The next day, Nelson resumed school and the news of his mother's demise had spread like wildfire throughout the entire university. What was even worse, was the video of him begging Troy on his knees, the other day at the club.
Everywhere he went, people pointed and stared. Some even went as far as making snide remarks about him as he passed by, loud enough for him to hear with some wishing he died alongside his mother. He knew he wasn't a favourite of the school but it seemed like the hate on him had worsened ever since his mother's death. One time, he overheard a group of junior students while he was sitting on the rooftop gossiping about him. On the rooftop was a shade which was popular for smokers to hangout but rather than sit there, Nelson usually sat behind the shade, blocking him from the view of others who might come there, but revealing a stunning view to him of the city's landscape.
"Oh my God, guys! Have you seen that video of Nelson Baristan?" One of them asked. He could identify the voice as belonging to a female student.
"Who hasn't?" Another girl replied.
"You know, I kind of feel bad for the guy," a third person objected. The voice belonged to a male.
"And why's that?" The first girl asked.
"The dude obviously seemed really desperate in that video. In my opinion, it's quite unfair what happened to him did," the boy replied.
"Well, he should have known better than to ask Troy for money. I mean, the entire school knows Troy despises him yet, he couldn't even have a little shame in him to not get Troy more upset. " It was the second girl that spoke this time.
"You're right. It's really pathetic of him. Scums like him to learn to know their place," the first girl added.
"Well, I still think Troy did a bit too much," the guy said, and Nelson was grateful thatsomeone took his side.
"Hey! If you care so much, why don't you go and settle the bills then." The first girl said, her voice getting louder.
"Don't come after me, I wouldn't want to get on Troy's bad side. My family still does business with his," the boy protested.
"Come to think of it, how did those videos even start flying?" The second girl asked.
At that point, the place fell silent as though they wanted to make sure no-one was around to hear them.
"I heard it was Evelyn and Troy that started it," the first girl whispered.
"What?!"
"That's cold!"
The boy and the second girl said simultaneously.
At the mention of Evelyn, Nelson's heart sank. Never would be have thought that Evelyn could ever do such a thing to him. She was now actively trying to ruin his life and he wondered what his offense was.
"Wait. So, Evelyn left Nelson for Troy, and still went on destroy him? Damn, that girl is wasting no opportunity is she?" The boy asked.
"You can't blame the girl," the second girl said. "I mean, Evelyn is beautiful and obviously of a higher class than that loser, Nelson. She simply saw a better chance and took it."
"You're right," the boy agreed. "We all wondered what she saw in Nelson that made her stay with him at first. Guess that's been washed off her eyes now with Troy's lavishing on her."
"That is none of our business," the first girl chided. The girl put out her cigarette. "Aren't you guys done yet?" She asked impatiently.
"Almost done."
"Just a little more.''
The three students, after fixing themselves up and spraying some deodorant, headed out of the enclosed space. Nelson waited to make sure they had completely left before leaving his hiding spot.
To say he was pained would be an understatement to how he truly felt. He felt his wounds reopening again and he struggled to not collapse on the roof. He had never actually processed the pain that came with Evelyn leaving him and that was because his mother had died on the same day. Now, with his mother buried and having time to grief in his grandfather's estate, he could try to think about it.
He had done nothing but loved Evelyn to the best of his ability. Ever since their highschool days, they had had each other and despite the fact that they were not of the same social class, it hadn't stopped them from being together. He had always done his best to get her whatever she wanted with the earnings from his various jobs. He wondered what had changed in her. They used to promise to always be by each other in the good and bad but barely 6 months in the university, Evelyn had left him. Not for anyone else, but for his biggest bully. The thought of Troy brought a strong wave of anger, causing Nelson to ball his fists.
Evelyn had not only dumped him but also betrayed him by joining his adversary to cause him more pain. She had broken his heart.
After calming down, Nelson left the rooftop deciding that he would just focus on his studies from then on. His mother's dream was for him to finish and be the best and he would make sure her dream came true.
Immediately he go into his class, the once lively chatter of the small hall became instantly quiet. He saw Troy and Evelyn at a corner with a small crowd. Evelyn had always loved attention and now that she was with Troy, she got it even more. He considered walking up to them to confront Evelyn especially on why she has decided to join Troy in destroying him but knowing that would create more drama and attract an even bigger attention than the one he already had, he headed to a seat at the back, away from the constant harsh glares of his classmates.
Noticing that the lecturer had not yet come in, he rested his head on the desk and closed his eyes. He was beginning to hate his existence.
He heard loud giggles coming from Evelyn's corner and willed himself to ignore it. Nothing she did concerned him anymore and knowing Troy would seize every opportunity to further mock and humiliate him, he layed still. Perhaps, if he ignored everything and everyone, they would do the same to him.
Alas, that was a fool's wish as a large hand clamped down loudly on his desk. Before looking up, he could already guess to whom it belonged. Only Troy Anchor, in the entire school, would decide to act that way towards him.
"Hey scum! I see you came back to school!" Troy said loudly.
He was getting tired of Troy's antics.
"How is mummy?" Troy asked.
He stayed silent, hoping if he acted deaf, Troy would eventually get tired and leave him alone.
"Oops, I heard she died," Troy continued. "Why didn't you go with her to the afterlife? Were you too poor to afford a rope to kill yourself with?"
Nelson continued to stay silent but his patience was wearing thin the longer Troy kept talking.
"Was your mother even buried properly? Were you able to afford a casket or did you just give her body to the dogs to feast on?"
At that, Nelson looked up at him. The entire class now had their attention on them and Troy loved it.
"Keep my mother out of your mouth!" Nelson seethed.
"Ohh, I'm scared, Nelson has grown some balls.'' Troy laughed. "Or what?" Troy challenged.
"I'm warning you, Troy." Nelson was livid.
"Your mother was a nobody and I'll mention her as I damn well please!"
That was the final straw that broke the camel's back as Nelson lunged at Troy in fury. Unfortunately, by the time they were separated, the lecturer had come in.
"What sort of chaos is this?! The lecturer asked. "Would no-one care to explain?" He asked again, noticing the now silent class.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door and in walked a modestly dressed woman. "The dean would like to see Mr Nelson Baristan," she announced.
"Ah, good," the lecturer said. "I was about to send him there myself."
"Please, follow me," the woman said and Nelson silently did so but not without noticing the broad smile on Troy's face.
They got to the dean's office and the woman whom Nelson got to know as the dean's new secretary ushered him in.
"Good afternoon, sir. You sent for me," Nelson said.
The dean was a man who looked to be in his early fifties with graying hair and spectacles atop his nose, sitting behind a huge black desk.
"Ah, yes. Come in and have a seat, Mr Baristan." Nelson did as he was told. "I heard the news about your mother's demise. I'm sorry about that."
"Thank you, sir." Nelson replied, but still felt uncomfortable at being called so suddenly into the dean's office. He wondered what the reason was.
"I know you must be wondering why I have called you here so suddenly and I will go straight into that," the man said. "You're behind on your tuition payment, Mr Baristan, and the university's policy strictly forbids continuous access to lectures in such cases."
"But, sir, I thought my scholarship covered 50% of my tuition?" Nelson asked.
"Yes, it does, but you still have an extra 50% left and you have delayed in keeping up with that part." The dean replied.
"Can I get more time, sir? I promise to pay it off," Nelson pleaded.
"I'm sorry, child, but I cannot give you more time. The university only gives a 6 months deadline and you're way past that already. You either pay up in 24 hours or you forfeit your studies here." The dean offered him a sad smile.
Nelson was dejected. The money he had been saving up wouldn't be enough to cover his fees. As he walked back home, he thought of his mother and how she would have comforted him in this situation. He considered going back to meet his grandfather to beg and that was when he remembered the black card his grandfather had given to him. He had only accepted the card then because it once belonged to his mother and hadn't bothered to re-activate it. He knew what to do now.