Chapter Four:The Name I Was Never Called
1095 Words
The garden was alive with laughter, music, and the warm glow of countless lights.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the evening.
Everyone except Bella.
She sat quietly, trying her best not to look in a certain direction.
But somehow…
Her eyes kept finding him.
Noah Jacob.
He was standing among the guests, serving drinks with a calm smile on his face while Maria stayed beside him, helping him like they had done it a thousand times before.
They looked perfect.
Like a couple who belonged together.
Bella hated that she noticed every little thing.
The way Noah rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.
The way he smiled at people.
The slight movement of his lips when he spoke.
The way his eyes softened whenever he looked at Maria.
“Stop looking…”
She whispered to herself.
But her eyes betrayed her again.
She quickly looked away, hoping nobody had noticed.
Unfortunately…
Someone did.
“Are you okay?”
Amy’s voice pulled her back.
Bella turned and saw her friend staring at her with concern.
“You look weird. You’re sweating. Why are you sweating so much?”
Bella immediately touched her face, embarrassed.
“No… I’m fine. It’s just a little warm.”
Amy raised an eyebrow but didn’t question her further.
Instead, she handed Bella a cold drink.
“Here. Drink this.”
Bella took the can from her hand.
“Thanks.”
“I’m going inside to bring the sauce. You don’t have any on your plate.”
Amy stood up and walked away.
Bella watched her leave.
Then, without meaning to…
She looked up.
And froze.
Noah was already looking at her.
Their eyes met.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Bella’s heartbeat became painfully loud.
She immediately looked away and adjusted herself in the chair, pretending to be interested in anything else.
She looked around.
Nobody was watching.
Everyone was busy.
So why did she feel like she had been caught doing something wrong?
Slowly…
She looked back.
And Noah was still looking at her.
This time, Bella felt even more embarrassed.
“Bellaaa…”
She mentally scolded herself.
“What are you doing? What will he think about you?”
Before she could stop herself from overthinking…
Noah stood up.
And walked toward her.
Bella straightened immediately.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
His voice was calm.
“You don’t look well. Are you okay?”
Bella forced a smile.
“I’m fine, Mr. Jacob.”
Noah studied her face for a moment.
Then he quietly said,
“Hmm… I see.”
A small silence passed.
Then he spoke again.
“You don’t have to call my wife Maria.”
Bella blinked.
“What?”
Noah glanced at her.
“She gave you permission to call her by her name. You’re her best friend.”
Bella nodded slowly.
“Yes… why?”
A faint smile appeared on Noah’s face.
“Then you can call me Noah too.”
Bella stared at him.
For some reason, that simple sentence felt strangely personal.
“Okay…”
She hesitated.
“Noah.”
The name felt unfamiliar on her tongue.
Noah noticed.
But he didn’t say anything.
Instead, he smiled slightly.
“Good.”
Then, after a pause…
“Bells.”
He said it quietly.
Almost like a secret.
Bella froze.
Nobody called her that.
Not her family.
Not her closest friends.
Nobody.
She looked at him, confused.
Why did that one word affect her so much?
Before she could ask anything, Noah walked away.
Leaving Bella sitting there…
Completely lost.
⸻
Later that night…
Bella lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
She couldn’t understand herself.
Why did she keep looking at him?
Why did a simple nickname make her heart react?
She hated that she didn’t have an answer.
Eventually, she got up and washed her face.
Cold water touched her skin.
But it didn’t calm her thoughts.
After changing her clothes, she turned off the lights and tried to sleep.
But sleep refused to come.
The voices from downstairs slowly faded.
The house became silent.
Too silent.
After a while, thirst forced her out of bed.
The clock showed 3:00 AM.
Bella quietly walked toward the kitchen.
The entire house was asleep.
Only a soft light from the hallway remained.
She poured herself a glass of water and drank slowly.
Then she started walking back.
But something caught her attention.
The huge window facing the mountains.
She stopped.
Outside…
The night had painted the world in silver.
The mountains looked even more beautiful under the moonlight.
A soft breeze entered through the slightly open window.
Bella smiled faintly.
“It’s beautiful…”
She whispered.
“I think the world looks more beautiful at night.”
A deep voice answered from behind her.
“Yeah.”
Bella froze.
“That’s why you’re standing here at three in the morning?”
Her breath caught.
She slowly turned around.
Noah was standing there.
His hair was slightly messy, his expression unreadable.
Bella immediately looked away.
“I… I was just getting water.”
Noah didn’t answer.
For a moment, both of them stood in silence.
Then Noah looked toward the mountains.
Bella followed his gaze.
“I told you before…”
His voice was low.
“Call me Noah.”
Bella stayed quiet.
“You are Maria’s best friend. She trusts you. She cares about you.”
He looked at her.
“So you don’t need to keep a distance with me.”
Bella didn’t know why those words affected her.
Then Noah smiled slightly.
“Bells.”
That name again.
She looked at him.
Noah took a small step closer.
Not enough to cross a line.
Just enough to make her aware of his presence.
“You keep looking at me.”
Bella’s heart stopped for a second.
He didn’t sound angry.
He sounded curious.
Bella couldn’t answer.
Her mind went blank.
After a few seconds, she looked away.
“I don’t.”
Noah gave a quiet laugh.
“Okay.”
He accepted her answer too easily.
That somehow made it worse.
He turned around to leave.
Bella watched him walk away.
And before she could stop herself…
“Noah.”
He stopped.
She swallowed.
“Why do you call me Bells?”
Noah turned back.
For a moment, he just looked at her.
Then he replied softly,
“Because…”
A small pause.
“It suits you.”
And before Bella could understand what that meant…
Noah walked away.
Leaving her alone with the sound of her own heartbeat.
- Writer
