"Hey." Mike excitedly greeted as he stood right in front of her.
"..." Nora had her usual expression, less reaction.
"Don't you dare to say that you forgot me in just a week." Mike dramatically exclaimed.
Nora couldn't help but roll her eyes with a loss of words. Giving herself another sigh she answered. "I didn't."
"That's like a good friend." He victoriously smiled, which irked Nora immediately.
While walking to their department building, he asked. "Now tell me where we are going for lunch?"
"I am not going anywhere." Nora right away denied.
"Yes we are. Friends spend time together. And I am sure right now you don't have any friends. And after 12 you have a two hour break before next class. So in that break, we have got to hang out or do something." Mike answered from her side.
As per his morality, he didn't investigate her personal information, but he did know her schedule inside out by now. And not just that but also her little student life she is having with her classmates.
"I hope you know how much you irritate me when you talk about my personal stuff this easily," Nora commented with narrowed eyes.
She hates it when people intervene in her life. And now not just intervention is happening from all sides, but people took leisure to take control over it. It is pissing her off a lot nowadays.
"But you must know that i-"
"It was a must for you to investigate me. Right? I got it. But don't be casual about it." She irritatingly finished his words and walked away from his side.
She sounded all rude and cold. But Mike shamelessly followed after her. "Oh. My bad. I won't do it. But still we have to go for lunch."
"..."
"Oh come on Nora. It will be anyway boring for you at lunch time." Mike pouted little as he spoke.
Nora frowned little by his behaviour. From nowhere he behaves the same as his age. He, who is three year older than her, kept behaving childishly.
"Please Nora let's go. I need company too."
Being overpowered she agreed anyway. "I don't know much about this area."
Mike warmly smiled and patted his chest proudly. "Do not worry, miss. I'll take care of you. Now I must go back to my class too."
Saying that he was about to leave when Nora called him.
"Mike."
Mike's step staggered a little. It's the first time that Nora called his name. Although he was happy, he was shocked and elevated more by her call. Pursing his lips with a scrunched nose, he tried to hide his smile as he turned.
"Hmm?"
"I have got nothing for you. And even if I have, I am not a sharing-type person. So... you can guess the rest." Nora explained openly.
She might believe that Mike has no bad intentions towards her. But she also believed and also had no intention of having any close relationship with anyone of no use.
Friendship made no sense to her before, but now having a thought of having an acquaintance like Mike doesn't bother her that much. However if someone is expecting something from her, she wants to clear that up as soon as she can.
Mike honestly nodded. Walking right in front of her, crossing his limits, he patted her head and slowly said. "Don't worry. I simply and only and only want your friendship."
Nora's breath hitched with anxiousness. Immediately stepping away from his reach she replied. "That I'll think about later on."
Saying that she didn't wait for his reply and walked away.
With a hearty smile Mike watched her going away.
If Aman was there to see Mike's smile, he would have puked in shock. He looked like a totally different person around Nora.
Before the day they met Nora, Mike had never shown his interest in anyone. All he cared to do was his own thing or his business with Parth and Aman. The only smile he showed to them was his teasing or playful smile too.
But with Nora, he did not just show his genuine smile but also his concern with his interest in Nora. Mike sincerely wanted to spend more and more time with Nora.
Everything around him was either typical or predictable until she came and met them that day. The more he talked to her the more his interest was increasing in her.
Things that attracted him about Nora were too many to count. However none of them was making him feel attracted to her as a love. All he wanted was to know her, and have her friendship.
***
Nora was waiting for their class to start when someone tapped on her right shoulder.
Unhurriedly she looked up to her right. Narrowing her eyes she gave a confused look to the girl who looked a little nerdy with her specs and tight braids.
"Can... Can I sit here?" The girl meekly asked.
"?" Nora looked at the empty seat to her left side.
Although there is an empty seat by her side, but there are a lot more other empty seats in the class and Nora is already sitting in the last row and corner seats. Why would she wanna sit with her? However, having no choice to deny she nodded.
"Hmm."
The girl hurriedly sat down beside Nora. "Thank you. Sorry I have got no other place to sit." She explained.
Nora wanted to respond back but the thought of burdensome conversation she might have to share, she ignored and just hummed in response.
"My name is Shailey."
"... Nora."
"Are you new here?" She carefully asked.
"Hmm."
Although it's already been a week since Nora got her admission, but compared to others who already got their admissions a month ago, she is new.
Nora's answer immediately brought Shailey a great relief. Smiling cheekily she asked. "Can we become friends?"
"No." Nora right away denied.
"Huh?"
"Thank you but sorry."
Shailey lips couldn't help but twitch instantly but Nora's character was quite visible from start to her.
Giving an awkward smile she nodded. "I... It's okay. Let's just be classmates."