7 Chapter 7 - The Night View (1/2)

In the other day, I spend the whole month without seeing Noah at the café or anywhere, maybe he is busy shooting his serial movies or something. I heard Cara and Jane speaking during our break time, they were talking about the behind the scene stuffs from Youtube.

I miss the night view, the angelic of the night where the stars and moon are holding hands and the city lights are blooming like flowers below them. I lift my head looking at the clock ticking above my bed, It's only 5.30 P.M. I grab my black diaries where I jot down everything including my itineraries inside, flipping the page where I've bookmarked them.

Ah Mt. Hollywood Drive, Griffith Park is the best they say –I mean the internet, where 'La La Land' dancing scene was filmed. I watched the movie last week.

I hang my tote –bag, sling the camera's strap around my neck, and put on my brown coat. Heading to the bike –rentals.

The labyrinth on Mount Hollywood Drive offers spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills with its famous Hollywood sign on one side and a view of Los Angeles on the other. The evening feels as a hearth-side shawl, comforting, yet as I pedal onwards the breeze is welcoming me, my eyes are bathed in the passing scene. I pull the brake when I see the colorful sparks from far, this is perfect for a night view.

I parked my bike beside the tree and sit down facing the city. The magnificent night view of Los Angeles city pampering my eyes. The night sky is a special kind of blackness, the kind that I want only to hold the stars and help them shine even brighter. The city lights shone the ground like glitters. I close my eyes, inhaling the nature breeze that froze my nose and slid my butt to sit closer to the edge of the cliff.

For a moment, I heard footsteps coming over, at first I didn't care but his presence was ..something familiar

”it's you” and the familiar voice.

My eyes scrunched tight in anticipation of something bad, it's Noah. I hear his footsteps walking towards me. Meanwhile, I take my airpods out from my coat and plug them in my ears, turned the volume up until he could hear the tiny beats of the music. I was about to ignore him. I didn't aware until I feel a warm breath blowing my cheek, his long fingers unplug an airpod from my ear. I tilt my head looking at him and was nearly in heart –attack, he was already squatting beside me with his beautiful hazel –eyes shone by the glitters of the city.

”We meet again” he smirked, I can smell a mint something from his breaths. He sits down beside me, straighten his long legs. ”Again and again...” he added. I unplug my airpod, waiting for him to return back the other pair. He turns his head looking at me, suddenly surprised by something beside me.

”so... you are also a photo –taker” he stretched his long arm and grabs my camera. Noah turns his back at me and his fingers are scrolling through the gallery. I stood up to check him.

”interesting ! I never thought you can take pictures like these” his fingers are busy scrolling the pictures, I wish to take it back before he found out.

Then it happens,

”butttt..” he grinned when it comes to a picture of me, he taps next next next and there's more and more pictures of me with the view I took in my previous vacation. Geez. This is so embarrassing.

”you are bad at taking selfies... AHAHAHAHHAHHA” he laughed.

A small laugh escaped my lips, it's embarrassing but also ridiculous.

”here, your pods” he handed over the other pair then flips the camera screen.

”here” he held my hand and pulled me down to the ground, we are sitting side by side. He shows his teeth and snap some pictures before I got myself ready. Then Noah holds the camera closer, checking the pictures he just took. He points the picture and snorted with a finger covering his nose.

”Just let me take it !” I snatched the camera from his hand and set the camera on us.

”You're lucky to have my selfies” he teased.

I clicked my tongue and rolled my eyes on him.

”yeahyeahh... okay.. up to you” I said, sarcastically

He slid his position, we are both facing the night view. The night sky is gorgeous. It is the most beautiful art, alive in raw energy, a song for the eyes. The wind blows his curly hair that seems to has grown longer.

”You know..” he clears his throat

”I wonder why we keep bumping on each other” he continued

”I don't know ...” I replied, shrugging my shoulders, ”Maybe because Los Angeles isn't wide enough”

”maybe..” he replied, stretching his arm up to the air.

”what's your name ?” out of the blue for a name.

”SABRINA” I just don't want to let him know without any specific reason. Yes, I don't have a reason to lie to him but I did. It doesn't matter anyway. But I lied, okay calm down Steffi.

”nice to meet you Sabrina” Noah tilted his head looking at me for short seconds. Well, I feel sorry I made assumptions based of personal bias against him. He is actually a nice guy, even sometimes he is annoying.

We talked about the Hollywood movies and the reason he grew his hair for ”The Male Lead” serial romance drama he is currently playing. Mostly about ”The Male Lead” stuffs.

It's a long night and I feel exhausted. I yawned and stood up, about to go home. I sling the camera's strap around my neck and hang my tote –bag on my shoulder.

”Wait wait..” Noah stopped me, he stood up.

I turn my head waiting for him to response.

”You know.. I should drive you home. it's too dark”

I point the bike I rent,

”my Jeep can lift that up” he points his black Jeep back there with his thumb.

It is more comfortable for me to go home alone, my brain is working for some excuses, ”I feel..”

”I insist” he cut me off, lifting his eyebrow and says ”You are a woman cycling alone in the dark ? are you kidding me ?”

I flared my nostrils, ”okay” I said. Right, looks like he is a kind of stubborn, I can see that from his expression.

”thanks” I said, lifting my bike and heading to his Jeep.

He helps me out by carrying it from my hand, lift it up to the back of his Jeep. We jump to the Jeep and put the seatbelts on, he starts the engine and pull the stick shift and step on the gas pedal.

I see the trees passing by the road, the stars are shining in the sky and the moon is half seen. Noah turns his radio on, a pop rock song played with the title Circles – Post Malone written on the screen. I lean my chin to the side of the window, looking at the road passing, the shops, pedestrians, etc.

Noah clears his throat

”So you... how old are you?” he asked.

”sorry, girls are usually sensitive about age and weights. Sorry..” he added. I snorted, it's funny he thinks that way, I press my tummy and my mouth is wide open for a loud laughter. He tilts his head towards me with a puzzled expression.

”Do I even look like that kind of woman? Don't you worry” I held my tummy and about to stop laughing.

”I am 26 this year, and I am 50 kgs” I added.

”then it means we are at the same age” he smiles, doesn't mind that I laughed that hard at him. He drives slowly when we reach the main city,

”here.. here” I pointed at the towered old brown apartment building as Noah pull his brake and stop the car.

”So you live here ? my apartment is just in front of yours” he points at the skyscraper in front of my apartment building, the glassy building that reflects the sunshine every morning.

”what a coincidence” he mumbles, eyes still looking at the building, he still can't believe the coincidences.

I jump off his jeep and carry the bike myself as he unplugs his seatbelt and about to help me with it.

”it's fine, I can carry it myself” I put the bike down and he paused at the moment. My bike has safely landed on the ground.

”thanks for driving me home” I said and wave my hand at him.