Vulnerable

Chapter 3

*Warning** A few cuss words are used in this chapter.

"How about a walk to clear your mind for a while?" The guy with a gruffy voice asked.

My head was up now, studying this new guy who does strange things to my body whenever he touches me.

His face was ruggedly handsome with those dark coloured eyes that gets you drowning in them.

"I don't think its safe to walk along the street with you"

"Seriously? Do I look that scary? You actually think i would try to hurt you?"He asked with amusement laced in his tone

"Well, would you?" I asked

"Of course not" He said like it was the most obvious answer to an hilarious question.

"But yet, if you wanted to harm me that's what you would have said too" I reasoned

Sighing, he said.

"Fine, I was just trying to make you feel better and I don't know why it felt heartbreaking to see you cry"

Feeling uncomfortable, I decided to change the topic

"Let's go for that walk" I said

His face seemed to lit up and I wondered why

He stood up with so much grace and we stepped out of my compound to have our little walk.

"So, what did you come to do at Western College today?" I inquired

"Register for the upcoming external examinations" he answered

"Oh, Have you completed your registration payments?"I asked

"Yes, I have. I'ld just have to wait for biometrics capturing day and then I'm good to go. Ready for the exams. what about you?" He asked

"Oh... I haven't completed my Registration" I said

"Why?" He asked, his eyes boring into me as we stopped walking and stood in front of a closed shop.

"Urhm... My mum is still trying to come up with the money" I muttered.

"But registration closes by next week" he stated and is it concern I hear etched in his tone?

"I know..."I did not complete my response before he asked

"What about your Dad, won't he get money for your registration?"

I gave a slight chuckle

"What's funny?" he asked

"My father has no money to buy his drinks, how would he come up with money for my exams?" I said with a slight nod

"Then how does he buy his drinks?" He asked

"He takes it from my mother" I answered

"And she gives him?" he asked with astonishment laced in his tone.

"Yeah, she says its the least she owes him for providing us with shelter. She calls it rent fee" I said

"Well, that's just sick!" He said with an exhale

"Sick? How?" I asked really wondering... I don't understand

Who is sick?

How?

... I'm confused

"its my way of saying that its f**ked up!" He said

"f****d up?" I asked

"Yeah, f****d up" he answered

"Oh..." I voiced silently

"You don't understand what I mean by f****d up, do you?" He asked?

And I felt a wave of heat flow to my cheek.

I felt embarrassed

I really don't know what it means

So, I nodded my head to his question and I heard a chuckle from him which sounded like good music to my ears. I wondered why

"You're really an introvert, you don't socialize much, I see?" He asked and once again we continued our walk

"I do... With the teachers and ... The books in the library" I said, twisting my lips at this new realization.

I really don't socialize much

No wonder, I have no friends.

But,

I do talk in classrooms

Oh... To answer questions

But, I do talk to juniors

Oh... To appoint who has to take care of cleaning the Library

But, I have talked to some people

Oh... To relatives.

I really don't socialize much

And that's why I've got no friends.

With a sigh from me and a knowing smirk from him, I said.

"I guess, I don't really socialize much"

"You've got to do something about it. What do you do during your spare time?" He asked

"Read" I answered

"And...?" He drawed

"Read..." I replied

"What the actual f**k! Are you for real... ?! What do you read? Romance novels?" He asked, looking at me with a rare blend of curiosity and excitement.

"I don't read novels, more of books on Chemistry, Biology, Physics every single book I can get from the library related to those subjects" I answered.

"Wow! Nerd much?" He teased

"I won't call myself a nerd, more like a scholar" I defended.

"whatever makes you sleep at night" he gave a slight chuckle as he walked into a kiosk and I rolled my eyes.

Whoaw!

I rolled my eyes...

I have never

Have I?

I can't remember ever doing that.

Who would I give an eye roll to?

I have no social life and if I want to avoid getting beaten up by my drunk father, I dare not r...

"What would you like to eat?" He asked.

"I've eaten, thank you"

"I met you eating at home but that doesn't mean you can't have a little something to chew"He said

I nodded my head and said

"No, Thank..." I did not complete my statement as he bought 2 packs of minimie chin-chin and vita milk.

"Let's start heading back" he said as we made our way back to my house.

"Have you eaten?" I asked out of the blue

His exterior seemed to soften at that question as I felt admiration pooling out of him.

"Wow, no lady has asked me that, for a long time now." he muttered almost to himself

"Why? what about your mother?" I asked.

"She is dead..."he said quietly.

"I'm sorry" I said feeling bad for asking him such a delicate question.

"Nah, its fine. I'm at peace with it now"He said a bit too cheerily

"Are you sure?" I croaked, scared he would not appreciate being questioned but I was too curious, that it overcame my fears.

He looked at me, in a way that says 'I'm trying to figure you out'

"No... I'm not sure but I don't want to talk about it" he said, clearly dismissing the topic.

Then no words were spoken any more as we walked back in silence.

"So, who owns the car you drove to school?" I asked, breaking the silence as we approached my house.

"I do" He replied.

Thank God he answered, I was beginning to think he was mad at me or something.

"Nice! A gift from Dad?" I asked

With a frustrated sigh,he said

"No!" In quite an aggressive tone that I flinched and his head snapped but his eyes seemed to soften as he looked at me.

"I... I... Í'm Sorry..." He stuttered and hearing him say sorry made me quivered as my sight turned blurry due to teary eyes.

"s**t!" He muttered as he ran his hands through his braided hair and engulfed me into a hug.

"Please don't cry... The sight kills me" he whispered and once again sparks flew around my body.

Is this normal?

Does this happen to him too?

Slowly, I stopped the quivering and wiped my tears up while still engulfed in his hug.

His body is so comfortable

So masculine.

And I felt a slight poke in my thigh region

I wondered what it was, till I heard someone clear his throat.

"Audrey... Who is this guy?"

Shit!

That's Andy's voice.

Andy... My elder brother.