The weekend went by in a flash. The past events were still fresh in Nora's mind. She spent the Sunday looking up for Archimedes, he was indeed a reputed surgeon with spectacular skills. But everything went down hill for him when his secret was revealed, everything he said was true.
"Nora, I have a date today. I will not stay for dinner, you'll be fine?" Tina said.
"Yes. Go ahead enjoy it." Nora replied without looking at her.
"What the heck are you doing? You're looking down at that book for the last half an hour."
"Nothing, it's about Living Tech, for the internship, Luke gave them to me." She shrugged.
"Oh. I see." Tina giggled.
Nora narrowed her eyes at her, her phone buzzed. "Why is he calling me?" She said looking down at the name. Tina snatched the phone from her hand and grinned from ear to ear, "You're going to keep it on speaker. I need to hear what he got to say." Nora sighed and answered the call.
"Um, hey Nora." Luke was on the other side.
"Yupe, what's up. You need anything?" Nora said, her tone flat, Tina sighed.
"Actually yes. You free at 7 today?"
"Yes I am."
"Good. Can you meet me at Three Monkeys?"
Nora looked at Tina, whose eyes were wide opened and face was beaming with joy.
"Yes sure. No problem. It's not anything serious is it?"
"Oh no. Everything's fine. See you at 7 then." He hung up.
Tina squealed, breaking the silence in the cafeteria. "Oh Nora. It's something big. I'm damn sure. Just don't run away."
"If it's like that I'll call him and refuse." She picked her phone.
"Oh no. You are not calling anyone." Tina snatched her phone. "Also don't worry, Nick will pick me up, we'll drop you off. Now hurry it's already 5, we've got to go."
***
"Sorry for being the third wheel." Nora said, seated in the back seat.
"Oh no it's totally okay and Tina told me everything. All the best." Nick smiled.
"You can't keep your mouth shut, can you?" Nora smirked. Tina giggled and turned around to look at Nora, "Have I ever?" Nora rolled her eyes.
Nick dropped her off at Three Monkeys, before driving off, Tina got off and tightly hugged Nora, "All the best. Don't run." She smiled and got back in. Nora stood and watched the car disappear, "The heck wrong with that woman?" She smirked.
She entered the restaurant and went to the front desk, "Excuse me. I'm here for..."
"Nora, it's you." Someone called out her name, turning around it was Joel. "What brought you here?"
"Hi. Actually Luke called me up to meet him here." She said.
"Luke did?" He raised an eyebrow. Nora nodded. "I see. Amanda lead her to the guest lounge and take care of her." Joel said. "Nora I'll go look for Luke, until then you wait in the guest lounge." And he was gone.
Nora followed the woman into the guest lounge, it was huge and luxurious with red velvet couches and it had the biggest television she had ever seen. "Please make yourself comfortable. If you need anything just use the telecom there." She said. "Thank you," Nora replied. The woman left, leaving Nora alone in the room.
She looked around and turned on the TV, and started flipping through the channels, deciding on the history channel which showed the history of Nuezelea. She sat there, staring at the screen. The show was interesting, and very much different from what she was taught.
The show ended and she looked at the time, it was already an hour and no one had called her. She got up and went to the door but it was pushed open and Joel stepped in, "Hey, I'm so sorry you had to wait for so long. Come Luke is here." He said.
She followed him down an aisle, the area she didn't visit last time. He stopped in front of a room, "Here you go. He's in there and once again I am so sorry you waited so long."
"It's okay." She said. He opened the door for her and she stepped in.
The table was set up with dinner and a woman was seated on one side, and a man on the other end. He had his back to her. The woman took notice of her, "May I help you with something?"
"Oh no. I think I got the wrong room, I'm sorry." Nora said, turning to leave.
Something shuffled behind her and she felt a hand spiral at her waist and suddenly she was pulled into an embrace, "Hey babe, I'm glad you made it."
Her mouth dropped open when she realised it was Luke, she tried to push him away but he only held her tighter, her face against his chest, "Let go of me." She mumbled.
"I missed you so much." He said moving his hand along her back. Sensing the touch she pushed him away with all her might.
"What is this Luke?" The woman shouted. He let go of her but held her by her waist, "I told you already I have someone. No matter how much you chase me, I won't say yes. So just drop it, I've had enough."
The woman was taken aback, "You can't do that to me. I am much better than her, I've been after you since my first semester. You're the senior I've always adored. Please."
"I'm begging you just let go.."
"Hey," Nora cut him off, "this is not true. There's nothing going on between us, I really don't understand what exactly is going on here. Just don't believe him" She freed herself from his grip and moved towards the woman.
"Of course you would say something like that!" She shouted and before anyone knew she threw a glass of water at her face.
"What is wrong with you?" Nora asked wiping her face. "I told you everything, but you.."
Luke pulled her behind him, "You better leave right now." He raised his voice. She let out a whimper and looked around her and stormed out of the room.
"What the fuck is going on?" Nora shouted.
"Calm down please." He brought up a napkin to her face but she pushed away her hand, "Talk to me!" She shouted again.
Luke sighed, "She's a fresher, she's been following since the first semester. First it was harmless but now she is practically stalking me. Today she threatened me with her life, so I couldn't refuse. But I had to put an end to it, so I lied that I'm in a relationship."
"And I'm the one you're in a relationship with?" She clenched her teeth. Luke nodded. "Are you freaking crazy? Have you lost your mind? Are you insane? You did something so childish, you should have acted like a mature!" She yelled.
"You think I didn't try? I tried everything, even consulted her to the damned counselor, and guess what, it didn't work." He snapped.
"So you say I'm your girlfriend?"
"Look don't over react, it's not like I was dying to do that." He smirked.
"Oh really? But you still did that and I am the one who took the blow not you. I'll be the one she'll be after not you. You made a perfect plan and got away with it. Congratulations." She said frustrated.
"Nora calm down, I understand it's my fault, but this was the only way I could think of. I'll make sure she doesn't harm you." He extended his hand towards her but she pushed it away again, "I don't need your help or your assurance. Just stay away from me that's it. I'll leave now." Luke tried to stop her but she managed to get away and moved out. She hurried to the door and got into the taxi standing right in front of the restaurant.
When she got back, the door was locked, thankfully Tina didn't return because she was in no mood narrating everything to her at the moment. She unlocked the door and got in, the first thing, she changed her clothes. She got into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and got into bed, she buried herself under the covers and closed her eyes.