That night, she took a flight back to Europe and went on as best as she could, pretending her world wasn't tumbling down.
A few days later, she received a call from Matthew. She hesitantly hit the 'Reply' button.
"Eva?"
"Yes?" she whispered.
"How are you?"
"I'm good," she lied. "And you?"
He sighed.
"Eva… I'm so sorry for the other day. I was such an idiot. It's just that… I was so busy and tensed up, all this, it's so stressful…"
"I know," she admitted. "I understand. I'm having a hard time coping, too."
A few seconds of silence followed.
"I said some mean things."
"It's alright," she lied one more time. "These are difficult times. They make us grow impatient."
"Too impatient for our own good," he added.
They remained quiet again.
"I miss you so much, Matthew," she breathed. The you I used to date.
"Me too, darling," the Canadian cood. "Will you be able to meet up soon?"
"I don't know." Her voice was full of hesitation, almost to the point of sounding broken. "I've already had two days off. It might be difficult."
"We'll figure something out. I need to go now."
"Alright. Bye then."
I admitted hurting her, yet I never apologized, Matthew realized as he hung up. Me, Canada, who apologize to those who run into me.
Just how much of what I've said was actually true? Eva wondered, putting her phone away.
That night, she lost her sleep for good.
Two days later, he turned up at her door, a bouquet of roses in his arms.
"I'm sorry."
"Me too."
They hugged.
Am I really? she wondered. Are you really? We both know we meant what we said that day.
The Slav took her afternoon off and they went hiking. The wilderness along with the crisp air helped her empty her mind.
Once they reached the top of the hill, they sat on the sun-lit slope without uttering a word. Trouble thoughts came back again.
She didn't know how to act around him anymore. She stopped enjoying her drinks, changed the perfume and wore clothes that hid her belly.
Who are you? Who am I? Will I ever be the way you want me to be?
"I want to make you happy, let's do what you like the most," he whispered, kissing her ear, pressing her gingerly against a tree.
"Almost there," he gasped a while later, biting into her neck in pure bliss.
Not me, Eva felt like saying, but chose to fake a loud moan instead.
"You are expected to work in pairs. So everybody picks a topic and then you find your partners in the office provided for the purpose and marked with the corresponding number."
Eva observed Toris's face as he opened his file. He mouthed something, instantly growing pale.
He must have got number 5, Russia's impact, she realized. The same as mine.
She turned to Belgium sitting next to her.
"Mind if I ask you a favor?" she ventured.
"Sure." The other country smiled sweetly.
"Can we please switch the topics?"
"Well, I mean, why not." She shrugged, "Unfortunately, I picked number 12, nobody wants that, it's about-"
"It'll do just fine." Eva switched their files before her colleague could change her mind. "You're a life saver."
Lithuania turned to Egypt standing next to him.
"Mind if I ask you a favor?"
I'm doing it again, the Slovak realized while waiting for her partner in the designed office. She released the jaw cutting deep into her lip and popped a gum in her mouth instead.
Hearing the door open, she looked up and almost choked on the gum. Shit.
"What a pleasant surprise," Toris beamed. "Haven't seen you in a while."
Shitshitshit. He must have switched. Still, there are so many other countries. What are the odds?!
Her face turned pink.
"Excuse me," she blurted out, trailing off.
He stopped her, taking a firm hold of the small, ice-cold hand.
"Eva, what's happening? You have been avoiding me for some time now, ignoring my calls and emails. Don't you think I deserve an explanation?" he asked calmly.
She gave her wrist a yank, but Toris did not release the grip. Instead, he touched her hot cheek, gazing at that troubled face. The green of her eyes was much more prominent in contrast with the red skin all around.
"Let go," she begged.
Never, he thought as he did the exact opposite, pressing her delicately against his frame.
The salty air. Meadow rues. I'm warm. So warm.
It took all she had to break away.
Why won't he just leave me alone? she wondered while running off, trying to hold back tears at any cost. I don't need his giving me hope when there's none and breaking my heart again.
"Eva, please! Why do you torture yourself like this?" he called, chasing after her into the corridor. "You know very well that you don't-"
"Of course I still love him," she spat, stopping to face him, fire in her eyes.
I meant to say 'that you don't stand against this world alone'... Toris wanted to clarify, but did not get a chance.
They both suddenly looked to the side, realizing they were being watched. A country of far-eastern appearance was observing them, a stoic look on his face.
"I have no idea who you are, aru," he started, "But we all know that was a lie."
The Europeans just stood there, dumbfounded.
"You can say as many lies as you want. In the end, it all comes down to the one person you want to hold as you wake up in the middle of the night."
Slovakia emerged from the shock. She was not in the mood for pearls of ancient knowledge.
"Can't you two just mind your own business?!" she yelled, storming off.
A few minutes later, she knocked frenetically on one of the offices, entering right away. Two blond men turned to look at her.
"Hello Iceland, can I please have Canada for a minute?"
"No problem." The Nordic smiled. The other fellow raised an eyebrow, then followed her into the corridor.
"I'm sorry to bother you at work," she mumbled.
"That's alright. What is it?" he asked, his face expressionless.
"I… I just wanted to tell you that I know what you were about to ask me that night in London."
"You do?" Her friend stood back a little.
"And my answer is yes," she concluded.
The Canadian smiled. At least, his mouth did.
I can't blame him. We've both forgotten how to smile from the heart.
He gave her a light peck on the front, then plunged his lilac eyes into hers.
"Let's do this properly, okay?"
She nodded. She wasn't sure what he meant, but knew that 'no' wasn't an option.
-END OF CHAPTER 3-