"There was a journalist," said Mark entering the room preceded by Papa.
"What did you do to him?" asked Papa.
Veronica and Matthew were oblivious of what these two adults were talking of.
"What happened?" asked Veronica standing up.
"Nothing, there was a journalist. I had to take half an hour to convince that journalist that there is no boy here. Otherwise the whole media would be swarming here and the police then. Then the psycho lady assassin would come here too."
"Oh," Veronica understood the gravity of the situation.
"Oh my boy," exclaimed Mark seeing Matthew conscious. "Are you all right? I am glad…"
Papa forced a grin and eyed at Veronica. She understood what he meant. "We can leave now," he meant to say.
Yes, we should leave now: she decided, with a heavy heart. Mark went out of the room to fetch a doctor and a nurse. Papa came in front of the boy and said, "I am grateful to you for your heroic deed. But the sad thing is that I can not do anything in return…"
"No, you can do," interrupted Matthew.
"What can I do for you?"
"You can take me with you to your next mission."
Papa grinned and said, "I am sorry for that. See, how dangerous our situations are. You are shot. Anything could have happened. That's why Veronica and I have decided to leave you behind for your own good."
"But this much at least you can reward me with for my bravery and dedication."
Papa smirked.
Veronica piped in, "No Matthew, thanks for your service. But now no thanks."
Matthew remained silent. He knew he could not argue with Veronica.
"Service," said Papa rubbing his chin. "This word creates a doubt in me. Veronica reported me that you know a myriad of languages. Is it true?"
Matthew nodded his head.
Papa asked, "May I ask how?"
"Why not? My grandpa is an ex-army. He had been posted in several places. He was an adventurous young man. He learnt several vernaculars and I learnt them from him."
"Oh, your grandpa must be a genius. Do you know Chain tongue?"
"No, sorry. I have never heard of it. Is it a sweet language?"
"No, not sweet exactly. You can say a crispy language."
Matthew laughed. Papa joined in his laugh too. Veronica seemed like an odd-man-out.
Papa said, "I must tell you this boy is a genius too. He has a sense of humour. Knows a lot about languages. We leave him, we lose an asset."
Veronica expected that Matthew would at this time advocate to take him to the next mission. But no. He did not open his mouth. She thought: A strange boy. Why did he not ask for coming with us this time? – Perhaps he is sure that Papa though now is praising won't allow him in. That's why. May be…Well he is a genius. He knows when to argue and when not to. Then in this way may be he had tried to win my heart. – No, he does not seem like a plotter. A simple clear heart boy. With a genius brain. Right. I will miss him. – See, I hated him at first, now we have become good friends.
"Ok, I must talk to Mark. You two talk. I am coming in a second," said Papa in a joyous tone and went out of the room. Veronica felt cozy alone with Matthew. She smiled and said, "See, I hated…"
"Can I ask you for one thing?" interrupted Matthew.
Veronica was taken aback. Perhaps he will play his last dice on me and insist on me asking Papa to let him in. But I have to make him understand that we are in a dangerous mission. You have already done so much for me. – If he is going to plead before me, then he is not much of a genius. I can read his mind. A simple heart boy – with a talkative tongue which he ties before seniors and loses before me or may be before girls. I have not seen him before other girls.
He cleared his throat interrupting her thought.
"Erm, can I kiss you?" he asked.
"What?" she was totally flabbergasted. She felt heavy-headed and light-headed at the same time. A strange feeling. This boy strikes at the unexpected cord. She eyed at the window. There was a small bottle on the windowpane. It was not there few minutes back. How it came here? May be I had not paid attention to it before; or may be it is Mark who had put it here. Who knows? Leave about the bottle, what he meant by "Can I kiss you?" may be he will just peck at my cheeks or may be kiss my hand.
She stretched her hand.
"Nay, na," Matthew said smiling. "I need a real kiss."
"A real kiss," she squeaked. She was astonished by her own tone. What is happening to me? Take control. Take control.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked.
"I see you have never done it. Be romantic around me dear; not angry. I mean, I need a lip-to-lip kiss from you."
"What?" she tried to sound angry; but in vain.
"Come on, come on, you also want it, I know it, and I can read your mind."
To change the topic she said, "Really? Tell me then why I am searching Andrew?"
Matthew said, "A good question… hmm… but bad timing. I won't answer such a serious question. Pass…"
"No, first answer me, then…"
"Then what? You will kiss me?"
"No," said she hesitating. This boy is surely going to extract a kiss from me. She continued, "Then I will give you one million bucks…"
Matthew said, "I don't care for money. You must know you can not buy me."
"Then my kiss is worth more than one million bucks?"
"Surely, and I have given you more than one million bucks service, haven't I?"
She played her finger in his hair and said, "Yes, you have. I am grateful for that. But…"
"No but please. Come on give me a kiss. Give me a kiss. Give me a kiss…"
"Ok, ok," she said.
"Yippee"
"Sit down then."
"Do I seem like in a condition to sit down? If I rise up it hurts badly. That's why I have not gone for peeing for long time."
"You should go then. It is a bad habit…"
"Miss Doctor, don't advise me. Give me a kiss. When the doctor will come I will ask him to give me a plastic bladder. – You just give me a kiss now. I want a kiss, a genuine superb passionate kiss."
"Why?" she was trying to delay.
"As a kiss of farewell," he was persistent.
"We are not lovers," she argued back.
"Don't break my heart. No one is a better lover than I. I took a bullet on my chest for you. How many lovers get that opportunity?"
"Your arguments, your logic, uff, I am defeated. But Papa or Mark can come any moment."
"Don't worry about them, they won't disturb us. See your Papa had left us alone."
"What do you mean by that?" she said.
"I am telling you facts dear. Don't worry about my arguments. Give me one kiss. I deserve it. Come on. If a handsome boy like me had asked any other girl, she would have kissed me a thousand times by now."
"Please be silent," said she and lowered her gaze. She was feeling awkward. She could not raise her head. As if some invisible hand was forcing her to look at the tiled floor. What a beautiful design on the tiles. Rose flowers. Wow. Flowers touching each other. No kissing. Come on…
She was trying hard to focus on the tiles to ward off the awkward feeling. Matthew said, "Oh my dog, you are shying. You can shy! Wow. You are red all over your face."
She stood up and instead of going near him, she started toward the door.
"Please," said he. "If my arms were strong enough, I would have caught your hand from backside. But no. I can not. Don't leave me alone here. Just say you don't want to kiss me. Then I won't demand anymore; but don't leave me here."
She came back and sat down on the chair.
"Thank you. I won't ask anything else," he said. She dared to look at his handsome face. His red lips… she rose up and went near the bed – sat beside him kneeling on the floor – lowered her upper body onto him. First her long hairs brushed on his face. She arranged her hairs. She gazed at his gaping lips for a micro second, and then neared her lips toward them.