Eric leaned against the wall, breath short, his shirt torn at the shoulder. The long scratch from the knife was still bleeding, even though Carl had pressed a cloth against it.
"Noah, I swear… this hurts like hell," Eric groaned, though he still managed a grumpy expression.
"If I die, please delete my search history."
Noah, rummaging through his bag for tissues, froze.
"Bro, this is not the time for last wishes."
Carl shot both of them a look. "Quiet. I'm trying to stop the bleeding."
Despite his stern tone, it was clear he was exhausted. Eric's wound was bad—luckily, he had managed to escape earlier.
Carl glanced up at Noah.
"Noah, can you go buy some supplies? I need antiseptic, bandages, gauze—anything to cover this wound quickly."
Noah nodded quickly. "Got it, got it. Want anything else? Water? Americano? Bubble tea?"
Even in pain, Eric let out a small laugh.
"If you see bubble tea, get one. But not too many pearls. I don't want to choke."
Noah shook his head. "You… even bleeding, still picky."
Carl pressed the cloth against Eric's wound and took a deep breath.
"Noah, go. If he talks for another ten minutes, I'm not sure he'd survive—not from blood loss, but from getting beaten again."
Eric bristled. "I'm not talking that much. I'm expressive."
Simultaneously, both of them replied, "Yeah, yeah…"
Noah grabbed his wallet and keys and dashed out.
---
In the hallway
Noah walked fast, mentally ticking off the shopping list: antiseptic, bandages, gauze… bubble tea?
He smiled to himself.
"Even now, still wants bubble tea…?"
He rounded a corner—
Bam!
He collided with someone, sending the other person's books to the floor. Noah himself almost fell if he hadn't grabbed the wall.
"Sor—" his words caught in his throat.
The girl bent down to pick up her things. When she stood and Noah saw her face—
His heart skipped a beat.
Beautiful. Not just normal beautiful. Beautiful enough to make your brain freeze. Sharp eyes, soft but confident features, long black hair, steady steps.
She looked at him and smiled lightly.
"You okay?"
Noah gawked for two seconds.
"Uh… yeah. Yeah, I'm… okay."
She nodded. "Nothing happened."
Noah bent to help pick up her books. Their hands brushed.
Noah froze.
He… really felt something.
The girl took her things and said briefly,
"Be careful."
Then she walked away. Didn't look back.
Noah stood frozen, watching her disappear down the hall. Only after a few moments did he look at his hand.
…Right. He was in love.
At first sight.
A girl that beautiful had to be an omega, right? Too bad Noah couldn't smell her pheromones because he was beta.
He didn't know her name.
But his heart had been hit right then.
---
Noah returned home with a light, almost floating step, pushing the door open with a grin he didn't even notice.
Carl was sitting close to Eric, treating the wound he had just gotten. The antiseptic smell filled the room, and Eric was still wincing in pain—but already slipping into manja mode, the childish, needy mode he always went into when hurt.
"Ouch… Carl, it hurts…" Eric whimpered softly, trying to pull his hand, but Carl held firm.
"Don't move," Carl said calmly. "You asked me to treat it."
Eric pouted. "But it hurts…"
Noah chuckled quietly. "You… so fierce during the fight, now acting like a kid getting a shot."
Eric glared. "Shut up… I'm in pain here…"
Carl ignored him, grabbing a fresh cotton pad and continuing with the antiseptic. Eric squirmed slightly.
But as Carl bent over to work, Eric's eyes caught Noah's face.
He spoke immediately. "Hey… Noah. Why are you grinning like that?"
Noah froze. His smile widened, scratching the back of his head.
"I… think I fell in love."
Eric forgot about the pain for a moment. "Huh?!"
Carl paused the bandaging for a moment, raising his head. "What?"
Noah sat down, still breathing fast from excitement.
"Earlier… when I went to buy supplies… I bumped into a girl."
Eric clutched his chest, even with the cut on his arm. "Tell me. Quick, quick. I need entertainment while this doctor tortures me."
"Okay, okay," Noah took a deep breath, smiling wider.
"The girl… she was—" he paused to choose the right words.
"Insanely beautiful. Fair skin, eyes… I can't describe. At first glance, she felt soft. Black hair, simply tied. The way she moved… confident but polite."
Eric, still feeling the sting, automatically hugged a small pillow next to him. "Whoa… like a drama heroine."
"Her clothes were nice too," Noah continued.
"She wore a long-sleeved white top… simple yet elegant. The way she spoke when apologizing… honestly, so gentle. I felt… like all the noise outside disappeared."
Eric tapped Carl's shoulder. "Carl… doctor… hurry up, I want to hear the whole story."
Carl chuckled lightly, pressing the bandage carefully. "I'm doing it as fast as I can."
Eric whined softly like a child. "Noah! And then? Did she leave her number? Did she smile?"
Noah lowered his gaze, smile still wide.
"She smiled. That's it. That's all I got."
Eric looked at Carl. "Definitely hit by Cupid's arrow."
Carl packed up the small medical kit and stood. "Then it's obvious you like her."
Noah held his chest. "I don't even understand… but I know… if I see her again, my heart will definitely shatter."
Eric, who had been whining in pain, chuckled softly. "Didn't expect Noah to fall in love before me."
Noah thought for a moment. Clara? Do I really like her?
He nodded slowly. "I didn't expect it either."
The room was calm.
Eric, still acting manja from the pain, suddenly smiled softly.
Carl placed a small towel in front of Eric. "All done."
Eric responded in a soft, childish voice, "Thank you…"
Carl chuckled softly. "Kid."
Noah still felt lightheaded from excitement.
In his mind, there was only one thing:
He had to meet that girl again.
---
Eric rested in Carl's living room for a while. His body still ached after the earlier incident, but he tried to relax on the sofa. Noah sat nearby, while Carl stood watching over.
Carl finally spoke, calm but curious. "Noah… how long have you known Eric? Do you really know him?"
Noah shrugged, giving a small smile. "Not long, but I know a little. He's hard to read, always serious. Sometimes, you don't know what he's feeling."
Carl watched Eric from a distance, eyes softening slightly. "Hmm… true. I find it strange sometimes… but when he does small things like this—resting, sleeping, eating calmly—it's a relief. Seeing him like a normal human, not always serious."
Noah laughed softly. "Yeah. Funny to see him. Like a little kid when hurt. His spoiled side… somehow, how did he even get chosen as an operative spy?"
Carl smiled faintly, still watching Eric sleeping. "Good he shows this side. Spoiled bodyguard. Oh, and you guys both serve as bodyguards for the Harrington family, right?"
Noah blinked. Forgot that important fact. He nodded slowly. Lucky he didn't slip up and reveal anything.
The room was quiet but warm, only the sound of the clock and their slow movements. Eric still slept, unaware that Carl and Noah were chatting casually nearby.
Eric slowly opened his eyes. The aroma of cooking filled the room, making him smile faintly. "Ah… smells good," he thought, tugging the blanket slightly to his chin. He got up slowly, still a bit sleepy, but his stomach was starting to grumble.
In the kitchen, Carl and Noah were busy preparing food. Carl meticulously chopped vegetables, while Noah stirred something in a pot, occasionally smiling at Eric peeking from the doorway.
Eric stepped into the kitchen, inhaling the smell. "Ah… the smell alone makes me hungry. You guys really know how to cook."
Noah glanced at him, grinning. "If we didn't cook, who else would take care of you when you're acting spoiled?"
Carl just nodded briefly. "Just rest. Noah and I will handle this. You don't need to do anything yet."
Eric sat in a chair, watching them, feeling warmth seeing these two genuinely care. The aroma of Italian food being prepared—pasta, fresh tomato sauce, and some herbs—made the morning feel cozy and relaxed, as if, for a moment, their problems and missions had disappeared.