Chapter 15

As she approached the library entrance, Hanna caught a glimpse of Matthew sitting at a table, patiently waiting for her. A smile spread across her face, and she quickened her pace, eager to join him. Unbeknownst to her, Mandi was still watching from her nearby seat, her eyes fixed on Matthew.

Hanna entered the library and made her way towards Matthew. As she approached their designated table, she noticed Mandi's presence out of the corner of her eye. Sensing Mandi's interest in Matthew, Hanna felt a pang of unease, but she brushed it off, focusing on her task at hand.

"Hey, Matthew! Sorry for the delay," Hanna greeted him with a warm smile, taking a seat across from him.

Matthew looked up from his notes, a genuine smile forming on his face. "No worries, Hanna. I'm glad you're here. I could really use your help with this assignment."

Hanna nodded, her enthusiasm evident. "Of course, Matthew. I've gone through the material thoroughly, so I'll do my best to assist you."

Matthew's appreciation was evident in his eyes as he handed Hanna his notebook. "Thank you, Hanna. I really appreciate your support."

As they delved into the assignment, their conversation flowed effortlessly. Hanna explained key concepts, clarified doubts, and helped Matthew understand the material more comprehensively. The library became a haven of focused collaboration, unaware of any outside distractions.

Mandi, observing from a distance, couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. She had hoped for an opportunity to spend time with Matthew, but it seemed that he and Hanna were engrossed in their academic pursuits.

Disheartened, Mandi quietly gathered her things and left the library, her hopes of being noticed by Matthew dashed for now.

In about 30 minutes Hanna and Matthew diligently worked side by side, successfully tackling the assignment and by the time they were finished, they felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Oh God. Matt, I'm so famished."

Mathew responded, "yeah me too, let's go grab lunch later."

As they packed up their belongings, Hanna couldn't help but feel delighted over Mathew's full attention when she was helping him…. She also couldn't shake off the lingering unease caused by Mandi's presence.

With a smile, Hanna turned to Matthew. "Great job, Matthew! I'm glad we managed to finish the assignment. We'll submit it and hope for the best."

Matthew nodded, gratitude evident in his eyes. "Thank you, Hanna. I couldn't have done it without you. Your help was invaluable."

"What are good friends for?" Hanna said, smiling freely, her cute eyes on Mathew.

While they walked together side by side; to Matt everything faded away and Hanna's little perpetual smile had taken him away from reality. Staring vaguely at her , he wondered what's withHanna's non-stop smile… it wasn't just about their assignment- Hanna loved to help people a lot and Mathew isn't the first or only person she's helping out.

Out of the blue, he asked, "hey cutie, what's up with your continuous smile?"

Hanna looked at him shockingly, apparently lost. She wasn't aware she had been smiling all along, maybe there's something funny she saw or there was amusing stuff she remembered.

She continued staring foolishly like she didn't know she had been smiling foolishly. Matt nudged her arm while he repeated his question.

Hanna taps on her chest "Uh, was I smiling? She said as her eyes burrowed up.

"Yeah! For like one minute now…" Mathew added, exaggerating. "Hope it's not what I'm thinking, cutie." He stated further, a short smile formed in his lips.

Hanna looked weirdly at him- what's he thinking? Hmm would he know, how can he know?

In that case, Mathew felt that Hanna loved walking alongside him. He felt like Hanna was feeling him and was showing him off.

However, giving Hanna's weird look. He decided not to go on. He didn't want to give himself high hopes…

"Uhm…" He stutters.

"It's nothing!" Hanna intercepted. "It's just what…" her sentence broke, she bust a gut. Mathew stood still, didn't understand a thing and almost phased out.

Then Hanna continued,a little smile still on her face. "Sorry, I'm so sorry. I just can't stop remembering what happened to me in the lecture before-now."

"Matt, it keeps replaying in my head and it was so funny and foolish of me."

She began to narrate to Mathew how everything had happened, how she also ignored Jenny's words, "Slow down, Hanna."

Mathew's ears and eyes were moving as he paid attention to details, and Hanna's drama and demonstration of how she crawled into the lecture room made it more amusing. Mathew laughed out.

They didn't care who passed them or whoever their chatter disturbed. They continued walking and talking…

There hasn't been a time around Hanna, Mathew was bored.

"Hmm look at those birds," Mathew said, looking peacefully towards the direction of both birds perched on a tree just outside where they were having lunch.

"Oh they look so beautiful." Hanna commented, with pieces of them doughnuts getting chewed up in her mouth.

"Together…they look beautiful," Mathew chipped in, admirably. His gaze fixed on Hanna who already returned to feasting on the doughnuts with a cup of milkshake before her.

Mathew sighed,"Slow down on that doughnut." He stated, in irritation. "The doughnuts won't run, watch your weight too."

Hanna rolled her eyes playfully, she always avoided any romantic staunts Mathew tried on her. She didn't want to give in…

"You know I can eat as much as I want and I wouldn't add and even if…" Hanna was talking, meanwhile Mathew was looking at her and thinking something else- when would she be mine.

"Even if I eat it everyday, I would not add much. Although I check my diets.." Hanna kept talking. Amidst her talking, "So dodgy." Mathew mumbled in regards to Hanna's actions to his love signs.

"Did you say something!?" She asked.

But Mathew denied. Then he used the opportunity to suggest there will be a small party later tonight. Hanna, who already looked uninterested,remained silent as Mathew opted adorably, "Just us, me and you alone. No Arya and Davis drama. And trust me it is not a crazy one."

Still Hanna refuses and doesn't give him a definite answer.

And about taking diets. She knew right in her mind, she was whining about being on diet- until she has money for that. She is poor and lacks funds, if not for father's monthly assurance which is being secretly sent to her.

Hanna would manage the money well until the next month. Because of this, she has planned to start a part-time job immediately while on break. She has always admired M & M's. Mr Mark's success was the type she wished for.

Until then, she didn't want love or loyalty to be her priority. She believes those things would come in her way to climbing up in life. So she stayed focused.

Would her dreams be as smooth as she wishes? What if her past comes eating her up?