Twisted Love's

Episode 26's

Me and Miguel sat quietly on the counter bench. I kept sipping my coffee until it didn't feel like more than half a cup had run out.

"Nolan must have some kind of plan, but with no doubt it might get him in trouble... He's sitting in the yard right now." Miguel broke the silence.

"Huh!?" I was surprised that Nolan was here.

"Go and meet him. You're the one he wants most to be by his side now, Julia." Miguel said to me before rushing out of the waiting room.

Nolan wants me by his side? I'm not sure how many words Miguel can trust, but ... Honestly, I want to be by his side.

When I found Nolan by the pool, he was lying in a lounge chair with a glass of wine in his hand.

"Nolan?" Nolan heard my call and casually sat down on the chair.

"What do you want?"

"I just want to talk." I sat next to him at least he wasn't trying to avoid me.

"This is the second time I've seen you drink."

"Just that?"

"Yes. Because you are always driving. First time we were at Carlo's restaurant. And this is the second."

"You keep counting?"

"Heh. It seems so ..."

Don't we always remember what people we like do, right?

"Want to?" He asked, holding the wine bottle in front of him.

"Maybe just a little." I headed to the waiting room to pick up a glass then sat back next to it again.

He filled my glass without a word. We gently clinked our glasses at the quiet courtyard and we both sipped in silence.

"So, what are you coming for?"

"Mr..."

"I'm sure you heard the story from Miguel."

"You can always understand me..." I nodded, so Nolan swallowed his entire glass as if to seek inspiration.

"My father always treated me like a tool.With what's happening now, it just makes it even clearer." Nolan started telling stories.

"When I was a kid, I used to think he was a hero defending the weak. I became a lawyer because I wanted to be. I want to be like him..."

"But the more I learn about his world, the more I feel betrayed. Even so, I still want to be a lawyer. That's because until now I still believe that deep down he's a good man."

"But then the man came and he took a bribe ..." Nolan gritted his teeth in anger, while turning his wine glass.

I could only watch silently as he let out his emotions. I am the same, I follow my father's profession. I know how it feels to be very respectful of someone. But unlike me, Nolan was betrayed by his father ...

"It's childish that I once thought he was the only good guy out there. I've grown farther and farther from him since I found out the truth about him... But the stupidest thing is that a small part of me still has the faintest expectations for him." His face was frustrated.

So he didn't completely hate his father after everything he did. Nolan still believes in him, now he just gave up after being betrayed like this ... I began to understand the pain ...

"Noland..." I clasped his free hand, squeezing it to convey my feelings to her.

"Nolan, look, I know this isn't my place to say it, but ... What if you become the hero you dreamed of?"

"Me?" Nolan looked confused.

"But we're both lawyers."

“A lawyer is just a title. It doesn't determine who you really are. Your father's after fame and power, but that's not what you're after, is it? Why care how successful he is? Doesn't that mean nothing to you?"

"Doesn't it make more sense to target the hero you aspire to be? What's the point of trying to surpass him when you're not even fighting for the same thing?" I squeezed his hand to emphasize my point. Nolan looked at me, listening to me speak in silence.

Am I talking too much again?

After a while, Nolan placed his glass on the side table.

"What you're saying makes me feel like I have value as a human being, Julia. No one had ever told me before that my father and I were on separate paths."

"Noland..."

I just wish what I said had helped her a little in some way...

Our eyes locked for a long time, making my heart beat so fast. He finally responded by squeezing my hand back.

"Juliah... Let's go to my room."

"Huh?" I was shocked to hear his sudden invitation.

Our hands were still connected, Nolan stood up and led me to his room. Nolan's warmth surrounded me. As he led me to his room, Nolan hugged me. Only the sound of our soft breath could be heard in the silence of his room.

Nolan says he has trouble expressing himself. It could only mean that if we were just the two of us, it was possible that he would...

My hands crawled on his back as if answering his feelings.

"Julie..." Nolan said my name in a passionate voice.

I buried my face in his chest as he squeezed me tightly.

"Look... People think my name is the same as my father's, but I have a middle name that I've never talked about before. Only my mother used it. And one other person knew it, but he never called me by my name."

Nolan has another name? and was the other person he called Miguel?

"Nolan Arvin Zarek's. That's my full name."

"Arvin..." I said it out loud, as if affirming it. Even though I can't see her face, I know she's smiling right now.

I felt she was starting to pull away so I looked up, but suddenly she landed a soft kiss on my lips. It was nothing more than a kiss, but it left a lasting impression on my heart.

"That's enough for now." He muttered softly and released me from his embrace.

"I'll take you to your room."

"Huh?" I was confused by his attitude that suddenly changed like this, the night was not even too late.

I glanced at him, a reluctant look to leave was clearly visible in my eyes.

"If you stay longer, I won't be able to stop." Nolan looked awkwardly towards the bed.

"Oh..." My face flushed red from the heat, shining red as Nolan smiled timidly.

Is that what he meant ?!

He took my hand and guided me back to my room, as promised.

Later that night, my mind was so full of Nolan that I couldn't sleep a bit.