"If you will feed me everyday I think I will not forget to eat…" He cannot deny anything she asks for.

Carrisa felt her breath hitching. She felt her ears burning. Whenever he speaks, the impact is always humongous for her. Looking at her all quiet Noah held her wrist, "Please like me, Carissa". He wanted her to open up and move on from her past. If she is stuck there, she will lose herself in this procedure. If the situation continues further she is going to destroy herself which he doesn't want to happen at any cost. Now, no matter what, he wants to help her in moving on and help her in finding happiness. She needs to know the meaning of happiness to realize their importance, to look for them. He wants to make her realize the world does not end if one tragedy happens. Life is bumpy road and don't forget there are many people around you that want to make you happy and they are happy because of you. They live for you and they die for you.


He looked very serious and innocent like a child who is pleading to his mother to buy him his favourite toy. Carissa did not meet his eyes. How can she tell him the lava of fears she has in her heart? What if after knowing her reality he will start to hate her? What if he will also start to become sarcastic towards her like everyone else. What if he is another Dylan? She will really crumble down. He is the last person with whom she feels relaxed, who makes her wants to live, who makes her want to enjoy life, who makes her look forward to every single day. If his attitude will change one day towards her she does not know what will happen. What if he will end ties with her? His anger.... terrifies her to the core.

It took her a lot of courage to look at him, "Eat some more". There was no answer to give him right now. In fact there was no need to give an answer, he will wait for her to come back.... to come back to him.

He ignored her, "Why are you always ignoring me? Can't you share your fears with me now?" It was his last effort to make her open her heart.


"If you don't want to eat, let me bring this back to kitchen". The guilt was over weighing her heart. Carissa stood up and Noah released her hand disappointedly. All of his efforts were going in vain. He was starting to get disappointed by the continuous rejection. He cannot force anything upon her. The only way is to wait and let the things go with the flow.

Carissa put the dishes back in the kitchen and did not go to his room immediately. She waited for some time in the living room and came back to look at him, he was sleeping peacefully. But due to the creek of the door opening Noah opened his sleepy eyes. He lifted his heavy eyelids to look at her.


"I am sorry. I disturbed you". Carissa apologized immediately. She did not think that he would wake up suddenly.

Noah looked at her and patted the bed beside him.

"No, you should sleep comfortably" She denied knowing the meaning of the gesture he is making.

His face fell down, "Come here Carissa. My throat hurts". It was hard for him to talk but not too difficult. He was taking the advantage of her weakness right now. He cannot let the chance of sleeping with her slip away.

'You were talking fine just a moment ago and now your throat hurts… Wow'. She swallowed her words. 'Carissa please bear with it'. It is a bad manner to argue with a patient. Carissa took a deep breath and went beside him on the bed. He pulled her in his embrace.

He was hugging her very tightly, not giving her any room to move. Carissa felt uncomfortable due to the warmth of his body which was now hotter than before due to fever. It was sending a weird sensation in her stomach. She stayed still not knowing what to do and how to get away from the situation.

Due to the effect of medications Noah slept within minutes but she was not sleepy at all. Carissa looked up to examine his face.

It was her first time to see him from this close. Before she would always close her eyes whenever he was close to her. She started to observe his handsome face unconsciously.

With her beautiful long and slender fingers she touched the edges of his sharp jawline, the high bridge of his nose, his long eyelashes. His face was so perfect like an artist has chosen all the beautiful and perfect features and placed them here. There was no flaw at all. His skin was smooth, smoother than most of the girls and slightly tanned colour was making him look manly and hotter. Even the fever and sickness was failing to take away his handsomeness.

Then, her eyes fell on his adam apple. It was pointy and clearly visible. There was a mole on the pointed part. A thought came in her mind and she blushed. 'I cannot let this chance slip away'. She thought and smirked.

Carissa moved a little forward to kiss his pointy part.

He was making her lose all the self control, but he is the only man who can make her feel like this. She cannot express her feelings as her heart as not recovered from the trauma of 8 years ago.

She whispered lightly, "I don't know the feelings I have for you means liking someone but it is the fact that they are special. I am sorry for making you wait. Please give me some more time." she was falling deeper in the pit of guilt after getting continuous favors from him. She is not a gold digger but her trauma is making her look like one.

Suddenly, Carissa felt his embrace tightening. She was stunned, he must have listened to everything.

"Hey Panther…." She called him.

"hmm". He hummed.

She immediately covered her mouth with her hands due to shock. Noah opened his eyes and saw her blushing.

"Why? aren't you sleeping?" she asked.

He lazily replied, "I am a light sleeper. Before I woke up with the sound of the door opening, now you are touching my face, kissing my neck, and talking, don't you think I will definitely wake up." He was enjoying the whole situation.

Carissa moved back from him. But with one jerk she was again in his embrace. "Why are you acting all shy now?"

"I am not shy. I just feel betrayed". She faked anger.

"Really. Then consider me sleeping". He once again closed his eyes pretending to be sleeping. It is his only joy in life. Her reactions are so adorable that he cannot stop teasing her.

"You are not normal". She shook her head speechlessly.

"You are the one who is making me like this. Making me abnormal". He retorted back.

He came forward to kiss her. He was about to enter her mouth but a thought flushed in his mind and he broke the kiss. Carissa looked at him with a confused look.

"You will catch a cold too." He saw her disappointed face and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry I will kiss you a lot after getting better". Noah kissed the tip of her nose. "Don't be so disappointed". He winked.

"Disappointed?" She glared at him and her eyebrows

were up like a red in angry bird, "Who wants that? Your throat must be hurting. Stop talking and go to sleep". She put her palm on his eyes.

He smiled, "I will sleep but first tell me what will you do to me now?"

"I don't want to sleep here anymore". She pulled away her hand.

Noah laughed loudly, "Okay. Good night and please stop moving too much. Otherwise I am afraid we cannot sleep". His eyes were not leaving her lips.

Carissa covered her mouth with her palm and rolled her eyes. Even when he is not well, he has so much energy. She has never seen a person as picky as him. She sighed and stayed still waiting for him to sleep. But in the end she was the one to sleep first. He examined her face for sometime. With his dizzy eyes he continued to look at her. Noah was uncomfortable due to the sore throat and it was hard to breath too. Soon, the sleep took over the discomfort easing the pain he was in. It is a different feeling of pure love, sleeping with each other in arms without any other feeling of lust.

Finally, after some time there was only a sound of their even breathing. She comfortably slept in his embrace forgetting about her insomnia and he comfortably slept forgetting the discomfort he is feeling. The long night of winter once again brought them together and close to each other.