Maureen's POV
"I can teach you how to play polo. It's pretty easy," I offered and shrugged. "But I want something in return."
He chuckled and said, "Of course, you do. How can I forget that you're a girl?"
"Well...Sure and in fact, I want three things in return," I demanded and Noah's eyebrows rose high up.
"Hold on Cinderella, I'm not your fairy godmother."
"First you listen to me...Hey! Are you listening?" I nearly shouted when I saw Noah's back turned to me.
"You're not at all interested in me...I mean in my talks. Sorry, slip of tongue," I muttered the last few words and mentally facepalmed. Since Noah's back was still turned to me, I continued talking or rather demanding, "One, I want you to narrate to me the history of the country, stories, quotes, anything, and everything. You are basically going to tutor me. We can do this while I'm teaching you how to play polo since it isn't a big deal, but I'm really failing in history at school."
I stopped talking for a few minutes and waited for his reply, but I was quite sure that he was listening since I saw a slight movement of his head.
"Two, I don't want you to ask any questions about me. Don't ask why because that too will be included as a question. And three, I want your friendship. I mean I want us to be friends which automatically includes me to trust you, you should be loyal, you know what I mean. Only if you want to," I blabbered and fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, waiting for his valuable response. Suddenly, he turned to me, his deep blue eyes gleaming.
"Yeah, that'll be cool," he agreed and I smiled slyly.
"So you heard me, good boy."
"But isn't it unfair that you get three wishes fulfilled while I get only one?" He questioned and I pouted while tapping my chin with my index finger thoughtfully.
"Hmm...but I can't help it. Let me be philosophical for once and tell you that this is life, Noah. It can be unfair sometimes, but you have to live with it. You have to survive. Rather than grumbling and ruining your whole life, you can concentrate on how to make it better," I ranted some pretentious quotes and recalled my sister saying this when I was crying continuously, seeing her in that terrible condition. Hopeless tears welled up in my eyes when the fresh, dark memories awoke in my mind.
Noah watched me curiously and asked, "You have experience about all this, don't you? Trust me, I know too how life can deceive you, but I learnt it the hard way. You sure can make it better. Besides, memories can be rewritten, right?"
I pretended that I was not crying by putting up a cheerful façade.
"Are you okay, We can go back home if you are feeling ill," Noah suggested, concern lacing his voice.
I shook my head while blinking back the tears and said, "I'm alright, let's just walk."
* * *
"So, did you think about what I said earlier? When shall we start with your practices?" I asked sincerely but he didn't reply. Instead, he just admired the spectacular scenery before us. It was mesmerizing with the river flowing and making its path through the small, green hills and rocks. We ended up sitting on a huge rock on the river bed, dipping our toes in the cool, shallow water.
Noah kicked the water coltishly, splashing the water on me and making my legs wet till the knee.
"Hey!" I slapped his arms playfully and tried to splash the water over him. Instead, I kicked a solid, hard pebble.
"Ow, ow, ow!" I groaned at my feet and quickly lifted my feet up to try and examine them. Noah chuckled and my face immediately reacted by turning redder than my toe, ugh me.
"Did your toe hurt or your face, strawberry?" Noah teased slowly and I punched his stomach hard. He mocked me by screaming 'ow ow, ow' in high pitch tone while holding his stomach.
"Serves you right!" Are you annoyed?" He asked as I was still trying to examine my wound when suddenly, Noah took my feet and placed them on his lap. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep me from blushing. He brushed my toe slightly, sending jolts of electricity throughout my body as I shivered. His lips curled into a broad smile, his eyes never leaving mine.
I cleared my throat and quickly got up. I sprang my feet and straightened my posture. My feet hurt like hell but I took a deep breath and I briskly walked ahead.
"Wait!" Noah quickly rolled his pant down to his ankles and sided up to be.
"Do you agree to what I offered earlier? I can teach you, but I want what I asked. Besides you're desperate to learn polo and you cannot get any better coach than me," I declared proudly.
"I can always ask one of the players to teach me. They'll be happy to teach me, that too for free." He smirked and my shoulders slouched my pride dissolving.
"Don't worry, I'll be better than our French teacher. And besides, we wouldn't be friends if you don't agree on what I said," I blackmailed him and a whimsical smile stretched across his face.
"We wouldn't be friends, strawberry. We would be something else," He whispered and I gawked at him.
I blinked several times in disbelief and he just chuckled, walking away. I was rooted on my spot deciding whether Noah really liked me or was it just flirting or teasing? Whatever it was, it felt good.