Undercover

Discipline

The rest of Nate's day was occupied by random movies found on his various subscription-based streaming platforms.

By the time of dinner, Nate's parents arrived home together, hugging and kissing their missed children.

Great opportunity to mention, Nate's family is wealthy and his parents are usually busy, but nevertheless his mother is a wonderful cook who likes putting efforts in the foods home productions. Satisfaction is delicacy.

The four gathered around the dining table after a quick teamwork of preparations, mostly done in advance by Nate's younger sister, Adah, that definitely took the genes for the kitchen, yet leaving a fair capacity for brains and personality as well.

The food was great and abundant, but even though the siblings were haply to see their parents return, the air in the room was tense and fragile.

"So, boy," Nate's father broke the ice. "Paid a visit to Albert?"

Of course, dad will hear that from Fischer way faster than from me, he thought.

Nate nodded nonchalantly, resumimg his meal.

A short silence break prevailed in between the diners, when his father pressed, "And?"

with a sudden change of manner, Nate angrily dropped his cutleries and stood up, getting away from the table.

"I am not going to talk about it", He stated and rushed out of the house.

It was a perfect weather outside, just as cool as Nate needed it to be, for a calming jog.

Taking his time, he prolonged the activity into the midnight, returning home only by the bedtime of all the residents of the house.

He quickly made it to the shower, having some long enough minutes of reflection under the dripping warm water, but quick as possible to make it sooner to bed.

***

Sunday mornings for Bina are week planners and educators.

Just finishing her morning ceremony, Bina remembered to text Nate a reminder to solve the first homework sheet published a few days ago.

As Nate's response is late to come, Bina decided to start her homework.

During the following hour, Bina had been trying hard to stay focused on her engagement. This kind of hardship doesn't come very often to the lady, as she often finds it very entertaining to learn new things and challenge her brain. Satisfaction, in her case, is complexity.

Soon as the designated time for the session ended with the realization that it wasn't very effective, Bina took a pencil and paper and began to draw.

When she still couldn't find her silence, she began doing all kind of other home activities she could find that could make her feel better: Cleaning, cooking and even doing laundry.

Finally she tried to return back to her homework, just as a new text ringed her phone.

She jumped with excitement to see who is finally looking for her.

"Just came from a horrible day date", the text read.

It's just Danny, a slight hint of disappointment fell upon her.

"Rank it", she replied.

"Matrix too complex, can't rank"

Danny could easily adjust himself to Bina's scientific humor. He was majoring civil engineering, so both of them cpuld relate to mathematics, to a certain extent.

Despite the tiny frown that emerged earlier, Bina felt better as she dove deeper into the life matters conversation led by Danny and lasted till midnight. She fell asleep while chatting, still holding her phone in her hands.

***

When morning arrived, Bina conducted her rituals and headed straight to the campus.

Having little of preparation to do before lecture time at the beginning of the semester, she went inside the empty classroom earlier than usual, unexpectedly seeing Nate already seated next to her usual place, which was occupied by a back pack.

Bina approached her sit hesitantly, spending a couple of moments digesting the situation and choosing her replacement seat.

With a light utter of "Hi", she made it to the seat next to the back pack.

Bina's uneasiness was present even thought she tried her best to hide it, thought she could not complain. Free country!

Nate, who was busy with his phone, noticed her as soon as she greeted him and sat down. That was only when he suddenly picked up the barriering back pack from its place and dropped it to the ground.

"Hey, what's up?" he asked Bina casually, straightening his gaze with her extremely confused glare at the seat-bag complex that had just changed its state from what it was half a minute ago.

"What's wrong?" Nate asked again.

No response came along, and seeing the misery of his new friend due to the dillema she is under its influence, he got the clue and remarked, "I saved you your seat".

A bit overwhelmed and surprised by the gesture, the only thing Bina managed to reply was "Really?", maintaining her confused face.

"Yes", he giggled. "Why are you so shocked?"

Bina placed herself comfortably at her favorite place.

"Thank you... I thought it was already taken."

"Nobody comes that early on Monday morning", Nate smiled while raising a brow in a preparation to throw a pun later.

"Well... you did." Bina pointed the fact out.

Nate's face was showing the processing of the statement, but he quickly came up with an answer, "Yes, I owe you one."

Confused even more, Bina twitched her eyebrows, "What for?"

"I did not answer your text," he started explaining, "but you are actually trying very hard to help me and I should be grateful and respect that."

Bina smiled generously. A man with dignity, after all.

"I am being courteous, that's all", she replined grinning, trying to hide the emotions that had filled her.

After a few seconds, Bina cut the embarrassing silence.

"Are you alright?"

Not waiting for an answer, she preferred to clarify, "you probably had a reason, so I hope it was nothing serious."

Touched by the caring, Nate lowered his look and smiled.

"I had a tough weekend. Lots of self reflection."

Bina paid him a look of sympathy, and shared a partial hug of consolation. Not paying much of significance to it, Nate played along and enjoyed the solidarity he doesn't often gets to experience.

Even though it was a nice mutual moment, noticing that this is a friendly gesture she probably shouldn't had used, Bina drew back and apologized.

"Sorry. I assumed it could help. I felt too comfortable, I often do so with my friends."

The room began to fill up with students, and soon after the teacher came.

Nate tilted his head, thinking. "You know what," he continued, "that can be a nice thing to talk about during the break."

And the lecture began whereas the two remained silent.