Another Person

Noelle situated at the rooftop while waiting for Blake's call. She dangled her hands at the railings, waiting for the clouds to whish around clearly. Noelle grabbed the beer at the benches, gulping the contents down. The burning sensation in her throat made her fingertips alive.

She remembered this day of unwell. The day she got sick, and even careless of what was happening. She has a mother to take care of that day. How strong her mentality has been as the days passed.

Noelle whispered in the air, "How time flies so fast to people who suffered the most."

Someone swung the door by. The sound creep her out. Noelle turned around to see the hotness that effortlessly exuding from Cole's face. Right after filming, Carl and Noelle parted ways, thanking how the sex has been that wonderful. Noelle doesn't see any sign of Cole, but he must have watched the clip to find her here.

Noelle barely stated a whisper. Cole greeted in a casual tone, "Good evening, Ms. Noelle Iris."

She nodded, chugging down the beer, smiling. Cole situated beside him, watching the stars shining bright. Noelle doesn't like the scene to change. Those skyscrapers, buildings, and the distant honk of the vehicles, it put her in peace. In Cole's situation, it must not be the same case.

"I saw the video clip." After moments of silence, Cole conveyed it. Noelle stifled a chuckle.

"Finally, you experienced to be a dominant one in a live show," Cole added.

Noelle put down the empty bottle at the corner, quietly sighing, and rubbed her fingers together. She brushed the tangled strands of her hair, jogging the question at the back of her mind since the royal ball. Noelle was invested to know the answer from him.

"Cole Rodriguez."

"Noelle Iris," he stated back.

"I just want to ask you something, Cole. More like back in the days."

Cole turned to her with interest. He smiled, wondering, "What is it that you like to say?"

"From what I heard, you plan to be a billionaire, Cole. I meant what I said I believe in you that time. You are intelligent, and you know how to be smart in situations."

Cole quivered his lip. In his face masked the worry of finding out his wrong decisions.

"Why are you here? Why are you eating pussies and becoming one of the heads of this sexual act, already giving you the path on success? Do you think you'll be happy with it?"

Cole didn't say anything for a while. He kept staring at the twinkle of the lights at the post street. In a daze of the moment, Cole forgot he was here now. He got surprised on how far he had come. He got amazed thoroughly that on those darkest times, he became tough. Cole clasped his hands together, asking back, "Happiness comes with a price, Noelle."

She got confused on his words. How can it have a price?

"You know this world, it's harsh. At a young age, I saw the reality of my life."

He thought everything hasn't gone to what he wanted to see. He was there, witnessing it all crumbling down, being unproductive every day, like there's nothing to achieve. Cole watched the pieces falling to the floor, and he's back on square one.

"I saw nothing but surviving. I don't know if I deserve to treat my life as a rubbish one. I barely had the time to process all the things, but I was new to this. I was new to that kind of hardship. I can't even move a single inch every day without hurting someone."

Cole was hurt. He was in pain. Along in the trail of his words, he doesn't want to talk about it anymore.

"I wanted to disappear that time."

Cole squint his eyes. If he gives in to a battle, he'll lose.

"That's why becoming a porn star saved me. I thought I'll not rise from the ashes anymore. I became a fool for believing I'll be like THAT someday. The fate twisted its wheels and took me here, beside you, as a porn star and CEO of a legal website, A&E."

They met each other's eyes. He was too honest and vulgar, that Noelle couldn't take it anymore. Looking away, she confronted, "I never knew you would resort to a career like this, Cole. I know I rejected you that time, but I don't know that your decisions…"

"…will be cheap? Will be a downgrade to my dignity? For once, Noelle, I wanted to turn back and run away. I always wanted to go back in time, but yesterday's past and gone. You can't go back anymore."

A lot of questions popped in her mind. Cole is a good man. He is sweet, caring, and supportive in all of her needs that time around, but Noelle wasted that moment. Cole became distant, and she let him be.

"I shouldn't have let you go that time."

It's the first time Noelle spoke the truth to Cole. She has been keeping it for years.

"For once, I thought I'd be good at one single snap. That even if you walk away, I will not seek for your presence. But I was wrong. I needed you that time."

Noelle turned away, not wanting to get emotional. The tears in her eyes were bearable. The two of them hung out a lot, and there's not a single day they didn't bicker. Even though the teacher was present, Noelle couldn't stop teasing him around.

"That's why they called us the 'almost' sweethearts. We are actually one," he laughed.

But things have changed. It's not the same time and people anymore. She's about to say something further when her cell phone suddenly rang. Cole looked at the caller ID, realizing it's her boyfriend, Blake.

Noelle answered it quickly, leaving Cole hastily.

She stated hello too many times. She walked downstairs, letting the warm breeze to envelop her arms. Noelle waited for Blake's lively voice, and thankfully, she heard it. Settling down at the last step of the stairs, she asked, "How is your day? Did it go well?"

"Fine. Honestly, I have to start filming tomorrow, but I knew it would be hard not seeing you for a day."

…

Blake resorted to call Noelle while Monica was asleep. It is two nights in a row.

Two nights he has been betraying Noelle's trust in order to survive his temptation.

Blake waited until Noelle answered.

He slid in his jeans, letting his crotch dangle free for a bit until he reached the balcony, all topless, no shirts on, and messy hair. Blake heard Noelle's eagerness, and he smiled secretly. Even though he committed a mistake now, Noelle was surely blind to see it.

How can a trash man like him deserve a compelling woman like her?

"Fine. Honestly, I have to start filming tomorrow, but I knew it would be hard not seeing you for a day."

If he was a friend of Blake's, he'd be hitching his phone away and slam his head on the balcony metal railings.

"We have to stay away from work for a while. Tell me, how is your day?"

Blake turned around. She watched as the curtains unfold a dark desire, rely the image of Monica, who is now awake. Her hair covered half of her breasts, and she was holding the blanket to conceal her naked body. Blake's gaze became dark.

"It's full of wondrous events you might not expect to hear from me, Noelle."