"So? What problem do you have?" She asked again.
Matthew this time didn't try to disregard her question. "Why are you so hurried to leave? At least have a bite of your food."
Nora didn't notice his change of emotions. She only thought that it would be disrespectful to the host if she won't even have food. Understandably she ate the food. Taking a few bites of the pasta she waited for him to speak.
"You remember the first time we met?" He asked.
"No."
Matthew couldn't help but chuckle on his one side yearning. Bending forward he nodded knowingly.
"I knew… The first time we met was in our neighbourhood. You were playing with your brother. When your brother mistakenly threw the ball on my face. You got so scared that I can't even count the number of times you apologised to me. In our locality, you were the first one to apologise to me. And when we met again you did not even recognize me. I was that surprised for the first time. Later you started changing. You became more and more aloof to the outside world."
"Matthew? What do you want to talk about?"
"Why are you in a hurry? Let's talk first. And you will know, in what trouble I am in."
Nora, without saying anything, stared at him for a few seconds. Although she wanted to deny and wanted him to come to the point, she just sighed and beckoned him to continue.
"Since then, you have given me numerous surprises. I wanted to get close to you. But your aloofness towards me didn't help me. You always kept your guards against me as if I am your ex or something. I tried to understand but couldn't understand why? Please tell me why?"
"..." Nora didn't reply.
From the very start, she heard him clearly, but till the end, she didn't get the main motto behind his words. All she could conclude by now was that 'she, Nora is the problem'. She blankly looked at him.
Matthew also stared back at her. With a small smile, he gently asked again. "Nora why?"
"What do you want, Matthew? Please come to the point."
"I want to know why you do not like me?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"I am just asking NORA! Please answer!"
"Answer you what?"
"Why! Why do you not like me?"
"Because I just don't Matthew!."
"You don't?"
"Yes I don't!"
Matthew looked at the girl with inexplicable feeling. Her answer scares him. If there is nothing like affection, he still hoped that they were close. Nora would think twice before saying anything harsh towards his feelings.
Unlike other girls who always have many options by their side, Nora got no one except those company's CEO or Directors or... him to be known as her acquaintances. After all these years he got not a single percent of chance?
Licking his lower lips he asked again. "...You just don't? What do you mean?"
"..." Nora silently looked at him. She meant what she said, and there's nothing to explain.
Matthew looked into her eyes. Her eyes were distant and cold. To his stare she didn't look away or felt embarrassed by staring back.
She felt no ounce of guilt for saying those words. Realising that he was hurt. Her confidence with her unwavering denial hurt him hard.
Tightening his fist, he clicked his tongue with deep disappointment. With a smirk he questioned again. But this time the detachment and the coldness were present in his emotions and in his eyes too.
"Is that why you are leaving me behind without saying anything?" He asked.
Nora was continuously staring at him until she heard those words and got wavered. She doubtfully looked at him. "...what the hell are you talking about?"
"I know you are going back." He repeated with no doubt.
This morning he was ready to go with his plans when his father called. Hearing what he said, he was shocked. He didn't see that coming. And why would he, it was so unreal for him. The future he was planning was to be with her, not to say bye to her.
This morning his father got a call from Carter. Carter wanted him to get Nora's credentials ready as soon as possible. Mr. Jonathan couldn't understand the reason behind it.
Although college admission was about to start, but the urgency Carter has in his tone raises lots of questions. When Mr. Jonathan asked, Carter answered him honestly. However the answer was unanticipated. The answer was that they are soon going back. Back to their homeland.
Hearing that he was shocked and disappointed. He definitely didn't want Nora to go away. But Carter has told him about her background.
He himself didn't want her to leave her everything behind this way either. In the end, he decided to help her and called his son too. He didn't want Matthew to be at disadvantage either.
Hearing that Matthew broke down. Today, he didn't plan to propose to her fully. He just wanted to come out and tell her about his feelings first.
He wanted her to know what he was expecting from this friendship relation. He wants her and nothing more. However, everything changed once with that call.
Not wasting any time he drove straight to the restaurant, to wait for her to come out.
He wanted to give her a visit at her place directly but he didn't want to lose himself in front. But unfortunately the wine wasn't helping to relax his mind.
Nora was confused with his words again. She wasn't able to understand where that came from.
Where she is going back was unclear to her. Yet she didn't desire to be interested in him or to his drunken words.
Rolling her tongue, she took a pause before asking her direct question. "... Why did you call me here?"
"Because I want you to be with me." Matthew right away said.