OUR EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Confession Part 1

Natalia's pov

We are currently in the living room. Mark is seated next to Jessi. Matt is leaning on the wall and I'm seated on the couch facing Jessi. It's clear that there is still tension between Jessi and Matt.

"You can now talk before I lose my patience." I give Matt a glare. He's making all this difficult for all of us.

"It all started after our parents death."
She takes a sigh and looks at me.

"I'm going to start from the beginning for Nate's sake." I nod encouraging her to continue.

"My parents were killed by a gang. I don't know what my parents had on them. But on that night, I was with my parents. Matt and Mark were out, I guess on a party. My dad wouldn't let me go because I was barely sixteen. That night, the men came and shot them. I was in my room so they thought I had gone out with my brothers. When they left I caught a glimpse of them. "She rubs the corner of her face wiping her shed tears.

Mark scoots closer to her and hugs her. I look at Matt and he's starring back at me. His face is hard stone. I look back at Jessi and let everything sink in.

So she's their sister. All this few hours I thought she was either Mark's or Matt's ex.

She looks at us again before continuing.

"When I went back to the living room, I saw their lifeless body. My mom was still breathing but my dad's body was cold. I tried everything, every damn first aid I learnt in meds class, every thing Mark but nothing happened. I called Mark but his phone was switched off. I called Matt and that damn Mandy picked up. She was so drunk that we could barely communicate. "She stands angrily and paces around the room. Matt  clenches his fist and looks away.

" I later on called someone. I knew he wasn't in good books with my brothers but it was the only way. He took them to the hospital where I met Mark and Matthew. I never know how they arrived there. They refused to tell me and they always avoided that topic."

She looks between Mark and Matt and they both look away.

" As I was saying, they were pronounced dead on  arrival. It crashed me. I was the apple of my parent's eye. I was so close to them that it crashed me. I went into a series of depression and tried to end my life more than once. Life had no meaning at that time. I was hopeless, crashed and an orphan at fifteen. My brothers were barely eighteen so I knew we would be taken to foster homes. "

" It so happens at that time the people who killed my parents started coming after me. They would send threat messages to me and I would keep them to myself. I started having trust issues so I didn't tell neither of my brothers. I always blamed them for not being there when my parents needed them so I knew they wouldn't  save me just like they didn't save them. "

" Oh goodness. I'm sorry Adi, I didn't realize. "

" It's OK Matt, now I know that all that time you were just trying to keep our family together. You stepped in the shoes of our parents and I'm glad.

So when I sunk deeper and deeper into depression, I sought help in someone .Inorder to stay off tracks the people, he faked my death and took me to Kenya where I underwent treatment. He paid for my treatment and fees. "

" But why were you also working in the bar. You told me it was to pay for your fees. "I mean that's what she told me.

" As I said, I had trust issues at that time, I couldn't trust anyone apart from the one who rescued me. I later learnt about your school and the Exchange program. So I took that as the opportunity to come back to my beloved country. I took care not to go back to our state. I didn't know that you  two came here. "

She sits back at her original position and cups her face in between her hands." I'm sorry. "

Mark soothes her while Matt remains emotionless.

He walks towards her and holds her hands.

" It's OK. I'm just glad that you are still alive. But as from now you are going to be honest with me ok?"

She turns to look at him and nods before hugging him. "I really missed you Ash."

"I missed you too."

He pulls away from her embrace and cups her face.

"Now I need you to be honest with me. Who is the man that helped you."

She looks away from him and stands. I can't tell you that Ash. "

" I need to protect you. So in order to do that you have to tell me who helped you. I need to know who to trust. "
." I'm sorry Ash.. but.. "

Suddenly the door opens and we all turn to it.

"I helped her Ashton Matthews. I'm the one who did it."

We all stand and utter in unison

"You?"

Who do you think is Adriana's savior?

Please vote

😍🤩😘