Chapter 5
I immediately called back, but all that answered me was a cold, mechanical voice informing me that the number I was calling was busy.
Noah hadn’t replied to my messages either.
I figured he really didn’t want to talk to me anymore. After all, I had said such hurtful things.
I felt an inexplicable tightness in my chest, like something was lodged in there, making it hard to breathe.
After the seventeenth call was rejected, I knew my relationship with Noah was beyond repair.
1/5
When Noah and I were friends, he was always accommodating. Except for not letting me avoid him or neglect my health, he indulged me in everything else.
We hardly ever fought, only once.
That time, I had fallen ill with a fever and was hospitalized after getting caught in the rain at night while exhausted from overwork.
When I woke up, the doctor suggested I stay another day for observation.
Chapter 5
Since I had an off–campus job and didn’t want to pay for an extra day in the hospital, I wanted to check out.
Noah came in from outside and handed me back my phone.
He said he had just called my boss at the part–time job and requested time off for me.
That job was my source of income for living expenses and tuition during my freshman year.
Though exhausting, the pay and hours were perfect for my situation.
At that time, my professor had also gently reminded me that I couldn’t delay my tuition payment any longer, as I was the only student in class who hadn’t paid.
So during that period, I never dared to take time off, afraid I wouldn’t earn enough for tuition.
No matter how tired I was, I forced myself to go to work every day.
I angrily confronted Noah: “Why did you take it upon yourself to request time off for me? Don’t you understand how badly I need that money?”
Noah didn’t understand because he believed health was the most
important thing.
“If you need money, you could just tell me. I’ll give it to you.
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3/5
Besides, I’ve never liked that part–time job of yours. You’re always exhausted—they’re clearly exploiting you. If you hadn’t insisted on keeping your promise to them, I would have quit for you just now.”
That was the first time Noah and I ever fought.
Finally, I shouted at Noah in anger: “You have no right to make decisions for me. My business is none of your concern!”
Noah yelled back: “You think I want to be concerned about you? Go ahead and keep working. You don’t care about your own health, so why should I? I was only trying to help, but you yell at me. From now on, do whatever you want.”
After saying that, he slammed the door on his way out.
Later, I heard from a young nurse at the hospital: “Your friend looks fierce, but he’s really good to you. When your fever hit 104°F, he was nearly out of his mind with worry. Because your fever wouldn’t break, he kept asking us why it wasn’t coming down. While you were unconscious, he constantly monitored the IV drip, terrified of any backflow. He’s the only person I’ve ever seen in this hospital who didn’t touch his phone once.”
I immediately felt ashamed. My attitude had been terrible. Noah was only concerned about me. If it weren’t for him, I could have died from fever in my dorm room with no one to help.
Plus, I had fallen ill at three in the morning. Noah probably hadn’t slept more than a few hours, yet he stayed by my side the whole time.
Chapter 5
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how unreasonable I’d been.
I immediately took out my phone and called Noah.
After rejecting my call twice, he finally answered slowly.
Once connected, he didn’t speak. We both remained silent.
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“I didn’t mean to talk to you like that. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”
Noah’s voice carried a hint of anger: “Weren’t you just telling me not to interfere in your business?”
I said quietly, “I was wrong.”
“So are you staying in the hospital tonight or not?”
“Yes.”
Noah let out a cold snort, and finally said coldly: “I’m buying fruit for you here. What do you want? Don’t say you don’t want anything. If you don’t eat, I’ll beat you up.”
That was the only time Noah and I ever fought. We argued fiercely, but even then, he was willing to give me a chance to explain. Or rather, he never truly wanted to be angry with me.
But now, Noah wasn’t answering my calls or replying to my messages.
Chapter 5
He was genuinely ignoring me.
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