CHAPTER 21: A DAY WITH MATTHEW
Themis’ POV
I almost jumped from where I was standing when I saw Winter standing by the doorway of my room early in the morning with that smile on her face once again. She keeps on doing weird things these past few weeks and I don’t really know why.
“H-Hey there, Winter.”
“Good morning, Matthew. So, I heard you don’t have work today, right?”
I slowly nodded my head. “Yeah, that’s right. Why?”
“I actually want to ask you if you want to go somewhere with me today.”
“Sure. Do you have to go somewhere? I can drive you there.”
She then shook her head while looking at me. “No, I want the two of us to have a date. Like a real husband and wife.”
“H-Huh?!”
“Go on. Just take a shower and I’ll wait for you downstairs.” she said, then she already walked away.
I heaved a sigh as I watched her walking down the stairs.
When will she actually get tired of doing this?
Winter’s POV
I stood up as soon as I saw Matthew. He was wearing a grey turtleneck with the sleeves rolled up and he paired that up with a pair of black pants and suede shoes.
At least, he knows how to dress like a rich man.
“Are you ready to go now, Matthew?”
“Y-Yes?”
I walked towards him and clung my hand to his arms as we headed out of the mansion and straight to my car.
“Wait, Winter. I’ll be the driver. Let’s use the car that your father gave me.”
“Oh, okay. If that’s what you want.”
“By the way, where are we actually going?” he asked again when we were already inside the car.
I continue putting my lipstick on before speaking to him. “I want to go somewhere people won’t easily recognize me. Do you know a place?”
He then thought for a while.”Well, I actually know a place. But I don’t think you would like it there.”
“Of course, I would like it. As long as I’m with you and as long as it’s not a crowded place.”
Matthew continue driving while I was fixing my makeup. I didn’t really know where he would be taking me to or if he would bring me to their base since he might be working under a syndicate. That is why I prepared pepper spray and the phone where I could easily call for help and the cops would be running to where I am.
“We’re already here.”
I was awakened by Matthew’s voice. I didn’t notice I fell asleep on our way. I opened my eyes and he opened the door for me to step out. When I finally got out of the car, that’s when I realized where he took me.
“It’s actually one of my favorite places to go to when I was just a kid. Especially when I want to be alone. It’s an abandoned park as you can see. I don’t think people would still want to go here.”
I roamed my eyes around that abandoned park. I suddenly felt tears filling my eyes as memories came flashing back inside my mind.
“Wait, Winter, are you crying? W-Why? Did I say something wrong?”
I immediately wiped the tears from my eyes and shook my head. “I-I was just practicing for my next role. I’m sorry. But I like it here, really.”
“I’m glad you liked it. Should we sit on that bench?” he then asked while pointing to the bench under the acacia tree.
“Okay.”
The park was actually situated on a hill, so when you sit on the bench, you would be able to see the view of the whole city.
“Isn’t it just refreshing to this kind of place sometimes to let out some air?” Matthew spoke again.
I didn’t turn my head to him. I just kept on looking at the beautiful view of the sky while reminiscing the feeling I once had whenever I go to this place back when I was just a kid. “You’re right. It’s actually quite tiring to pretend. To pretend as if you are someone, to pretend like you’re always okay, to pretend that you don’t get hurt, and to pretend to be happy when you have already forgotten about what happiness is a few years ago…”
I didn’t notice that I was getting too carried away by my own feelings while sitting beside Matthew who I never trusted. When I realized that, I blinked my eyes and looked away. “I-I mean, that’s what people usually feel. That doesn’t mean that’s about me.”
He smiled. “It’s alright, Winter. I know you feel those things sometimes, too. All of us have some things to go through, we just have different ways of how to cope.”
“You sound like an old man.” I hissed.
“Do I?” he asked while laughing.
What is so funny about that?
And why is he laughing? Are we close now?
Oh, shoot. I almost forgot I was pretending to like him.
I looked at Matthew again with a smile on my face. “Matthew, can I ask you something?”
I noticed him gulping as he looked at me, obviously afraid that I might ask him something about his secret.
“O-Of course, what do you want to ask from me?”
“Actually, I’ve been wanting to ask you this ever since we first met. Why are you wearing an eye patch? I mean, did you lose your right eye when you were just a kid?”
“Oh. Haven’t I mentioned it before already? I got into an accident before that caused a serious injury to my right eye and it had to be taken out so I had to wear an eyepatch ever since.”
I nodded my head. “I see. I’m sorry for asking that.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Anyway, may I see it? I mean, what’s under that eyepatch, may I see it?”
“H-Huh? No. I’m sorry. You wouldn’t want to see it.”
“Come on. It’s alright, Matthew” I said as I moved closer to him and tried to touch the eyepatch but then he suddenly stood up, so I stood up too. I kept on trying and trying to take his eyepatch off without noticing that our bodies were already so close to one another.
When I tried to gain, Matthew was able to hold my hand. And to my surprise, he pulled me close to him.
Our faces were just inches away from each other and he was staring right into my eyes.
What the hell, why can’t I move?