"That idiot. What is he doing?" Nathan sighed with a silly grin on his face. "He''s been absent for so long that if I hadn''t called him, he might have forget that there''s school at all!"


    "But isn''t it strange for Rain to be absent so long?" one of the boys asked.


    Nathan shrugged. "He''s probably ying some video game again."


    "He''s always ying, but he''s never been absent orte once."


    "Maybe he got sick?"


    Nathan paused, considering his friend''sment. The group of boys exchanged a look before theyughed it off.


    "Nah, that guy doesn''t get sick."


    "Hey! You boys back there! Stop talking to each other while I''m lecturing or all of you will go to the guidance counselor!" Teacher Henry yelled.


    The boys quickly stopped their chatting and paid attention to the ss.


    On the side, the girls rolled their eyes and couldn''t help butment.


    "Boys. They''re so childish."


    "That''s why I prefer real men. Like Alice over there. I saw her one time being picked up by a handsome man in thetest edition of Royce. Talk about ss."


    Alice, who was minding her own business, didn''t react and continued to take notes in silence. She had a lot to think about, mostly concerning her territory in the Spirit Realm, and had no time to be gossiping with her ssmates.


    She was about to undergo the challenge for her Novice Lord title and couldn''t afford to be distracted by mundane things. At this point, her social life was practically over.


    "Hey, Alice, tell us about that guy you''re seeing. Is that the reason why you rejected all of the guys on campus?"


    "I can''t me you. That guy is so handsome."


    Alice sighed inwardly but couldn''t me them. She used to be like that too — her life revolved around family, school, and friends. But now that she had experienced the other world, life had never been the same.


    Alice didn''t like to discuss anything about her life right now, and thank God that Teacher Henry was on their throats.


    "Hey, you girls back there! Stop chattering like the boys! Honestly, can you zip your mouths while I''m here?! I swear, one of these days, I will send you all to the Guidance Counselor to correct your behavior!"


    While Teacher Henry was berating his ssmates, Rain was nervously heading to the Guidance Counselor''s office, still unsure about the excuse he was going to give. His mind raced with possible exnations, each one sounding less convincing than thest.


    As he approached the office, he rehearsed various scenarios in his head. Maybe he could say he was sick, but then he''d need a doctor''s note. He could say there was a family emergency, but he didn''t have any proof.


    Rain''s mind raced as he knocked on the door, his heart pounding in his chest.


    "Come in," a stern voice called from inside.


    Rain took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping into the office where the guidance counsellor sat, looking at him expectantly.


    "Mr. Rain, please sit down," the counselor said, motioning to a chair in front of her desk. "I''ve heard about you from Teacher Henry, and I''ve been expecting you." She shuffled some papers on her desk until she found Rain''s information. "Now, exin to me why you''ve been absent for thest four days."


    Rain swallowed hard, trying to calm his nerves. He knew this was hisst chance to make things right, and he had toe up with a convincing story — fast.


    "Uh . . ." Rain tried hard not to let his eyes settle on the ample bosom of the counselor. He wanted to look her in the eyes, but that was even worse.


    The Guidance Counselor was a popr staff member in school because of her seductive face and body. Her phoenix eyes were hypnotic, and her pouty red lips were even more so.


    Rain swallowed hard and looked at his crossing fingers on top of his legs. The Counselor was already married and had children, but for some reason, the boys ignored that part.


    A lot of them had done numerous things to be sent here, hoping to get her attention. Too bad that the Counselor was strict and could see through their lies, and that earned them detention.


    From then on, the Counselor was both feared and admired from afar.


    Rain couldn''t say that he didn''t like her too, but having a rtionship with a married woman was too much even for him.


    "Uh . . . the truth is . . .


    I . . ."


    "You?" The Counselor''s eyebrow rose into an arch.


    "I . . ." Rain shifted his eyes left and right.


    "I don''t have all day, Mr. Weathers."


    "I got depressed," Rain said immediately at the impatient tone in the Counselor''s voice.


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    The Counselor was shocked, evident by her wide eyes. Rain couldn''t me her; even he was shocked at his own exmation.


    "Depression?" The word slurred on the Counselor''s lips, as if she were trying to make sure she had heard him correctly.


    Rain nodded and made up an excuse on the spot.


    "That''s right!" Rain nodded and rolled with it. "I got depressed. My parents aren''t home, and I''m alone at my apartment. I just . . .


    I''m just dealing with something right now. Something . . . dangerous."


    The Counselor took a deep breath and crossed her hands.


    Rain pressed his lips tight, his hands shaking. It''s over, he thought, wanting to hit his head. From all the things he could say, why that word?


    There was no way the Counselor would believe him now!