Take My Breath Away

Jared didn't want to bother arguing with Debbie, so he changed the topic and said casually, "There is a poverty relief project to support the people in the Southon Village. Are you going to sign up for it?" If his memory served him right, Debbie was always enthusiastic about this sort of charity events.

"Yes! Of course, I'm going!" Debbie replied firmly. In the past, she didn't have much money, but she still actively participated in the charity activities. Now that Carlos had given her a large amount of money to spend as she wished, of course she would go and put that money to good use. 'I'll just be doing charity on his behalf, ' she thought to herself and she was okay with it as long as she could help others in need.

"I knew it!" Jared groaned. "But Southon Village is the poorest village in our country. The conditions there are awful. Besides, it's winter and the event will go on for at least a week. Are you sure you want to torture yourself by doing this?"

His words did scare Debbie a little. She hesitated, but when Carlos' face popped up in her mind, she gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, I'm sure. I've made up my mind."

Although Jared was dressed in a warm down jacket, he suddenly felt the whole world freeze after hearing her reply. A chill ran down his spine when he thought about accompanying Debbie to such a remote place where even a heater was a luxury. He couldn't help but pull his down jacket tighter around himself as his body trembled.

In the multimedia classroom

Kasie repeatedly shook her head in disbelief. "Tomboy, please. Please! Think about it. Are you even aware of how bad the conditions in the Southon Village are? Most of the people in the village speak the minority language which you don't understand. There will be no heater, not even an asphalt road to walk on, no shower..." She shuddered as she imagined being in such a place. "Gosh! Believe me! You'll turn into a complete mess after spending a few days there."

Echoing Kasie's words, Kristina nodded her head up and down and then glanced sympathetically at Jared, who looked visibly depressed now. From the expression on his face, Kristina knew that Jared was definitely planning to accompany Debbie in spite of his reluctance. Patting him on his shoulder, she praised him, "I admire your courage, Jared. I didn't know that you were actually this manly."

Unconvinced by her weak praise, Jared yelled, "Dixon, get a leash on your girlfriend and ask her to mind her words! What does she mean 'actually'? I've always been manly, okay?"

Dixon merely smiled and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Then, he said in a calm voice, "Kasie. Kristina. You two needn't come along. Jared and I will go with Tomboy." Dixon was born in a small village and had lived there before he had come

iful brain, ' Gail thought.

Hearing Gail's words, Debbie instantly understood the situation. She nodded happily and said, "I think my uncle did it for your own good. You haven't gone through any hardship in your life. It's good for a rich lady like you to experience some hard life from time to time."

Gail wanted to vent out her anger on Debbie at that very moment. But since there were other schoolmates around, Gail had to pretend to be an elegant and well-educated lady. So she walked closer to Debbie and grabbed her arm with a fake smile. In a loud voice, she said, "Yes, you're right! I've brought so much snack food with me. I'll be giving it to the children there. By the way, what are you going to give the children, Debbie?"

"Money." The school had already sent the donated clothes and daily supplies to Southon Village. Debbie didn't think it was necessary to bring more of that for them. But with a little money, they could at least buy something they wanted most. She had brought something else too. But she wasn't going to tell Gail that!

Gail's smile froze on her face. She ridiculed Debbie, "You think you have enough money to spend on charity? And what makes you think that money has any use there? In a remote mountain area like that, what can you buy even if you have money?"

Shaking off Gail's arm, Debbie walked a few steps away and said coldly, "That's none of your business. Remember not to drag the whole team down with you."

Among the fifteen students, ten were boys and the other five were girls. Debbie knew most of them, except two or three students. She usually met them at school and sometimes greeted them on the campus.

So she was excited about going with all of them. 'It's like going on a trip with friends!'

At Southon Village

Jumping off the bus, Debbie quickly ran to the edge of the road and began retching.