VELVET RED: BEGINNING

EPOCH 3.2

NOA:

As Gray drinks his black coffee, I cannot help but gaze at the features of his handsome face at close range. His sharp jawline, prominent cheekbones, and thinned lips all seem to call out to me, drawing me towards him even more.

I watch him intently as he sips his coffee, admiring the way his Adam's apple bobs up and down with each swallow. The way his dark hair falls in front of his face only enhances his rugged and mysterious appearance, making it almost impossible to look away.

I am lost in my thoughts, imagining what it would feel like to run my fingers through his hair while kissing him passionately. But as always, reality comes back to haunt me, reminding me that Gray is cold and distant towards me.

Despite this, I cannot help but feel a strong attraction towards him, no matter how many times he rebuffs me. I know deep inside that I need to move on, but at this moment, I feel content just gazing at the features of his handsome face from close range.

As I gaze at him, lost in thought, Gray notices me and raises an eyebrow quizzically. "Is there something on your mind?" he asks.

Caught off guard, I take a moment to compose myself before responding. "I was just thinking... about what I want," I say, my voice a bit shaky.

Gray looks at me intently, waiting for me to continue. "And what is it that you want, Noa?" he asks, his tone softening slightly.

I hesitate for a moment, unsure of whether or not I should tell him the truth. Despite our past exchanges, I feel like I owe it to myself to be honest. "I want you, Gray," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, Gray looks taken aback by my honesty. Then, he looks away, avoiding my gaze. "I see," he says, his voice clipped and distant.

Feeling embarrassed, I look away, trying to hide my disappointment. No matter how hard I try, it seems like I'll never be able to break through Gray's cold exterior and express my true feelings.

I am standing in front of Gray, my heart beating fast and my palms starting to sweat. I take a deep breath and say, "Gray, I have something to tell you. I love you."

But instead of reciprocating my feelings, Gray just laughs at me and asks me to back off. I feel my cheeks turn red and my heart sink. But I don't give up.

I continue to confess my love to him, even though he is being cold towards me. I believe that if I keep pushing, he might eventually see how much I care about him. So I am speaking to him in the present continuous tense and saying things like "I am loving you more each day" or "I am hoping you will give me a chance."

Although it's hard to face rejection, I won't let Gray's initial response discourage me.

I stand here, frozen, as Gray laughs at me. "What is this?" he asks, his voice dripping with contempt. "Are you serious?"

I swallow hard. "Yes," I say. "I'm serious."

"You're kidding, right?" he says. "You think I'm going to leave Casey for you? You're out of your mind."

"No, I'm not," I say. "I know you love me. You just don't realize it yet."

He laughs again. "Oh, please," he says. "I'm not in love with you. I'm in love with Casey."

"But you can't be," I say. "You're with me right now. You're kissing me right now."

"That doesn't mean anything," he says. "I'm just having fun. I'm not in love with you."

"But you will be," I say. "I know you will."

He pulls me closer, his eyes cold and hard. "I'm not going to leave Casey for you," he says. "And if you don't stop this, I'm going to make you regret it."

I am scared, but I don't back down. "I'm not afraid of you," I say.

He gives me a cold smile. "You should be," he says. "Because I'm not going to let you ruin this for me." I can't stop thinking about Gray. He's so hot, and I know he feels something for me too. I've been pestering him about my feelings for him for a while, but he just keeps brushing me off.

"I'm not interested," he says. "I'm with Casey."

But I don't care about Casey. I know she's not good enough for him. She's always so clingy and needy, and she doesn't even have a job. Gray could do so much better.

I'm determined to win him over. I know he's attracted to me, I can see it in his eyes. I just need to find a way to break through his defenses. We're at the counter now, and I'm leaning in close to him, whispering in his ear. "I know you want me," I say. "Just give me a chance."

He takes a step back, and I can see the confusion in his eyes. "I told you, I'm not interested," he says.

But I'm not giving up. I reach out and touch his hand, and he doesn't pull away. I can feel the electricity between us, and I know he's feeling it too.

"Please," I say. "Just one kiss."

He hesitates for a moment, and then he grabs my hand and drags me into the restroom. He stands me up against the wall and pins me there. I gaze into his eyes, and I can see the desire in them.

I inch up and plant a kiss on his lips. He responds at first,and his hands search my body. I can feel his erection on my thigh and I place my hand there and feel it, making him moan a little in our entwined lips. But then he pulls away. "No," he says in a breathy tone. "I can't do this."

"Why not?" I ask. "You want me too."

"I'm with Casey," he says. "I can't cheat on her."

"But what if she breaks up with you?" I ask. "Would you give me a chance then?"

He looks at me for a moment, and then he nods. "If, by fate's hand, she breaks up with me in two days, I'll give you a chance," he says, and we pinky swear.

"Okay," I say. "I'll wait for you."

He then leaves. I watch him go, and I know that I'll be waiting for him. I'm sure that fate will bring us together.