chapter 4. THE UNEXPECTED VISIT

Chapter 4

MATILDA'S POV

The lecture finally came to an end.

I closed my notebook and put it inside my bag. I felt a little better than I had earlier that morning. Having Anna beside me and keeping myself busy had helped me forget about Luke for a while.

I walked out of the classroom and headed down the corridor.

I was checking something on my phone while walking, completely lost in my thoughts.

At the same time, a man was walking toward me from the opposite direction. He was holding some documents and looking through them as he walked.

Neither of us was paying attention to where we were going.

Before we could realize it, we bumped into each other.

Bump!

My books fell from my hands and scattered across the floor.

His documents fell too.

“Oh my God, I'm so sorry!” I quickly said.

“I'm sorry too,” he replied.

We both bent down at the same time to pick everything up.

He picked up two of my books and handed them to me.

“Here.”

“Thank you.”

I reached for one of his documents and handed it to him.

“I think this is yours.”

He took it from me.

“Thank you.”

We continued picking everything up until nothing was left on the floor.

When we stood up, I looked at him properly for the first time.

He was tall, handsome, and well-dressed. He looked much older than the students around him, and there was something serious about him.

“I really apologize,” I said.

He gave me a small smile.

“It's fine. I wasn't watching where I was going either.”

I smiled back.

“Still, I'm sorry.”

“You're forgiven.”

I laughed softly.

“Thank you.

He glanced at the books in my arms.

“Are you a student here?”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“I thought so.”

I looked at the documents he was holding.

“Are you a lecturer?”

He chuckled.

“No. I'm here because of a project.”

“Oh."

“My company is working with the university on a project.”

“That sounds interesting.”

“It is. But it's also a lot of work.”

I smiled.

“I can imagine.”

Just then, a man in a formal shirt approached him.

“Sir, they're waiting for you in the meeting room.”

The man nodded.

“I'll be there in a minute.”

The staff member walked away.

The stranger turned back to me.

“I should go.”

“Sure.”

I adjusted my bag.

“It was nice meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you too.”

He paused for a moment.

“I'm Ryan, by the way.”

“Matilda.”

“Nice to meet you, Matilda.”

“Nice to meet you too, Ryan.”

I smiled politely before walking away.

I didn't think much of our meeting.

To me, he was just a stranger I had bumped into at the school corridor.

RYAN'S POV

Three days had passed since I bumped into the girl at the university.

I hadn't seen her again.

Honestly, I hadn't expected to.

My schedule had been hectic since then. Between meetings at the office and the university project, I barely had time to think about anything else.

That morning, I had another meeting at the university.

My driver dropped me in front of the administrative building, and I stepped out with my assistant following behind me.

“Sir, the school management is already waiting for us,” he said.

“Alright. Let's get this over with.”

We walked into the building.

The meeting lasted longer than expected.

Afterward, I decided to walk around the project site myself before leaving. I wanted to see the progress with my own eyes instead of relying only on reports.

As I walked past one of the lecture buildings, I noticed a familiar face.

I stopped.

It was her.

The girl from the corridor.

She was walking toward me while talking to another student.

For a moment, I wondered whether I should say something.

Before I could decide, she looked up.

Our eyes met.

Her face lit up with recognition.

“Ryan?”

I smiled.

“Matilda.”

She walked closer.

“I didn't know you were still here.”

“I'm here for the university project.”

“Oh, right.”

She nodded.

“How's the project going?”

“It's going well. Just a lot of work.”

She smiled.

“I can imagine.”

The girl beside her looked between us curiously.

“Do you two know each other?”

Matilda laughed.

“Kind of. We bumped into each other a few days ago.”

“Literally,” I added.

She laughed.

“Exactly."

I found myself smiling.

There was something refreshing about her. She didn't seem nervous around me, even though I was clearly older than her.

“What about you?” I asked. “How are your classes going?”

“They're fine. Very stressful, but fine.”

“That's university.”

She nodded.

“Unfortunately.”

We both laughed.

Her friend checked her phone.

“Matty, we should go. We're already late.”

Matilda looked at her phone.

“Oh, you're right.”

She turned back to me.

“It was nice seeing you again.”

“Same here.”

She smiled.

“Maybe we'll stop bumping into each other now.”

“Hopefully.”

She laughed before walking away with her friend.

I watched her for a moment before turning back toward the project site.

I don't know why, but seeing her again had made my day a little better.

It was nothing.

At least, that's what I told myself.

She was just a student I had met twice.

Nothing more.

I walked back to my assistant.

“Let's finish the inspection.”

“Yes, sir.”

As we continued walking, I glanced once in the direction Matilda had gone.

Then I quickly looked away.

I had no idea why I was doing that.

And I wasn't going to think about it.

MATILDA'S POV

Three days had passed since I bumped into the stranger at school.

I hadn't seen him again, and honestly, I hadn't expected to.

My days had been busy with lectures and assignments, which was exactly what I needed. Keeping myself busy made it easier not to think about Luke.

I hadn't spoken to him since the day at the hotel.

I had blocked his number, and I had no plans of unblocking him anytime soon.

I was slowly trying to move on.

That morning, I had just finished a lecture with Anna when we walked out of the classroom together.

“I need to get something from the administrative building,” Anna said.

“Okay. I'll wait for you outside.”

We started walking down the corridor.

I was listening to Anna talk when I suddenly noticed someone familiar standing ahead.

I stopped.

It was him.

The man I had bumped into a few days ago.

He looked different this time. He was dressed formally, holding some documents while talking to another man.

As if he felt me looking at him, he turned.

Our eyes met.

He smiled.

“Matilda?”

I smiled back.

“Ryan.”

He walked toward us.

“I didn't know you were still around.”

I laughed softly.

“I go to school here.”

He smiled.

“Right. Of course.”

Anna looked between us.

“You two know each other?”

“Kind of,” I answered.

“We bumped into each other,” Ryan said.

“Literally,” I added.

We both laughed.

Anna smiled.

“Okay, I see.”

Ryan looked at me.

“How have you been?”

“I'm good.”

I smiled.

“Much better than the last time we met.”

He nodded.

“That's good.”

There was something comfortable about talking to him.

I didn't feel like I had to force a conversation.

“So, how is the project going?” I asked.

“It's going well. It's just a lot of work.”

“I can imagine.”

He smiled.

“And how are your classes?”

“Stressful.”

I sighed dramatically.

“Very stressful.”

He laughed.

“That's university.”

“Exactly.”

Anna suddenly checked her phone.

“Matty, we need to go. We're already late.”

I looked at the time and widened my eyes.

“Oh, you're right.”

I turned back to Ryan.

“I have to go.”

“Sure.”

I adjusted my bag.

“It was nice seeing you again.”

“Same here.”

I smiled.

“Maybe we should stop bumping into each other.”

He laughed.

“Probably a good idea.”

I turned and walked away with Anna.

After a few steps, I glanced back without thinking.

Ryan was still standing there.

Our eyes met again.

He smiled.

I quickly turned around.

I don't know why my heart suddenly felt a little lighter.

“Wait.”

Anna's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I turned to her. “What?”

She stared at me for a second before suddenly checking her phone.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“We're late.”

I frowned. “Late for what?”

“Our lecture!”

My eyes widened.

“Oh.”

We both looked at each other.

Then Anna suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Come on!”

We hurried down the corridor, almost running.

“The administrative building,” I remembered. “You were supposed to get something there.”

Anna groaned.

“I know.”

She shook her head.

“We completely forgot.”

I laughed breathlessly.

“We were talking to Ryan.”

Anna immediately looked at me with a teasing smile.

“Exactly.”

I already knew where this was going.

“Don't.”

“Don't what?”

“Start.”

She laughed.

“So you admit it?”

“Admit what?”

“That you were enjoying talking to him.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I was just being friendly.”

“Friendly?”

“Yes.”

“You were smiling.”

“I smile.”

“Not like that.”

I looked at her.

“Anna.”

She laughed as we continued rushing toward the lecture hall.

“I'm just saying. You haven't smiled that much since Luke.”

My smile disappeared slightly at the mention of his name.

Anna noticed immediately.

“Sorry,” she said softly.

I shook my head.

“It's fine.”

She squeezed my hand.

“I just mean... it was nice seeing you smile again.”

I gave her a small smile.

“Yeah.”

She was quiet for a few seconds before her teasing expression returned.

“But Ryan is cute, though.”

I groaned.

“Here we go again.”

“What? I'm only stating facts.”

“He's a stranger.”

“A handsome stranger.”

“Anna!”

She laughed.

“Okay, okay. I'll stop.”

“You better.”

We finally reached the lecture hall, both of us slightly out of breath.

Anna looked at me before we walked inside.

“Just remember, Matty...”

I raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

She grinned.

“Stop bumping into Ryan.”

I shook my head, trying not to smile.

“Very funny.”

We walked into the lecture hall together.

After the lecture, I packed my books and followed Anna out of the lecture hall.

We walked together until we reached the school gate.

“I'll see you tomorrow,” Anna said.

“Okay. Bye.”

She hugged me briefly before leaving.

I watched her walk away before turning toward the road.

I adjusted my bag and started looking for a taxi.

I was about to step forward when I heard someone call my name.

“Matilda.”

I froze.

I knew that voice.

Slowly, I turned around.

Luke was standing behind me.

My heart immediately sank.

“What do you want?” I asked.

He walked closer, but I took a step back.

“Please, just hear me out.”

“I don't have anything to say to you.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “But I need to apologize.”

I looked away.

“Luke, you already made your choice.”

“I know.”

His voice cracked slightly.

“And I regret it. I regret everything I did.”

I stayed silent.

“I hurt you, Matilda. I know I did. There is no excuse for what happened. I was stupid, selfish, and I took you for granted.”

He swallowed hard.

“I've been thinking about you every day since you left me.”

I looked at him.

“I still love you.”

Those words hit me harder than I expected.

For a brief moment, I remembered everything.

The good days.

The way he used to hold my hand.

The promises he made.

The moments when I truly believed we would always be together.

A small part of me wondered if maybe things could still go back to the way they were.

Maybe I could forgive him.

Maybe we could start again.

But then I remembered the hotel.

I remembered walking in and seeing him with Lucy.

I remembered how easily he had broken my trust.

And I knew I couldn't pretend none of it happened.

“I loved you, Luke,” I said quietly.

His eyes filled with hope.

“Then give me another chance.”

I shook my head.

“I can't.”

“Matilda, please. I'll change. I'll prove it to you.”

“You shouldn't have needed to lose me before realizing my worth.”

He looked down.

“I know.”

I took a deep breath.

“I won't lie. A part of me still cares about you.”

He looked at me.

“But caring about you doesn't mean I have to come back.”

His face fell.

“I understand.”

“I hope you do.”

I stepped away from him.

“I'm sorry, Luke. But we're over.”

I turned around before he could say anything else.

This time, I didn't look back.

And as I walked toward the road, I realized something.

Moving on wasn't going to happen overnight.

But maybe saying goodbye was the first real step.