Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Nick sat properly across from where Kate was sitting with her head bowed down. The Principal asked for anything Nick would like to drink, but the young Eudovic politely declined. As Kate's guardian, Nick was eager to find out what had happened more than anything right now. So, Principal Johnston sat at the head of the table and started to ask.

"Kate Taylor, can you tell us what happened?" asked Francis formally.

Nick was silently watching Kate. He was trying to check if she was injured or hurt in any way, but he could not make his concerns known just yet, not in front of Kate herself.

Kate looked at Nick first, as if she was asking if it was okay to speak. Nick nodded.

Seeing his approval, Kate sat up straight and spoke with due politeness and respect.

"Andrew has been annoying me ever since he saw me in the morning. I tried to avoid him, but he won't listen to whatever I said. He harassed me, so I kicked his ass," Kate spoke with her head still down as she was looking at her hands tightly clasped above her Royal Blue school uniform skirt covered thighs.

Nick felt his ear pinged with pain when Kate said she was harassed. He wanted her to elaborate on what kind of harassment she was talking about, but Nick turned to the Principal instead of asking Kate.

"Sir, can we check the surveillance video of the scene?"

The Principal was seated close to his table, so he just reached out without the need to stand from his spot and handed Nick his laptop.

"Here, I have been replaying this clip ever since I got it from the security department. I cannot believe what I see in that clip," Francis chuckled as he handed the laptop to nick with the video ready to play.

Nick was puzzled at what the older man was talking about, but he decided to check the video clip himself. And like the Principal, Nick had to playback what he just saw. This time he adjusted it to see the situation from five minutes earlier.

Nick saw how Kate avoided Andrew, but the latter seemed to block her every path to walk away with a playful smile. Soon Andrew's face became fierce, and he spoke with obvious annoyance. None was audible, so Nick could not understand what Andrew was talking about, but Nick noticed how Kate's face turned red in what looked like a mixture of fury and embarrassment. Then Andrew hung his arm on Kate's shoulder as he laughed and winked at some people around, watching the scene unfold. He saw how Andrew's hands moved from Kate's shoulder to her neck as he seemed to whisper to Kate's ear closely. But Kate's next moves made him smile faintly. Then he turned to ask Kate.

"Kate, can you tell us what this guy said before you wrung his arm backward?"

Kate bowed her head again, but her words were loud for the two men to hear.

"He called me a little slut," Kate answered.

She did not want to say anything before Nick arrived because Kate wanted Nick to hear her side of the story first or at least not when she had already told someone else and initially judged her before Nick even arrived. She has this unspeakable comfort that she won't be treated without fairness and justice knowing Nick was around. She was not sure how Nick was going to react. Kate was even scared Nick had the same impression as Andrew witnessing such an unsightly scene of her yesterday in his own home. But holding Nick's words that she cannot let anyone push and bully her around, that she can beat and fight with anyone if they dare to oppress her in any way, she felt brave to speak her side of the incident.

She was actually guilty of being "a slut" with what happened in their living room yesterday. Doing it out of the sacred matrimony of marriage is considered a sin according to her upbringing. But her friends in the new school told her she was an old maid with such thoughts. She is no longer in the world of nuns, so she should consider changing her ways. They said as long as they know their boundaries and limitations as well as precautions, everyone nowadays is free to enjoy physical indulgences. But when Andrew disgustingly licked her earlobe, she lost the patience and let her defensive skills kick in.

The Principal and Nick looked at each other. But the two men have different thoughts in mind.

Francis Johnston was curious about what connections these two have with each other, but he could not dare to ask.

While Nick was thinking about telling the details that he found about this Andrew guy, but he wanted to know first what happened to that idiot Andrew.

"What happened to him?" Nick asked casually. He was prepared to hear they would be demanded to pay for Andrew's medical bills concerning his injury.

"He called for an ambulance and was brought to the hospital," Francis answered. "He claimed Kate broke his arm," added the Principal.

Both men looked at Kate again, who was still avoiding their gazes and just looking down at her hands in her lap. And both could not believe she was even capable of doing anything they had seen her do towards Andrew. She really did kick his ass!

"Are you aware of this guy's bad behavior towards girls in this school, sir?" Asked Nick.

The Principal sighed.

"I know there are more than a few along the years, but they remained allegations and unproven without strong and substantial evidence, so nothing has really been done about it," Francis' voice turned apologetic.

Then he looked at Nick with a silent request. "Maybe you can help us, in any way...?"

Francis knew that among Nicholas Eudovic's many talents is finding things beyond the naked eye can merely see. He is an IT geek. Maybe he can hack on anything that would nail the violator down and help the school rebuild its stained credibility to protect female students. Many had transferred out from here because they could not stand the humiliation at the hands of these stupid bullies. Some even jumped off the building rooftop in unbearable shame and embarrassment, committing suicide and successfully killing themselves. But these bullies involved are usually from well-off families, making them untouchable somehow, especially when there is no substantial evidence to support the victims' claim. Andrew Kindberg happens to be a senator's grandson. They do not have the same last name as the senator is from his maternal side of the family, but they are among the wealthy middle-class families. And he lives near Elijah's residence because they are among the elite families just like the Eudovic's.

That was all the chance Nick had been waiting for before he took his phone to send some files to the Principal's email after asking for it.

"I have heard about Kate being bullied by this guy, Andrew Kindberg, only yesterday. Kate is a family friend, and she told me about her problem at school with her schoolmates. So, I have started digging,

and here they are," Nick turned the laptop to face the Principal and checked his email to see the information Nick had collected from his investigation.

Princi[al Johnston started to skim on the data, and as he read the files, he could not keep himself from frowning.

"I would like to request for complete discretion in handling this information, Sir," Nick's aura turned a bit stern despite his words to sound polite.

The Principal was a bit startled to see his old student's face turn cold and convey a warning.

Kate, who was not looking in their direction, did not notice the change in the atmosphere between the two men around her.

"Of course, of course. I need to protect our female students. I fear none of them will enroll here in our school in the future if this female bullying keeps going," Principal Johnston sighed in honest frustration.

Nick had to discuss a few more details with the Principal, but he did not want Kate to be around. She might misunderstand Nick's intentions.

"Sir, can I ask for Kate to get her things so we can pay Andrew Kindberg a visit at the hospital also to settle the bills in there," Nick mannerly requested.

"Sure thing," the Principal turned to Kate and nodded his approval.

'Take your time. I need to discuss some matters with the Principal or wait outside when you get back, okay?" Nick sternly spoke as he saw Kate leaving.

Francis was keenly observing the student and her guardian's interactions. He can tell Nick is concerned, but he looks so strict with her. He recalled what Kate said Andrew said to her in the video before she broke his arm. Andrew said she was a slut. Francis also recalled how Kate's teacher praised her for being a good student. Andrew's word does not reflect in any way to Kate's personality and behavior. Nick should know about that, too.