Two weeks past, after that crazy drama at the Sushi Restaurant. Professor Nico to his leave, and no sign of him coming back. I told Leon about what happened. He too, couldn't imagine that oru professor would be cheated on.
"No way! You witnessed it?" Leon exclaimed in disbelief.
"Shhhhh!!! You're voice Leon." I gestured him to shut up.
"Sorry, but really? He beat up the lover?"
"Yes, I could see how furious he was that time. I can't even imagine how he's coping up now."
"Why don't we call him? We can ask for his number from the faculty."
"Are you even thinking? Even the professors now, knows what happened. And you're going in there to ask for his number?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Then, what do we do?"
"Leon, are you really worried or you just want to be updated on the latest news?"
"Well, he's our professor Nyx. So, it's natural, as his student to be worried. Aren't you worried Nyx?"
"W-Well I am. Who wouldn't be." I cleared my throat and stood up from my seat.
"Where are you going?"
"Somewhere. Don't follow me ." I went to the school bulletin board. I remembered seeing his number from one of the announcements. Since his the club advisor for "The Reflective Rebels". I scanned the whole bulletin, and found what I was looking for. I saved his number , then went back to class. When I got back, Leon wasn't there. I asked our other classmates where he went, but they didn't know. They just said he went out right after I left. I paid it no mind, and took my seat. The class ended, but Leon never came back. He skipped all afternoon classes. I called him but to no avail. His phone was off. I cleared up his desk and put them all inside his bag. After making sure his things were intact, I left and headed home.
On my way out of the campus, I saw a familiar silhouette around the corner of the mini forest. It was Professor Nico. He was talking to someone. Since the position they're in was a bit hidden, if I didn't pick up the trash I saw, I wouldn't be able to see him. I threw the trash and just went my way around the opposite side. Seems like the universe has its own plans, Professor Nico saw me when I was about to turn around. I was so sure that I didn't make any sound to get their attention.
"Nyx!" It was Leon's voice. I looked behind, and it was really him.
"You jerk! Why did you skip classes?" I glared at him.
"Well, the thing is. I called the Professor." I tugged the end of his jacket, pulling him away. Just enough distance from Professor Nico.
"You crazy guy! How'd you make him come all the way here?" I whispered.
"You see,----" Leon didn't finish what he was about to tell me, for the professor came closer to us.
"Nyx, can we talk?" I looked at the professor, I was shocked when I saw his face. He got thinner, his once clear face was now bearded, and his eyes were lifeless.
"What are we going to talk about professor?" I asked in a low voice.
"Leon told me about the message you saw , the day when my wife and you rode the same bus ." My eyes widened upon hearing what the professor said. I glared furiously at Leon, who then looked away. He knows his in for a beating.
"P-Professor, about that."
"We can talk somewhere else, if you're not comfortable here."
"That would be a great idea professor. Since Nyx is here, I'll take my leave." Leon hurriedly left the scene.
"HEY!" Leon just disappeared on me, leaving me in such an awkward situation.
"Nyx, I need to know what you saw that day. " His voice seemed begging. My heart ached at the sight I'm seeing. The once handsomely captivating professor reduced to look like a beggar.
"Alright professor. Where do you want us to talk?"
"There's a cafe nearby, let's just go there."
"Okay." He lead the way while I followed him, slowly lagging behind. His strides were so fast that I'm walking twice faster than how I usually walked. We got inside the cafe and ordered drinks. He had black coffee, while I got Iced Americano. We chose the farthest table and lesser people. I took my time to find the right timing to speak, but he broke the ice first.
"Nyx, that time, what did you saw on her phone?"
"Ahmm, Professor, I accidentally saw a message saying, "See you soon, a-and that they'll have the week for themselves. " My mind went blank, and I was quite unsure if I worded it right.
"So she's been lying to me the whole time. Conference my ass." He growled a bit hitting the wall. I flinched, and checked whether someone saw what he did. Good thing the cafe had few customers at that time.
"P-Professor, how are you coping?"
"I don't know Nyx. My life's a mess now. I gave her everything. But still, she ended up cheating on me." I just silently listened, took sips on my drink, and just let him vent.
"That day, you we're also there right?" I choked on my drink and coughed. He gave me a tissue for me to use.
"Huh? You knew?"
"I saw you, but I was too consumed by anger to think that time."
"Yes, I was there with my bestfriend."
"I'm sorry you have to see that. When I glanced your way briefly, I could see how pale you were." The professor wasn't wrong. Because, when I saw him beating up his wife's lover. What happened that day, the incident with Nathan, it all flashed back. What he did to me, how my brother stormed in and beat him up. I even asked my brother to pick me earlier than planned. I almost fainted, when my heart tightened. I began having cold sweats, and nauseous.
"You saw that?" I tried to smile, but when our eyes met, I felt like he knew something.
"Nyx, you wouldn't look that pale if it was just because you were shocked by what you saw. It felt like you had a full-blown panic attack." I could see how worried Professor Nico was.
"It was nothing Professor. Maybe I was just too shocked." I faintly smiled.
"Nyx, I'm sorry if what I did triggered something you don't wanna recall. It's on me. " I could feel his sincerity from his tone. My chest tightened, and I had a hard time breathing. Upon noticing, Professor Nico sat beside me, helping me calm down.
"Breathe with me, Nyx. Inhale, Exhale." His soft voice, and his calm presence slowly eased the tightness in my chest. He gently placed a hand on my back, and continuously helped me with my breathing. Soon enough, my breathing went back to normal.
"I-I'm sorry professor, I didn't realize that just by remembering what happened that day at the restaurant, this would happen." Professor Nico reached for his pocket and took his phone out.
"Nyx, give me your parents' number." I panicked a little, because my parents didn't know about the incident.
"Professor, you don't have to call them. I can go home on my own." I tried to stay composed.
"No!" He firmly said.
"But professor ---" I touched his hand accidentally out of a sudden. He looked at my hand , and I let go. I took my phone out and gave my brother's number instead.
"Hello? Who's this?" My brother asked on the other line. He put the call on speaker mode.
"This is Professor Nico Stratfford. Is this Mr. Blake? Nyx Blake's father?"
"No, this is her brother, Xavier Blake. May I know what this is about?"
"Miss Blake here is having a panic attack, are you able to pick her up?"
"WHAT? AGAIN? How is she?"
"She's okay now, you don't have to worry. It would be better if you can pick her up."
"Shit, I'm currently in a session with the band."
"Then, would it be alright if I drive her home instead?"
"That would be great professor. I'll be going home as soon as I'm done here."
"Alright. Have a good day!" Professor Nico hanged up and looked at me. He sat beside me, still looking, waiting for me to speak .
"I'm sorry professor, I prefer you call my brother than my parents. " I averted my gaze deliberately.
"I'm not questioning you Nyx, I just wanted to know if you're okay."
"I'm okay now. I can go by myself. "
"No, stay here for a bit. I'll go and get the car." He left immediately, I finished my drink and waited. It didn't took long for him to ger back. He lead me to his car, opened the door, and even buckled the seatbelt for me. While on the road, he talked about small things first before, then our talk excalated to a deeper topic.
"Professor, it's true that what you did triggered something I don't want to remember." I sighed. This was the first time I opened up to someone else about my trauma.
"Nyx, it's okay to call me Nico if we're alone. You, calling me professor all the time is so distant. I'm not a professor now, but a friend you can talk to ." I smiled at him, an d he smiled back.
"N-Nico." I awkwardly said his name.
"You'll get use to it in no time. If I may ask, what's happened before Nyx? But you don't have to force yourself talking about it, if it still makes you uncomfortable." He said in a low yet gentle voice.
"It's okay Nico. Maybe because I never got to talk about it that I'm like this." I felt at ease talking to Nico. His presence made me calm, and talked to me gently.
"If you ever feel like talking about it. Just give me a call, or we can talk privately."
"I will." There was a moment of silence berween us, before Nico started talking again.
"Kayla, cheated on me for the third time." That brief detail got me off guard. I never thought he would open up to me.
"Third?"
"Yeah, she first cheated on me after the wedding. That was with her bestfriend."
"Right after the wedding? That very same day?"
"Yes Nyx, I caught her and her bestfriend kissing at the bathroom during reception. I was taken aback by what I saw. I was mad, I can't even get to understand why she did that. She begged me to stay, that it was just a friendly kiss. I was so in love with her that I let it slide. She promised me that it won't happen again."
"Oh my god. How could she do that to you on your wedding day." I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"The second time she cheated was 2 years ago, Kayla and I are married for 8 years. This time, the guy was an officemate of hers."
"So how did you caught them?"
"A friend of mine saw her at a bar. He took pictures of her dancing intimately with another guy. Their bodies pressing. My friend followed them, and Kayla went with that guy to a hotel, drunk. It's obvious something happened between them."
"How could you endure such pain Nico?"
"It was painful Nyx, but because I love her so much, I gave her another chance."
"You kept giving her chances yet she wasn't changing. And now that happened!" I got angry at Kayla, I lost my composure and blurted it out.
"Thanks for gettinf angry on her for my sake."
"Anyone would be angry just by hearing this."
"Thanks Nyx.* He chuckled on my reaction. My heart fluttered hearing his laugh. We kept talking all the way, until I reached my home.
"Here's where I live." He pulled over in front the house. Xanayah rushed out of the house, as she heard a car arriving. Xavier called her and told her about my situation.
"Nyx! How are you feeling?" I could see how worried Xanayah was.
"I'm okay now, thanks to Nico."
"Nico?" She slightly raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, it slipped my mind. He's Professor Nico, he teaches philosophy. "
"Nice meeting you professor. Would you like to come in?"
"Sorry but I have to decline, I still need to go somewhere." He politely declined Xanayah's offer.
"Then we won't hold you for too long. Thank you for taking my sister home." Nico said his goodbyes and left. Xanayah and I entered the house. She's still too worried about me that she kept asking if I'm okay.
"I'm really fine now. I swear ."
"You sure? No pain anywhere? Breathing fine? No chest pain?" She got a bit histerical.
"I'm really, really, okay." I assured her over and over again till she's satisfied.
"So, Nico huh?" She hinted a sense of concern towards me.
"Well, he said it's okay to call his name if we're alone or outside campus."
"How old is he?"
"33? Going 34 next month."
"Nyx-----" she paused for a while. I knew what she's concerned about.
"Sister, it's just a crush. So don't worry."
"Oh my God Nyx, you and your preference."
"Hey, what's wrong with my preference?"
"You always have a crush on older men."
"Hey!!"
"First it was Nathan, you had a crush on him when you we're 10. Nathan's 18 that time. Now that you're 18, you have a crush on someone who's 33! That's 15 years Nyx."
"It's just a crush Xanayah. You know me, I never cross that line you set before. No dating till 20."
"Good to know you remembered." She sighed if relief. Us siblings always bickered, but we never hurt each other. Each of us respects one another. And I could feel their love for me. I love my family too. Xanayah called Xavier and informed him that I arrived safely. I told her that I'm going to my room, while she's having the call.
When I headed inside my room, I laid down on my bed. I grabbed my phone and texted Nico. Asking if he got to his destination safely. I got a reply a few minutes later.
"Hey Nyx, just got here. How are you feeling?"
"I'm alright, thanks to you."
"You should go and rest early to relax your body. Since tomorrow's Saturday, got any plans?"
"Nothing really, I'll be just staying home. "
"That's great, you should rest a lot." I thought he was asking me to hang out with him but I was wrong. He was just worried I might stress my body out.
"Yes, I will. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Nyx."
Our text conversation was just brief. But this was just the start of more interactions with him. Just like what Nico said, I rested all weekend. By Monday, I deliberately arrived earlier than usual. There's someone who owed me something. I stood by the door, as soon as I saw Leon coming. He stopped walking as he saw me. He grinned, but I glared at him.
"Leon McMillan." I crossed my arms.
"Nyx I'm sorry " I grabbed him by the ear, lead him to his seat, and I slammed both hands on the desk.
"Why'd you do it?"
"I know you're worried about the professor, so I took the freedom of telling him about what you saw."
"Leon McMillan! How dare you assume things and do something without my consent!"
"I'm sorry Nyx, really!" He kneeled rasing both his hands. We were still the ones inside the classroom.
"If you're sorry, you have to treat me for lunch."
"If it means you'll forgive me, then why not?"
"Then it's settled. I want Popeyes."
"Sure! No matter how many meals you want me to buy." He stood up and dust off his pants. Then he started chatting about how he called for Nico, and made him rushed to school. I just listened, but I don't plan on telling him what happened with my talk with Nico. No matter how many times he begged for the details, I didn't give a single detail out.