Chapter 2

 Natalia runs through the hallway to class as she knew she was quite late for lectures.

She didn't know when her alarm went off as she seemed to have slept peacefully than the other nights.

She opens the door and the eyes of everyone turns to her.

"Great, it just had to be his lecture" She muttered after seeing him

"Miss?" He asked signifying for her to say her name 

"Natalia Merkel" She replied

"Miss Merkel, why are you late to my class and on a test day?" He asked 

"I had no intentions of coming late, I just slept off" 

"Or was it because of something else you do at night?" Dane asked quirking his eyebrows

Her coursemates stared at her in confusion as everyone whispered among themselves 

She cursed at him quietly, she felt like giving him a punch if not the way he sexily quirked his eyebrows.

"Just please go to your seat miss Merkel and try not to be late to my class next time" He said

A sheet of test papers were shared to each and everyone of the students 

Natalia had no idea what to write as she didn't open a book and never seems to do anything about it 

When it was time to submit, she had barely answered about three questions when she submitted.

××××

After they were done with lectures for the day, Natalia makes an attempt to leave but Kate obstructs her path

"So how was the test?" Kate asked

"Terrible as usual" 

"Oh come on Nat! That was like the most simple test questions in history" Kate said

"Well I'm sorry for not being smart enough to read" Nat rolled her eyes

"I didn't mean it like that, ok forget about the test... we don't have lectures for the rest of the week till the next week, so what are you planning to do?" Kate asked looking excited

"I'll be busy Kate and don't think about inviting me to one of your silly hangouts again "

"Oh please!! Just this once and my birthday is coming up" Kate pleaded 

"I still say No" Nat replied with a tone of finality in her voice

"Ok then, how about we throw the hangout at your place" She suggested again

"You already know that's still gonna be a NO from me" Kate frowns at Nat reply 

"Ok fine I'll go, I was just trying to spend some quality time with my friend but it seems i can't even do that" Kate said trying to make Natalia feel sad

Nat rolled her eyes  "Alright fine, you can come over this weekend but don't bring anyone else along" 

"Yasss! It's gonna be like a sleepover, don't worry you won't regret having me over" Kate said as she excitedly walks away

Natalia sigh and then smiles at her friend's giddiness.

Nat walks past Dane in the hallway  and she muttered a low curse which Dane heard

"Asshole" she muttered

"What did you say?" He turned to her

"I didn't say anything " She denied 

"I'm sure you did miss Merkel because it sounded like a curse word" Dane said walking slowly to her as if he was about to hunt his prey and she takes a few retreating steps 

"Now you're just accusing me Mr Marcelo because I didn't say anything like that " She said as her back had hit the wall and Dane kept coming closer

"Oh I'm sure you di..."

"Mr Marcelo" Dane's attention was called for interpreting their conversation 

He glances at her one more time before leaving and Natalia heaved a sigh of relief 

She quickly took a taxi home 

××××

"Ahhh why does he have to be so annoying " Natalia asked kicking her legs

She's never being this annoyed before and today he made her feel intimidated which was something that had never happened before

Her phone beeps and she wonders who it was again

She checks the inbox and it was a text from her aun Gladys.. . the only family she has.

She smiles when she saw the text, her aunt must be missing her already... she packs a few things and took the next cab.

She got down from the cab and walked into the pouch, she stared at the small cottage which she grew in... she looked around and saw that her aunt had turned the compound into a garden

She rings the doorbell and the door opens as if it had being expecting her 

She sees her old aunt in her wheelchair as she runs to hug her

"Look at my little Talia" Aunt Gladys said patting her back 

"I'm sorry for not coming over frequently, school and my job keeps me busy "  Natalia said 

"I know darling, i know how much you're going through and how stressed you must be... I feel more like a burden on you, you keep sending me funds just for my silly medication "

"No please don't say that, you're not a burden okay? Don't ever say that unless I'll become upset with you" Natalia  pouts 

Natalia was only this cheerful and childish around her aunt who she loves with her whole heart.

A black cat comes running to Natalia 

"Oh hey little buddy, I was beginning to wonder where you were.. I hope you aren't troubling aunt though" She patted his head

The cat gives out a low meow 

"Of course not, he's such a sweet animal" The old aunt said

 "I'm glad he likes it here, he would always be so bored at home whenever I was out... I guess he likes it here more" She said 

Natalia plays with her aunt

××××××

3 days Later 

Natalia puts on a mini black skirt with a black crop top

"Where are you going to?" Her aunt said seeing her dressed 

"I'll have to go now, I'll try come over next week" She knelt beside her aunt and held her hands

"You're going to work?" Her aunt asked

"Yes I am..I'll try to send your monthly keeps early this month okay?"

"It's not about the money, I just don't like the way you're working so hard at such a young age when you're supposed to be living your youthful life to the fullest" Her aunt said 

"Who said I don't have fun? I do" She said and laughed

"It's okay aunt, I'm serious I'm living my life.... becoming independent and earning my own money at a young age, this is one of the ways I want to live my life. Love you aunt, I'll text you later" Natalia pecks her aunt cheeks, pats her cat's head and leaves the house.

The cat climbs and jumps on her aunts body, laying on her lap as she strokes his fur 

"Such a kindhearted loving girl, I just wish someone will see her for who she really is and not who she's portraying herself to be" Her aunt said.

Natalia gets to the bar and sees it full, she sees the waiter behind the counter

"I'm sorry for coming late. I'll do the serving" She says and takes the tray from the counter and serves it to the customers

A drunk customer kept glancing at Natalia, giving her dirty looks 

Natalia noticed the dirty looks he was giving her, she felt disgusted and annoyed

He stood up and went to her as she was serving drinks 

He grabs her arm 

"Come with me for a night, I'll give 100 bucks" He said 

"The fuck!" Nat muttered as she releases her hand from him

The drunk man gets annoyed this time and forcefully grabs her wrist trying to drag her close to him

Someone pushes him from behind and Natalia turns back and sees her lecturer Dane Marcelo 

 "Why does he have to be here at the moment?" She thought

He moves forward to hit the drunken man but she stops him

"What the heck do you think you're doing?" She asked glaring at him

"I was just helping you, he was.."

"And what's your fucking business huh? What's your business with what i decide to do at nighg or what's happening to me?" She  angrily stares at his eye directly

 "Miss Natalia, I was just helping..." She cuts him off again

"Mind your fucking business! I never asked for your help, so won't lend me one" She says

"Natalia! Is that the way to talk to a customer?" Remy who witnesses the moment gets annoyed 

She glared at him " I think it's high time I quit this job" She takes her bag and leaves 

"Wait Nat..." she walks out the door

"Shit!" Remy cursed.

He stares at the drunk customer who was still wincing at the floor after being pushed by the huge built man

He looks at the man who was obviously helping Natalia but she felt angered, or was it that there knew each other from some where?

"Fuck! Why did I have to say that? Nat is gonna end me" Remy says while he grabbed his car keys and leaves the bar

Before leaving, he glanced at the lecturer one more time who was still trying to grasp what just happened 

"Damn! He's fucking attractive " he mutters before leaving.