Noah paces around to make sure everything is ready in their place, telling the reporters to be patient and informing them Taylor will come out in minutes.

When Taylor enters the ballroom with Jackson on his side, everyone practically huddled over him, throwing endless questions and shooting their blinding flashlight over him. The commotion is predictable, as Taylor's family background is coming from one wealthy family with an enormous influence on the community. If that's not enough, he also engaged with Jackson, whose folk is even more well-off than Taylor's. There's a saying that none of the buildings in the capital which not owned by Jackson and his family.

Celebrity couples could be famous for their drama. But Taylor and Jackson's relationship is on another level. The entire city belongs to only the two of them can be taken literally.

Although for Noah the buzzing reporters look utterly chaotic, on the other hand, Taylor seems to enjoy the attention. He grins with his signature boxy smile and answers the question patiently. 

Noah watches his childhood friend from afar and a proud smile makes its way to his lips. This is what Taylor always dreamed about, being recognised for his works. He knows how his best friend works so hard for this, his family used to oppose his decision to enrol in the art department–he was supposed to continue his family property business.

But Taylor and his free spirit, of course, can’t accomplish that. 

Even didn’t get full support in the past, now Taylor can prove himself as one of the best new painters. He got a lot of recognition as a lot of magazines, newspapers and news columns talk about him and his works.

The event was pretty much a success. Nothing unwanted happened. Except for some rude reporters trying to dig about Taylor’s personal life but luckily Taylor can handle it without losing his smile, Jackson is also always standing by his side, helping to answer some questions or just there to give Taylor moral support when his best friend explains one by one about his paintings.

If it were Noah, probably he would yawn every now and then, making some excuses so he can get the hell out of there. Don’t judge him wrong, Noah loves his best friend, but listening about the meaning of every stroke of the colours on that freaking canvas would make Noah sleep while standing.

After a boring schedule with the press, the time for the banquet has finally come and Noah has been waiting for this. Coming straight from the office, his stomach grumbles in protest and asks for being filled.

He catches Taylor still greeting his guests with Jackson, the usual cold guy displaying his bunny smiles that are rarely to be found on a daily basis. Sure, he is not the friendliest person Noah ever met, but he is not the worst either.

At least he seems to handle Taylor’s indifferent attitude toward him, patiently. So Noah thought it should be nothing to worry about. They will get along eventually.

Nothing much choice Noah can choose for the food. He comes to the only food stand in the corner of the room. Luckily, no one is in line. He grabs the plate and picks the foods he wants, slightly disappointed when he remembers no beans at all.

He sighs, he likes fermented soy paste, miso soup and oh god no tofu either. Noah’s shoulder slumped in dismay, all the menu pretty much plain to match Taylor’s wealthy family diet; no excessive salt, no unhealthy fat, greasiness is a sin, only corn sugar allowed, exact calories amount per plate and vegetables for the main dish.

Although he was the one who arranged the menu, Noah wonders if there’s any human who managed to eat that food to their heart's content?. This is a public exhibition for fuck sake.

After picking some bland salad and a little piece of cake that will go in one bite, he makes his way to the bar.

“Ice latte, please,” Noah grumbles when he looks at how bland his plate is–why Taylor should be that picky. He sighs.

“We do not serve coffee sir” The man behind the counter informs and when Noah lifts up his face, he can’t hold his yelp.

Not this freaking rude-annoyingly attractive guy again.

“You don’t even know what your best friend can’t consume? You are not even his friend, are you?” he mocks with that smirk that Noah wants to kiss–scratch that–punch away. What the hell wrong is with him? Now Noah is genuinely curious if he ever met him and offended him somehow.

Constantly insulting people he just met today, the one who hired him at that, this guy has some balls. Yet, if this bakery is really Taylor’s favourite, then maybe this guy knows him personally. That can explain where this bravery come from.

Noah scoffs, doesn’t intend to take the bait, but he also can’t let the rude guy win “Of course, I know! Goddammit, this is for me! Can’t people let me eat a few grains of bean–coffee bean at least for fuck’s sake!” Noah rubs his face with his palm frustrated. The only thing that holds him back from picking a fight with this guy is that cute face that shouldn’t be allowed to be possessed by such an irritating being.

He knows he’s being biassed and unfair, judging a book by its cover is something he avoids as well, however, seeing that clear, pointed black eyes, and milky white skin along with the cute gummy smile of the chef, Noah always seems to have something to excuse his rudeness.

The pastry chef snorts, “I think I still remember clearly ‘no bean! At all! Not even a single seed! Mark that or they will kill me,” he mimicked Noah’s voice, even too detailed with a frustrated yelp in the end.

Noah can feel his cheeks go warmer, not sure if it’s because he is embarrassed or those gummy smiles that make his heart practically melt. Fuck, Noah isn’t the type that believes in love at first sight. He adores people by their personality, but why do his fundamentals suddenly break down with those indifferent faces in front of him. He shakes his head before he is mortified for being caught staring “Just give me whatever you have”

Oliver gives him a huge glass of beer that Noah has to stare at it with a questioning look. As if he understands what’s on Noah’s head, he explains “For covering your blushing cheeks”

Noah groans embarrassed and snatch the big mug of beer before leaving Oliver and his smug face.

He shoves the leaves from his salad into his mouth before gulping his beer. He can’t believe he eats plain salad with 1-litre beers, for heaven’s sake.

He is going to have a terrible hangover tomorrow.

Noah stares at the glass wall that connects to the food bar since now he eats on the balcony outside. Suddenly he remembers something, he clearly remembers he told the catering to not include any beans on the menu, he is not saying coffee also is not allowed. Taylor can’t drink coffee, not because he is allergic to that, he just doesn’t like the bitter taste of it.

Does Oliver already know Taylor doesn’t like it? Do they know each other? It makes sense when Taylor personally wanted Oliver's bakery for his catering vendor. But Taylor never said he has a pastry chef friend - not he ever introduced to him once, Noah is also sure he never visited Oliver’s bakery with Taylor either.

No way he just accidentally was mistaken that Coffee can cause bean allergies, right? He is a chef and he should know it's different. As a chef, he must be well-educated in allergen food. Coffee doesn't trigger bean allergies. Do Oliver and Taylor really know each other? 

Noah makes a mental note to ask his best friend later or sets them for lunch together. Will that be nice? Noah bites back his grin and shoves another piece of plain leaf into his mouth.

As Noah is in the middle savouring the last bite of his meal, suddenly people gather outside on the balcony where he sits.

Ah, it must be the fireworks.

Everyone holding their champagne whilst hugging or holding their companion. Noah sighs. Well… he is not lonely–he won’t admit that.

It's just he usually comes with Taylor on this kind of occasion and now, his best friend already has someone to take care of him–Noah is happy, fuck of course.

He just wishes he also has one. He should come with one of his co-workers if they are not all busy; Dominique too busy with a year-end journal also he had a meeting with the client, Kerry must sleep at the lab right now, he barely went home to invent a new scent for the winter collection, Noah should be with him right now they don’t have many chemists after all.

Suddenly his phone ring on his pouch and Dominique's name appears on the screen. What great timing. Noah stands up, leaning to the balcony reel, and picks up the phone.

“Hello, Dom?”

“Noah, I found a problem” Dominique sounds concerned and Noah’s heartbeat instantly pounds faster after hearing that. Dominique is a thorough accountant and if he said he found a problem, coincidently on his overtime schedule, there must be something serious going on.

People start cheering when the first launch of fireworks explodes in the sky, radiating the red and gold neon flame over the darkness of the night horizon. Noah immediately walks in the opposite direction of the fireworks explosion, to the back of the building, avoiding the crowd so he can hear Dominique clearly.

“Go on, Dom, what happened?” Noah asks as soon as he thinks he is in a quiet enough place.

 “We found the account was unbalanced”

Noah’s heart skips a beat. “Do you mean there’s some suspicious purchasing?

Dominique hums. Noah messages his nose bridge. Freaking hell, who dares to trick him? Noah sure treated every employee decently, and he gave them their rights. His perfume company may not be as big as a famous brand like Gucci, Victoria's Secret or Dior, but he earns enough to pay his employees a decent amount.

Noah swallowed thickly “How much?”

Noah grips the railing tightly, trying to make himself steady. The muffled voice of firework explosions overleaps with people’s cheering still being caught by Noah’s ears. He doesn’t know which part of the building he is in, probably near the catering supply room since he can find piles of dirty plates and boxes of something that look like fruits and food decorations. Below the balcony, he can see the dark hallway that he assumes nobody through.

“luckily not much since I found it early. It happened only this month, probably whoever it was they need the money for Christmas or something. It was $500.000” Dominique informs him, judging by his voice he sounds tired, and Noah appreciates his effort for finding the fouls quickly, even though it’s already past the work hour. He relives they found it sooner, and the amount wasn’t big yet but still, he needs to find out who the rat is and why they stole his money.

The moonbeam from the full moon above him struck a silver line to the ground, as the black cloud floating away exposed the moonlight luminously. Noah catches someone on the first floor, hiding between the partition being covered by a standing billboard of the exhibition. It’s not one person, it's two-person. Standing there facing each other. Noah squinted his eyes, trying to figure out who is suspiciously hiding behind the darkness in the middle of this kind of fancy event.

But then his breathing hitches when he can grasp a better look; that Gucci suit with a unique pattern. It’s Taylor. He is hiding. Kissing someone.

His best friend circling his arms on someone’s shoulder, pulls him closer as they intertwine their lips, kissing passionately. The other person grabs Taylor in his suit collar and deepens the kiss desperately as if two lovers who just meet after being separated for years. Noah can’t figure out who the other person is since Taylor almost covers him.

As soon as they separated and they try to catch their breath, pressing their forehead together and smiling whilst staring into each other eyes having the lingering bliss from the kiss, the other man’s figure becomes clearer and Noah almost let out a surprised yelp when he recognises someone that his best friend just kissed. 

Definitely not Jackson. He is shorter and not wearing the black suit Jackson wore earlier. 

A mysterious guy in a white shirt with a cute scarf on his neck, the apron still tied on his hips. He doesn’t wear his hat showing the straight black strand that contrasts with his pale skin. It’s Oliver, the pastry chef.

Noah doesn’t know what triggers the unpleasant feeling in his stomach or why the ugly disappointment swirling in his heart like a whirlpool.

Maybe because Taylor never told him about him secretly having a secret lover whereas he almost shared everything with him, he never expects that Taylor can hide this kind of big secret from him.

Is someone he considers a platonic soulmate actually doesn’t trust him enough?

Or maybe–just maybe Noah is disappointed because his best friend’s secret lover is none other than the same guy that he falls into.

“Noah? What should we do? Are you still with me?” Dominique's voice from his phone was forgotten for a while.

Noah is petrified, watching the two lovers sharing their love in the darkness below him. 

Before his glitched brain can process what the hell is happening between his best friend and the pastry chef, he catches from the tail of his eyes that someone is approaching them. 

A black silhouette with a tall build and broad shoulder. Marching toward the two oblivious love birds.

That’s Jackson! 

He is definitely not going to be happy if he knows his fiancee is kissing someone else behind his back.