Kissing The Wind

“There’s more,” I said between gritted teeth. “Pay my expenses. Carry my bag. Compliment me. Eat with me every lunch. Invite me for a dinner at your house. Accompany me home.”

Rogie became silent after I said those words. I chuckled as I watched his serious face. His gentle eyes stared at me and it took me a few seconds before I noticed it.

I cleared my throat. “Why are you staring like that?” I spat.

But he just showed me his smile. “Your demands are easy,” he said.

“Demands.” I huffed. “I don’t demand a thing. Do you want to apologize? Then do it,” I said and showed him my infamous smile.

I would not be here tomorrow so I was sure that he could not do it. Even so, I did not believe that Rogie would do it. He was a prideful bastard that knows nothing but to bully others.

At dismissal, I was ready to sprint home. However, the faculty assistant approached me and asked me to follow her to the principal’s office. Right. I knew that it’s almost impossible to escape that dreadful office. I sighed and followed the girl.

The hallway was full of students and most of them were regular students. Some of them stole a glance at me but they would look away after split seconds. And that was when I realized that we were traveling through the administration building. Most of the students in the first hallway of that building were scholars, so that was my haven so far.

But while walking ahead, I heard some whispers from them. “Isn’t she…?”

“She’s lucky to have one.”

“I saw her making a scene with a VIP in the canteen. It’s good to know that one of them spared her and even elevate her status in this school.”

I stopped in my tracks and looked at the two girls who were standing at the side of the hallway. They were just meters away from me and because of the silence, I easily heard what they were whispering. And I did not have to guess who they were whispering about ’cause it was pretty obvious that it was me whom they were pertaining to.

I pursed my lips at them, and they returned it with a small smile before walking hastily in the opposite direction. I heaved a sigh. Elevate the status? Nonsense.

Forgetting what I just heard from those two girls, I continued walking towards the principal’s office, following the girl assistant closely behind.

The sun shone lazily, hanging low in the afternoon sky. A chilly wind passed by me and I released a breathe that I did not know I was holding since I heard those girls.

I knew it was complete nonsense. No. I should not believe them, but part of me was anticipating the truthfulness of it. Being expelled by the school was more problematic than facing those bullies. I admitted it.

Suddenly, the girl turned around and said, “Miss, please enter now. The principal is waiting for you.”

With a shaky breath, I stepped a foot inside the well-ventilated office of the school principal. It had been months since my last visit and I was nervous to the core. In the past, stepping inside meant danger. And it was no different in that afternoon.

“Good afternoon,” I greeted.

The principal nodded and gestured for me to sit on the visitor’s lair. I immediately obeyed her.

“You are Sydnee Lurica?” she casually asked and opened a folder. I recognized the folder as the one that I’ve seen in Sir Anthony’s hand earlier.

“Yes,” I breathe.

She put the folder flat on the surface of her wooden table and looked at me. “Your teacher reported to you that you cheated on his subject, is it true?”

I gritted my teeth but I did not let her see my annoyance. I looked away. “No. I did not cheat.”

“So you are telling me that your teacher lied and filed a fake report?”

Amazed by her statement, I turned my face towards her and stared back at her careful gaze. I gulped hard before I opened my mouth. “I didn’t say that, but I know in myself that I didn’t cheat in his class.”

“So you know this teacher…?”

I was caught off guard. I clasped both my hands and stared pleadingly at her. “Maam, I did not know. I don’t know why they insist that I cheated but I know in myself that I did not. But whatever I’ll do, whatever I’ll say, no one will believe me. So please, investigate it, ma’am…”

There was a long silence between me and the principal. She stared at my face so I looked away and bit my bottom lip.

She was not the principal that I used to fear and hate. According to the school publication, she was newly appointed principal by the board of directors after the previous one was found using forbidden drugs. Maybe it was the reason why the previous principal was not that… good.

But upon seeing and answering her questions, I could see that she was not the same as the previous principal. She let me speak up my mind and let me defend myself before concluding. The thing that made the set-up suspicious was that I was the only one answering her. For most cases, like the one I’ve seen last year, the two parties should be present.

“Sydnee,” the principal called, cutting my thoughts. “I’ve seen your previous grades and I am impressed by your performance.” There was a small smile lingering at the side of her lips which made me more nervous.

I forced a smile. “Thank you, Maam. I studied hard to complete high school.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“But I noticed that you performed low in Math.”

I looked away. “I’m struggling in that subject.”

“Mmm… and your Math teacher reported you. Should I believe the report now that you’ve admitted that you’re struggling in the subject?”

“W-what…” My brows knotted a little with a thought. “I didn’t admit the accusation, and low performance in the subject is not a guarantee that I will do what they accused of me.”

The principal leaned her back on her swivel chair and skimmed over the opened folder file in the table. “You’re quite careful with your words.”

I faintly smiled at her. “If I am not careful, someone will take advantage of my weakness. They will use it against me.”

Dealing with those bullies had taught me a lot of things. It’s just that I had kept myself low so they would not target me, but when my scholarship was on the brink, I knew that I could no longer keep it safe from them. So why bother keeping low when there was no more thing for me to protect?

“I see.” She closed the folder, placed it aside, and opened another one. “This school is your benefactor, and because you broke the condition of the scholarship, then immediate termination is invoked.”

I pursed my lips into a thin line. “I have no money.”