."
"She likes looking at them."
Noah laughed.
"She peels the fondant off every single time before eating the cake."
Ryan stared in disbelief.
"Seriously?"
"I'm serious."
Liam quietly made a note.
No fondant.
Noah continued looking through the decorations.
"And these flowers..."
He pointed at a page in the catalogue.
"She'll say they're pretty..."
"...but she secretly prefers sunflowers over roses."
Ryan looked at Liam.
"See?"
"This is exactly why we needed Noah."
Liam smiled in agreement.
"I told you."
Noah looked up and laughed.
"So I'm basically Ava's unofficial instruction manual?"
Ryan nodded without hesitation.
"Exactly."
The three of them burst into laughter.
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