My hand is tapping impatiently on my desk as I kept my eyes fixed on the wall clock three inches above the classroom board. The remaining six minutes of our last period felt like forever, and I knew I couldn't wait any longer.
I haven't seen Jyo ever since they left 15 minutes before the afternoon class started, and I am not sure if he's aware that he had to meet Miss Stacey after class. His school bag is still on his seat, two rows to the left of me. Meanwhile, Kier's overstaying at the school clinic, probably trying to act like the victim again.
"Class dismissed."
I stood up as soon as I heard that magical two words and began stuffing my school bag with my things. I still have a lot to do. After picking up all of my stuff, I clung the strap of my school bag to my shoulder and prepared myself to leave. Just one more step and I'm outside the room; I stopped when I saw him. Jyo just threw me the same boring look I had given him as he continued walking towards the door. Our shoulders brushed against each other when he and I took a step outside and inside the classroom.
I walked down the crowded hallway to the principal's office to meet with the disciplinary committee, and while I was walking there, a notification popped up on my cellphone screen.
[EHS UNDERGROUND FILES. KiRo_0825 uploaded a new video: Elton High School hottie stripping video]
I clenched my fist.
I took a deep breath before sliding the phone back inside my pocket, ignoring whatever was on the screen, and continued walking towards the principal's office, where I saw Kier lying comfortably on the couch sitting in the far left corner of the office. He's busy with his phone and he didn't even realize I was there, glaring at him.
I forgot to mention that he's the Principal's nephew and that alone is enough to give him the audacity to walk above the school grounds thinking that everyone else in this school is beneath him.
"Oh, Miss Nase. you're here,"
My eyes darted to the principal, who had just come out of the bathroom. He gave me a fake smile as he walked to his desk and sat on his swivel chair. "Have a seat."
***
It was already 18 past 6, 48 minutes after I exited the school, and I didn't know why I chose to walk the three-and-a-half kilometer distance of my home from school. It's starting to get dark, and I still have a few more minutes to walk before I get home. I've been the SSC captain for two years, and this is the first time that I ever got suspended for something so petty.
Kier had done a lot of troublesome and way more disgusting stuff, but since he's the principal's nephew, no one could lay a finger on him.
I stopped walking and looked up at the now gray sky as I exhaled loudly. It doesn't matter. It's over now. I don't have any regret about what I did. I hurt someone, and this suspension is nothing compared to what I did.
I started walking again. I can now see the road junction ahead, and just a few blocks from the intersection stood my house.
My phone rang, and I immediately answered the call.
"I heard you got suspended," he said as soon as I picked up.
A smile curved on my lips when I heard his gentle voice, and suddenly, getting suspended doesn't feel as bad as it is a few moments ago.
"Yeah," I replied with a chuckle. "I got a two-day suspension. I guess, even the SSC captain doesn't stand a chance against the principal's nephew."
I heard his silent laugh, which lasted for two seconds before he said, "Sorry that you had to go through that. I wish I could do anything..."
"This is no biggie. It felt satisfying to see his nose bleed like that, anyway. It's still worth the consequence,"
"But still--"
"I told you, it's fine. You know me..."
Silence settled for a few seconds. And during that brief moment, I saw the familiar blurry image of an overspeeding motorcycle passing, which instantly disappeared from my sight in just a matter of seconds.
"I'm almost home," I coldly said as I stared straight ahead, at the huddling people approximately a hundred meters away from me. I am only a few blocks away from the road junction— almost home, and there seems to be an accident near the intersection.
"Okay," he replied in a sad voice. "I'll call you again tomorrow." And just like that, he hung up.
I continued to walk until I reached the gate of my shabby two-story house, which was the only asset that my dad had inherited from his parents four years before I was born. I was right about the commotion in the intersection— it's a motorcycle accident. I didn't have the chance to see the victim because, by the time when I reached the intersection, a lot of people had congested the area, and it already caused traffic.
"I'm home," I sluggishly announced upon entering the house. No one answered, so I think he's not home yet.
I went upstairs— to my room— and threw my school bag at some random spot in my messy room before letting myself fall on top of my bed.
Books and papers are all over the tiny space. This place is my sanctuary. The paint stains on random places and things in my room looked messy, but I love it. All of my artworks are stored in the right corner of the room, beside my partially worn-out wooden closet. My ceiling's a bit run down, but it's still good for me. And while I was in the middle of spacing out as I lay on top of my old mattress covered with an old quilt, a message in our class group chat popped up on my screen saying,
"Guys, OMG! Kier met an accident just now. He died on the spot!"
And just seconds after I saw that message, another notification popped up. [EHS UNDERGROUND FILES. Black_Dahlia_666 uploaded 2 new photos] It was a photo of Kier and a 6-word letter saying,
"I'll meet you soon in hell. -B.D."