31 CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Jason was lying on his belly on Naya's newly changed bedspread flipping through documents. About three files were on the floor and it looked like he had gone through most of the documents, since they appeared to be ruffled.

Jason might have kept the financial situation of the orphanage hidden from the employees with exception of Veronica, who was loyal to his mother but the Orphanage was barely hanging on despite his trips outside the country to raise funds. If things don't change, the Orphanage might have to close in less than six months.

It weighed heavily on Jason and a lot of questions ran through his mind.

What will happen to the children he came here to save? Where will they go?

Jason went through every scenario, even checked out the other Orphanages in Malawi but they were already stretched thin and another batch of orphan children was not in their agenda.

Yesterday evening, Jason went to the playground and sat with the kids and watched them closely. Their uniqueness and vulnerability almost broke his iron clad heart. His life could have turned out differently. Everybody's life could have turned out differently as no child was born an orphan until life comes along and make them one.

Jason often wondered ever since he came to Malawi, how bad his life would have been even not for Elixir Yagazie since his father right from birth couldn't be bothered with him.

The door opened and Naya entered the room carrying a handful of clothes. Jason hid the document he was holding inside the file and sat upright. He helped Naya place the clothes on the armchair.

Naya was carrying a backpack; she opened it and handed over some paintings to Jason.

'These kids are talented…Hannah painted that' Naya said and sat on the bed

'This…is beautiful and may I ask who Hannah is?' Jason asked going through the paintings.

For someone who couldn't draw anything even if his life depended on it, the paintings Jason was holding resembled one of Van Gogh's famous paintings. The painting was detailed and emotional; it was a child sitting away from other children. What got to Jason the most were the child's eyes, it contained a hint of hope and sadness. Jason didn't know the two could co-exist together.

'Hannah is a twelve year old girl that came to us when she was seven; she lost her mother to HIV/Aids and her father couldn't take care of her due to financial problems….but that is beside the point Jason…this little girl is talented, she found a way to express her sadness in the most beautiful way. We need to enroll her into art and painting class in Blantyre…we need money to do that Jason' Naya spoke passionately.

Jason was quiet for a while. He clasped his hand and looked at her.

'Naya the orphanage can't afford to pay for a painting class for Hannah. I am sorry'

Naya stood up. She headed for the door but decided against it. She turned and approached Jason in anger.

'Not everyone was born with a silver spoon like you Jason. So, instead of sitting on your ass, how about you use the wealth you've accumulated for good for once in your life' Naya was angry and she made no attempt to hide it.

'Naya, you don't…'

'I understand quite alright, Jason. The children here are nothing more than nuisance to you and you would rather stay inside this room than make an attempt to know them. You know John…of course not; you do not know john but that kid has been trying to get to know you since the day you got here. But I guess you have more important things to do than give your attention to poor lonely orphans' Naya voice was raising higher as she spoke.

'Naya…you don't know me and so, don't pretend like you do' Jason was getting angry too. He stood up to face Naya.

'Oh no but I know your type…conceited single minded spoilt brat that don't give a shit about anyone else but themselves' Naya was poking Jason's chest.

'Stop…doing…that' Jason said in-between he clenched teeth and tried to grab Naya's hand to stop her from poking him.

Naya construed Jason sudden decision to grab her hand as a sign of attack, instincts and years of training kicked in. Naya deflected Jason's outstretched hand with ease. She grabbed Jason's arm, placed her bottom into his hip, bent over like she was squatting and lifted him with ease. She turned around like she was stepping away and pulling Jason toward her, throwing him off balance. Naya then proceeded to flipping him over her back onto the ground, knocking the wind out of Jason. Naya held his neck for two seconds while he lay on the ground before letting him go.

Everything happened so fast that Jason didn't have time to deflect his fall as he hit the hard floor. He felt air leave his lungs and his brain took two more seconds to make sense of what just happened.

He lay still on the floor afraid to move at all because of the pain. He knows for a fact that the pair of stud earring that was lying on the floor was now embedded on his back.

'Jason...I am so sorry. I reacted…I didn't think. Are you alright?'

Jason didn't want to reply too soon. He was trying to make sense of the fact that a girl just beat him up in five seconds. He tried to stand up and Naya tried to help him but he declined her help.

'Why did you do that? Where did you learn to flip a grown man like that?' Jason asked as he stood upright.

'Sorry…I thought you were going to hit me and so I reacted. I am sorry' Naya was remorseful

'Hit you? Are you crazy?' Jason stood at the full length mirror and turned to get a good look at the studs embedded on his back.

'Oh my God, my earrings are on your back' Naya screamed.

'Yeah, I noticed and it hurts like hell' Jason said as he pulled the studs out of his back.

Tiny beads of blood dripped down his back and Naya opened her wardrobe and brought out a first aid kit. Jason sat on the bed while Naya applied methylated spirit over the injured part of his back to disinfect it.

'Ouch, that hurts' Jason pulled his back away as the methylated spirit touched his back.

'Stop being a baby, Jason'

As Naya cover the injured site with a pink band aid, Jason decided to have a serious conversation with her.

'I can never physically harm a woman. You don't ever have to fear me, Naya'

Naya nodded slowly without saying a word and Jason wasn't sure she believed him.