Chapter 7: The quiet bloom of spring
899 Words
Nine years had passed since Noah had disappeared from the city like a feather caught in the wind—unreachable, untraceable.
Now, in a peaceful countryside framed by golden wheat fields and cherry blossom trees, stood a modest yet charming little house with a bakery attached. The sun bathed the backyard garden in a warm glow, where cherry tomatoes ripened on green vines and the scent of fresh earth filled the air.
A small boy dashed into the yard, the sound of his tiny feet crunching on the gravel path. His jet-black hair fluttered in the breeze, his fair skin glowing under the afternoon sun. His dark eyes, deep like midnight pools, sparkled with excitement. The boy was Ari—8 years old and breathtakingly beautiful, just like his father, though he didn’t know that yet.
Ari looked like a miniature version of Lucas.
“MOM!” he shouted, beaming as he ran toward the garden.
Noah looked up from the plants and smiled as warmth spread in his chest. His long lashes fluttered as the sun caught on his soft features—still ethereally beautiful even after all these years.
“Ari!” Noah called back, kneeling just in time to catch his son as he hugged him tightly from behind.
Ari buried his face in Noah’s back for a second before pulling away just enough to look up at him. “I’m home!”
“Welcome home. How was school?”
“Good,” Ari said with a grin—though in his heart, he muttered, ‘Actually no...’
“Did you have fun with your friends today?” Noah asked while wiping his hands on his apron.
“Yes!” Ari answered again—‘No. Not really. They’re so annoying, they follow me around like puppies just because I’m “pretty.” I don’t even like that word…’
Noah tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes at his son. “Are you lying again?”
Ari stuck out his tongue. “Nooo!”
Noah chuckled softly. “Alright then. I made your favorite pastries. Go wash up, and we’ll eat together.”
“Only if you come eat with me!”
“I will, I will,” Noah replied, laughing as Ari ran toward the house.
As the screen door clattered behind Ari, Noah turned back to the tomato plants. His expression grew distant. The years had changed him—he still had that fragile grace, but his eyes often wandered, lost in thoughts and memories he never spoke aloud. He rubbed his belly unconsciously, where Ari once grew, and sighed softly.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around his waist from behind, making him squeak.
“Eek!”
He quickly spun around to see a tall young man with sun-kissed skin, soft brown eyes, and a playful grin. He was holding a basket full of strawberries.
“You’re still so easy to surprise,” the man said with a smirk.
“William!” Noah glared, flustered. “Can you please stop doing that? My body’s…s-sensitive, okay? You do that every time!”
William chuckled, unfazed. “Well, that’s your fault for being so jumpy and ridiculously soft. It’s not my fault your reactions are addicting.”
Noah turned red and looked away. William sighed and held out the basket. “Here. Grandma Mary sent these. Just picked.”
“You didn’t have to walk all the way from her place,” Noah said, avoiding eye contact.
“I don’t mind,” William said, his tone softening. “She’s got back pain again. Too stubborn to rest, as usual. I had to physically pull her away from the garden.”
Noah smiled faintly. “You really care about her.”
“She raised me. She's the only family I’ve got… well, and maybe—” He cut himself off.
Noah looked at him curiously. “Hm?”
“Nothing,” William coughed. Then he brightened up again and held out a strawberry. “Say ahhh.”
“Wha—mmph!” Noah blinked as William popped a ripe strawberry into his mouth. The fruit was sweet and cool, and Noah instinctively licked the juice off his lips.
William stood frozen.
His heart skipped so hard he thought he might die on the spot. He licked his lips. Oh my god. He just licked his lips in front of me. I’m not okay. I’m NOT okay!
William’s face turned bright red as he spun on his heel and dashed away with a mumbled, “I-I gotta go!”
Noah stared after him in confusion. “What’s wrong with him today?” Then he muttered, “Weirdo.”
Inside the house, Ari peeked from the window with narrowed eyes.
“That man again,” he muttered darkly. “Flirting with Mom.”
He pouted and clenched his tiny fists. “I’ll grow up soon, and then no one’s allowed to take Mom away.”
Meanwhile, William leaned against a tree just out of sight, groaning into his hands.
“Why is he so beautiful? Why does he have to be so kind? So gentle? Why does he smile like that? Damn it, Noah… even if you don’t feel the same, I—I really…”
He clenched his fists and looked up at the soft blue sky.
“I wish I had met you before someone else did…”
- Writer
