5 Chapter 5: The Encounter

Sabrina Dubois' POV

It was Sunday morning in Nice when we depart from our home to be at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. We were driving there one day before as we will be staying at a hotel that night. It was a hectic weekend as I was packing my kinds of stuff and my mum and sister want to chip in about what I have to bring.

"You need this, this too and also this," my sister pointed at the umbrella, snow boots, and sunglasses.

"Dude, I can get those when I arrive. No need to overpack," I told her.

"What's the weather like there right now? The forecast said it will be snowing. Here, you should bring this coat," my mum said as she was shoving a furry coat in front of my face.

"Mum, seriously, I can buy those stuff over there. All I need is a jacket that is warm enough to get me from the airport to the apartment that they assigned. I will be fine," I said before shoving the unnecessary stuff away. I then went to push them out of the room and locked the door. I slid down from the door as I heard chatter from outside. It's going to be a long weekend...

It was Monday morning when we were waiting at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. I am waiting anxiously when my mother took my cold hands into her warm ones. I was leaning on her shoulder as she was caressing my hair. Oh, how I will miss this...

"The flight to Chicago, please direct into the TSA Line immediately. Thank you," the announcer said from the speakers. I stood up from my seat. I already check in my luggage 4 hours ago. I was now resting with my parents and annoying sister for one last time before I depart out of France for how long, I don't know yet.

My mum turned me around to check my appearance. I choose to dress casually today as there will be a layover in Keflavik International Airport for 50 minutes transit. My mum brushed my hair behind my ears before took another last look at my appearance. I smiled weakly at her before she smiled sadly too, with her tears at the brick of her eyes.

"Work well. Study hard. Don't forget your meals or skip it even though you're busy. Call us when you get there," my mum said as she was caressing my face. My dad went to pat my shoulder before bear hugging me. For an old man, he really had bone-crushing hugs.

"Eat well. Work hard. try to visit us whenever you can, okay?" My dad said with difficulty as he was choking back his sob.

"I will. Thank you, papa," I said holding my chokes too. I then looked at my sister. My sister not showing any emotion or whatsoever. She was a cold-hearted bitch, I tell you.

"See you later, loser. Don't forget to get me souvenirs when you visiting us," she said before my mum slapped her shoulder.

"Ouch, that hurts, mum. Come on, she's not like going to marry someone from there," she whined. I laughed at her snide remark. She was rubbing her shoulder before hugging me hard.

"Come back often, will you? Don't get married when you're over there, now. I heard there are lots of scams that targeted young lady to marry a dangerous man. Stay safe," she said into my ears before releasing me and cleared her throat. My mum kissed my cheeks as well as my dad. My sister just patted on the back before kissing me on the cheeks, at my mum's instruction.

"Well, see you when I see you," I said before went to the TSA line for the international flight. I waved them goodbye before showing my ticket to the guard and walked to the gate for departure. My adulthood just began as I stepped into that plane.

When we had transited at Keflavik after 3hours and 45 minutes flight, I rushed to get to the gate of the connecting flight.

I did not even take a break for the restroom. I was running as we only had 50 minutes to get to the gate during transit. I showed my ticket before entering the plane for another 7 hours 10 minutes flight from Keflavik to O'Hare International. Thankfully, I just slept through the flight with an occasional break for meals or went to the restroom. Then, I went to sleep again.

It was 9 A.M in the morning local time when I arrived at O'Hare International Airport. I was walking through the immigration line to get into the States. I was talking to the guard that was on the shift at the immigration, answering some of his question about my arrival and J visa. I then thanked him for letting me pass through without any trouble.

Then, I took a trolley to put my luggage on it as I was waiting for it to arrive. After I pick up the luggage I went to get some information at the information center. I was asking some question about to get to my apartment and any public transportation and man, it was hectic as well.

Later on, I thanked the nice lady that had been helping me. I pushed the trolley out of the international arrival gate before parking it at its station. I took my luggage before I pulled its strap and pulling it behind me as I was checking my phone. I want to cross the road. As I already used to the car to stop whenever pedestrians were crossing in France, I just walked by.

Suddenly, something hit me hard that made me dropped on my butt. My luggage was pushed aside as my right hand was grazing the road as I tried to a minimum the momentum of my fall. I shrieked as I feel the pain in my hand. I was about to get up when the car come to a halt. I heard the door was opening before closing. Faint footsteps were approaching me as I tried to get up from the ground.

"Watch where you going, woman! You could be dead if I don't stop on time!" he barked at me as I was trying to stand up. He was tapping his feet before checking his watch on his wrist. Then, I looked at his face. The first thing that I notice about his face were his slate orbs.

They were so mesmerizing that keep my mouth shut to retaliate what he said to me. Then, I looked at his tousled, wavy brown hair that just hanging from his forehead that asking for me to touch it. Then, his full, kissable pink lips that made something stirred at the pit of my stomach. I stuttered a little bit before I blinked a few times, closed my eyes and cleared my throat. Then, I put my most serious face on to talk to him.

"Excuse me, sir, hi. Sorry if I don't watch where I'm going but you don't have to be rude. I am sorry for not looking around my surrounding," I said fumingly that I am pretty sure that my face was red as a tomato. He looked at me up and down.

"Hmph, tourist," he mumbled before looking into my eyes again then slowly went to my right arms.

"I'm sorry, what? Did you just call me a tourist? For your information, sir, I am serving your country after this," I barked at him.

"You're bleeding," he said. His voice was softer than before.

"What?" I asked, confused at his sudden change of attitude.

"Look, you're bleeding. We need to get you to the hospital," he said while pointing at my right arm. I looked at it and to my horror, my sweater was torn apart and my skin was bleeding out.

"Oh my god," I said before taking a good look at my wound.

"Come on, we don't have much time. We need to cover it," he said.

"No, it's fine. I can treat it," I said before he cut me off.

"Look, I'm sorry for my rudeness right after we met but we need to treat your wound now, and I don't treat a woman badly when I first met them," he said, smirking at his own comment. I glared at him before speaking.

"Well, not all woman find you charming, you know. don't get used to it," I said before following him to the passenger seat of his car. He then opened the door, like a gentleman he is, and helped me get it. He then took my luggage and went to put it in the trunk. He then slid inside the driver's seat before speeding off, out of the airport. A few moments of silence before he took the initiative to break the ice.

"My name's Nate by the way, what's yours?" he said, looking at me briefly before went to focus on the road. I didn't answer his question as I was staring out the window.

"Hello? Listen to people when they are talking to you," he said. I glared at him before he parked in front of a small clinic that I was not familiar with. Well, not all things were familiar to me as I was in a foreign land.

He brought me inside as he insisted for me to get check out. I told him that I don't have any insurance yet as I just arrived from France. He said that he would cover the cost of it so that I don't need to worry. I just obliged when I am assured by him that he will pay for everything.

When we were in the exam room, the doctor comes in and greeted Nate like they have known each other as they were calling themselves by name. I just sat on the bed as I was waiting for the doctor to examine me. He takes a look at my wound and showed us the x-ray of my arm. Thank God nothing happened to the bone.

"She will need to restrain her activities for a few days. She has to be taken off. Ms., do you have any relatives, friends that can take care of you?" the doctor asked me. Nate was looking at somewhere else in the room.

"No, umm, I just landed from the airport this morning. I haven't gone to my apartment yet. And I was all alone, no relatives or friends or whatsoever," I answered, looking at the doctor and Nate respectively.

"Nate, can we talk, alone?" the doctor said before taking Nate with him into another room. I just waited in the exam room as a nurse was disinfecting my wound before sewing it up. As she was done and went out, the doctor and Nate came into the room.

"So, I have discussed your condition with Nate here. I will need to ask you to stay with him for a couple of days before you go to your apartment, and you have to gain your strength before starting working." I tried to cut him off before he put his hand up, "I know you do not trust Nate as you just met him, but I can assure you that he is a good man. You can come back to me if anything bad happens while you're with him," Nate spun his head around to look at the doctor with his narrowing eyes.

"But, of course, you will not need to do that. I trust him like my own son. I will come to visit to check on you in 2 days. Here's the prescription that you will need to endure the pain and Nate," he looked at Nate with a serious expression, "take good care of her. I mean it, no funny business," he said before Nate gestured his hand in surrender.

"Okay, doc, if you say so, I will trust you," I said surrendering. The doctor smiled before patting on my knee.

"Good girl. Now, if you please, let's get that medicine of yours now," he said before he went out from a series of doors. I looked at Nate as he looked at me, eyeing me up and down. The silence was killing me. I just said yes to stay with a mere stranger once I landed in the States.

"Don't just go with anyone, they might be scamming you," my sister's advice was playing in my mind.

Oh, Sabrina, what you got yourself into this time?