Chapter Forty

Athena's POV

My eyes focuses on Noah who walks down the stairs; nearing us with every step. I slowly let go of Alex's shoulders and he does the same, loosening the grip around my waist. I take a second glance to watch his expression and I swear, he's clenching his jaw while staring at Noah. Is he pissed? Would he punch him in the face?

''Noah, what are you doing here?'' I ask, tucking a strand hair behind my ear as he continues to walk forward until we're close enough. I take a few step back, keeping the distance between us unoccupied.

''I just got back from dinner. Saw someone out here so I decided to check it out. Didn't know it was you and Alex.'' He smiles, somehow, a part of me is saying that he's making that one up, ''I think I should go, I did interrupt something, right? I'm really sorry, shouldn't have done that.'' Then he glances toward Alex.

I follow his glance. Alex is right now watching the other side, not bothering to pay attention to the two of us. I feel like I want to run toward Alex and just push Noah down the pool so that he would get the meaning of 'back off'. Sighing, ''Yeah, I think you should go.'' I say, a bit too rough.

Noah seems to be taken aback but he nods, showing his dimple once more before slowly walking back inside. Leaving only me and Alex alone, like how we were earlier. I face Alex, ''Alex, you were saying?'' I touch his forearm, grabbing his attention.

Does Noah's present bothers him? Does he not like him? Alex was fine but he starts to become bipolar as soon as Noah showed up. He starts glaring and glancing, he just continues to do so; especially when Noah is around. It's like he's unsatisfied yet he doesn't want to satisfy himself. He keeps it down, he keeps it cool.

''Nothing, I was just going to tell you that Noah was there.'' He shrugs, not even looking at me in the eye. I furrow my eyebrows, I know that he's lying. He was looking at me, completely, he wasn't looking at Noah or at the door. He was focusing on me only, how can he see him there? He made that up.

''You know, I won't let this slip.'' I mutter, loud enough for him to hear. I receive a sigh from him but he does nothing more than that. He turns around; trying his best not to meet my eyes in any way, ''Alex, I know that's not it. There must be something else.'' I add.

Alex takes a deep breath before fully facing me, ''I'm serious. It was nothing.'' Then he shoves both of his hands in his slacks' pocket as he continues to walk toward the door; leaving me alone in utter silence under the night sky. I groan mentally, Noah ruined the moment. It could have last longer or he could have said something.

My head aches in confusion so I take a spot to sit down, facing the water in front of me. All of the sudden, another reflection appears beside me; showing an unfamiliar face. I turn around but I'm here; completely alone by myself. Looking at the reflection, she is smiling as she cups her own face, staring back at her reflection.

I swallow the non-existing lump in my throat, quite unsure myself.

''Am I dying?'' I ask the most logic question in my head. She chuckles, looking back at me. Blinking, I see that her eyes resembles Alex's. Those exact same blue eyes.

Her laughter sounds like music. Then she faces the water, sighing, ''My son can be really unpredictable sometimes.'' She says, smiling to herself. My eyes widen, her son? ''He does things to surprise people. I still remember when it was my birthday, he took me out the whole day, saying that he wanted to see me smile. He wanted me to be happy. He wanted that day to be the happiest day of my life.'' I see a tear falls down her chin.

My mouth couldn't utter words. It's like I'm speechless, it's like someone overtook the will for me to speak. All I can do is just look at her, listening to her voice but I was unable to reach out for her. It's like she's not even here.

''He cares for you, Athena.'' She turns to look at me, straight in the eye. Her glowing complexion, her light brown hair, her pink plump lips, she looks familiar. She really does. ''You're a very beautiful woman.'' She reaches out for my face but as I look down, I can't even see her touching me; I can only feel her soft fingers touching me. ''He's lucky to have you and you're just as lucky to have him. Both still living in denial, wanting to accept one another but fear the outcome.'' Then I feel her gripping onto my hand.

''I am so thankful that he met you.'' Then within those words, she starts fading away, leaving me staring into her eyes until they completely disappear. My breathing stops and I am staring at a black space before suddenly, waking up to feel myself on the ground.

I was dreaming.

I quickly look at the surroundings around me, who was that woman? I can barely remember her words but her face still remain clear in my head. In a fast pace, I walk inside; not even looking behind to check.

Once I get inside the hotel room, I see Alex scrolling down his laptop on the desk. He continues to scroll without even glancing my way. I sigh, walking into the bedroom to get a pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt; changing into something comfortable.

Walking toward him, I see that he has changed into a shirt and shorts. From afar, I can see that he's reading a few emails. As I walk closer, he turns to look at me before facing the screen again.

''Are you working?'' I ask as I sit on the table; facing him, leaving my legs hanging. He glances for a few second before running his index finger on his lower lip, sighing and continuing to scroll down.

''You can say that.'' He replies. Then everything remain silence, making me fidget. My eyes can never seem to look away from his face, somehow deep inside, I'm feeling like it's all my fault due to his behaviour.

Alex sighs softly and I can see his lips curving up into a small smile. Was it a funny question? ''How can I be mad at you...'' He says, his voice sounding out of breath, ''You know that, I can never be mad at you.''

Then he looks down at my legs before looking up at my face, making me press my lips into a thin line, ''But I feel like it's my fault.''

To my surprise, he places his hand on mine. I feel his warmth radiating immediately, making my heart beating faster than normal, ''It's not your fault that he's here. It's not your fault that we met him. It happened, we can't do anything about it.'' He looks down at my hand before running his other hand up his face, sighing.

My mind goes blank. I don't even know what to say so I just turn our hands around, entwining our fingers together. He looks up at my face, making me feel nervous. Alex closes his laptop before moving it to the side; and he pulls me so that I would be right in front of him. My eyes widen as he leans in and rests his head on my stomach, letting out a deep sigh.

I slowly place my hands on his head, tugging softly onto his hair. Both of his hands are on my waist, staying there, not even doing anything further.

We stay like that for a few minutes and I lift his head up. My eyes widen slightly at the sight of his teary eyes. He pulls my hand before placing it at the side of his cheek, feeling my touch.

It was like loosing my mind. It was like not being in control as I lean in closer and pull his face toward mine. Our lips brushes, making him lean in further. As soon as he did, electricity flows right into my veins and he stands up; lifting my shirt up, running his hands on my cold skin.

''I want you.'' I whisper into his ear.

He pulls me closer by the hip, breathing right in front of me. Our lips inches apart and our nose hitting one another. He looks at my lips, teasing me by leaving kisses down my neck, ''I want you too.'' Then he says softly right near my earlobe, ''I want you so badly.''

I grip onto his waist, stopping him, ''Then take me.'' My voice came out more like a whisper.

Alex looks at me in disbelief, somehow quite unsure about my sudden decision. His eyebrows furrow in confusion, lifting his hand up my face. Then he blinks unknowingly, thinking perhaps. I start to feel pathetic so I loosen the grip on his waist, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

''Um, I mean...'' I clear my throat.

''I know what you mean.'' He pulls me closer, hugging me. I slowly rest my cheek on his chest, closing my eyes. Then one of his hand soothingly rub on my back, ''But, I can't.''

I keep quiet, waiting for his next words.

''I don't want you to regret it one day. Hell, I want you. God knows how much I want you but I can't. At least not now. Not when you're not so sure of yourself, so sure of your own feelings.'' He says, softly near my ear.

Sighing, I just wrap my arm around his body, not saying a single word. We both stay quietly close; appreciating the moment.

The next morning, we walk down to the café on the first floor for breakfast. Alex and I find a table for two near the window so that we could see the view while eating. He sits in front of me; the table separating us. After what happened yesterday, none of us really bring up the topic anymore.

We went straight to bed and he wasn't asking questions either. He just wrapped his arms around me and protectively pulled me closer until we both fell asleep; even though it took me awhile to actually drift into the darkness.

Alex clears his throat as he takes a sip of his water, looking around. I slowly cut my pancake before taking a bite. He puts the glass down, about to say something but as soon as he open his mouth, well, a distraction came.

''Ha, what a pleasant surprise, seeing you guys again.'' Noah says, standing beside the table as he watch us both. I stop eating as I just hold onto the fork.

Glancing toward Alex, he starts to sigh and lean back; rubbing the back of his neck. His expression changes, somehow showing that he doesn't want Noah around, ''I wish I could say the same.'' I hear Alex mutter under his breath, stopping Noah from staring at me.

''I'm sorry, what?'' Noah frowns, feeling unsure of what he just heard.

''I said, I could say the same.'' Alex replies, looking at me. Not even wanting to look at Noah; not even a pity glance.

''Oh ah, right. So,'' He takes a seat from behind before sitting down, completely ignoring the fact that Alex starts to glare at him like a predator, ''You guys are not mad at me for interrupting, yesterday? I mean, it was a pretty bad move.'' He frowns.

I shake my head slowly, ''I guess.'' I mumble, but I'm pretty mad right now.

''That's good, so, Athena,'' He starts to face me, purposely grabbing onto my hand; making my eyes widen in surprise as I glance back at Alex who looks at me in disbelief, ''There's this fair that—''

I cut him off by standing up, pulling my hand. ''I need to get more bread.'' I say. As soon as I did, Alex and Noah looks down at my plate full of bread with Nutella. Alex smirks but Noah looks at me in confusion but nods his head, ''Get along will ya?'' I pat a bit too rough on Noah's shoulder before walking straight toward food.

Once I manage to get a plate, I take a few bread while glancing toward Alex; seeing that he's looking at Noah as he continues to talk about something. On the look of Alex's face, it shows that he's not interested but he just doesn't want to make a bad reputation.

I quickly walk back to the table, placing the plate, ''So, what were you guys talking about?'' I ask, sitting back down.

''That I broke my ankle in senior year during football practise.'' He replies. ''Ah, you wouldn't remember that because you never really came during any games. You were gone like a ghost, it's quite amusing.''

''Yeah.'' I roll my eyes.

''I think we should get going,'' Alex drops the napkin, ''We have a flight to catch up.'' He starts to stand up and I quickly follow his actions, ''Don't want to be late.'' He adds.

''Oh going back to New York already?'' Noah turns to face me.

''That's the plan. Bye Noah,'' Alex grabs onto my hand as walk out of the café. We walk as fast as we can until we reach the elevator. Alex suddenly let out soft chuckles and my lips start to curve into a small smile as I look at him.

Then, his laughter starts raging and we both are laughing like we have lost our insanity. I grab onto his arm, preventing myself from falling as my other hand rests on my stomach. The elevator doors open and we walk side by side; still laughing, ''Did you see his face?'' Alex asks.

I bend down, waiting for him to unlock the door as I let out chuckles, ''It was pathetic.'' I reply, suddenly loosing my voice.

Standing up straight, I continue to stare into his eyes and as soon as he stares back at me, our laughter starts to die slowly, leaving us hearing to our own breathing. He moves closer toward me, ''Fuck it.'' Then he picks me up by the waist before meeting my lips in an instant.

I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him back. He kisses me passionately yet rough at the same time as he pushes the door open, not breaking the kiss. We walk inside and I feel myself hitting the wall; as he locks one of my hands up against the wall; making me moan once he trails kisses down my neck.

My breathing is raging with every peck on my neck as I continue to arch my back, enjoying the waves of pleasure. Alex tugs onto my shirt before lifting it up and throwing it onto the ground. He gets a better view of my body right after as he rests his hand on my hips, kissing me on the lips once more.

He picks me up and I wrap my legs around his torso, letting him support my weight. I peek through and see that we are in the bedroom and I feel him letting go of me and as soon as he did, he starts putting me slowly onto the bed and unbuttoning my jeans.

I open my eyes to see that he's still fully dressed so I pull his shirt up and throw it away. My hands move down to feel his toned chest and abs; from the look on his face, it shows that he's enjoying this. All of those hard works in the gym is finally worth it eh?

He pulls away my jeans until they are out of the way. He hovers on top of me, glancing down my body. I feel exposed but at the same time, I don't want to ruin it. I don't want to ruin the moment. I wanted this. I've been dreaming about this.

''Beautiful.'' He whispers into my ear, softly before kissing the middle of my chest and down my stomach. I lift my head up once he finds his way there, building pleasures. My hands grip onto his neck, somehow wanting to hold onto something.

I unbutton his jeans and he takes it off for me. Then, he starts to rub onto my thigh while kissing me passionately sweet. My body is heating up with his every single touch; I've never experienced something so, wanting.

Within seconds, we already skin to skin; touching and feeling each other's warmth. He looks straight into my eyes before letting me feel the pleasure that I've never felt before; something that I have been having in my dreams. The way he's loving me.

With every touch, every movement, every kiss, it takes me to cloud nine. It makes me moan, it makes me wanting more. It's like everything is finally perfect. It's like both of us have really wanted this from before.

Flight to catch? I guess we both have forgotten about that.