[Club house] [7] [Noah]

"....Can't we go where Oliver is now?"

In the bustling corridors of the academy, Aaliyah grumbled, her crimson eyes glancing around with a bored expression on her face.

"Stup up and stay with us," Miley, walking beside her, scolded, her orchid hair bouncing as she moved, "you are always like Oliver this, Oliver that. Can't you enjoy time with us?"

"Honestly, I can't," Aaliyah replied nonchalantly, "especially not with you."

"What did I do?" Miley rebuked, with an absurd look on her face.

"Guys, can you stop fighting?" Ashlyn quickly chimed in between as she noticed their argument escalating.

"I am not fighting," she replied, glancing at her and pointing at Miley, "She is."

"Okay, now, stop it." She walked between them as both girls quieted down a little.

"By the way, how long have you guys known each other?" Ashlyn questioned curiously, her mesmerizing golden eyes looking at both of them.

"Since kindergarten," Miley replied, as she remembered their past, "well, most of us know each other from that time."

"Azariah as well?" Ashlyn asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.

"...Why are you asking about him?" Miley rebuked, frowning her brows.

"....I am just curious," Ashlyn replied meekly, rubbing her hands.

"Yeah, Azariah as well," Aaliyah replied in Miley's place, "in fact, Miley and Azariah were quite close—."

"I was never close with him," she interjected sharply, while glaring at her.

"Remind me again who always pestered Azariah—."

"Shut up, Aaliyah," Miley interjected again, clenching her fist, "I was a kid back then, and if I had known how he would have turned out to be, I would have never been with him."

"Yeah, he only stayed with you because of Aimar and Oliver," Aaliyah rebuked, "and he already has enough girls around him to care about you."

Her words hit Miley's nerves as her glare intensified.

"Music Club!" Ashlyn exclaimed, looking at the board in front of a hall, "Let's check it out."

Grabbing both girls' hands, Ashlyn moved towards inside the club, taking them by surprise.

"Wait, I am coming. Stop dragging me," Aaliyah complained as she walked behind her.

Miley, Ashlyn, and Aaliyah approached the music club hall.

They were immediately greeted by the vibrant sounds of music emanating from within.

Stepping closer, they were met with a sight that filled them with awe and excitement.

The hall was adorned with colorful banners and posters, each showcasing different musical instruments and styles.

"Another one of her songs." Miley mumbled as she heard the second year students singing.

"Whose song?" Ashlyn asked, glancing at her.

"Echo." She replied, "She is quite famous."

"Yeah...I have heard of her." Ashlyn replied, nodding her head.

"Are you going to join the club?" Miley asked, glancing at Ashlyn, who was looking around curiously.

"No," Ashlyn shook her head, "I was thinking of joining the cooking club."

"....Why?" Aaliyah asked curiously.

"Let's just say it's my wish to be the best cook," Ashlyn replied with a bright smile on her face.

"I might join as well," Aaliyah mumbled, her voice barely audible, "Maybe Oliver will like my cooking."

Thinking about Oliver, Aaliyah's lips raised into a gentle smile, which both girls took notice of.

"Lost cause," Miley grumbled, and Ashlyn nodded her head in agreement.

<Now signin' bling-bang-bang, bling-bang-bang-born>

The girls' focus shifted as the sound of the phone ringing filled their ears.

"It's mine," Ashlyn replied, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the unusual ringtone.

"Why this ringtone?" Aaliyah asked curiously.

"Azariah set this up when he took my phone," Ashlyn replied without thinking.

"Why did you even give him your phone—hey! Ash."

Ashlyn quickly ran outside, ignoring Miley's scolding.

"Hello," she mumbled, picking up the phone.

<Sister. >

"Tiffany?" Ashlyn replied.

<What are you doing, sister?>

"There is a club activity going on. I am checking them," Ashlyn replied, while Aaliyah and Miley arrived close to her.

<T-then e-enjoy. I will call you later.>

"Tiffy?" Ashlyn replied as she heard her sister's strained voice, "What happened?"

<N-nothing. I just wanted to talk with you.>

Hearing her sister's meek voice, Ashlyn grew even more concerned, "what happened, Tiffy?... Please tell me."

<...well, W-when I was r-returning f-from the orphanage, felt someone watching me.>

"....What?" Ashlyn's heart beat dropped as she heard her, "H-how? You are under the utmost security, how d-did this h-happen?"

<I-i don't know. Maybe I a-am thinking too m-much—>

"W-where are you now?" Ashlyn asked, her voice cracking with worry.

<H-home, with sister Mina. She came quickly when I called her.>

"Thank God," she whispered softly as a sigh escaped her trembling lips, "Be safe, Tiffy. I will come home as soon as I can."

<It's fine, sister.>

"Bu—."

<Sister Mina is with me. She will stay here tonight. Don't worry too much.>

"No! How could I not worr—."

<Did you find Noah?>

Tiffany asked, changing the topic, and hearing his name calmed down Ashlyn a little.

"No," she replied, "not now."

<Then don't come home until you find him.>

"Tiffany."

<You remember he promised to take care of us, right?... please find him so can fulfill his promise.>

"Tiffy."

<I will call you later, please enjoy without worrying about me, bye.>

Beep beep.

Tiffany ended the call without waiting for her reply, while she brought her phone close to her chest, placing it over her restless heart.

"Everything alright?" Miley asked, patting her shoulder.

"Y-yeah. It's fine," Ashlyn replied quickly, smiling back at her.

"You can share with us, you know," Miley insisted, "we might be able to help you."

Ashlyn looked at them with a conflicted expression before she took a deep breath and asked,

"....do you guys know anyone named Noah?"

"Why are you asking that?" Frowning, Aaliyah asked.

"...He is someone I knew from my childhood....I want to know where he is now," Ashlyn replied, looking at both of them.

"There are not many Noahs I can think of—."

"Azariah's middle name is Noah," Aaliyah interrupted Miley's words, making Ashlyn focus on her.

"Azariah?" She asked softly, her gaze expectant.

"...What was this Noah guy like?" Miley questioned, interrupting Ashlyn's train of thought.

"...He was gentle and kind—."

"He can't be Azariah then," Miley concluded, "he is anything but those two."

".....How did he look?" Aaliyah asked, making Ashlyn focus on her.

"...I have never seen him." Shaking her head, she replied.

"....What?" Aaliyah asked, with an obscured look on her face.

"Well, when I was a child, I couldn't see anything," she explained,

"At first, it was supposed to be healed in a few months, but....in my case, it was worse than that... I wasn't able to see anything until I turned ten."

"...How did you live without seeing?" Miley inquired with a distressed look.

"....It wasn't that bad. My sister always helped me with anything I needed, and Noah as well," Ashlyn replied, trying to be nonchalant about it.

"Wait! Did your sister see Noah?" Miley asked.

"No, he changed his appearance every other time," Ashlyn uttered, shaking her head.

"When did he come to meet you?" Miley asked.

"....On weekends, he always came to take care of me. Sometimes he even brought his friend with him,"

Ashlyn replied with a bright smile as the memories of her childhood flashed in her mind,

"once he carried me on his back as we roamed around on the day of the festival."

"He can't be Azariah then," Miley confirmed firmly.

"Why are you so sure?" Aaliyah asked, glancing at her.

"Christina," Miley uttered, "she didn't let Azariah get away from her sight on weekends."

".... Right." And for the first time, Aaliyah didn't rebuke her words.

"...What about your other family members?" Aaliyah asked, glancing at her.

"....I don't have anyone except my sister," she answered, "My mother died when I was six."

"....I am sorry."

"Don't be," with a delightful smile, she replied, "my mother was kind... She sent an angel to protect us."

"You are saying as if your mother never scolded you," Aaliyah grumbled, squinting her eyes.

"...No, she was always kind to me. I don't remember her scolding me for anything."

"...That's weird," Miley mumbled, "You don't even have one bad memory with her?"

"No," shaking her head, she replied, "she was always kind to us, both me and my sister. She would have still loved us... If she hadn't died."

"....How did she even die?" Aaliyah  questioned with a perplexed look.

"It was a natural death...." Ashlyn replied before adding, "At least that's what Noah told me."

"Huh? You don't know how she died?" Aaliyah asked, furrowing her brows.

"....One day she left for work and never came back," Ashlyn replied, shaking her head, her golden eyes looking blankly above, "and a few days later, Noah came into our lives."

"....A lot of things don't make sens—."

"Stop asking about her mother, will you?" Miley interjected Aaliyah's words.

"Okay, then why did Noah leave you?" Aaliyah asked, glancing at her.

"I don't know," she replied, shaking her head. "The last time I met him was on the day of the festival six years ago."

Miley's eyes widened as something clicked in her mind, but...in the end, she kept her thoughts to herself.

"I know it's selfish of me, but I would like to request both of you." Bowing her head deeply, Ashlyn whispered, "Please help me find him again."