The morning was quiet, Nora didn't sleep a wink, her mind filled with last day's incident. Tina woke her up in the morning but it wasn't the same, she was too quiet unlike her usual self.
"Hey I'm sorry about yesterday." Nora walked up to her.
"Okay. Get ready or you'll be late." Tina moved away from her, "I'll leave now, lock the door when you leave." With this she was gone.
This was definitely not right, this never happened. No matter what they always left the room together, but today was different, a bad different.
Nora unwillingly got ready and went to her class. Thankfully she did not come across the persons she didn't want to face. The first class, math went on like forever, today it wasn't interesting. When finally over she was the first one to dash out, her mind made up. She had a history class, but decided to skip because Tina wasn't there. She rushed to the literature department, her mind made up, she was going to make everything right.
She reached the department breathless, and peeked in every classroom, when she finally saw her. She was on the table, surrounded by people, probably because of a group discussion.
"Tina!" She barged in, driving all attention towards her. Tina looked at her in confusion but walked towards her, "Nora don't you have a class? What are you doing here?"
"I do but I need to talk to you. Please Tina." She pleaded. Tina looked at her face and sighed, "Hey guys I think I'll take a break."
"Sure." The reply came in chorus. She walked out with Nora, "What is it?" She crossed her arms at her chest.
"Not here. Somewhere... You know." Nora said.
"Come with me." Tina said, Nora followed her. They came to a stop at the basketball court, stepping inside it was eerily silent. Tina shut the doors behind them and they sat on the bleachers, "What do you need?" She said coldly.
"Please don't talk to me like that, talk to me like you always do."
"Really? It didn't seem like it last night." She shrugged.
"Last night I..I was frustrated, I didn't mean to do that."
"Nora I know you were frustrated that's why I did that. It's the most reliable way to get you talk, though it didn't work yesterday. But anyway you always keep a lot to yourself, you need to talk it out Nora. Stop burdening yourself, I'm here for you Nora. Please don't close all your doors, please don't do that again." She held Nora's hands in hers.
"Tina.. I, yesterday after I messaged you, on the way back I bumped into Luke and he..." She took a deep breath, "he confessed to me." She looked at her.
"He did?"
Nora nodded, "I don't know why but I was afraid, I ran back. I forgot everything. At night I shouted at you because of a stupid reason like that. I'm sorry Tina, I'm really sorry please don't be mad."
"Mad? I'm not mad, I was kinda pulling your leg. I cannot be mad at tiny thing like you." She chuckled. Nora sighed in relief, "So everything is fine?"
"Of course it is. No actually not, what did you say to him, I mean what are you planning to do. Turn him down?"
"I don't know. This has been bugging me since yesterday, I have no idea what to do."
"You turned down George easily, what's so different about this situation?" Tina shrugged.
"It is different. It's just that." She let out a frustrated cry.
"Nora I think there's something in mind that's stopping you to refuse him. Do you have any idea what it might be?"
"No and I don't wish to know."
"So you run away from him?"
"Yes. I think that is the only option." She said firmly. Tina laughed softly, "If that's what you think."
***
"Oh man look at your face. What's going on?" George smacked Luke's shoulder. He didn't say anything, just stared at the coffee cup in his hand. "Hey. I'm talking to you. Speak something."
"Yeah I'm fine. Just not in the mood, I think I'll turn back home."
"Cool, I'll also come." George beamed. He went silent again, "Is it something related to her?"
"No it's not about Nora." Luke shrugged.
"I didn't even mention her name." George gave a wicked smile. Luke looked at him astonished. "Man you're as good as a rock when it comes to showing your emotions, but when you're with her, you're different in some way. So didn't take a genius to guess that."
"Was I that obvious?" He asked. George nodded, his smile plastered on his face, "And one more thing, if you do end up with something, I won't envy you." He got up and swung his bag on his shoulder, "Enjoy your day off." And went out of the cafeteria.
It was difficult, the look on her face was stamped in his memory. When he told her about he felt, he was thrilled too. The words just flew out of his mouth without a warning. The morning was dragging until he saw her running down the corridor, she didn't notice him. Her hair were open and they flew behind her as she ran, his eyes were fixed on her until she went out of sight. Yesterday was totally unexpected, he said things he didn't expect himself to say that but now the words were already said, she knew how he felt about her, now it all depended on her, all he could do was wait.