Knock, knock, knock, knock. The taps now carried a sense of urgency. Noah answered in bewilderment, thinking he might throw the door open. “Oh, nothing happened. I’m going out now.”
The knocking ceased. Noah instantly became nervous, ashamed of her current dilemma. Why did I forget? This wasn’t my room. Besides, I’m not alone. I can’t go out like this! Especially in front of him… She hurriedly picked up the clothes and screamed internally. Why can’t I do the magic of making clothes?
“Miss Noah? Are you all right?” asked Kyle. And since he hadn’t heard Noah respond, he assumed something had happened. The doorknob twisted. Noah hastily shouted, “Sir! Wait, don’t come in!”
“Why?”
“I have a problem. Take your hands off the doorknob and turn around. Otherwise, I won’t go out.”
Even when a wall separated them, Noah knew what Kyle’s expression was right now. He must be very suspicious. Still clutching the knob outside, Kyle narrowed his eyes. Soon, though, he released his grip. Noah then grasped the doorknob with both hands. “Can you just go outside for a while?” I can just send them out and quickly go to the room and get my gown. Then, I’ll lock the door and go to sleep.
However, his response was completely out of the blue.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Miss Noah, but depression is not a mild condition.”
“What?”
“I thought it was just a joke before, but I was mistaken. If there’s anything that bothers you, you have to tell me.”
“No, that’s not the problem right now…” Now that he mentioned it, Noah recalled the time when she told Kyle she was in the early stages of depression. She started laughing. So do you think I’m doing something in the bathroom that I shouldn’t not be doing? “I’m not that feeble-minded. Please don’t make any strange misunderstandings.”
“Then why would you ask me to leave? Noah, don’t think too much about it, and let me talk to you. There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
Why are you so stubborn over nothing! Noah was agitated, but the scuffle persisted. “No, so just stay out for a moment. Wait, five minutes! We’ll talk tomorrow,” she convinced Kyle.
“I need to see you right away.”
“Why don’t you test your conscience and think about how many times you’ve made eye contact with me in the last four days? I don’t really agree with you now.”
“It’s… it’s my fault.”
Kyle’s sudden apology baffled Noah. “What are you apologizing for? Look, I’m not really thinking about something weird… It’s because I don’t have it right now.”
“What’s that?”
“Clothes…”
“What?” Kyle asked back reflexively and soon became silent as if he realized what she meant.
Noah then finally surrendered with a sigh. “I don’t have any clothes to change. I was thinking about what to do because it’s a bit awkward to wear what I was wearing. Look, speaking of which, please look for a gown. Without it, I can’t go outside.”
The steam that clouded the bathroom was gradually fading away. Noah, who had been immersed in cold water, began to shiver. After a moment of silence, Kyle seemed to move away from the door. Noah waited a few more minutes. Before long, there was a knock again.
“Please wear a gown for now.”
With a swift move, Noah managed to open the door and snatch the gown. She immediately wrapped her quivering body with thick cotton, and warmed up. After she had tied the gown string tightly, she opened the door hesitantly.
“Stop.”
She was pushed back into the bathroom, and the door slammed shortly.
“What… what is it? Why?” She stuttered in embarrassment, but was left with no answer. Instead, she could hear footsteps rushing away from the door. Only after waiting a few more minutes in a daze did the door open again half a span.
“Wear this under your gown too.”
When Noah took what Kyle handed over, it was a tailored black shirt. It seemed to belong to Kyle. She took off her gown and put her arms through the shirt. She roughly buttoned up and wrapped the gown over her body again. With a glance at the mirror, before her stood a great fashion terrorist. A white, thick gown over a black shirt. Besides, the black shirt was sticking out at the end of the robe’s sleeves, which was quite an odd sight.
Still, it was much better because her chest was completely covered with one more layer. Relieved, Noah opened the door. “I’m done.”
Kyle, who was massaging his temples, looked back at her in surprise. His gaze rested on Noah’s waist for a moment before he spoke, “You should say that before you open the door.”
“I don’t care.”
“What’s wrong with you…”
Noah didn’t know why Kyle was staring at her waist neither did she care. She was only glad their eyes didn’t meet. She slowly crept away from him. “Tomorrow, I’m going to the store to buy some clothes. I don’t think it’s-”
But before she could complete her sentence, she was blocked by Kyle. And as soon as he touched the waistband of her gown, her breath hitched on her throat.