Chapter 4: Chapter 4

"I lost in a Truth or Dare game..." Kate answered in between sobs. But she could not let Nick go without hearing her out first. Maybe if he knew her reasons, he would help her, she thought. She must try everything she can to convince him. Not just to save her from her mom's wrath but to save her mom from possible stress she would cause her loving mother.

"I chose Dare as I worried they might ask if I am still a..." she paused and cleared her throat as her next word embarrassed her.

"Still what..?" Nick's jaw tightened. He could guess what word was coming out of her mouth next, but he was still curious to hear her say it out loud.

And she did.

"A virgin..." Kate whispered, still sobbing. Her forehead against Nick's shoulder. She could not help hiding her burning face in embarrassment.

"And are you?" Nick can feel his chest ache at what possible answer she might say. He was afraid she would say she wasn't for whatever reason. He was scared it would break his heart to a million pieces.

Kate nodded. She could not voice out the fact that her schoolmates made her feel she was weird because she was a virgin.

Nick inhaled and exhaled deeply. He was so relieved she was not stupid to let those bullies get into her totally and lose herself in a more devastating situation. Because next to losing her virginity will be another never-ending teasing of her being a whore who can be fucked around.

"I should have chosen truth, but I saw how they made fun of anyone who would say they are virgins and embarrass before everyone else at school," Kate cried silently as she recalled how one of her good friends became a victim. She did not want the same thing to happen to her, so she chose to dare to have a boyfriend, unaware that was just part of the plan to ruin her.

Nick wanted to embrace Kate and comfort her and assure her that what they were saying are nonsense. She doesn't have to go along with what other people believe because she knows herself more than anyone else and is not weird. She has self-respect, and they are just trying to play with her. But Nick was scared his feelings for her might show more than what he wanted to convey. He is worried he would step on the line he had been cautiously guarding not to cross.

He closed his eyes to keep his cool even though he was inwardly breaking down as she pitifully cried next to him with her hands tightly grabbing his arm.

"Okay, I will not let your mom know about what happened here today. But this is not going to go unpunished. As you suggested, you will come to my pad every after school, do your homework there, and clean, including weekends. If you have homework or research to be done, you can use my study room and ask for my help if you need one. Deal?" Nick coldly answered.

Kate nodded.

"Thank you," she murmured. She was still scared and nervous that her voice seemed to move back deep inside her throat.

"Send me your class schedules, too. I want to know what time you are out," Nick added.

He was thinking he would have to pick her up from school or send someone to do so if he could not make it.

He can always ask the company driver, who used to be his dad's personal driver, to pick Kate from school and send her to his pad. He will also investigate and report bullies that had been targeting Kate to be warned. Her school used to be his during High School. His name may no longer be familiar to the new generation of students, but the teachers and Principal will not forget him. He is among the top-listers during his times there. He also brought a lot of medals and school recognitions for academic competitions.

"Do you have any objections to my demands?" Nick asked, feigning annoyance, but he was actually checking if she was comfortable with everything he asked. He will try to bend to her convenience if not.

"I agree with anything, just please keep your words not to let my mom know anything about this stupid mistake of mine," Kate wiped her tears with the back of her hands before she rubbed her palms to clear her face and looked at Nick with a fainted smile. "Thank you. I owe you big time. I am so stupid to have done such an offense my mom would never forgive easily."

Nick turned his face away from hers. He felt a slight pinch in his heart as he saw her reddened face from crying—a look he had never seen in her all these years. And a face he does not want to see as it aches his frigid heart. When he noticed Kate had let go of his arms, Nick started to walk away from her. But not before giving her a side glance when he was sure she was drying her tears on her face away. He walked away with big strides of steps to create a safe distance between him and Kate, away from his arms-length, or he might grab her into his tight embrace. He shook his head in helplessness.

A sight of him Kate clearly saw as she looked at his receding presence. She thought Nick must hate her now even more than ever.

"Please don't hate me so much," Kate spoke timidly, but as Nick was all ears on her even though he wasn't looking in her direction, he heard what she said and defeatedly smiled at his foolishness. Even if Kate did not ask not to hate her so much, Nick was sure that he would never be able to hate her, especially if it turns out she was a victim of school teenage bullies.

"This deal will take effect starting tomorrow, do not forget everything I said," Nick said as he walked without looking back at her. he just made sure his voice was loud enough for Kate to hear and understand.

When Kate realized what he had just said, she rushed to walk behind him. She needed to ask questions.

"Nick," she called out as soon as she caught up with him in the hallway. "I don't know where your place is exactly," she eagerly explained. She was worried he would not like her being so clingy or bothering him so much.

"I will send a driver to get you from school and send you to my place. Just let me know your schedule," Nick did not mind her following around, so he answered casually. And by casually, to Kate, it was coldly.

"I'll go get them now," Kate quickly ran towards her room.

"I'll be out of here in ten minutes. Just send it to my phone," Nick answered as he watched her back, running away recklessly in a hurry.

"Ouch! Ahhh, Damn it!" Kate muffled her scream of pain as she bumped on the side of the corner table in the hallway. She did not notice it as she looked back to Nick when he spoke as she ran away.

Nick ran to help her as he was startled when he heard her yelp in pain.

"Don't run around if you are going to bump into corners as you do!" Nick was angered again. This time, it was because she was hurt. It was a sharp cornered table. He worries she might have a cut, and as she was holding the spot where she felt pain. Nick could tell it could have been her hip bone. It must have hurt so much as she was curling sideways.

"Let me see!" Nick sternly ordered. "How can you be so stupid to bump into a table corner? Are you a toddler or something?!"

Nick's concerns were best shown in annoyance, so he did not pamper her. He scolded her instead.