She shook her head in disbelief. Her heart broke for Noah. She couldn't imagine getting a call that his grandfather died. To see him breathing, she hoped that Noah was feeling better despite the unknown fate that lurked in the background.
Everything else leading to this point seemed trivial, and she hoped that Noah wouldn't hold it against her. There was nothing else she wanted more than to see Noah's grandfather in good spirits after speaking about him for a while now.
"I feel bad now. I was probably making your life harder by tagging along with you, but I still couldn't let you go alone in that state," Alice said, pained that she was only causing more stress to Noah in her own way.
"You're fine," he answered. "It wouldn't have mattered anyways."
"It does matter," Alice pressed. "I wish the best for you always."
Alice eventually switched the topic to one that she had been waiting for a while.
"Be honest. Those nurses don't seem normal."
Noah didn't seem surprised, but he teased her a bit. "What? In what way?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't beat around the bush."
"I'm curious though," Alice decided to throw him a bone. "Aren't nurses supposed to be impersonal?"
"Those nurses aren't."
She gave him a sad smile. "Unfortunately."
"Those nurses are hired by my father."
"Father?" Alice said confused. "I thought you said that your parents weren't present where your grandfather is."
"They aren't," Noah answered dully. "I paid for everything myself. The money I have in my fund, they stopped supplying when I was a child."
She hummed. "I'm surprised they didn't take your fund away."
"It's in my name," he said. "My parents gave me enough to support myself. But now, I have to support my grandfather as well."
"But your father has no reason to do that," Alice said, her heart dropping. "Does he really hate you that much?"
He snuggled into her shoulder, and she laughed lightly since he was doing it right in front of his grandfather. Alice didn't think that Noah would be a physically affectionate person due to him liking his personal space.
"My father is a complex person," Noah said, glancing up at the ceiling "I don't understand everything that goes on in his mind. Not that I would ever want to."
She waited to hear the story that was about to commence.
"My father was adopted by my grandfather. My grandfather was a single man. I don't have a paternal grandmother."
"Why did your grandfather adopt a child?"
Noah lifted a shoulder. "I'm not quite sure about any underlying factors. It has been a long time since their relationship wasn't good. My grandfather is still the CEO of the company, but when he passes, no one is sure what is going to happen."
"What does your father hold against him?" Alice asked.
Noah grimaced. "My father's goals are quite... centered."
Another way of saying that he was selfish. Power-hungry. Now that Alice had an image in her mind, it made sense that he didn't want to head home. Alice furrowed her brows. "I'm not familiar with your family's company."
Noah shook his head. "Don't bother with that. My father is working for the company, but there is another man who is vying for the main seat."
Alice sighed. She supposed that it made sense for that competition to fester, yet it also wasn't the norm for her to think of such thoughts that would only occur in movies.
There were lines that she didn't need to cross, so she didn't press further about his family or how his business works. But still, she found it unbecoming that nurses were paid in a certain way.
"Do you want to be a part of the company after you graduate?" Alice asked softly.
Noah gave her a bitter smile. "I'm not quite sure. Maybe my parents will straighten it out for me when I'm older. I was forced to act according to their wishes for a long time now. To act like a doll."
Alice squeezed Noah. "You will do well. Don't worry about it, and do your best. I'm sure no matter what you touch, it will always work out in your favor."
The little encouragement that she offered was all that she could give. Noah brightened at her words, silently grateful for her presence. It made sense that Noah was bored of it all. He was struggling to figure it all out.
"Aren't you glad to see your grandfather in one piece?" she whispered.
"When I saw him here, my legs almost gave out," Noah admitted.
"I'll send prayers that your grandfather wakes up, and spend his days happily," Alice murmured. She changed the subject cheekily, doing her best to try and cheer him up. "Maybe I surpassed you today with the exams."
Noah smirked. "In your dreams."