The ringtone didn't sound loud enough to Noah's ears. It was 5:30am. He actually woke up due to his body feeling. He realised he had missed a call — there was another sound from the sitting room, but Noah wasn't moved by that — he expected that someone was calling him from his new place of work.
Eager to know who called him, he grabbed his phone by his side and saw it was Mrs. Piper. Quickly, he dialled her back and waited a bit, before she took the call.
"Good morning, Mrs. Piper." Noah greeted, covering his mouth to stop a yawn.
"Hi, Noah." Mrs. Piper returned, and continued so rashly. "I am highly sorry to inform you that our Mall no longer needs you for now…"
Bursting in unexpected tears, Noah questioned her. "What do you mean, ma?" He shifted to the side of the window and drew his curtain down. "I have not done anything to warrant this…"
Mrs. Piper noticed the tone of sadness in Noah's voice, and replied to him. "We can see each other by Tuesday next week. I don't think you did anything wrong to me or to any customer of ours; it's just…"
Noah interrupted, not even caring about the woman's status, but moved with pity for himself. "Irregularity, irresponsibility, insubordination, lateness to work? Which of these am I guilty of, please?"
"None, Noah…" Mrs. Piper replied, also moved by pity for him. "I will call you later."
"Al… al…right." Noah muttered in submission, holding his bed sheet onto himself, as he dropped his phone. "Err…" he sighed. Words didn't come out of his mouth; he felt so dejected and bad about the news he heard — it was very rare; to hear that an employee is fired for no reason — not even in Beltons where there were many workers who have long years of experience.
Noah sighed, and cleaned his face. He had already planned the day — to wake up fast to his duty at Beltons Mall, but otherwise was the case. He suddenly frowned his face, folded his arms and walked out of his room.
"Where are you off to?" Mr. Cooper asked him, shunning him instantly as his eyes captured the movie he was seeing. He faced back and looked at Noah. "Are you going to your workplace this early, Noah?"
"No!" Noah reverted angrily, walking away without a second thought.
"What a poor and unfortunate element!" Mr. Cooper threw back, almost spitting on the floor in disgust as he coughed hard.
Noah overheard him, and was sorely vexed. He rushed back to his father-in-law, grabbed the remote off his hand and paused the movie.
"Father, I do not mean to do this…" Noah lamented, tears falling off his face uncontrollably and he tried to hide it. "I was saddened by something, and it also affected my state of mind — yet, you called me an unfortunate being…?"
"Err…" Mr. Cooper was completely speechless. He bent his head and touched it with his hand, and kept mute — like he was moved by pity.
"I honestly don't know what to say, Mr. Cooper." Noah concluded, deliberately opening up his mind, as he rubbed his nose repeatedly with his hands. "I think you have treated me well enough — it is time to go… that is your remote control, sir."
"Where are you going, Noa…?" Mr. Cooper questioned him, unable to call him back. He had to cry — for the first time, over Noah's case.
As Noah scurried out of the house, weak and tired, he ran into her beloved person — Lily. Noah smiled and looked around, surprised about what made him smile.
"My love…!" Lily called, as she approached him quickly and hugged him. "Where are you heading to, dear? Well, thank God I met you…"
"I am sincerely down, at the moment." Noah confessed, as he rubbed her hairs and cried. Lily was shocked to see his tears on her back, so she got out of his embrace quickly and cleaned it off his face.
"What makes you cry, my darling?" Lily asked him, throwing the little bag she carried off her arms. "Come closer here, let us talk."
"I am sure you aren't asking me to go inside with you, into this house!" Noah exclaimed. "I can never do that, Lily…"
Lily interposed, as she was taken aback. "I actually didn't say we are to discuss indoors now, but why did you say so?"
"If I say it…" Noah started, but hid his statement.
"Leave that, for now." Lily said. "Tell me what happened…?"
"I lost my job!" Noah exclaimed, holding Lily to himself face to face. "I thought I was fortunate enough to be accepted at Beltons, but something unexpected and unthinkable occurred today."
"She fired you?" Lily asked him curiously, nearly feeling confused about the case as she scrubbed her face. "I don't think Mrs. Piper should have done that, though."
"Who else, if not her?" Noah reverted.
"Ahh!" Lily exclaimed, raising her voice lightly. "I know what must have caused this — a clash must have transpired between her and Mr. Cooper…"
"Did you just say Mr. Cooper?" Noah asked, having various interpretation attached to his question.
"I did!" Lily replied calmly but loudly. "But, I do not mean he is not my biological father to just refer to him that way." She explained, dropping her phone on the highly raised pavement, beside Noah. "He is too harsh on you, and so selfish in his dealing with Mrs. Piper."
"Hhh!" Noah sighed, trying to digest what Lily had said.
"My humble and best friend." Lily started, leaving Noah in dilemma. Her voice was cooled down as it revealed fatigue. "I actually know I have to join you in this fight to the top!"
"Err…" Noah breathed softly, not knowing what to reply with. He placed his head beneath Lily's hair and talked loudly. "Like your soft hairs, I will feel comfort, my love."
"Don't bother to worry about anything at this moment." Lily assured him. "I am with you..."
"I just believe that one day, I will rise!" Noah concluded as he hugged Lily.