Chapter 48: Unpredictable Proposal

Astrid’s POV:

I stepped into the hotel with Noah, who was saying that he had to show something to me. I wonder what is it. But right now, I really am not interested in anything.

Mom.

Is she alright?

I tried calling her many times, but her phone was switched off, only to make me more worried about her. She usually doesn’t turn her phone off.

At least, not when she knows I would call her.

“Are you ready?” Noah asked me.

“Y-yes” I said coming out of my thoughts. He looked at me with worry.

“Is everything okay? Tell me Astrid” he said.

I will not tell him anything. He doesn’t understand me anyway.

“No, Everything's fine” I said. He smiled a little and then I followed him inside. We stood at the door of his room.

“Open it” he said.

“Are you so lazy, that you can’t even open it?” I asked.

“Yup” he said.

I rolled my eyes and then opened the door. As soon as the door was opened, and I entered it, flowers rained upon me. The room was very nicely decorated, with balloons all over. My name was written on the wall using different strips. But the thing that caught my attention was the line written under it.

Will you be my princess?

I turned around, only to find him on his knees.

“Astrid, can you give me the honor to call you mine?” he asked me.

Even in the darkest time that I was facing right now, Noah’s words didn’t fail to bring a smile on my face.

“But you said that—”

“Right now, also, I’m the one saying this” he said.

“By your wish or because of me?” I asked.

“By my heart’s wish” he said.

“You’re really good with words” I repeated my line and then looked at the rose he was giving me. I took it while he got up, took three steps near me before hugging me.

“Oh yeah, these three steps. Was it a tradition that you always kept a three-step-distance between us?” I asked.

“Yup, kind of” he said.

“You still didn’t say..” before I could complete, he spoke up.

“I love you, Astrid” he said. A bigger smile crossed my lips.

“I.. I l-love you too” I said.

“Any problem, Astrid?” he asked as he got away.

“No..” I said.

“Well, now you trust me, right Astrid?”

“Yes, of course I do, Noah” I said.

“Then at least now you can tell me what’s wrong?”

“Okay.. listen” I said. He looked at me with concern.

“Today, I.. I was going to come to college. But my mom called me. I talked to her, but I.. I heard a … a g-gunshot”

“What??”

“Even after that.. mom said she was fine, b-but..”

“Where is she?” he asked me.

“I don’t know. She just said she is going to meet that relative”

He was looking very worried. Like he feels the same I do. Like he understands my pain.

“Do you have anyone who might know where’s that relative?” he asked.

“W-wait. I.. I once went with her. It was a long time ago, but..”

“Tell me, Astrid, where was it?”

“LA” I said. “I used to live there before I came here. My relative’s house was also there. She also used to fall ill every once in a while, and I guess she is the only relative we’re close too”

“Then, let’s go—”

“But I’m not sure! She would’ve transferred like I did!”

“It’s fine, we can take the risk” he said and took my hand to drag me out of the hotel.

“But Noah!” I said. He stopped and looked at me. “How can we go there... on ourselves?”

“There’s a good reason for that” he said and dragged me inside his car.

“Noah! I.. already disturbed your studies so much.. I..”

“SHUT UP ASTRID” he yelled and started driving on an insane speed.

“Slow down, Noah!” I said but he kept on doing that.

“Do you want to take the flight, or we can also go by car” he asked whilst his full attention on the road. After all he was driving insanely fast.

“Whatever is.. appropriate” I said.

“I can’t afford the flight, I’m sorry Astrid” he said. I looked at him.

How can I forget that he is living on his own?

“Then we’ll go by car, Noah!” I said with a little enthusiasm.

“Really? It’s gonna take at least 4 hours, or if I’ll speed up, then 3 hours—”

“No! I don’t want that speed!!!” I yelled. He laughed.

“Then we’ll go at normal speed, okay?” I nodded and then we headed towards LA.

I’m so happy but scared at the same time. Noah is the only reason why I will be able to get there and meet her. I’m gonna thank him very well once we get my mom. I’m right now just too occupied with the fear to celebrate anything. After that little laugh, Noah’s face also tensed. He cared about me a lot. That’s one of the reasons why I love him.