The following day, neither of the two attended classes nor were they seen inside campus. Only Care's absence was noticed though, which Mandy happily took advantage of. Before noon came, a rumor circulated of her looming expulsion. That same day, Ivy was elected as first year representative. Some people interpreted it as Care being butchered on a power grab, plus explains her no show.
Ruining everyone's expectations, Care showed up the next day. In fact, she arrived at 5:00 AM in the morning in an oddly good mood. Joggers having a morning run around the oval greeted her in high spirits so she was much obliged to reply with a perfect smile and a cutesy wave. Many speculated she was faking it to save face. After all, the POD shall pass a sanction right after the deliberation.
Later on, the concerned students were escorted to the POD office, excusing them from their respective classes. Mayor Salvador and Ena sat on opposite sides yet they were chatting pretty friendly when their children arrived. Mandy wore a haughty expression put off by Care's blank face.
You could keep the high horse act but you won't ever recover your pride after this shameful defeat, Mandy inwardly celebrated.
Ms. Sanz cleared her throat, "Welcome, dear parents! It's unfortunate we are meeting for this reason. I just hope we decide on the best interests of the students, manners and conduct-wise."
"I concur, Ms. Sanz. However, I must appeal. My family, my Madelaine specifically, knows Care for the longest time. A heavy disciplinary action is unnecessary, a sincere apology suffices."
Mandy was about to protest but the huge hand of her father seized hers serving as a warning gesture.
"I appreciate your understanding, Mayor, Mands. As you can see, Ms. Sanz, my daughter and I had a heart-to-heart talk after we ended in disagreement with you the other day. Thankfully we reached amazing breakthroughs!"
Care froze. The traumatic experience flashed--- the growls of rottweilers, her cries... Not time growing old or amount of alcohol intake lessens the vividness of the memory in her mind. Quickly, she put her hands under the table afraid that the people in the room would notice them shaking. She felt nauseous, too.
"...There were realizations and regrets on her part. Tell them, darling." Ena urged, placing her hand atop Care's arm to get her spiraling mind back.
She jolted a bit. The skin contact with her Momma terrified the crap out of her. Mandy smirks upon noticing this without understanding the awful reason behind it.
"I... I---" she stammers marvelously.
"Go ahead, darling. Don't fret! Momma's here." Ena assured but Care knew better.
Helena Aragon was obviously implying another defiant act and she was in for another trip to hell.
The door opens, Aster helps herself in. Clad in a brilliant red chiffon dress, she easily grabbed their attention.
Inhale, exhale.
She did a quick breathing exercise before approaching the conference table. Care smiled at her. They were nervous yet a strong surge of energy flowed to their body. With each other's presence, they found unwavering confidence. It does not completely obliterate the fear. At least, though, it pushes them not to cave in to that feeling.
"I am here to share my side of the story." She uttered in a whispery voice resembling a scared kitten.
"With all due respect, Aster, you're being rude." Mandy bluntly spat with arms crossed then turned to Ms. Sanz, "She is Care's best friend! Whatever she spout would be pure bias---"
"You! How do you do--- Y-you, your friends and their boyfriends so effortlessly act like you didn't hurt me!" Aster could not help asking.
"Aster, please! Stop your lies!" Mandy pleaded, her eyes reflected terror of facing consequences rather than regrets of what she did.
Witnessing her aggressive-defensive behavior, Aster realized they never spend even a second to stress over the damage they have done. The victim carries the weight of her sufferings. On the other hand, the oppressor lives on carefree. The cycle shall continue unless the ones at fault bear their share of burden.
"Yes, no more lying to myself that eventually the bullying would pass on. Ms. Sanz, I was bullied by Mandy and many of the cool kids she befriended. Care simply tried to defend me. And she may have committed punishable offences but I plea for a lighter sanction. I owe her my courage today as my lawyer filed the case to the prosecution office. Aurum University might be dragged into the mud due to this issue of mine, I heartily apologize in advance. But, I can't settle for any less justice. I deserve to get back my self worth and dignity."
Mayor Salvador stared dumbfounded as well as Ena while Care became a mere live audience. She trusts her friend's capability now to fight her own battle. She's stronger than she believes, Care reckons.
Aster faced Mandy next. Instead of hate, compassion was written in her eyes. The immediate reaction Mandy felt were knots in the pit of her stomach. It blocked the guilt from crushing her which might result in a bloody confession.
"Maybe the bullying lasted excruciatingly long was partly my fault, that's why sorry. Sorry that I'd let you and your group's abusive behavior grow worse. I really fattened it badly... Hence I will do my part and be the lesson you ought to learn."
She nodded to Ms. Sanz as farewell courtesy. The old woman's look of approval was her green light. As she turned around, the intangible huge baggage weighing on her back was lifted. For so long, she was atoning the wrong way. The sin she wanted to be redeemed from has nothing to do with this.
Mayor Salvador, paler compared his daughter, tried to follow her. Then, suddenly the clock stopped ticking, bringing their movements into a pause at the same time. Gallus, out of nowhere, emerged sitting on the table beside Ms Sanz. He chuckled unbothered if his laughter was annoyingly sexy.
"Get lost, serpent!" The guidance counsellor's voice became younger, softer even.
By the flick of her slender fingers, she reverted back to her original form. Enchanting silver eyes, long, long eyelashes, as brown as chocolate skin --- In short, an unearthly beauty!
"Lovely to see you, too, Iri! Got a sniff of your smell on Care, my guess was right. You've been prying not only on my business but Orion's as well."
"Keep your lectures to yourself! You belong to the Damned while I am one with the Blessed so I do not need your permission. You've fallen from His grace. You big DISGRACE!" she barked at him.
There are two primary divisions of Fae: the Blessed and the Damned. The former is the majority in numbers while the latter is the minority. The Blessed, beings that serve under the Almighty as either guardians of mortals or protectors of nature. On the other hand, the Damned, beings who once belonged to the Blessed until they committed a grave sin.
Given the hostility of Iri towards Gallus portrays the relationship existing between two sides.
"Hold off your horses. I'm just here to advise a friend who unfriended me. Stop messing with their emotions. We both know how it goes down with or without your manipulations."
"It's blessings, stop wording my powers wrong!"
Iridescent's alias among fae is Heart Manipulator. She possesses the ability to influence human emotions. The words she speaks worked as a stimulant and by her own discretion she could heighten or drop the level of one's feelings. A perfect example was how she was raising Mandy's panic to the extremes whereas Aster's confidence to the maximum.
"Yea, yea! Whatever floats your boat. Just don't overdo it. You will make it harder for both gir---"
Before he finished his sentence, he flew out of the window caused by a strong gust of wind. He crashed on the cemented pavement two floors below. Despite being a mythical creature, he unexempted from feeling pain. He groaned in agony of broken ribs which also broke his focus of freezing time.
Gallus remembered elements are practically her greatest allies. And on a second thought, he may have been the one overdoing the talk. Given the misfortunes he gave to people he dealt with, he was nowhere in position to convey concern.