One Day in California

As Noah promised me a week ago for some other Horror Movies, today he appeared in front of my room, holding 2 bags of chips and a bottle of pepsi. "Ready?" with his big silly smile.

I let him in, he hung his big –black coat on the coat –rack, then sat on the bed and threw himself on the mattress, stretching his long arm to reach the bolster. Well, he's fall in love with my bolster for sure.

"You should buy one for yourself" I said sarcastically, without smiling.

"Hey, it's hard to find it here like yours in America" he protested, "Right, Noah Hoskins is a woman ! or he is pregnant" he added, silly –talking without space like a train. I snorted a loud laugh and give him a thumb, was going to tease him a little bit more.

"You know..." I mumbled, crossed my arm and eyes rolling up.

"I used to drool there. Especially when I got too tired from work" I added, rubbing my chin.

Noah was shocked at the moment I told him, he directly sniffs it. IEW. Oh my god, what if he really smells it. It's going to be so damn embarrassing.

"IEW NOAH" I moaned.

"There's nothing" he said, sniffs it again, "Really, I didn't smell anything" he sniffs the bolster, every side of it. I walk towards him, snatched it from his tight grab but Noah's too strong as he pulled it harder I was slipped and fell off from the place I stood. I open my eyes and found myself leaning onto his chest. His heartbeat echoed in my ears as drummer. It beats so loudly that it seemed to want to escape from his chest. I was wondering what are that beats for. I lift my head, Noah's looking down staring at me at the eyes, was smiling so wide, like it was normal. The way his lips lifted upward, his teeth are perfectly aligned. The warm glow of happiness, his smile is changing my world.

"Fluffy isn't it ?" he grinned, giving me a naughty smile.

I throw my face away, rise from his fluffy chest. His heart –beat is a melody to me which makes me hard to forget. My face's burned, so hot like toasted in the oven.

"You...blush.....?" he stuttered, sounds like asking but he is not questioning anything, he doesn't look into my eyes, but giggling sheepishly. Really ? Noah? Just kill me. Please ! DON'T SMILE LIKE THAT ! IT'S TOO CUTE !!

Noah stood up, reaching my laptop. He drags a table and set them to the position we had last week. He was trying to avoid an eye contact with me.

"have you charged them?" he asked

Right , okay Steffi. Play cool

"yes, I have" I walk towards the kitchen to prepare some ice cubes for 2 empty glass.

"Have you finish preparing my snacks young lady?" he teased.

"coming..." I groaned, walking towards him, pass him the empty glass complete with ice cubes.

We enjoy The Boy horror movie today. He was playing cool, but I can see his terrifying expression. It's cute, I admit it. I want to laugh so hard at him to make him blush, but he is the tough one to trigger, he will absolutely hit me with some romance –strategies as a revenge, I won't make myself blush again ! NEVER !

We have finished an episode today.

"Hey. Want to order pizza ?" I poke him in the shoulder while he was busy playing with his phone, laying on the bed facing the ceiling. He tilted his head, set his phone aside "You sure? Don't want to go out for something to eat?" he asked.

"Should we ?"

Well, Noah is a famous actor, people might freak –out. I shook my head rapidly, "No, No we should dine here" I said.

"wait, let me order. I've saved the number" I stretched my arm to reach my phone on my bedside table.

TING TONG

We wait for about 30 minutes. I rose from the bed, walking lazily towards the entrance. I unlock the door and twist the knob as I can see a young man with navy hat and his uniform standing in front of me, holding a brown paperbag with pizza logo on it.

"Macaroni and Cheese Pizza" he said, smiling so wide, hoping for a 5 stars rating, begging for some tips, can see it from his face. I paid him the amount, and add some tips for him. "thanks" the man said, "Enjoy your day !" he seems happier. Your welcome.

"Thankyou, you too" I replied with a smile.

I slammed the door close, lifted the pizza towards him "See? Still warm".

Noah lifts his eyebrow "Why don't we eat outside ?" sounds frustrated. I rolled my eyes.

"Alright Alright " he shrug a shoulder, "I'm just teasing you".

We watch some The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon shows from Youtube. Noah suggested me. In the middle of the show, Noah clears his throat and say "Hey, so.. why are you coming here to California?"

The same question he asked previously, he patiently waits until I'm ready to tell him. I ingested the pizza inside my mouth, stop biting the other part. I took a glass of pepsi and drink it half, paused the show,

"I was in broken heart that time.." I hope he understands, "Please don't laugh" I glared.

Noah widened his eyes "No, I don't" he looks serious, didn't see an arch from his lips.

I continue "back in 5 years ago, I was about to get married, I mean not in my 21, maybe 2 -3 years later after his proposal..." talking like stumbling –brick. It makes me nervous when it comes to a topic about Rony, even though it was just a past life of mine I've moved on about but still, it traumatized me. Noah was looking at me in the eyes, demanding more answers,

"We visit the monk, few days after he proposed me. Point is, the fortune teller told us that I will never give him a good luck. The marriage will goes flat, nothings good happen" I feel something tough in my tongue, hardly speak properly, my eyes warm but didn't produce anything, I think I will cry but I hold it tight.

His eyebrow lifted "So, you.. in Indonesia.. go for a fortune telling before got married ? is that right ? is that going to be like a tarot reader from the monk?"

Well, please don't judge every Indonesians. Let's make it right.

"No No No. They are not all the same. Basically, some Buddhist will go see the monks for some compatibility before a couple get married, only some. Not all Buddhist, and not all Indonesians does that. My ex's mom was just believe in such things too much. She is an old –school Buddhist, believe in such compatibility, luck things. I can't judge them, they just grew up with that. So I have to understand them" I was trying to make it right. Yes, I can't judge Rony's family. People has their own beliefs.

"So, your marriage?"

"Umm, he is a lone struggler. He doesn't want our marriage impact his career. His mom was pushing him hard to break up with me" I frowned.

"Then, what happen to him now?" Noah was still curious, asking without hesitancy, he knows I am ready for telling him the truth.

"I deleted my Instagram account and every social media that contained him. I don't want to see him anymore. By the way it's not the only reason"

"Then?"

"I was trying to move on that time. But I saw him dating with other woman, a month after our break up. I felt...hurt inside here" I flared my nostrils and touch my chest. "I mean we dated for 5 years, and he was just okay.. its unfair. That's why I travel place by place. Move every year...working...for living.." I sounded pathetic. I hope Noah didn't judge me too far. I was so scared being judge from the start, that's the reason why I never tell anyone about the ups and down of my life, except Lily because I trust her.

He was shocked the time I told him about moving around. "So, where's your next journey?" a little desperation from his voice.

"New York" I replied, I lift my head looking at him at the eyes as Noah did the same to me. His expression has changed the moment I told him, but then... "Hey ! it's still warm" he lifts the slice he was holding since we talked and start biting it.

"I have to buy you Sushi one day" talking with mouth full.

My eyes widened when I heard Sushi. "Sushi??" I repeated.

"Yes, why?" he asked, pouring pepsi into his glass. "You like Sushi?".

My eyes shone with excitement. I was craving for Sushi for soo sooo longggg, but the Sushi Restaurant near Vier Café is so crowded everyday. I was too lazy to queue. I nod my head, like a puppy begging for snacks. "Well then, how about tomorrow?" he asked.

Tomorrow? Is that mean he will come over again tomorrow? "What do you think? I hate crowds honestly. Go order some for me, we dine inside my apartment"

"I know" Noah nodded.

I tap the space on my laptop. We continue watching Jimmy Fallon show, leaning side by side on the bed, sometimes laugh at some jokes of the show. We enjoy our little time until the clock reached 9.

"So... Sushi tomorrow ?" Noah said as he put on his coat, then he bends for his sneakers. I nod, "Yes? I guess?" lifting my eyebrow. He clicked his tongue "Come on, just say yes and I will order some for you tomorrow".

"Right, okay. It's a yes. I love Sushi"

He stood up, ready to go "Good –girl" he patted me on the head affectionately, smiling and my heart's fluttering, pounding as it's about to burst out, I can feel the love from his wide palm. I didn't reply him, I hid my face and he disappeared behind the door. He teased me too much, my face is burning.

I reached my phone from the bedside, it's 12.00 a.m. midnight. Something is wrong with me nowadays. There's something in my chest...

Noah, you make my heart beats faster.

I figured out I'm in love with him, this is not something like "admiring" or only a word "crush", this is deeper....

Did I do wrong? I let him get into my life, I let him stay, I let him touch me. This is so not me. It reminds me of how I fell onto his chest earlier, my heart starts beating fast, and the moment he smiles at me, he was so happy about it. But why? Is that a prank? Well, Steffi, he was just teasing you. Don't get it wrong.

I inhale –exhales, eyes closed. "Vacation" I planned few days ago. I should get going, to clear my mind. How can I forget about it? I open the internet from my phone, type "Tahoe" to google. There are some links appeared from my screen.

"Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, straddling the border of California and Nevada. It's known for its beaches and ski resorts. On the southwest shore, Emerald Bay State contains the 1929 Nordic –style mansion Vikingsholm. Along the lake's Sand Harbor Beach and Spooner Lake, a gateway to the long –distance Tahoe Rim Trail."

-From Google.

I tap the image section which brings me to plenties of picture of Lake Tahoe. But then I remember it's October, I afraid they are freezing during winter even though there might be no snow here in L.A. I mean I don't know about it really well, it's my first time in L.A. I was just assuming.

I reach my laptop from the bedside, scrolling through google for some information about Tahoe. I plan on taking 5 days leave, for some lakes and hot –springs...before I leave Los Angeles.