Chapter 11
Matthew really kept his word and pursued Paisley in ways of throwing her off guard.
At the party to welcome the new students, Matthew took the guitar to the stage and said, "I'd like to dedicate this song to my one and only."
Besides singing an affectionate song "Nothing's gonna change my love for you", he invited Paisley's roommates to a karaoke party to sing more love songs for her.
Though Paisley had been avoiding him, he was not in a hurry. He asked her roommates for the curriculum and took Paisley's classes when he had time. In colleges, teachers in many general courses would not pay much attention to the students. In the long run, he got familiar with the students in the design class. Some people who skipped classes always asked him to answer the roll call. In less than one semester, almost all the students of the School of Architecture knew that Matthew from the School of Economics and Trade was chasing Paisley.
Paisley's roommates swung to Matthew's side. She was like an isolated island surrounded by boundless sea.
However, she was not to be swayed by Matthew's pursuit. Every day, she went to the library after class and stayed there until the evening.
Paisley knew full well that Matthew was active and could not sit still. Unexpectedly, he sat beside her with a laptop. When she read a book, he wore a headset to watch movies and listen to some music. Occasionally, he put the headset on her. "A listenable song."
When seeing Matthew writing something, Paisley felt a long lost peace.
After a while, he handed over a notebook reading "99 reasons of being Matthew's girlfriend".
Paisley glanced at him. His eyes were full of pride, and he said gallantly, "Look."
[1. He is good looking and attractive.]
[2. He has the height that others envy.]
[3. He gets a nice figure.]
[4. He is rich but not wayward.]
...
Paisley couldn't help laughing, and looked at Matthew again. His eyes were sparkling, seeming to ask for praise. Paisley picked up a pen, like marking students' homework, put cross behind each "reason" and attached her points to annoy Matthew.
...
She refuted the "reasons" one by one until she saw [If you forget to bring toilet paper when you go to the bathroom, he will bring some for you].
She couldn't help but look up at him inconceivably. Matthew patted his chest very proudly. "I'm practical and considerate!"
Paisley was wordless and continued to read. The first dozens of articles were praises towards himself while all that remained were [He will be good to Paisley]. She put a big cross and returned the notebook to him. "Token!"
"No, I'm not perfunctory. It's all my sincere words! I just want to be good to you!"
Paisley ignored him and stood up. "I need to attend class."
She took a psychology course, because Matthew also had a lesson when this course began.
Matthew had to go to class. He said helplessly, "Let's eat together after class."
"It depends." Paisley walked slowly and watched him run to the School of Economics and Trade in a hurry.
She thought that their places were so far apart that when he finished class, she would left early.
[He can be your dining companion], which was one of the 99 reasons.
Paisley thought of the 99 ridiculous reasons and bent the corners of her mouth unconsciously.
There were not many students in the classroom, so Paisley secured a seat at the front. As soon as saw the person beside the podium, she was stunned.
It was a lanky young man wearing rimless glasses. He was dealing with the slides with hands pressing down on the podium, giving a feeling of gentleness.
Paisley subconsciously looked at him and his long-sleeved shirt.
Cottony's brother Dawson also only wore linen shirts, because he had to use the most comfortable and soft fabrics to cover the pinpricks.
Paisley stared at him and tried to find what he used to look like on his face. However, eight years was enough for a teenager to grow into a handsome and charming man. Besides, she couldn't remember Dawson's appearance clearly, but she thought the man really looked like Cottony's brother.
Dawson was the only one who gave her this sense of standing aloof from world affairs.
Paisley stared at the man. She was not sure.
Until someone was seated next to her, the schoolgirls in the back row whispered.
"It's Mr. Grant who teaches us this course. What a handsome man!"
"Of course! He is recognized as the most good-looking man by all girls in Department of Psychology!"
Paisley was shocked at their words, lack of attention about what they said next.
He was Dawson! Cottony's brother!
She grasped the wooden block unconsciously, with all sorts of feelings well up in her mind.
She had thought she would never see Dawson again, but he stood in front of her. Did fate master everything?
Her dust-laden memories were aroused. Seeing Dawson, she remembered the black kitten who loved to squat on her shoulders, the little girl who always wandered around, and the teenager who injected insulin into himself. She wanted to asked Dawson "how is Cottony doing and how are you?
But she didn't dare.
She was afraid he had forgotten and couldn't recognize her, afraid of saying insincere words.
Moreover, he had said, "Paise, I might never see you again."
After class, many girls gathered around and asked Dawson questions. Paisley didn't step forward and didn't leave. Until the girls left one after another, there was only her in the classroom. Dawson was tidying up his stuff. He seemed to notice that Paisley was still in the classroom. He smiled and reminded, "Class is over."
In an instant, Paisley stood up spontaneously. "Mr. Grant."
Dawson looked back. Paisley stood in place. "Have you ever raised a black kitten called Cottony?"
Dawson stopped and looked puzzled.
They were separated by a short distance. Eight years on, they had all grown up and changed a lot.
After a long time, Dawson thought of something and nodded gently.
"Is Cottony all right?" Paisley's voice was trembling.
"He has gone to heaven serenely, and he was no longer a kitten."
The life span of cats was not long. Cottony had already departed from life.
Paisley nodded and bit her lower lip. "What about Cottony's brother?"
Dawson replied with soft expression, "He is quite well."
Paisley was worried about his illness all the time. Now she was reassured and happy to see him have a great life. She nodded and bowed her head to pack her school things. She already knew what she wanted to know.
"How about you?" Dawson stood in front of Paisley, looking at her tenderly, and asked softly, "Paise, how have you been recently?"
Hearing this, Paisley suddenly felt very weepy. Dawson was still a warm person.
She was glad that he remembered everything. She never forgot that when she was treated rudely and beat by her mother, and her father disappeared, only he accompanied her silently. Paisley thought, what she had kept in mind for so many years was his gentleness. Not only did he understand her sadness and hesitation, but also told her not to be afraid.
She wanted to tell him that she had grown up and would not cry any more, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something.
Dawson shook his head. "I know."
He smiled at Paisley and said, "Paise, you have grown up."
Paisley suddenly felt that the man in front of her was still Cottony's brother, and she could show her bewilderment and wound calmly in the presence of him.
She was about to say something. A voice came from the outside. It was Matthew. He held the doorknob and panted. Seeing Dawson, he was surprised. "Dawson?"
"Matthew?" Dawson asked in surprise as well, "Why are you here?"
"I come to pick up my girlfriend." Matthew pointed to Paisley. Paisley glared at him, he quickly corrected himself. "I mean future girlfriend."
He came over and looked at them. "Do you two know each other?"
Precisely speaking, Dawson and Paisley were old acquaintances.
They went to dinner together. It turned out that Dawson had also been in a well-off family in Oakwood. He and Matthew knew each other owing to the same circle. However, he was a few years older than Matthew, so they were acquaintances of sorts and seldom contacted each other when leaving Oakwood.
Matthew asked Dawson how did he meet Paisley. Dawson explained simply that they were childhood friends and they didn't expect to meet again.
Matthew smiled when he heard this. "Childhood sweetheart."
Paisley felt that his tone was strange. She glanced at him and he was looking at her as well.
Dawson said, "I didn't tell Paise my name until I left."
"Can you still recognize each other after eight years?" Matthew was surprised.
"If I hadn't heard his name, I would not have recognized him." Paisley said calmly, "We have changed a lot."
Dawson nodded and give Paisley a smile silently. Looking at them, Matthew felt that there seemed to be an unspeakable tacit understanding between them, and he was like "the other man". Feeling bad, he raised the goblet in his hand. "Congratulations on your reunion."
Dawson also raised his goblet. "Thank you."
Paisley clink glasses with them and said gently, "Nice to meet you again."
They met again, but Cottony was gone. Paisley hoped he was not alone in other place.
Dawson raised his mouth. "Nice to meet you again."
After dinner, Matthew walked Paisley back to the dormitory building.
He looked at her from time to time along the way and said, "I'm unhappy."
Paisley finally asked, "What's the matter?"
"I'm so sad." Matthew continued, "He knew you before I did!"
Paisley was speechless and silently turned her head.
Matthew continued to complain.
"You smiled at him seven times today, but you didn't smile at me this week."
"He didn't even tell you his name. You can be friends. I've been chasing you for so long, and you ignore me!"
"After eight years, you still remember his name!"
"You didn't even forget the name of his cat!"
"I'm not as important to you as a cat!"
At this moment, Paisley wanted to laugh. Matthew complained in disapproval with chagrin on his face. She slowed down and said teasingly, "Yeah. Cottony is more to me than you."
"Paisley Logan!" Matthew shouted angrily.
Paisley was in a cheery mood. "Yes?"
Matthew caught up with her and pointed to himself. "I am so handsome, smart and nice. Don't I compare with a cat?"
"Cottony is incomparable."Paisley bypassed him and walked forward.
Matthew chased after her again and growled, "Don't you see that I'm angry?"
"Angry?" Paisley rounded him again and walked backwards. "Nope, I don't see..."
"You..."
Paisley wanted to laugh aloud because of Matthew's reactions. She continued to walk backwards. Unfortunately, she stepped on a small stone and stumbled. Seeing that she was about to fall, Matthew grabbed her hand and encircled her waist. They were very close, face to face, and Paisley could count how many eyelashes he had.
It's not the peak time of class, but there were still students passing by from time to time.
Paisley blushed immediately. "Let go of me!"
"Nope." Matthew raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Unless you tell me that you like me more."
Paisley was speechless at his behaviors. After a while, she reluctantly said, "Okay, you are better than Cottony!"
Matthew felt better and pushed his luck again. "You say I'm better than Dawson, and I will let you go!"
His words quieted Paisley. She glared at him with eyes widened.
Matthew was not in a hurry. He got closer and whispered, "Paise, someone is coming." His warm breath fell on Paisley's face. "If you don't say, I will kiss you."
He leaned much more closer. Paisley shouted, "You are better than Dawson! You are the best! Is that OK?"
Matthew let go of her and said shamelessly, "Remember what you said. I'm the best."
Paisley pushed him away and flushed with anger. "Get out of my face!"
Matthew chased after her. "Don't be angry. I will keep your words in my heart."
Paisley didn't even find she became more intimate and casual to Matthew.
She was getting used to his existence.
Dawson once said, "Paise, you should get used to some people and things." Matthew was included.
Matthew asked Paisley for three meals and waited for her in the library every day. No matter how late it was, he would send her back to the dormitory building. What's more, he asked her roommates to take the flowers to her. He only sent her white roses buds and a blue lotus every time. With the thorns pulled out, the white roses would bloom after being raised in water for a few days, which seemed to symbolize you would like me sooner or later.
A blue lotus raised in a delicate ceramic basin on the table can be seen easily.
Matthew wrote on the paper, "You are my white rose and blue lotus. I'm waiting for you."
Paisley never believed in love, but she was willing to believe even lies that were repeated for thousand of times.
In her freshman year, when the first snow came in Nuatin, Matthew waited for Paisley in the library.
He pinched a small snowman and put it in Paisley's palm. They walked on the way back to her dormitory. The snowflakes fell lightly on their shoulders. When they arrived at the dormitory building, the snowman melted, and a delicate small box was exposed inside.
Paisley opened it and found a note written by Matthew.
"Even if I turn into ashes, I will love you forever."
"Paise, please try to like me."
Paisley was in a daze. She looked up and saw Matthew's expecting eyes. He had said he would kiss her in the first snow.
In the past six months, Paisley had become accustomed to his presence and knew him very well.
He loved to laugh. He was not an unassuming man, but he had never annoyed her. If she was angry, he would try his best to make her laugh. He knew what her favorite food were. It's unnecessary for Paisley to worry about what to eat when dinning with him.
In addition, he was also very good at conducting himself. All Paisley's roommates supported him. A few days ago, Lillian said that Mr. Waylon sent her Ferrero Rocher every day, which made her gain weight.
Matthew doted on Paisley carefully. Noticing she frowned when he was smoking, he never smoked in front of her.
He had done a lot for her. As a matter of fact, the most important was his companionship. Paisley felt being loved.
This was what she needed most and feared most. He reminded her of Greyson who was once a good husband and a good father.
The handsome man in front of her had a pair of bright eyes, wearing a red coat, dark jeans and sparkling ear drills, who was especially youthful and vibrant.
Matthew was a good man. At first, Paisley thought he was just kidding with her. She didn't expect him to chase her for so long. She almost nodded when she saw the note.
Nonetheless, Paisley closed the box and said soberly, "I'm sorry."
"Oh no!" Her roommates watching through the windows wailed regretfully.
"Farewell, my Ferrero Rocher and Haagen-Dazs..." Lillian was downcast. Paise was so ruthless.
Paisley looked at Matthew who was lost and said, "Goodbye, Matthew."
She turned away from him, but Matthew hugged her from behind and whispered near her ear. "Paise, don't be sad, I won't give up."
Just a moment, he unclenched his arms.
"Bye." He said.
Paisley wanted to turn back, but she didn't know what to say. Finally, she went upstairs in a despondent mood.
As soon as she entered the dorm, she was collectively condemned by her roommates. Even Caroline who had always been indifferent to gossip reproved her, "You have a heart of stone."
They crowded on the balcony and watched Matthew leave alone.
The snow was still falling down, which seemed to complain of unfairness for the flamboyant and wanton man.
"He is so pitiful..."
"Many other girls want to be his girlfriend, but he only has a crush on you."
Somehow, Paisley felt she seemed to hurt him so much.
That night, she sent a message to Matthew. [Why do you want to kiss me in the first snow?]
Matthew replied, [It's very cold in winter. Paise, I don't want you to be alone. I want to warm you.]
Paisley didn't reply to his message.
At night, she tossed and turned in her bed. Finally, she ran to the bathroom and cried uncontrollably. She didn't make a sound and choked silently. She had grown up. Her mother wouldn't beat her and Greyson couldn't hurt her. Why was she still afraid? Was she destined to be alone forever because of terror?