HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Thirty One

I had promised Jeanette that I wouldn't cause any trouble at the party. I thought that I could handle it if Zion's ex girlfriends pulled something. I thought that his ex girlfriends wouldn't be at the party in the first place.

But how wrong was I?

One hundred percent. I couldn't stand Aimee. Each word she said sent a dagger straight into my already bleeding heart. I couldn't stand her being so close to Zion. I couldn't stand Zion standing there and seeming to enjoy Aimee's company more than mine.

So, I left the party unnoticed. Not that anyone is going to miss me but you get my point.

A heavy weight lay on my shoulder though. Aimee had dirt on me. She is going to convince Zion that his mother gave me money at the party. Seeing how he seems to like her, I know for sure whose side he is going to take.

Hers.

Moreso, she will have him in her bed tonight. And the fact that Zion didn't try to stop her from flirting or seducing him means that he has no problem spending the night with her.

Is this how unrequited love feels like? Because I feel like each passing minute, I may faint. Or drown. Or cry. Or all of them.

"We are here ma'am," the Uber driver snaps me from my thoughts. I rush out of the car after paying my transport fare and run straight into the theater. I could use some comfort right now.

I rush into the break room slamming the door behind me to hug the first person my eyes land on. But the first person I see is Alex, who is lying on the floor holding his legs close to his stomach and sniffling loudly.

"Alex!" I rush towards him, immediately forgetting my own troubles. "What is happening to you?"

He does nothing but shake his head. I try to make him sit upright and as I do so, I notice the blood stains on his shirt. His knuckles are severely bruised as if he got involved in a fight or a punch exchange marathon.

"No, no," I put Alex's head on my lap and try to call Jeanette while at it. "Hey, hey. Please come to the theater. I'm scared, it's an emergency. I can't-"

I cut the call and focus on the boy in my arms. "Don't panic," I tell myself. "I can take care of this. I can do this. First aid- no. Ambulance. What the hell can I do?"

Alex is conscious but he is unresponsive. All he can do is shake his head continuously and as someone who's in shock, I can't figure out exactly what he means.

Who can help? Jeanette may take long!

So, without second thought, I ring the third number on my speed dial. Zion.
It rings and goes to voicemail. Thrice.

I guess I have to do this on my own.

"First aid lessons. ABC. What the hell does A stand for?"

Funny enough, I type that same question in a search engine. Airway, Breathing and Circulation.
So far, the first two aren't the problem. He can breathe, and his airway is open. Or at least I think so.

Now, the bleeding. What do I do?

"First aid kit," I mutter and reach for the coach cushion to place Alex's head on. I run to the bathroom and get the first aid kit which I've never used in my twenty years of existence.

I glance at the search engine for the procedure.
"Wash the wound - what? Won't that hurt?"

Slowly by slowly, I clean the wounds on his knuckles, cover them with some gauze and even loosen his clothes.
Jeanette comes in later, which I don't blame her for because she is a pregnant woman, and helps me put the now responsive Alex in the couch.

It takes some minutes to figure out the password to his phone but when we do, we phone Alex's roommate and his girlfriend to let them know of the incident. None of the two have any idea about what could have happened to him. His roommate comes in and arranges for transportation to take him to a small clinic and then take him home.

"I was so scared," I tell Jeanette as we watch the Uber drive Alex and his roommate away. "He looked like he had been crying for a long time. And then he became almost so lifeless. I thought that he was going to die in my arms-"

Jeanette wraps her arms around me.
"I'm so sorry I came late. You shouldn't have had to deal with it all alone. You must be so scared."

"I am," I relax into her arms. "I am so terrified. I don't know if I'm going to sleep well tonight."

"Do you want me to sleep at yours?"

"No," I shake my head. "You don't have to deal with me all the time. Doesn't it get too much for you? Don't you feel exhausted? You already have so much to deal with but you still have to deal with me? It's not your fault that small things traumatize me. It's not your fault that I'm childish!"

"What about you?" Jeanette hits back. "Don't you get tired of bottling up your emotions? When did you ever allow yourself to be vulnerable and let your emotions out? Huh?"

"Jean-"

"Instead, you dedicate your life to helping others and letting other people come first. You are hurting, even a blind man can see that. Why won't you let me help you?"

"Because you've done enough. But what have I done for you? I'm useless, aren't I?"

Maybe Aimee was right. I am useless. All I care about is money. Why would Zion like me? I am a childish money hungry woman. Aimee can bake. Aimee can cook. Aimee can please him in bed. Aimee is pretty.

What am I?

"Natalia-"

"Don't come to my house tonight," I warn her with my index finger. "I'll comfort and cry myself to sleep. I should learn to do stuff on my own, shouldn't I? After all, everyone is bound to figure out how useless I am and find someone better."

"Oh Natalia," Jeanette reaches for my hand but I flinch back. "What has that bastard done to you this time?"