Chapter 152: Ch 152: Late Night Back

’What is going on here? Are Alan and Daniel finally getting closer? It’s a good thing, right...?’

Noah had noticed a weirdness in the air for the past few days. Both Alan and Daniel were spending far too much time together, and they even seemed to be having some quiet, private time together.

They were often together when Noah ran into them, and they looked flustered when Noah pointed out their behaviour.

But most importantly, they no longer frowned or denied his jokes when he asked if they were together.

"Finally, it seems like Alan and Daniel have started to come together. This was bound to happen, and I am happy about it..."

But Noah felt lonely. He truly had no one to turn to now. Whenever he wanted to talk to Alan or Daniel, they were not around. Erin was too busy and could not spare much time, and as for Ethan...

Things were still a little stiff with Ethan, so Noah had not visited him for some time. In fact, he did not even know that Ethan had gone back home until Alan told him during class when the topic accidentally came up.

Noah felt disappointed that he had not been told before, but it was also a given. After all, what right did he have to ask to be told such a thing?

The bottom line was that Noah was feeling lonely these days, and that was affecting his mood. As a result, he had taken up roaming the hallways when he had nothing to do with his time.

He was roaming around when one of his teachers noticed him and quickly grabbed him. He did not even realise that someone had come closer to him until he felt a hand on his shoulder, touching him a little too intimately.

"Student Noah, what are you doing out here? There is a pleasant smell coming from you. Is that your guiding? Do you mind if I taste it?"

The teacher who grabbed Noah was an esper, and he sounded drunk all of a sudden. His presence scared Noah enough to make him look back and raise his hands.

"There is no need for it. In fact, I should get going now. I will see you later, teacher." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Noah made a run for it, his heart leaping into his throat.

The phantom heavy feeling of that hand still lingered on Noah’s shoulder even after he had run away, and it felt nauseating. He wanted to get rid of the touch...no, the very shoulder where he had been touched.

Noah scratched his shoulder once...twice...a few more times before his hands turned bloody and his nails scratched the surface of his skin. But Noah could not bring himself to stop scratching.

He even continued while in bed and until he closed his eyes. But his sleep was not calm.

In fact, for the first time in a while, he dreamed of the labs and all the various experiments he was forced to go through. Naturally, his mood was sour when he woke up the next morning, and he immediately looked over to Daniel’s side of the bed.

He expected to see the other guide fast asleep since it was not time to wake up, but the bed on the other end was empty.

In fact, it was still perfectly made, which meant that Daniel never came back to their room.

"Did Daniel...spend a night in Alan’s room? Isn’t that dangerous?"

Noah knew it was not his place to interfere...especially when it was fate for the pair to be together. But he could not help but feel jealous.

He had been together with the duo not too long ago, but now it was almost as if they were strangers. The feeling of alienation made Noah feel lethargic. He did not even want to get up today.

Finally, the door to their room opened, and that forced Noah to look at it.

Daniel was entering two hours before they had to get up for class, and he looked utterly exhausted and in a bad mood.

Noah knew that it would be for the best to allow him to go to sleep and pretend he did not notice. But his odd mood and lack of sleep clouded his judgement.

In the end, he did what he knew he should not have—he ended up asking Daniel where he had been all this time.

"Daniel, did you stay out this late? You should not be doing that—"

"Ugh, it is none of your business what I do and do not do. Who are you to question me about this? My family? My lover? Stay out of my business."

Daniel’s reply was a sharp rebuttal and a threat for Noah to stay out of his business. It shocked Noah, and he blinked at Daniel, who looked equally as shocked at what he had said.

The guide opened his mouth to defend himself before he let out a forceful sigh.

"Fuck! I did not mean to say all that. This is not what I think about you, Noah. Don’t take it the wrong way. I just...fuck! I think I am too tired, and it is affecting my mood a little."

Daniel confessed, and Noah nodded to show that he understood.

Times were hard, and their teachers were suddenly focused on the only esper-guide pair in their grade. Noah got off relatively free during study sessions compared to the other two.

He was sure that this stress was getting to Daniel and nothing else.

"Ah, I see. I will leave you be for now. Get some sleep..."

Noah went back to his bed and pulled the covers over himself. He understood the situation well.

But just because he understood the situation did not mean he liked it either. For now, all he wanted to do was fall asleep and welcome the next day.

Maybe then, this feeling of loneliness would go away from inside his heart, and he would be able to return to how he was before?