Touch of Deception

TWENTY-ONE

The morning sunlight was what greeted her that next morning when she woke up. Somehow, her dream didn't wake her up in the middle of the night anymore. It was the same dream and somehow, she got used to it. Just like how the text message didn't bother her again after several days. 

It's been a week since Trevor showed himself to them. She told Gail about it and of course, as what Gail is accustomed to doing: she ranted all night about it. 

She told her about the breakup. But she didn't tell her the reason why they broke up. And Gail figured it was hard for her to talk about because she didn't ask questions about it. She's thankful. 

But something tells her she has to tell Gail. She's her friend. She trusts her enough. And she wants to tell her about it. But every time she tries to, courage leaves her.  Every time she tries to tell Gail, words leave her. It was hard. And it sucked.

What if Gail will also turn her back on her? What if Gail would be like anyone else? 

She shook her head. She knows Gail isn't like that. She should know it better than anyone. Gail is someone she could trust. 

And then she thought of Matt. They have been spending a lot of time together. Studying out together, walking her home, and several dinners. Strange enough, nothing much changed. When she thought she will be paid attention to by other people who know Matt, it didn't happen. She doesn't know how Matt did it but she's thankful for it. They would walk to school together and it doesn't take much effort for him to make her laugh now. She hated to admit it before but she doesn't deny it anymore. 

"Are you listening?" 

She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Matt. "Huh?" she asked. 

Matt just sighed and rested his chin to the back of his hand. "What are you thinking about?" he asked and she could feel her face getting red as she was just thinking about him. 

It's the weekend and they have been studying in their apartment for a few hours. This time, it's Math. Gail has gone home for the weekend and she and Matt decided to stay in the apartment with the bad weather outside. Unlike before, she doesn't feel awkward with him around anymore.

"I'm sorry. What was it again?" she asked, diverting his question. She can't possibly say she was thinking about him. 

Matt just put his pencil down and was about to say something when the doorbell rang. She immediately ran for it to avoid his gaze. It was the delivery man, delivering the food they ordered. She thanked the guy and the table was already cleared out so they can have all the space. 

"They have my favorite. It's amazing!" she exclaimed as she put the food down the table. 

Matt only chuckled. "Is that what you were thinking about earlier?" 

She let out a soft chuckle. "Yes, it was." 

Despite being comfortable with each other, Matt kept a safe distance. He was on the other side of the table, in front of her and he has been seated there ever since he arrived. He never crossed the line and only focused on teaching her Math. She found out Matt is quite serious whenever he teaches. He looked very different compared to when he is not teaching. He's quite uptight and she has been noticing an improvement in her grades in some subjects she finds difficult. And as payment, she would treat him to dinner as what he requested or maybe just little walks. It's nothing much compared to the help he's done. 

"Has anybody bothered you these days?" 

She looked at him when he spoke. And when she realized what he meant, she just shook her head. Thankfully, Trevor didn't show himself again. The creepy text messages didn't happen again. It was like her life has become peaceful once again and she prays it continues.  

"No. Not anymore," she said as she sipped on the soup she ordered. She put her spoon down and folded her hands on top of the table before she went on, "Thank you for that night, Matt." 

And she saw him blink and almost choked on his soup. It was when she realized she kissed him that night. They never talked about that kiss even after the next day. After she did that, the moment she entered her room, she realized how embarrassing it was and just rolled over her bed several times. The next day, she acted like it didn't happen. She doesn't want to talk about it. Not when it embarrasses the hell out of her even just by thinking about it. And Matt seems to have gotten the idea that she doesn't want to talk about the kiss that he didn't ask questions about it too. 

But she knows she has to clarify things. She doesn't want things to get awkward between them.

"That kiss...it was my way of saying thank you. Maybe I was just too...overwhelmed that night with all you said and I just felt so... grateful that's why I did that." 

She heard him clear his throat before she sipped on his juice. "I know. And it's not something you should be embarrassed about." 

"I am not embarrassed about it!" 

Matt just looked at her as he said, "Sure." 

She just rolled her eyes and continued eating. They ate in silence. She secretly glanced at him as he ate and she couldn't help but wonder how far she's gone that she even had a man for a friend.

"Why are you so kind to me?" she asked before she could even think about it. She looked at Matt and he has stopped eating and was looking at her. He's probably wondering why she's asking about it.

And it was when she realized how random and embarrassing her question was that she shook her head and picked up her spoon. "I'm sorry. Forget I asked that—"

"Because I like you."

She looked at him from across the table and he was looking at her too. She swallowed hard, unable to form a response. What should one say in situations like this anyway?

"Since you asked, then I might say what's inside my mind." He put his spoon down and looked at her. 

"The first time I saw you, I instantly knew you were someone jumpy around other people. I like you but you seem to not like me very much. Maybe because I am an insistent bastard who doesn't know personal space." He chuckled at his last sentence.

"And I figured you just don't want me in your space. I understood. I didn't hate you for that. But then," he chuckled, "the universe seemed to be so keen on letting us meet on several occasions. And I know you must have thought I was following you but I wasn't. I just happen to be where you are."

He let out a deep breath as he continued, "But there was one occasion where I was following you."

"The night when I was confronted by my stalker," she said and he nodded to confirm it.

"That moment at the rooftop, when you said you had a stalker, it made me worried. So I followed you without you realizing it, of course. The last thing I would want is to creep you out even more."

"And after that stalker was taken care of, I realized you were just scared. I realized you push people because you're scared. And it was okay. I understood. But forgive me if I was so insistent but I realized I like you and you made me so happy when you invited me to dinner."

She let out a low chuckle at that.

"And it even made me happier when you started going out of your zone and open yourself up to new people. To me."

She was glad about it too. There was a point in her life that she had hoped for it to happen. But never really expecting that much about it. She never really thought it would actually happen until she met Gail and Matt.

"Thank you." It was all she could say with all that he's said. She gave Matt a small smile and the latter smiled back.

"So there you go. I just confessed I have feelings for you. I am not expecting anything back from you. Don't feel obliged to like me back—"

"But I like you, too."

Surprise crosses his face. And she realized what she just had said. She spoke it out loud without realizing it!

She cleared her throat. "I—I mean I like you as a person. You're kind. And you're ... kind." She groaned inwardly at her poor choice of adjectives. Matt only chuckled at that.

"I get what you mean. And thank you. I will keep being kind." 

They both chuckled at that. 

They ate in silence and when they were done. They both did the dishes. Matt was fun to be with. There was never a moment where she wasn't smiling or laughing. He knows how to do it. Or maybe it was because he likes him too that he finds everything he does or says very amusing. 

"If you ace the exam, I'll give something to you," he said as they were washing the dishes. 

She gave him an incredulous look. "That's very inspiring, thank you." 

Matt just laughed. "No. Seriously! I want to give you something. I mean, if you aced the exam, as your tutor, that would really make me proud. And it's just right that I give a reward to my student." 

She shook her head and put the plates in their places. She turned to face him and she wasn't expecting him to be so close that she almost jumped on her feet. She looked up only to see him looking at her too. And she couldn't move. Not because she's scared but because she's too surprised to do anything. And the look in his eyes...she's certain it mirrored hers. 

And then he started to lean close. And she found herself waiting for him to come close. And her not protesting, Matt took that as a signal to lean closer. Then she found herself closing her eyes and the next thing she knew, is the feel of Matt's lips on hers.

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