His for a year. - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

I didn’t know what to do. I was sweating profusely, trying my hardest to avoid his eyes.
I bowed my head so he won’t see the tears and fear in my eyes. I was shaking.
“I’m—I’m so—sorry. It’s just, I just, I want to ask for your help be—cau—because...” I was cut short by a rush of tears flowing down my cheeks.
He took three steps back, stared at me for a second, and asked, “What do you want?”
“My mom is ill and I have no money to pay for her treatment—operation, drugs, or anything,” I cried.
“I can do anything you want. Please help me. I promise you won’t regret it.” I knelt down.
I searched his face for a sign of warmth, anything at all, but it stayed blank and cold. I knew I had to try again, harder this time.
“Please. I know you don’t know me and you don’t have any reason to help me but -”
“Who says I don’t know you?” he interrupted. “You’re the annoying smart kid always exchanging words with professors in class. Everyone knows you.”
I looked up at him with my puffy eyes.
Maybe it’s a good thing he knows me, I tried to encourage myself. But... annoying? That has to mean something, right? another voice cuts in. I looked away from him.
“Hey,” he called. I turned quickly, thinking he was addressing me, but he was talking to the guys he came in with. “Get out.”
They left immediately.
My chest tightened. The room suddenly felt too small, too quiet, like it was a movie with directors waiting on my scene. Every breath came fast and shallow. My heart pounded, loud and steady, like war drums in my chest.
I wiped my palms on my jeans, but the sweat just kept coming. It was like my body had already decided to panic, and there was no convincing it otherwise.
What does he want to do to me? Should I scream for help?
But he’s my only savior right now. I have to keep trying. Zade Avner is my only hope. I kept reminding myself.
I stayed kneeling.
He walked slowly toward me and said, “It’s okay now. What do you want?” He gently removes a strand of hair stuck to my forehead.
I moved my head shyly. “I’ll do anything you say if you help me with the money for my mom’s surgery and the hospital bills. I also want an apartment for my sister. Please help me. I mean it. I’d do literally anything.” I said all at once, barely taking a breath.
He chuckled softly. “You sure do want a lot of things.”
“I’ll sleep on it. I think I have the perfect job for you,” he said with a slight smile that sharpened his jawline.
He’s unreal.
He took my phone out of my pocket, and pointed it at me, signaling for me to unlock it. I did. He typed in his number and dialed it. When his phone rang, he hung up.
“I’ll call you. Make sure you pick up immediately,” he said, handing back my phone to me and walking out.
I sat there, staring into space. The door opened again. It was Amanda. She overheard everything.
She came in, staring at me with so much pity and concern. My eyes well up again. I try to stop it, but the tears fall. I couldn't control it.
She ran to me and hugged me. We both started crying, except I was louder.
“It’s okay, Olive. Trust me, it’s okay,” she said, patting my hair.
“He said he’d think about it. I should have hope, right?” I asked, desperate, as if she could read his mind.
“Let’s expect good news,” she wiped the tears from my cheeks with her palms. “You need to be strong for your mom and sister, okay? You can do this. I’ll always be by your side no matter what, I promise. Don’t go through this alone. Call me whenever you need me.”
“I trust you,” I said softly.
“I trust you too. Now let’s go to Mom.” She pulled me up gently and wiped off my jeans with her hands.
She led me to the door holding my hand. When we reached it, she squeezed my hand and gave me a reassuring nod. I felt secure. Students outside began murmuring immediately as we stepped out, trying to get a glimpse of me. Amanda shielded me through the crowd until we got outside and into a cab.
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor in charge of Mom’s surgery walked up to me.
“The surgery was successful,” he said. “She’s currently in deep coma.”
“Let’s hope she recovers just fine. In the meantime, she has to be on oxygen,” he added, avoiding eye contact. He handed me a paper containing a list of injections, the bill for the surgery, and everything else about money.
He was probably thinking how I’d be able to pay for all that. I didn’t blame him. I was wondering the same.
I nodded. “Thank you for everything, Doctor,” I said in a low tone.
After seeing Mom lying lifeless with an oxygen mask on her face, I left the hospital.
I got home to see Aliyah sitting right on the porch of our house.
My eyes started to water again as Aliyah embraced me. But this time, I stopped it from coming down.
“It won’t be like this forever. It’s a phase,” I said, patting her back gently.
I looked at Amanda, wondering what I ever did to deserve such an amazing friend. It’s already 11 p.m. -she’ll have to leave soon.
“Don’t worry about me. Mom knows I’m here. She’ll bring breakfast tomorrow,” she said, like she read my mind. I sighed in relief. The universe knew I needed her.
We opened the door. It was a mess inside. Everything was upside down. It looked like Mom struggled hard to escape. Aliyah and I exchanged a look—we were clearly thinking the same thing.
We managed to arrange the bed so we could lie in it. Aliyah slept between Amanda and I. Still shaking from crying so much. It hurt me deeply.
As I closed my eyes to force myself to sleep, my phone beeps. It’s a text from Zade Avner.
‘Come to the school’s gym now!’
My chest tightened. I could hear myself breathe. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door.