When she nodded in agreement, he surprised her by taking her hand into his and gently kissing it. It was a gesture that Matilda was pretty sure was illegal in Saudi Arabia. If it wasn't, she felt it should be, as the warmth and unexpectedness of it made her heart melt for the handsome stranger he was.

"It was a pleasure making your acquaintance. I do hope that our paths cross again," Aden said, quickly letting go of her hand as a group of people entered the hotel.

Unable to utter a word, Matilda managed a weak smile before turning away and leaving without her friend. What was worse, leaving behind the one guy she had met who had the chance to steal her heart, never to see him again.

After Matilda entered the room, she started gathering a few things that she did unpack and mechanically did her evening routine. Jenifer didn't interrupt or offer well-meaning advice, which was a welcome surprise.

"I am sorry," Jenifer said before they went to bed.

"For what?" Matilda asked, genuinely surprised by the impromptu apology.

"For dragging you through so many different places through Saudi Arabia. For staying here for only one day," Jenifer said, insinuation obvious in her voice.

"It's fine. It was a unique experience, but I am happy to go home?" Matilda said unconvincingly.

"Are you really?" Jenifer asked, trying to read her friend's facial expressions. "Because you have been acting like a zombie for the last couple of hours, and you haven't said one word when I usually can't get you to shut up."

"I guess I was just caught off guard," Matilda admitted knowing that Jenifer wouldn't allow her to go to sleep until she got the answers she wanted. Since Matilda wanted to get some sleep before the long flight, she decided to be honest with her.

"By the guy or by your feelings?" Jenifer asked wisely.

"I guess both. I've never met anyone like Aden. Besides, I've never known I had the potential to feel so much. Still, I am grateful," Matilda said.

"Grateful for what?" Jenifer asked, confused.

"For finally knowing that I am capable of feeling so much more than I thought I could. I was starting to think something was wrong with me," Matilda said.

"I keep telling you that it's not you. You just didn't meet the right guy, and you are too smart to get caught up with the wrong ones," Jenifer said, pausing for a long time to carefully word her next thought. "However, I don't understand why you aren't going after what you want now that you have found it, that you have found him."

"Because we live in two different worlds, worlds that are like night and day. Even if this could turn into something, and I am not even sure it could, I could never live in his world. On the other hand, I would never ask him to leave his world for me," Matilda said as if it was something she had time to think over and as if she had known him her whole life. "Besides, it wouldn't be fair to either one of us in case our connection burns out like a shooting star."

"I guess I understand your point," Jenifer said, settling down on one of the two luxurious beds. "I would have gone for him, though."

"Of course, you would," Matilda said, snuggling deep into her bed. "You are far braver and more reckless than I'll ever be."

However, Jenifer hadn't heard the last part as she was already fast asleep. Matilda, on the other hand, could barely sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him. At times it was like pieces of a puzzle, a smile, a look, and then at others, her mind would put them together, and she would see the intriguing man as clearly as if he were standing before her.

To say that she was groggy and irritable the following morning would've been an understatement. However, the idea of finally going home, snuggling with her favorite book, and forgetting what she needed to forget, kept her going through the tedious process of traveling back.

What crushed Matilda's spirit to smithereens was that they didn't get to see him before they left. Matilda knew that the way she felt was irrational. It was not like her to have so many diverse emotions for a guy she didn't even know, yet she couldn't help but feel them more strongly than was bearable.

"Are you okay?" Jenifer asked, sounding worried for the first time since Matilda had agreed to a trip that she clearly wasn't into.

"I am fine. I just didn't sleep well. Once we get on the plane, I'll be good as I'll be able to sleep until we get home," Matilda said, hoping that was true.

Luckily for her, exhausted as she was both physically and emotionally, she fell asleep the moment she sat down and fastened her seatbelt. She was lost in the world in that magical place where everything was possible. There she learned the meaning of love by exploring the special connection she found.

All too soon, she was pulled out of the land of dreams by Jenifer shaking her awake.

"Come on, wake up. We've landed. We need to go," Jenifer said.

Matilda startled awake and began gathering her things in a hurry, more than ready to embrace the safety of her home.

"Why don't you get some fresh air while I get our bags?" Jenifer asked once they were through all the formalities. "You look like you need it."

Not having enough strength to argue about how illogical it was for Jenifer to drag their suitcases alone, Matilda went outside. She hoped the familiar air of home would help her clear her head.

However, not even the fresh air in her country seemed to be the same. Matilda wasn't sure if it was because she hadn't adjusted to it yet or because she wasn't the same woman who left more than fifteen days before.

Suddenly, the back of her neck tingled, and she could feel someone's eyes boring into her back. The strangest thing about it was that she felt she knew who was watching her. However, what she thought she knew was impossible. She was in a different world, on the opposite side of the world.

How could it be him? How could those same strings be drawn when she had left him behind? Could there be another man with that power, that type of presence? And what's more, someone who elicited the exact same reaction from her?

"Matilda," his velvety voice said.

Only then did she finally turn around to confirm whether she was having rather vivid hallucinations or if he was actually there. She needed to know if the impossible was unfolding before her very eyes.

When she saw him, the transformation he had achieved was shocking. Yet, it was most definitely not an unpleasant one. Instead of the sober suit that Aden was wearing in Saudi Arabia, his glorious body was adorned with what she considered usual clothing. However, the brown jacket was open, allowing an unobstructed view of his neck and part of his well-sculpted chest.

It made Matilda even more convinced that she was hallucinating as it didn't seem like something an Arab would wear. It had to be the making of her overactive imagination. Thus, she turned around and started walking away from her dream.

"Matilda, wait!" Aden said, hurrying after her. "Did I do something wrong? Why are you trying to run away from me?"

Matilda turned around, looking deep into his mesmerizing eyes, sparks around them flying like fireworks on New Year's Eve.

"You?" Matilda said, stuttering. "You are really here? How are you here?"