Something he might regret

When Noah said that last sentence, Laila was reminded of what she needed to say and she felt like she had been handed another opportunity. One she didn't plan on wasting this time around. Laila started by saying, "Yeah, it's okay. I felt that way too. That is why I didn't ask about it either." She let in a brief moment of silence, in which Noah said, "I'm glad you understand. I figured you not asking meant you wanted our first moments together to be about something else. Although I didn't think that it would end up resulting in me packing Maria's bag. But everything for the cause I guess". Once these words were said, Laila smiled a bit weakly as she responded, "I guess so."

Then she turned the conversation back to what she had been saying before. "While I understand your reasoning, you weren't the only one who decided to postpone a certain conversation in order to not have our first moments be centred around something negative. I too have something I have yet to tell you." Noah stopped the packing and looked up with a look of surprise. His tone matched his expression as he said, "Oh? And what would that be?"

Laila turned her eyes away from Noah's eyes, which made her feel nervous and guilty for some reason. She stared at her hands as she told him, "Well, as you might remember, that morning when the explosives went off, Maria and I were supposed to meet with Jake in order to get into his phone. While we managed to do that, a lot more happened that morning. Because when Maria had discovered that Harold planned on doing something to you and Steve from reading Jake's messages, she revealed herself to Jake in order to let me know what was about to happen. This caused Jake to realize what had been going on and he felt somewhat betrayed."

Noah, who had resumed packing the clothes that were in the last two drawers once Laila began telling her story, turned around when he heard her say this and looked at her expression. Even though Laila was still not looking in his direction, her body language was telling him a lot and so was the side profile of her face, which revealed plenty in terms of an expression. But despite this, he said nothing and listened quietly. Although packing was now the last thing on his mind and was no longer something he could combine with listening to what Laila had to tell him.

Laila continued by saying, "This would be something that I wouldn't have mind before but that day and the day before that, he had shown genuine concern for me. While I was convinced the day before that he was only saying and doing those things to get me back, his actions and words that morning showed me that he might have been acting from a less selfish motive. He made me believe then that he genuinely cared for me, with or without the possibility of a romantic relationship. So, because of that I was considering a potential friendship with him."

Laila carefully looked up from her hands and began to look Noah in the eyes, who by now had shifted from surprised to feeling baffled. He was still holding the remainders of Maria's clothes in his hands but he was no longer standing in front of the chest of drawers. Instead he had taken a seat on one of the lounge chairs in the room, staring at Laila with a look of disbelief, yet still being somewhat curious as to where this story was going to go.

For Laila this was the expression she had pretty much expected and avoided from seeing, as any disapproval right now would make her doubt if what she was doing was right. Fortunately, although Noah couldn't believe what he was hearing, nor in what direction the conversation was moving, he didn't say anything. He remained patient as he continued to listen to what Laila had to say and waited for her to finish before casting any judgement. Because he knew that interrupting what she had to say, could result in him saying something he might regret.

A bit more hesitantly Laila went on with what she had to say, "Before I could say anything to Jake and apologize for the betrayal he was feeling in that moment, that brute entered our house, preventing me and Maria from getting to where you two were. Jake hid behind one of our couches and Maria and I made our way to the panic room. Then the shadow came and saved us. All of this you already know. What you didn't know is, that Maria and I then completely forgot about Jake still being in the house and we left with the shadow to where you and Steve were. I didn't remember him again until I rand into him outside of the hospital where Steve had his surgery."

Laila found it more and more difficult to continue and felt herself stalling a bit as she slowly forced herself to say the words it all boiled down to. She swallowed hard and forced out the last few sentences that were left in this story. "Apparently he had been worried about all of is and wanted to make sure that we were all doing okay. He and I talked and he felt very hurt by everything. So, that is when I told him that although there was no chance of there being anything romantic between us, if he wanted to as well, I would be open to us being friends. While he was open and accepted immediately, he was concerned about you accepting it. I promised him that I would bring it up to you and that I would try to convince you to accept him having a role in our lives, and here we are now."