The Unwilling CEO's Love Game novel Chapter 137

The next day, Jocelyn and Ursula hit the road in Ursula's trusty SUV, bound for the rural village where they would be volunteering.

After three hours on the freeway and another hour on country roads, the path deteriorated into a bumpy trail. It was a dirt track riddled with potholes, making their vehicle jolt and jar with every dip.

Thankfully, Ursula had a steady hand at the wheel. Despite the bone-rattling ride, they eventually reached the village outskirts. Yet, the journey wasn't over. They still had to navigate the final stretch to get to the heart of the village.

The village secretary was already waiting for them, along with a crowd of curious onlookers. The children and seniors stared at the two women with a mix of astonishment and bewilderment, as they couldn't fathom why such charming ladies would come to their backwater to teach.

The secretary guided Jocelyn and Ursula to the community center and gave them a rundown of the local situation.

The village's population barely topped fifty-six souls, half of whom were elders, with a handful of kids and a smattering of women in their forties and fifties—mostly empty-nesters and housewives left behind when the able-bodied men headed out to seek work elsewhere.

"We used to have a little schoolhouse here," the secretary explained, "but it fell into ruin as folks moved away. The ones who could afford it sent their kids to the town school, a good two-hour walk. Everyone who could leave did, and those who stayed...well, they were the ones who couldn't afford any better. We've had volunteers before, but they've all moved on. Now, the few kids left range from toddlers playing in the mud, to fifteen, who dropped out early to help at home."

"I took it upon myself to teach the kids of age," he continued, the weariness evident in his voice. "I couldn't let them grow up without hope. Right now, I'm teaching nine of them, all about eight years old." The secretary truly wanted to make a difference, but his reach was limited since resources were so scarce.

"You see the conditions we're living in," the secretary said, looking at the two young teachers who came to help voluntarily. "I thought I'd show you around the village for a couple of days. If it's too rough for you, think of it as a little adventure before heading back."

He didn't want to build up the children's hopes only to dash them again.

Jocelyn and Ursula agreed, but their intent wasn't to inspect the environment to decide whether to stay or go. They wanted to get to know the villagers and understand their lives better.

"We brought some supplies," they said, "some food for the villagers. We'd appreciate your help distributing it."

The back of the SUV was filled with milk cartons, backpacks and books, with more supplies on the way via delivery.

After sharing a modest meal at the secretary's home, Jocelyn and Ursula were taken on a tour of the village. The cobblestone pathways were laid by the villagers for easier travel, and the clustered houses, many with moss-covered yards and closed doors, spoke of long absences.

They distributed milk, oil, and rice to childless homes and backpacks and books to those with children. By the end of their rounds, dusk was setting in.

The secretary settled them into a tidy house recently vacated by a family who'd left to work elsewhere. It was a clean and cozy space, surrounded by neighbors who could provide a sense of community.

Once the secretary left, Jocelyn and Ursula sat in silence. The day's experiences weighed heavily on them. They exchanged glances, eyes filled with a mix of helplessness and resolve. Their hearts had ached earlier that day when a little girl had looked up at them and shyly asked, "Uriah said you're here to teach us. Is that true? You won't leave us, right?"

Uriah was the village secretary.

That night, sleep came slowly for Jocelyn and Ursula as the trivial worries of romance and affection seemed so distant in comparison.

Jocelyn regretted the time wasted with Melvin when she could have been doing something more meaningful like this.

They didn't leave. They stayed true to their words.

They converted an abandoned house into a makeshift classroom, just needing one spacious room with enough desks for the children.

At first, the kids were nervous and restrained. But they were eager learners.