Chapter Thirty-Eight Mia
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Mia
Mia’s show was completely going off the rails, a situation right out of her nightmares. But instead of feeling like she was
spiraling out of control, Mia was on cloud nine.
Noah’s lips were softer than she could have ever imagined, gentle yet firm in a way that made her knees weak. He wrapped his
arms around her waist and pulled her close, steadying her as he kissed her harder and deeper. She was about to lose herself
in the moment when—
“Wait!” Alex hissed. “We’re still live!”
Mia stiffened, and Noah let go, gently so she wouldn’t lose her balance. Right, the show. They had to finish the show. Catching
her breath, she glanced at Alex and the rest of her crew. Damien nodded before jotting down something on a piece of paper
and passing it to her.
Mia cleared her throat. “Everyone who is a finalist in The Cuffing Game, please step in front of the camera,” she said. “Noah . . .”
Noah was also out of breath, and not because he’d been running this time.
“Totally fine,” he said, moving away. “I’ll step back. We can continue this later.”
When the four finalists had gathered around her, Mia opened Damien’s note.
“According to the votes and audience reactions,” she said, “Shirin and Tiana, you two are the winners of The Cuffing Game. Congratulations! Not only do you win each other, but you also get the cash prize of five thousand dollars. We wish you nothing
but the very best!”
Shirin and Tiana squealed, jumping into each other’s arms.
Violet and Carlos looked momentarily disappointed, but then they smiled and hugged each other.
“This is just the beginning for us!” Carlos said with a shrug.
“Yup,” Violet replied with a big grin. “Pretty amazing beginning, if you ask me!”
They shared a kiss, and Mia turned back to the camera with a big smile on her face. “There you have it, folks. Thank you so
much for watching The Cuffing Game, the dating show for Marlon students, by Marlon students. Happy holidays and we’ll see you next year.”
Damien cut the live stream, once and for all. Then, in an uncharacteristically cheery voice, he yelled, “We did it! We actually
pulled this show off. I’m free!”
“We’re free!” Alex pulled him in for a hug, and so did Kallie. Mia joined in, squeezing her friends tight.
“Thank you so much, y’all,” she said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you. And I’m really proud of all of you.”
“Are you kidding?” Kallie asked. “We’re proud of you! I can’t believe you’re just a freshman. What are you going to do as a senior? Start your own studio?”
“As of now, that’s not in my four-year plan,” Mia joked. “But maybe I should pencil it in?”
She was still laughing with her friends when there was a gentle tug on her arm.
Noah stood behind her, his expression a mix of happiness and anxiety.
“Hey,” he said. “Can we talk?”
“Um, I want to,” Mia replied, “but we have to clean up and prep for the wrap party—”
“Damien, Alex, and I have it all taken care of,” Kallie cut in. “Go! Be a freshman for once and have fun.”
“Yes, go!” Alex yelled.
Damien raised his eyebrows at Mia, as if to say What are you waiting for?
Mia shot her friends a grateful look before taking Noah’s hand.
The loud celebrations of the cast and crew faded away as Mia and Noah walked along the beach. The moon was rising, big and
white in the night sky. Waves gently crashed down on the shore and around their feet, shimmering in the moonlight.
“I wanted to let you know that everything I said back there . . . it wasn’t just for the camera,” Noah said.
“Or even social media. I couldn’t care less about other people when it comes to us.
I only care about you, and I wanted to make sure there was no way for you to doubt that I like you this time. Sorry I interrupted the show, though.
I—”
Mia laughed. “Noah, it’s okay. You’re completely fine.”
They shared a smile before Noah looked away, his eyebrows wrinkling with concern. “Maybe it’s the type A film school student
in me,” he said. “But I want to talk logistics, especially since I’m graduating next semester. I’ll most likely stay in LA
after graduation, to finish a few projects and to make my own long-form content, but I’m not one hundred percent sure. You’re
a first year, so obviously I don’t want you to be tied down to me in case something happens . . . but . . .”
“But?”
“I don’t want to lose out on a chance to be with you, either,” Noah said. “Even if I end up having to return to Seoul and
fly back and forth across the Pacific Ocean, I’ll do everything within my power to make us work, I promise.”
Before Mia could respond, Noah ran a hand through his hair. “God,” he said. “We literally just kissed for the first time and
I’m talking logistics. Not exactly sexy, now is it? Should I just shut up and take off my shirt?”
Mia snickered. Celine had been right. The real Noah was definitely not the unobtainable, devil-may-care boy from his social media. But he was perfect. Or at least he was perfect for Mia.
“What are you talking about?” she asked. “Logistics are so sexy. They’re practically my love language.”
Noah froze, his eyes slightly widened with surprise. Then, without warning, he pulled her in for another kiss that left her
breathless.
Mia knew this relationship wasn’t going to be easy. They were both workaholics, and she herself would only get busier as she
started loading up on classes and internships. If she was being completely honest with herself, she had never even considered factoring in a relationship, much less a possibly soon-to-be long-distance one, into her four-year plan. And for a good reason,
too.
But at the same time, looking back at the past few months, she saw how things had gotten so complicated because she’d tried to control matters when it came to love.
She stared into Noah’s eyes, which were as passionate and dedicated as her own. They were both extremely busy people, neurotic
in their own ways. But they also gave everything to the people and things they loved, no matter what. If they couldn’t make
it work, no one could.
“I want to give us my all, too,” Mia finally said. “I’ll create a shared calendar for us.”
Noah leaned closer, peering up at her from underneath his dark eyelashes. In a low voice he said, “Okay, you were right. Logistics
are sexy.”
Mia wrapped her arms around Noah, and he pulled her tight.
They kissed, again and again, underneath the moonlit night sky. And Mia realized that some of the best things in life—like
the most priceless moments on TV—are unplanned.