One Day in California

Tring

I tilt my head, a tall man with army green hoodie with white nike logo on his chest appeared from the entrance. He looks like having a good mood today, his perfect mouth with its perfect corners turned up, smiling at me, in spite of everything, Noah smiling. He usually drinks Americano in the morning, so I tend to booked his order before he come approaches me.

"Steffi ! help me with this" Cara yelled, asking for my help while Noah's standing in front of the counter, his smile changed at the same time. Noah looks surprised, what's so surprising ? I lift my palm asking him to wait. His gaze follows the way I walk towards Cara and help her holding the big plate from her hand. When I came back to the cashier, he narrowed his eyes towards me and stares Cara as Cara froze and shocked at the same time.

"Stef.. what?" he asked, eyes towards Cara without a blink. In that moment, I realize I haven't told Noah about faking my name.

"Steffi?" Cara repeated, her jaw stiffened.

"So..." Noah tilted his head looking at me, his gaze is prosecuting me like a child caught cheating by her teacher. "Steffi..." he rubs his chin and narrowed his eyes, nodding his head slowly. I bit my lips, can't hide a smile.

Noah pushed his face towards me, we are only 5 -7 inches away, my heart jumped off almost ribbed my chest, I froze but trying to stay cool and calm looking at him at the eyes. I know he was trying tease me, so I give him a thin smile, "MS.STEFFI" he pressed his voice on my name.

James clears his throat, both of us were surprised, Noah stood back. "Americano" James mentioned, holding a cup of Americano. The packed atmosphere ceased, like I finally could breath properly in open space. Noah took his Americano and left, disappeared by the entrance. And thus, Cara were standing there watching us like Korean Drama, then she came approaches me.

"What happen between you and him?" wearing a fishy expression.

"friends? nothing happen between us" I shrug my shoulder, trying to look as innocent as I could. Jane peeped from the back kitchen "Hey, let me join the conversation. What's going on? I heard the celebrity's voice just now"

"Nothing" Cara grinned at me, she seems like a good secret –keeper.

The café closed. I walk home alone like usually, when I arrived in front of my apartment, touching the arched –grip about to push the front door, Noah yelled from the far "Hey Miss Steffi" and run towards me. He found out before I tell him the truth, Sorry Noah.

Noah acts like nothing happened at the café earlier. "A movie?" he pulled a cute panda flashdisk from his pocket. Ah, I just remember Noah promised me Horror Movies, he came back after 3 days. But, Ms.Potts is the one I am worrying right now, "Are you sure? Does Ms.Potts gonna freak out if I bring you in?" since I assume Ms. Potts knows Noah Hoskins.

"Um...Let's try it?" he lifts his eyebrow, looking unsure. Without long consideration, I and Noah walk into the main lobby while Ms. Potts lifts her head looking at both of us, but looks like she doesn't care about Noah, not even surprised or –freaked out, she gazes back at her laptop and continue watching her Soap Opera. Maybe Ms.Potts know severals only from the 70s like Bob Marley, Al Pacino or Jack Nicholson. I can understand that. My mom used to mentioned their name like 20 years ago.

"She doesn't know me" Noah whispered, he looks more excited.

I tap the elevator panel and the door is wide open, we walk in and the elevator closed itself, it brought us up to the 5th floor.

Ting

The elevator's door open, we walk through the hallway. Noah is looking left and right enjoying the designs of the old building. He nods his head slowly, like he finally figured out the meaning of the designs.

"antique right ?" I asked

Noah smiles. "cozy"

I pulled my keys out from my coat, plug it inside the knob, twist it and brought us in. I hang my coat and Noah takes off his sneakers, arrange them by the wall near the entrance. I close the door and plug the lock. Noah moved himself and sat on the bed, throwing his body to the mattress. "Oh so cozy" he swipes his arms up and down on the bed, like playing snow during winter. Then he touched something weird on the bed, he was looking at the long pillow with eyebrow lifted.

"What is this thing?" he asks. Stood up, holding my bolster. Noah looks like in a mystery he wanted to solve so badly.

"Oh that's a bolster" can't hide a chuckle.

"for?" he strokes his chin like he's in a deep thought.

"AH ! is this what I saw from the youtube?" he raised his tone, now hugging the bolster very tight. "the typical Asians can't sleep without?" he continued.

"That's right, and that's me" I laughed heartily and walks to the kitchen to prepare some dinner.

"pregnant women use this a lot here in America, different design of course" he tweeted

"I brought that since 4 years ago far from Indonesia" I explained

Noah threw his body to the bed with his arms wrapping the bolster tightly, "borrow me a while, it's pretty comfortable" he added

There's a silence between us which makes me think he is probably asleep. I peeped him from the kitchen, he was laying on the bed with eyes closed. I turn my back and continue cooking. For a moment, he stood up and walks towards the kitchen. He stood by the side of the kitchen's door, observing my small kitchen. "smells good" he implied, watching me cooking omelet.

"Of course, I am a good cook" I pass him the omelet complete with the fork and spoon.

"means I'm gonna sit on your bed?" he asked, since he found no dining table/ chair inside my small apartment.

"Yes" I walked past him and sit down by the edge of the bed.

The old mattress sagged under his weight as he sat next to me. "you are a great cook" he praised, munching a spoonful of omelet in his mouth.

"thanks"

"by the way" Noah started, I tilted my head waiting for him to continue.

"You said you brought that bolster since 4 years ago from Indonesia"

I mumbled, "Yes"

"means you've been here for 4 years?" he asked.

"Nope" I shook my head, "California to be exact"

"Means you've been in California for 4 years? That's quiet a long time" he implied.

"Yes I am" I nodded. "But why?" he asked with curiosity tone from his voice.

I sighed, "it's complicated"

"what so complicated ?"

I take a deep breath, eyes looking at him. He seems like learning through my expressions. "Tell me.. well or when you are ready" he said, changing his mind.

"Alright" I threw my face away from him, looking down at my plate of half –eaten –omelet on my laps.

"No need.." Noah said. "Don't say anything while you aren't ready" he added.

Silence expanded for a few minutes..

"what movie do you bring ?" I started a conversation since I was curious from the start. "Annabelle, Conjuring, The Haunting in Connecticut, Get Out, Insidious, IT, The Boy, and else. I download a lot of Horror Movies" he took the last bite and walk towards the kitchen, I heard the water poured, he is washing his own plate, what a great attitude.

"may I have a glass of water please?" he asked.

"Sure, take the glass from the cupboard by yourself" I answered. Then I heard some glass clinking, and a water poured from the water dispenser, he showed up with another glass and pass it to me.

"Thankyou" I said, his kind attitude gives me another heart –throb. He lays his body on the bed with the bolster in his arm and soon I realized that I used to drool on that bolster, did he smell it ? my eyes were straightly looking at him comfortably hugging the bolster. I think he didn't smell anything. I finish the last bite and clean my own dishes. Come back with 2 cans of cold coke from my fridge.

"Should we start now?" I said, showing him 2 cans of coke in my hands.

He sits straight and says "Alright let's go".

"is this your laptop?" he plugs his flashdisk in and start touching the touchpad. I drag a table and place it beside the bed, then Noah moves the laptop and put it on the table.

"Choose yourself" Noah moves aside, I scroll and scroll until Annabelle 's title reminds me of the ads I saw from the internet back in Indonesia.

"This one" I pointed as Noah slid closer to me to reach the screen and tap play.

It was fun, we eat popcorns together, drink coke, and laugh at some jump –scare that startled Noah for several times, he is so cute while actually afraid of horror movies but still trying hard to hid it, sometimes he covered his face with my bolster, and screamed "My God !" / "SSHHHH**TTT" / "For god's sake !" while the ghost suddenly appeared. I can't hold my laughter. We watched an episode today, he promised me to watch another episode by some day and I tease him "You sure? Aren't you going to have a nightmare ? Do you need me to accompany you sleeping?"

Noah sighs "Should I ? do you want to accompany me sleeping?" with an eyebrow lifted, and continue tying his shoes.

I crossed my arm, "Your lobby's gonna freak out".

Noah finished his shoes, he stood up and say "Then I should sleep here" pointing my bed.

"Don't be silly. Get home safe !" I push him right outside and he waves his hand at me. "See you soon, Steffi"

I see his back walking further through the hallway, as he turned his head looking at me with millions meaning from his eyes. I give him a smile, and he throws his arm to the air, waving it as he disappeared behind the elevator's door.

I bring myself in, leaning by the door. My heart beats faster...I may be experiencing a heart palpitation, my heart is beating too fast, pumping too hard, or fluttering. I put my palm on my chest, and it beats faster when I remember his smile, his eyes on me, and his presence.

***

Tring

The bell jingles, like usually. I lift my arm looking at my watch ticking at 9.45, while Noah usually shows up between 9 -10 o'clock. He will show up later, in my counts. 1...2...3.... Right, Steffi. Acting weird and childish like a teenager, you are a 26 years old adult. STOP IT. And another bell jingles. I was startled, I tilt my head and saw Noah smiling at me which makes me froze, there's a little happiness from the bottom of my heart when I meet him, "Hello Steffi" he greeted, and put some tips inside the bowl. James delivers a cup of Americano on the table, Noah winked at me and left the café.

Me and Noah become close –friends day by day, sometimes he greets me with "Good morning Miss Steffi" and some other times he pokes my cheek. He teased me too far and that makes me thinking of him every single day. I hate those feelings.

I get home at 5, James walks me home today. When I stare at the tall skyscrapers building towered in front of me, it reminds me of Noah. Where is he? What is he doing right now? Is he busy? He hasn't show up for 4 days.

"For you" said James, pushing a bag of Chinese dumplings, I can see it from the logo.

"thanks" I said.

James clears his throat and say "do you like Udon?"

I smile and say "I do". I know he was about to ask me out, somehow I can read his mind.

"Do you... want to go ? tomorrow? For lunch" he said in hesitation, afraid that I would push him away. Maybe going out with James will make me less thinking about Noah. I can't control myself, nowadays they controlled me.

"Sure" I said, James widened his eyes "pick you up at 10?"

"I guess?"

"See you at 10 then. Bye" James said as I walk towards the apartment door, I turned my head and give him a smile as he waves his hand gently through the air. He looks overjoyed.

I pulled my phone out from my coat and received an email from Bernard Gift Shop, informing that they had sent the flowers and the gifts to Lily. Today is Lily's birthday, I sent her a bouquet of flowers and a set of shocking pink parka and brown boots, also a box of macarons which is Lily's favorite. I have never made a friend, so I hope Lily would like it.

Tralalalalala

My laptop rang and Lily's profile picture popped up from the screen. She is calling me using Skype. I push a button and then Lily's face appeared.

"Happy Birthday !" I said.

"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday happy birthday happy birthday to me" Lily sang.

Stan shows up and claps his hand with Lily, we look like clowns in distance.

"THANKS STEFFI I LOVE YOUR GIFT ! SHOCKING PINK IS MY FAVORITE COLOR ! YAY !" she screamed in excitement. I'm glad that Lily loves the gift I sent. Stan disappears from the screen, he seems like going somewhere.

"So, how's life going there?" Lily leans her cheeks on her palms.

"Andd.." she straightened her body

"HOW ABOUT NOAH HOSKINS?" she added, she expects too much from me. Lily said she won't stop until I have a real boyfriend.

"stop it Lily, I and Noah are just friends" I stated

"everything started from friends" Lily rolled her eyes.

"anyway.." I cut the non –sense, and Lily seems more excited

"James asked me out"

"darn it Steffi. So what did you say?" she rests her cheeks back on her palm

"I said Yes....?" I shrug my shoulders.

"Good then, congratulations Steffi is finally having a date" Lily grinned.

I rolled my eyes and moaned "we are just going to eat Udon and go back home that's all"

"Hey Steffi" Lily widened her eyes.

"I know you ... there's a little secret you haven't reveal to me. Is that anything you want to admit huh?" glaring at me, she looks scary though.

"Arghhh" I rub my forehead.

"It was just a non –sense of mine, so don't you worry about it" I said

"say it out loud, I don't care what kind of non –sense you had, dummy. Come on, tell me or I'll kill you" there's a fire in her eyes. I can see Lily is dying for the truth I keep inside my head and heart.

"Okay,.." I take a deep breath. Then I clicked my tongue, "Lily..nothing happ...." Lily slammed her table.

"YOU ARE IN LOVE !!" she slams the table again

"YOU LOVE HIM !!! "

I rub my forehead wearing a hesitation expression, she would probably read my mind easily, she must be thinking I was talking about James, means she's wrong.

"I haven't said anything yet, really nothing.." I guess it was just a coincidence so it's better I keep it for myself, besides I just think I admire Noah, nothing more.

Lily sighs, "Okay.. okay " I can see an unsure expression drawn on her face. Alright Lily doesn't believe me.

Then, the topic changed. Lily is busy story telling me about her vacation with Stan to Paris 2 weeks ago. I'm happy for Lily, Stan must be a good man, way better than Jake. I heard Jake's about to have a baby, I mean his new girlfriend is pregnant. It's amusing.

There's a lot of thoughts inside my head, I was thinking about Noah, I will have a date with James, my life here is unexpected. I should have to focus on my life and my vacations.

I dragged the drawer beside my bed and pull my black diary out, I've bookmarked several places that I have to visit. Besides, my savings from Vier Café salary is enough for a week vacation. I have to clear my head.