OUR EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Why Me?

Maybe I was destined to forever fall in love with people I couldn't have.
:Carol Rifka Brunt.
***
Natalia's pov

That jerk just made me skip my afternoon classes, something I have never done. I try calling Jessi but her phone is switched off. I try calling Jack but it directs me straight to voicemail.

I walk out of the school compound and just then it starts raining.
Just great!

I don't have a ride to my work place and the rain chooses this moment just to rain. I stand outside waiting for it to subside but it only increases. I tap my foot rapidly on the floor due to annoyance and anxiety. If I don't make it in time today, nothing is going to stop that Matthews from not firing me.

I wait for about thirty minutes but nothing changes so I decide to go to work like that, My uniform is with Jessi so I don't have to worry about my soaked clothes.

I half run and half walk for about an hour until I can't do any of the two anymore. I should have reached at my work place by now since it's almost a forty five minute walk from school so this can only mean one thing.

I'm lost!

There is so much fog that I can no longer see where am going to and where I came from.
You know that saying of being caught between a hard place and a desert?
I never thought I'd feel that way but I am right now.

I walk a few meters before spotting a quite deserted  hotel. I feel my clothes sticking to my body and I remove my glasses and tuck them in my bag.

I walk to the reception so that I can see if I can find a room till the rain subsides.

The receptionist, a lady with piercings and tattoos all over her body is lazily seated at the counter smoking. I scrunch my nose in disgust and look around. I spot men drinking and smoking and I think I saw one swiping off his jacket to show me his gun. They are all covered in tattoos and piercings.This causes a shiver down my spine so I decide to walk out. I'd rather stay out in the cold than be in here with my life in their hands.

I turn to walk out when I bump into a hard chest, so hard that I thought I hit a pole. I look up to be met with the most bloodshot eyes ever. He even has  a piercing on his eye.Who does that!

"Am sorry, I guess I came to a wrong address, but I'll be leaving now."

I try to walk away but he harshly grabs my arm.
"Don't think you'll do that. You brought yourself to the lions den. What makes you think I'll just let you go."He winks at me and I feel disgusted.

I quickly withdraw my arm from his grasp and try to take a step back but I feel a hard metal piercing my back. I turn and am met with the guy who had early on tried to reveal his gun to me.

My heart is now racing like the all time Kenyan Marathon runner-Kipchoge. I feel tears stinging my eyes but now isn't the time to show my weakness.

I try to knee the man, where the sun don't shine but he quickly reaches for my knee.
Well I guess girls, that trick has become cliché for the male gender.

"You guys should just let me go the easy way" I try to master courage but I know my voice must have cracked at the end.

"Come to think of it princess, we like it the hard way." and before I know it, a heavy blow is set on my cheek that sends me sprawling on the floor. I feel  warm blood trickling down my mouth and I just hope I didn't lose a tooth.

I try to stand up but the other bad guy reaches to me and pulls on my braids,.
"Am gonna ask you a simple question, who sent you here to spy on us?"

"What? Spy?, I was only trying to shelter from the rain."
He kicks me on my stomach and I feel I just broke some ribs.
"Well, princess, we get that all time." Before I can speak again I feel a blow on my stomach and this time I pass out.

***

"... doll, baby doll, baby doll." I flutter my eyes open and am met with Matthews cute face. I try to speak but he shushs me.
"You have a split lip and thank God you stopped bleeding."
He takes out the antiseptic and with the help of the cotton wool he dresses me up.

By now am shivering and my legs are numb. My eyes keep shutting after every single minute and I feel like a corpse.
" Shit! You are shivering and you are burning up. You need to remove your wet clothes."

"I.. I.. Don... nt.. have... Othee " before I even finish my stuttering, he removes his Jacket and shirt and places them next to me.

I can't help but stare at his well sculptured chest. His abs are well defined and I have an urge to run my fingers on them.

Shut up Talia!
But he's going to get cold himself. Before I even stutter because I know I can't make a perfect sentence right now, he reaches on his back seat and takes out a t shirt and puts it on.

"Well if you are done starring, you can go back to wearing those clothes."

"I need you to turn so that I can change."
"Well, it's not like there is something good to see."
His words sting because am very self conscious about my body but i don't have the strength to fight with him right now.
"Please.. Can you.. Just,"
He eyes me with a look I guess is guilt before he turns away.
I remove my top as quickly as I can but sparring him a glance every now and again to make sure he isn't looking. Within minutes I've successfully removed my wet  clothes and I'm now in his shirt that reaches near my thighs and with his jacket. His cologne now embraces me and I can't help but keep sniffing at it.

"Are you done?"
"Yes you can turn around."
He gives me a look I can't decipher before beginning to drive.

"Now can you tell me what you were doing at James' place."

I give out a sigh before beginning to tell him my ordeal.

Matthews to the rescue!!!

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