Love and Debt

"Baby, what happened?" Andrew asked when he got closer to her.

She didn't want to worry him so she lied. She looked at the man who helped her as if asking him to keep quiet.

"I-I slipped. I didn't see that a student was holding the trash bags." She said.

Andrew nodded and helped clean herself. He glanced at the man who was standing in front of them and turned to Nina.

"Oh I forgot. This is Rev. He helped me when I fell down. Rev, this is Andrew, my boyfriend." She introduced.

"Fiance." Andrew said, correcting her statement.

"Y-Yes. My fiance, Andrew Cross." She said.

Andrew reached out to Rev's to shake his hand. She felt like there was tension with the two men but she ignored it.

"Ahm I think I need to ask Peggy or Alora for a change of clothes. I think they have it in their private residence. Thank you for the help Rev." She said while bowing her head.

He smiled at her and nodded. Andrew walked away first then she followed. But she was surprised when Rev suddenly grabbed her hand. She looked at him, frowning.

"If you need any help, you can always talk to me. I'm your new school counselor." He whispered.

She knew what he meant with those words. It was obvious that she was being bullied. She bit her lips and nodded. He let her go and smiled, looking at her while she turned around and walked away.

Peggy gave her a new change of clothes first before they went out to eat lunch. Nina was still thinking about what happened earlier. She was wondering who were those girls who attacked her.

Then Rev suddenly crossed her mind. He was too young to be a counselor, but he clearly said that he was. She sighed then took her phone from her bag. She frowned when she found the towel that Rev lent her earlier. She put it back and decided to visit the counselor's room later.

"Baby, are you okay?" Andrew asked, worried.

"Yes. I'm just tired." She answered.

He held her hand and started pressing them, giving her a massage. She smiled. She told Andrew before that every time she felt tired or stressed, her sisters would give her a hand massage. Remembering a simple thing like that brought joy to her heart.

After lunch, Andrew went back to the college department while Nina and her friends went back to theirs. They still have half an hour before second period so she decided to drop by at the school counselor's office.

She knocked twice before coming inside of the room. It was her first time in that office since she didn't really have a reason to come. 

She looked around and the office felt warm and cozy. The room has a modern touch with a combination of white and gray paint. There was a table in the center with an open laptop on top. The files were neatly placed in the cabinet on both sides of the table. You could see the school ground from the glass wall behind it. There was also a sofa set with a center table and a carpeted floor.

"Is someone here?" She asked when she saw no one was inside.

Then a door on the right side opened. She didn't notice that there was a room in the office. It was just quick but she saw a bed inside.

"It's you!" Rev exclaimed.

He was surprised to see Nina in his office and he was really glad to see her.

"Hi! I came because I forgot to return your hand towel. I didn't use it so it's still clean. Thank you." She said while handing him the towel.

He took it and smiled at her. He noticed her hazelnut eyes were like the color of her hair. She was a petite girl and was wearing light makeup on her face. She was pretty even without it though, he thought. For him, it looks like she wasn't used to having something on her face.

"Not a problem. I'm glad you came. Are you okay now?" He asked, worried.

She nodded but then bowed her head. She couldn't tell Andrew and her friends what she really felt. She felt like they wouldn't understand her.

"I don't think you're okay. Stay here and let's talk. I'll inform your homeroom teacher that you're here." He said.

She didn't answer but walked towards the sofa and sat there. Rev took his phone and sent a message to her teacher, informing her that Nina needed counseling.

He sat across Nina and looked at her. Nina suddenly became conscious when she saw him staring.

"I-I was bullied earlier. I bumped into someone and some girls threw trash on me. I didn't know who they were though." She started, still head down.

"I know. I'm sorry I arrived late. But why didn't you tell your boyfriend about it?" He asked.

She sighed again then tilted her head up to meet his gaze.

"I was a normal girl from the Bronze Class and was transferred to the Platinum Class after becoming Andrew's fiance. I was an errand girl for the rich kids, doing everything they asked in exchange for money. I know this will happen. Not all people will just accept someone like me, right? Andrew told me to not worry and just be myself. But I was anxious and it's stressing me out. I love him so I don't want him to worry about me and see me as a burden so can I ask a favor? Please don't tell anyone about this." She said, almost begging.

"I don't disclose the students' issues to others. I'm glad you opened up. You could always come here if you wanted to vent out. I'm here to listen. But I think it's better if you tell your boyfriend and your friends about how you feel." He said in a gentle voice.

She nodded and smiled at him. For some reason, she felt good when she told him about her feelings. He really seemed like a nice guy so Nina easily trusted him.

"Thank you for listening. I think I should go back to class." She stood up and bowed again.

"You didn't tell me your name." He said.

"Katharina Sommers. But call me Nina." She answered.

"Hmm. I think I'll call you Katharina. It's pretty like you. Do you know that it means pure?" He asked, looking at him intently.

She blushed when he complimented her. She just smiled at him then bowed her head again before leaving his office.

He was smiling and didn't move from where he was, thinking of the girl who captured his broken heart.