Jake woke up late, past breakfast time. When he woke up, as usual, his head hurt, and he kept lying in bed. He didn't wish to get up or do anything as he remembered the scene from the previous knight. It still hurt him to think about it. 

He was sure Noah must not be home just like he had spent the past few days outside of the home. He stared at the window, which was open and a cold wind blew the curtains. It was cold as winter had started, but he felt nothing. He heard the familiar voice that made him feel like he was dreaming.

"Are you going to sleep the entire day or wish to wake up and eat something?"

Jake looked at the door and stared at the man standing there. Jake shut his eyes for a moment and then opened again to see if that image of the man would disappear, but it didn't.

Noah went to him and offered him one tiny bottle, "Have it."

"I am fine," Jake closed his eyes back, not willing to talk to him. 

Noah put that bottle on the bedside table and said, "I am waiting for you to have breakfast. Come outside."

Jake frowned, "I don't want to…."

"I will reheat till then," Noah interrupted him and left the room. 

Jake continued to lay in the bed as he didn't wish to talk to Noah, or he didn't know he might fight with him. 

After five minutes, he heard Noah again, "It's almost done. Get fresh and come out. I am starving already."

Jake sighed as he heard Noah's last words. Starving? He sure didn't want Noah to starve. Jake got out of bed and went for breakfast after freshening up. Noah was waiting for him. Noah looked at Jake, who had taken a bath and wore casual clothes. Though he looked fresh, his eyes looked tired. Noah served food for him along with his own dish.

"Did you drink that medicine?" Noah asked. 

"No," Jake replied and looked at the dish. He was unusually silent, and Noah stared at him.

"I will get it for you," Noah stood up and went to Jake's room to get that hangover relief drink. 

He returned and put it in front of Jake after removing the bottle's cap, "Drink it first," and moved to sit in his chair.

"Noah!" Jake called. 

"Huh?" Noah looked at him as he sat in his chair opposite Jake.

Jake didn't look at him but said, "Don't give me false hopes," saying he stuffed the food in his mouth and continued to eat, not even looking at Noah to see his reaction. 

Noah looked at him, and he could understand what Jake meant. Noah too felt hurt, but as usual, he acted tough and suppressed it behind his light smile. "Don't take it in another way. We three- Lijun, you and I had always taken care of each other like this."

"Understood," Jake replied and continued to be silent and ate the food in his dish. Noah was right, so there was nothing to say. He was the one overthinking Noah's actions. 

Jake wanted to fight with Noah and scold him for what he was doing. He wanted to tell him what he truly felt and how everything was affecting him; how hurt he felt. So many things he had in his mind the previous night, but as the time came and seeing Noah unbothered, Jake gave up, or rather he was too exhausted to think or do anything about it. He needed time, and he preferred to give it up for a while. 

Finishing his meal, Jake stood up and walked towards the door. 

"It's Sunday today; where are you going?" Noah asked.

"Not sure," Jake put on his shoes in a hurry.

"Let's go out tonight to have drinks. I will call Lu Lijun too."

Jake, who was silent till now, breathed deeply in annoyance and looked back at Noah, "Why? Do you want me to see you kissing some random girl and then go with her to spend your night? Didn't you have enough last night?" Jake said, the anger evident in his eyes.

Noah felt speechless. Jake had never talked about his private matters like this.

"Jake…."

Jake didn't wait for him to talk and walked out after wearing his shoes, not even getting his car keys.

Noah looked at the closed door after Jake left and mumbled, "I wish things to be like before and not messy like this. Only to avoid these things, I came to China so we can be friends even if we are apart. Why did you have to come here?"

The day passed by, but Jake didn't return. The entire day Noah waited for him so they could talk normally, and this awkwardness between the two would go away. He wanted to tell him to be friends like before. 

Noah even planned to call Lu Lijun, and the three could spend some good friendly time together like in England. When the night arrived, Jake still didn't return. He dialed Jake's contact number, but his cell phone was off.

"What's with this guy?"

Noah called Lu Lijun. "Where are you?" Noah asked.

"In the office," Lu Lijun replied. 

"It's Sunday," Noah then looked at the clock, "It's late and already night."

"Couldn't be at home, or I would have troubled her. Better focus on work," Lu Lijun replied.

"Is Jake there?" Noah asked.

"No, I haven't seen him since I left your home. Did you two fight?"

"No. He left home after breakfast and didn't return. He didn't even take his car," Noah sounded worried now. 

"Did you call brother An Tian?"

"I will call him now." Noah hung up the call and called An Tian. Ignoring all the formalities of greeting An Tian, he straightway asked, "Is Jake with you, brother An Tian?"

"No. I haven't seen him for almost a week now. I was out of the city," An Tian replied. 

It added to Noah's worry, and he turned silent. 

"What happened?" An Tian asked. 

"He left home in the morning and didn't return. Even his cell phone is off," Noah answered, cursing himself in mind for not calling Jake earlier instead of waiting for the entire day to pass by and thinking he would return eventually.

"Did something happen before that? Did you two argue or what?" An Tian asked. 

"He was drunk last night when I was home, so I didn't get time to talk with him. He must have gone to the office. I will go there," Noah hung up the call without even saying bye to An Tian and ran to go out after grabbing his car keys.

Noah went to Jake's office, but Jake was not there, and on enquiring, he got to know Jake didn't go there after the Friday evening when he left the office. 

The Lu Corporation office was close by, so Noah went to Lu Lijun and dashed inside his office, "Jake is nowhere," Noah said, catching his breath. 

Lu Lijun looked at him for a moment as he entered his office so suddenly but then resumed his work, not reacting to what Noah said.

"I said Jake is nowhere."

"So?" Lu Lijun asked casually while busy working. 

"Are you not worried about him?"

"He is not a kid."

"How can you say it like this? He never disappeared like this."

"You should be happy that he won't trouble you now." Lu Lijun countered. 

"What the fuck are you talking about now? I can't find him. Can't you see how serious it could be? He….he never acted like this before. He always informed us if he was to be late and his cellphone is never off. He had left without a car even," Noah looked frustrated.

"What do you wish me to do then?" Lu Lijun asked. 

"Help me find him." 

"He must have gone back to England," Lu Lijun said. "He must be in flight, and his cellphone must be off."

Noah didn't consider this possibility before because he was so panicked. 

"It is possible. I was worried for nothing," Noah said as he sat in the chair. 

"Were you disappointed to think he was gone?" Lu Lijun asked. 

"I was just worried. If it were you, I would be the same," Noah countered. 

"I believe you," Lu Lijun said, and Noah didn't argue. He always knew the meaning of when Lu Lijun said 'I believe you'.

"Are you not going home?" Noah asked. 

"For a week, this is my home."

"And after a week, are you free to trouble President Lu," Noah commented.

"Need to give her time before….." Lu Lijun stopped. 

"Before what?"

"Nothing," Lu Lijun didn't answer and said, "You should go home; what if he didn't go to England and return home tonight."

Noah agreed and turned to leave, "See you tomorrow."

"Hmm!" Lu Lijun looked at the closed door and mumbled, "Idiot, don't want to accept it," and he pulled out his cellphone, "Where did this guy go?"

Upon dialing the number, Lu Lijun too found that Jake's cellphone was off. "This is really strange. Should wait till morning."

------

Noah couldn't sleep the entire night as he only waited for Jake to return. He kept contacting his number to check if his cell phone was turned on but still the same. Now he was turning anxious. 

Noah called An Tian only to hear a sleepy and annoyed voice, "Why are you calling me so early in the morning as if your lover is sleeping next to me?"

"Is he there?" Noah asked, not thinking twice about what An Tian had just said. 

"Why would he be with me?" An Tian asked. 

"You just said…." he stopped.

"So you admit he is your lover?" An Tian countered. 

"I didn't mean that. I just want to know where he is. Can you ask if he returned to England to his home?"

"He didn't." An Tian replied firmly.

"Did you ask?"

"No."

"Then how can you be sure he didn't go there," Noah asked. 

"I believe I know my brother better. In addition, I know he would go anywhere but home if he is not in a good mood. Furthermore, you drop honorifics when you are anxious to your bones."

Noah realized how casually he talked with An Tian, not even mainting the honorifics, and was about to apologize, but An Tian spoke that interrupted him. 

"Lastly, If you care for him so much and had issues with him, you should have solved it by beating him nicely instead of ignoring him."

There was a long pause on Noah's side, and he asked, "Where can he go? Any idea?" his voice was low and looked like he felt guilty. 

"He will be back sooner or later. Give him some time," An Tian suggested.

"But where can he go?"

"Not sure, but don't worry and wait for him to return."

Noah agreed to him and hung up the call. 

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