Chapter 6

• Vivianne Sinclair
• Noah Boulevard?
• My heart stilled for a moment, my lips parted as our eyes locked.
• Those eyes that once looked at me with desire but still betrayed me... Those eyes that once stared with no emotion while I was mocked by everyone for sleeping with him.
• When I finally felt a movement in my chest, it was hard, heavy, and aggressive... As if my heart was ready to force its way out of my chest.
• Memories of that night clawed in my head, and my chest tightened.
• The insults... The humiliation... That one unforgettable moment.
• After that day, I'd made up my mind that I'd never see him again. I'd promised myself that if he ever showed up in front of me, I'd kill him without holding back.
• Seriously? Is God testing me? Showing up like this? Am I really destined to murder him?
• "Vivianne?" But the moment his voice came on, something stirred in me. Maybe rage... I couldn't tell.
• "Oh, my God! It's really you!"
• My eyes swept over him. He'd changed over the years. He'd grown taller, muscles, and looked bigger than he was then.
• Come on, Vivianne. You weren't expecting him to still remain the same, were you?
• "What are you doing here?" My voice came out sharp and firm, eyes glued to him, my inside burning with rage.
• If I saw a dagger at that moment, I'd drive it through his chest and won't even feel remorseful about it.
• He blinked, confused.
• "Don't make me repeat myself, what the hell are you doing here?" I yelled, loud enough to make him flinch.
• "This is my apartment." His reply struck me like lightning.
• I blinked. What? His apartment? Is that a joke?
• "That doesn't matter now... Vivianne, about what happened back then..."
• I took a step back as he tried to come close to me, shooting him a warning glare.
• "I don't need your fucking explanation. Fucking tell me what on earth is going..."
• My voice trailed off, and my lips parted. Is this the inconvenience the manager was talking about earlier?
• Wait! Then if Noah is here, does that mean he plays with The Bulls?
• My eyes widened at the thought of that. No! That's not possible. I'd been careful enough to do my research. I'd tried to avoid teams that he played for over the years, and up until two months ago, I could swear on my life that he was playing for another team. How did this happen?
• "Vivianne..."
• "Don't fucking come close to me!" I shot him a glare, and he paused.
• For a moment, I wanted to ask him to explain what was happening, but there was no way in hell I was going to interact with him... I'd rather coach B explain to me by himself.
• I grabbed my suitcase and hauled it past him, but he held my hand, bringing me to an abrupt halt.
• I felt something spark in me, heat blossomed in my chest, and my stomach fluttered with desire from that night.
• I couldn't deny it... The nasty memories of that night flooding my head for a fleeting moment... How his touch still gave me chills like it always did that night... How he held me in his arms that night... and crazy, how I thought we would be a thing after that night, only to be hit with reality the next day.
• I tried to yank his hand off, but his grip was firm on me... Those hands that once held me like I meant the whole world to him, yet crushed me the next day.
• "Vivianne... Can you let me explain, please? I already let you go once, I refuse to do it again, please."
• I scoffed, yanking his hand off.
• "I didn't do it... Yes, I made that bet with my friends, but I swear on my life I didn't sleep with you that night because of the belt... Those pictures... That wasn't me. I would never..."
• SLAPS!
• My hand flew to his face, eyes widened.
• "Disgusting fucking liar!" I screamed in my head, but I just stared at him blankly... no emotion, just blank.
• The nerve of him to look me in the eyes and lie to my face.
• "Shove your fucking explanation up your ass and go fuck yourself, Noah. I don't give a shit!" Then I advanced toward the door, but paused and looked back at him over my shoulder.
• "I don't know what is happening at the moment, but if we ever cross paths again, pretend we've never met before, because I will."
• Then I stepped outside the house.
• I paused, looking back at the house.
• "Ugh! I should've killed that bastard."
• My chest tightened with anger and pain.
• My phone rang as I stood along the curb. It was an unregistered number.
• I answered the call.
• "Ms. V, it's me, coach B."
• "Oh..." I muttered, unsure what to say.
• "Uhm... I just got a call from Noah. I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand that you'll be staying at his place. Something came up, but I promise you'll be given your apartment once it's sorted out."
• I scoffed silently, dragging my fingers through my hair. What a way to welcome me on my first day.
• "You have nothing to worry about. Noah is the most well-behaved person in the team. He won't harm you."
• Most well-behaved my ass.
• I thought of declining immediately, but I knew I didn't have a choice. First, it's harder to get a house on lease here even more than existing itself, and secondly, I don't have money for that.
• I'd spent all my savings sponsoring myself to school.
• Sighs. I guess I have no choice now.
• I went back to the apartment, meeting Noah at the door.
• I paused for a moment, our eyes locked, as one question echoed in my head. How is he suddenly here when he was playing with another team two months ago?
• 'That's two months ago! Anything could've happened, Vivianne'
• Yeah, I know, but still, it was weird. They'd never announced getting another player.
• Anyway, I'll find out later.
• "I'll help you with that." He reached for my suitcase, but I pulled it back.
• "Keep your distance. Don't touch me."
• He pulled back, disappointment creeping up his face.
• "Come with me... I'll show you to your room." Then he turned and walked in while I followed.
• He led me up the stairs, and into one of the two rooms facing each other right above the staircase.
• "Here is your room." He muttered. "Let me know if you need anything."
• My eyes swept around the spacious room. A king-sized bed laid in the middle of the room, right beneath the chandelier light ascending from the ceiling.
• I scoffed as my eyes landed on a picture frame of Noah hanging on the wall.
• "Can you remove that?" I turned to him briefly. There's no way in hell I'm sleeping with his picture in this room. It's already unbearable staying in the same space as him.
• "Oh, yeah... Sure." He quickly removed the frame.
• "You can leave now."
• "Hmm. Let me know if you need anything."
• Goodness! You've said that before. I don't fucking need anything from you!
• I was still looking around when I tripped over my suitcase and lost my balance.
• My eyes widened as I approached the ground, but as Noah quickly reached out to catch me, I dodged it, dropping to the floor with a loud thud.
• I groaned silently, but still, I preferred that. I won't let him touch me.
• "Are you okay?" He tried to help me up, but I shot him a glare.
• "You're still here?"
• He quickly backed off. "Uhm... I... Are you sure you don't need help?"
• "Just go!"
• "Oh, yeah... I'll go now."
• Once he was out of the room, I dragged myself to my feet, letting out a sigh.
• Staying here is going to be difficult. Well, too bad I don't have a choice...