HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Fifty

A month later.

"You got everything?" My mum asks again. "Gosh, I feel like you are back in high school. Do you know that sometimes, you would forget your bag at home and I had to bring it for you? So, you better have everything or God knows I'm only coming to this school when you're graduating!"

"I have everything mum," I laugh. "I'm twenty now, not the sixteen year old who forgot her bag at home."

"I know. You are growing so fast. Your dad and I are proud of you, y'know?"

"Really?"

"Are you kidding? I know you are gonna do great. Design school isn't ready for you."

"Thank you mum," I hug her tightly knowing that I won't be able to see her till eighteen months later.

Upon hearing about my admission to design school, my family drove to Church Hill to congratulate me. Dad and Naomie had to return since both have to go to school but mum stayed and she's the one that has driven me to school.
Zion is driving Jeanette and Alex and they are on the way.

"I'll call Juliana now," I tell my mum as I dial my former classmate's number. She informs me that she is in her dorm but she'll be at the main gate in no time. "Mum, I'm so happy."

"I'm glad you are," she smiles. When she smiles - since she rarely does, she shows only the upper row of her teeth. And a dimple forms on her left cheek. Only the left one. We tease her and say that if she smiled more, even the right cheek would have a dimple. "When you get out of design school, your dad and I will be willing to support you in whatever you decide. If you decide to open your own clothing store, we shall still support you. It's been your dream after all, hasn't it?"

"You don't have to do that, mum. Zion and I already have a plan for it."

Mum nods her head. "He seems like a nice man. Isn't he?"

"Of course mum. He is the sweetest person in the world."

"I'm glad you have someone else who's taking care of you here. Your friends are all lovely and at least I can return home knowing that you are being taken care of."

"I can also take care of myself!"

"Yeah okay," she opens her car door and opens the car boot to start offloading the luggage.

Talking about luggage, it doesn't feel like I'm going to study. It feels like I'm moving continents. Zion being Zion, he went ahead and bought excess of everything. He is more excited than anyone else - or at least that's what he shows. In fact, he hasn't said anything about the school being a three hour drive from Church Hill. Nope. He keeps avoiding the conversion if it comes up.

I know Zion as my clingy boyfriend. It affects him but he wants to be strong for me and not look like he's dragging me down.

*******

After everything is settled well in my dorm room - which is surprisingly a single room and I'm very convinced that Zion has something to do with it, my mum says her goodbyes and leaves.
Jeanette's baby bump is now more visible but her bakery opened last weekend, so, she is about to get busier.
Alex is doing interviews and being invited to do podcasts by several people. In addition, he is a brand ambassador for an agency that is against cyber bullying. He is doing so well, it makes me want to squish his cheeks.

"Aww, don't be sad," I tell my friends, "I'll call, facetime and all that. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"But we'll all get busy," Alex whines. "And different schedules. We are gonna grow apart. I don't want to grow apart!"

"Aw, don't be dramatic," I playfully pat his shoulder. "If you all ever miss me, tell Zion to drive you here. I have a feeling he'll be driving here more often than he's willing to admit."

After a bunch of tears and all, my friends exit leaving Zion and I in the room.

"Zion," I start, "you don't have to pretend to be strong. I'm gonna miss you too but I'll be back before you know it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Please Zion, don't make this hard."

"I'm not making anything hard," he laughs. "You think this three hour drive will make me cry like a bitch? I won't let it. If you must know, Riley has a brother in the school staff quarters and well, he's gonna move out and gimme the space. I'm gonna see you everyday."

"You have to work!"

"Does staying here make me work any less? Babe, if I don't see you for nine months, I may just quit my job overall."

"So, no goodbye?" I smile at him. How is he able to do all things?

Right. Because he is rich.

"Never. We are gonna be attached to each other until our last breath. I won't let you be away from me, at all."

"You're sweet and all," I peck his cheek, "but you have to drive my friends back. So, off you go big man."

He leaves shortly and just as he leaves, Juliana comes running into my room.
"Dude!" she shrieks. "Zion Thompson and Alex Sinclair are your friends? What are you, a celebrity? Everyone is talking about it!"

Oh. Now this is what it means to be back to school. I almost forgot how news travel in school.

When I lay alone in my bed, I can't believe how far I've reached, how much I've attained and how far I'm going. Going to design school is the first step to my dream. After all, a journey of one thousand miles starts with one step.
With my family, Zion, Jeanette, Alex and Juliana with me, there is nothing I won't conquer.

I'm just an ordinary girl from ordinary streets with a bag of wild dreams and empty pockets that's ready to conquer the world!

Thanks for reading. We conclude Natalia's story like that.