Livid Guardian's Endless Coddling

In the afternoon, at Wood's headquarters,

Arsh alighted his sports car and leaned on it to wait for Noor to exit. Ivan had invited her out for lunch and he pinned Arsh to pick her up when Noor had repeatedly objected saying she could drive herself.

So much attention from Arsh, all of a sudden was too overwhelming. Noor bid her father and walked at the speed of a turtle as she deep breathed. She didn't want to think… No, imagine anything with Arsh and blush for it.

Noah who always saw indifferent Noor around Arsh realized he was losing his daughter to an expressionless young man.

Noah wasn't checking on them, but curious so he watched Noor who glowed in pinkness as she made her way towards Arsh. The latter glanced at her, yet there wasn't a single line of change on his face. 

Arsh went around the car with Noor in tow and he opened the door for her. Once she got in, he closed the door. While going towards the driving seat, he nodded at Noah to greet him.

Noah: "..."

'This sneaky rascal.' Noah wasn't standing in the visible area, yet Arsh noticed him behind the semi-tinted glass and greeted him.

Arsh got in and drove the car away. He noticed Noor didn't utter a word as she looked anywhere but at him. She always asked something or the other thing to avoid dead silence. His mother didn't tell him what Noor spoke with her so he had no idea what was going on in Noor's head.

So he started with a simple question, "Are you alright?"

Noor bit her inner lip as she turned to him. It was just a simple, usual question he asks if she acts out of place. Yet, all she could think was, why is his attention on me? Didn't he always sit silent if I don't talk?... Ugh, why am I thinking all these?

She contemplated and nodded her head. She decided to have a few words because Arsh easily catches her lies and she didn't want to embarrass herself, "I was thinking of something tricky."

Arsh glanced at her before he casually asked, "Need my help?"

"Nope." She blurted out instantly in a slightly louder pitch. Realizing, she looked front as she bit her tongue, scolding herself.

Arsh was now really suspicious.

Noor turned back to him and calmly responded, "I will try to solve it myself first." And she knew speaking with him was the best choice. Before that, she just wants to be sure about herself.

"Al...right." Arsh dragged his words as he saw her breath in relief. He could easily bring her thoughts out but didn't feel it was the right time as they had lunch with everyone.

After a course of distance, Noor who had become silent again asked the question due to her random thoughts, "Young Master Morgan…" She had tried but couldn't bring herself to call Arsh as calling his name felt too intimate. Arsh didn't force her.

Arsh hummed, signifying he is listening to her. Noor boldly asked, "Have you ever had a crush on anybody?"

This was a tricky question to Arsh's mind. One, if he says yes and if she has started to like him, she would be disappointed. Two, if he says no and tells the truth someday, she will think he must have said similar lies.

Upon that, he also overthought as she might be having a crush on somebody else. Arsh breathed out loudly to get rid of his thoughts. Catching the criminals and fighting felt easier than these thoughts.

He defined the word crush, "You mean a brief and intense infatuation for someone unattainable? No." It wasn't brief, for god damn sake, it's more than a decade. Unattainable? If he handles her delicately, she doesn't feel unattainable.

Noor: "..."

Unattainable? Infatuation? Since he never dated, she thought to ask if he likes anybody. 

She stared at him thinking if something was wrong with her or him. So she reframed the question, "I mean to ask, do you have some you like?"

He somehow wanted to go roundabout to confuse her so he controlled his lips from breaking into a smile and responded, "You mean admiring a particular characteristic or…"

Noor was done with his game, "Young Master Morgan, you are doing this on purpose, don't you?" She sounded like a bullied one and looked front at the road, determined to ignore him. She started scolding her brain for drawing the fantasy, dreamy world in her mind.

Arsh realized she was annoyed so he responded as it was enough to cool her down, "I do have one."

Her body relaxed before it stiffened. He already has somebody and somehow it made her sad. "Oh." 

She wanted to ask who and why he wasn't dating her, Arsh continued as he drove the car inside the restaurant premises. "She had told me that she will cook for me every day."

Noor: '..."

She wanted to ask, is that why you like her?

She alighted the car when the valet opened the door for her. She turned to Arsh when he came around but suddenly a small conversation struck her mind.

["Young Master Morgan, could you please teach me too?" She had asked Arsh when Rooney had understood a solution to a problem taught by Arsh.

Young Arsh had looked at her for a few seconds and asked, "What will I get in return?" She missed seeing a cunning glint flash in his eyes.

She had thought a moment because she had nothing to give. She was just a twelve-year-old girl. Just then she heard Arna telling Arsh that Aria was cooking their favorite food. Noor had seen him smile so she innocently tried hoping that would work. "I will learn and cook your favorite dish for you."

To her happiness, he nodded at her, "Since you are going to remember all your life whatever I will teach you, how many days will you cook for me?" He was tricking her.

Noor fell for the trap woven for her, "I will cook for you every day."

Satisfied, Arsh patted next to him on the couch, "Good, don't forget it." Then he started teaching her, every day.]

Noor flushed bright red staring at Arsh who reached her and arched his eyebrow.