Chapter 12 - The Unexpected Visitor

**Michelle**

Evelyn tried to engage me in conversations as we both drove home but I just couldn't get that image out of my head.

It's all just starting to add up now, he told me not to talk to him anymore like before and then she shows up, now they're going home together.

I honestly have no idea why I'm this bothered by it, I shouldn't be that, it's his life afterall and i have no business in it at all.

I was startled suddenly when I felt the bare part of my arm being tapped. It was Evelyn, she was staring intensely at me.

“I've been trying to get your attention. Are you okay? You look so deep in thought?" She asked me with concern evident in her tone.

“Uh, I'm good. Were you saying something?” I asked back.

“I was asking for your exact steer, we're in that intersection now." She said.

I looked outside to see that we're in the bus station already. I was really lost in thoughts for so long then.

“I'll walk home from here, it's not up to five minutes walk." I replied her, picking up my bag already.

"Are you sure? I don't mind driving you home.” Evelyn said.

I smiled slightly, "Don't bother, I've got it. Thanks for the ride.” I got out of the car.

“It's always my pleasure, Bye."
I waved at her too after getting out of the car till she drove off and all I could see was the hood of her car.

I sighed as reality started dawning on me once more. Going home now feels like a burden each time i get to this bus station.

After multiplying the five minutes walk by two, I got home eventually to meet the usual, or so I thought.

The door was opened, but the moment I saw an unfamiliar shoe by the door before I got in. The frown on my face deepened as I heard an unfamiliar voice too.

The last time my parents had guests over was years ago, they're always just on their own, so it came as a shocker to hear an unfamiliar voice inside with them.

I got into the house, getting anxious to see who was in there with them. On hearing my footsteps, my parents and a guy looked back.

“There she is, our lovely daughter." My father said with a really bright smile on his face that I feared his cheeks would ache from widening it that much.

I already have a bad premonition about this, what he just said made it really obvious that they're up to something.

My mother too stood up and came over to hug me as though we were two normal people.

“Welcome home honey." She said loudly.
Surprisingly though, they're both sober, so they're fully aware of what they're doing.

My eyes was on that strange man, he was also looking at me but he kept looking away as though he couldn't hold my gaze.

“Oh, I know you might be wondering who this handsome man here is. This is Matteo, he's Italian, you might or might not know him.” My father said.

"I don't know him.” I muttered.

"You mightn't now, but he's a very successful business man now, he has a lot of businesses he's running.” My father said with a fondness he never used for me in his voice.

"Come seat down, I'll go in to bring a chilled juice for you to cool down with, you must have had a really stressful day.”

This just keeps getting confusing, not only did they fake greeting, my Mom also willingly offered me drink. I doubt she even knows where the glass cups are.

She had pushed me to the chair already so I was forced to sit as she rushed towards the kitchen. I'm still trying to get a hang of what's happening, I kept looking between my father and the guest.

“Michelle, you might not remember, but you used to play together when you were a child. You used to swear that you'd only get married to him and he did too, right, Matteo?” My father asked, looking at the guy.

I racked my brain to remember if I ever saw him sometime in my life but nothing came up. I could still remember everyone of my childhood friends but I got nothing on him.

"Yes, we used to be really close.” He mumbled.
His voice is a deep contrast to how he's been acting. It was really deep and manly that I almost didn't believe he was the one that spoke.

“I don't remember though." I stated.
“You will, with time, when you both get even closer, I'm sure of that." My father said.

I snorted out loud when he said ‘closer’ because I had no idea what he meant by that, I don't even know the guy.

My mother came back just in time, she handed the glass cup filled with chilled orange juice to me. I stared at the drink with incredulity.

There's no way I'm drinking this, though it looks so appalling as I'm so tired and thirsty, I have no idea where she got the juice from.

“Your mother and I have something important to do outside. We'll leave you alone to bond with Matteo." My father stood up and my mother walked towards him.

They must be really joking if they think whatever it is they're trying to do would work out. They both walked out hand in hand, leaving me alone with Matteo.

“Hey." He said immediately the door was slammed shut behind my parents.

I glanced at him, eventually giving him my attention fir the first time since I came inside.

“Hi."

“You haven't changed one bit since the last time I saw you, only got fat in the right places." He said with a tone I didn't like one bit.

“And I don't think I've ever seen you my whole life, what do you want?" I asked straightaway, getting annoyed already with his presence.

“I like that, so straightforward. I want us to get married."