chapter 5

The car finally came to a stop.

Noah stepped out slowly, expecting something… normal.

Maybe an apartment.

Maybe a simple house.

Something that made sense.

But the moment he looked up, he froze.

“…This is your house?” he asked flatly.

Ethan glanced at him. “Yes.”

Noah blinked once.

Then again.

The building in front of him wasn’t just a house—it was a mansion. Tall gates, modern architecture, clean white walls, and a quiet elegance that screamed wealth.

Noah slowly turned his head toward Ethan.

“You have a place like this,” he said slowly, “and you still sleep at my house sometimes?”

Ethan didn’t react much. “Yes.”

Noah frowned. “Why?”

Ethan opened the gate. “Come inside.”

“That’s not an answer.”

But Noah still followed.

Inside, the mansion was even more overwhelming.

Everything was carefully arranged. Expensive furniture, soft lighting, a calm atmosphere that felt too perfect to be random.

But what stopped Noah completely—

Was the living room wall.

He froze.

His eyes scanned the space slowly.

Photo frames.

Dozens of them.

Him.

And Ethan.

Together.

Smiling.

Sitting close.

Traveling.

Cooking.

Arguing in some.

Laughing in others.

Noah’s breath caught slightly.

“…Are those really us?” he asked quietly.

Ethan stood beside him. “Yes.”

Noah stepped closer, eyes narrowing.

“This can’t be real.”

“It is.”

Noah turned sharply. “Why would I be in pictures like this with you of all people?”

Ethan didn’t answer immediately.

That silence irritated him more.

“We don’t even look like the kind of people who match,” Noah added.

Ethan finally spoke. “We weren’t supposed to.”

That made Noah pause.

“What does that even mean?”

But Ethan didn’t continue.

Instead, he said, “You should rest. I have work tonight.”

Noah frowned. “Work?”

“Yes.”

“Of course you do,” Noah muttered.

Later That Evening

Noah had been given a room upstairs.

Clean. Simple. Familiar in a way that still didn’t feel like his own.

After a shower, he stood in front of the mirror.

Steam still clung to the glass slightly.

He stared at his reflection.

A small-framed, petite young man, with soft brown hair that fell naturally across his forehead. His face looked gentle—almost delicate—with features that made him look younger than he probably was. There was something quietly adorable about his expression, even when he frowned slightly in confusion.

But his eyes…

His eyes looked lost.

Like someone trying to remember a dream that kept slipping away.

Noah touched his face slightly.

“I really don’t look like someone who lived four years of a life I can’t remember…” he murmured.

The house was quiet.

Ethan still hadn’t returned.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled at him.

He lay down on the bed.

And sleep came quickly.

The Dream That Wasn’t a Dream

Noah opened his eyes.

But he wasn’t in the room anymore.

He was downstairs.

The living room.

The same mansion.

But something felt different.

Warmer.

Lived-in.

He turned slightly—

And froze.

Ethan was on the couch.

Asleep.

Noah’s chest tightened for a reason he couldn’t explain.

He took a step forward.

Then another.

His heart beat faster—not in fear, but in something softer.

Something unfamiliar.

He reached the couch slowly and stopped beside it.

Ethan looked… peaceful.

Not the sarcastic, controlled man he knew.

Just… tired.

Human.

Noah stood there for a long moment, unsure why he couldn’t move away.

Then—

A shift.

He suddenly went closer and lay down on him making Ethan wake up then he asked a lame question

"Do you love me"

but instead of answering Ethan kissed him, but he quickly broke the kiss.

"Answer me"

"I don't just love you I am In love with you"Ethan replied to him whispering against.

we stared at each other for a long moment them my arm went around his neck and Ethan also grips my neck then he pulled me closer pressing his lips against mine and I melted, his lips were warm, soft, perfect and feels familiar..... It's perfect, I wanted more.

my hand drew his face closer, pressing his lips harder on mine.

oh, I lost it.

my fingers went to his hair and sat on his thigh why he slowly moved up along with me.

then I slowly pulled away.

"Noah....." he breathed hard with his eyes dilated "have you forgiven me"

(Noah’s POV)

I jolted awake.

breathing heavily.

Something heavy was around my waist.

My brain took exactly three seconds to register that it was an arm.

“…Okay,” I muttered to myself. “Either I’ve been kidnapped or my life is just like this now.”

I blinked slowly trying not to think about the dream.

Ethan.

Of course.

He was asleep beside me, one arm loosely around my side like it belonged there.

I froze.

“…When did he get back?” I whispered. “And why is he comfortable enough to act like I’m a body pillow?”

I stared at him for a moment longer.

Then the dream came back again.

My brain immediately went:

Nope.

I sat up too fast.

Which, unfortunately, resulted in me slipping off the edge of the bed.

“—Ah!”

I hit the floor with a quiet thud.

Perfect.

Absolutely graceful.

From above, I heard movement.

Ethan shifted, waking up slowly.

He looked down at me.

“…What are you doing on the floor?”

I rubbed my arm and sat up. “Exploring gravity.”

He raised a brow.

I stood quickly, brushing myself off like nothing happened.

Then pointed at him. “You.”

Ethan blinked. “Me?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “Why are you in my personal space like a misplaced furniture item?”

He sat up properly now, still half-awake. “It’s my house.”

“Not the point.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you have a habit of invading people’s beds without permission, or am I just special?”

A faint pause.

Then he replied, completely calm, “You used to pull me closer.”

I stared at him.

“…I feel like the past needs to be investigated.”

Ethan exhaled lightly—almost like a tired laugh.

"I know you had a dream"

how did he know.

“i..i…Never mind,” I said quickly. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Because I definitely was not going to explain that feeling.

Not yet.

Ethan watched me for a moment longer, then leaned back slightly against the bed.

“You’re overthinking again,” he said.

I scoffed. “I’m not overthinking. I’m strategically analyzing my questionable life decisions.”

That actually made his lips twitch.

Barely.

But I saw it.

And somehow that annoyed me more.

I grabbed a pillow from the bed and pointed it at him. “Also, next time you decide to become a human armrest, give me a warning.”

Ethan finally sat up fully, looking at me properly now.

“Noah.”

“What?”

A pause.

Then, softer than before:

“Come here.”

I frowned immediately. “That sounds suspicious.”

“I’m awake now,” he said.

“…That doesn’t help your case.”

But I still didn’t move.

Because something in his voice wasn’t teasing.

Wasn’t sarcastic.

Just… quiet.

I looked at him for a second longer.

Then muttered, “If I die mysteriously, I’m haunting you first.”

And I sat back on the bed.

Still keeping a safe distance.

Just in case my life decided to get even weirder.

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