Final Story: Goodbye, 'A' High School

Chapter 5

17 May 2022

"This is unacceptable!" I slam the coffee table in a fit of rage. "They can't just decide on such things without consulting with the students."

"We're in Vietnam," An, the secretary of the Student Council, interrupts. "Since when do schools give a damn about student welfare? The higher-ups only care about their image."

"That's why the school's getting shut down, right?" Thủy sips her bubble tea. "Think about it. How many scandals has our school gone through this academic year?"

"The attempted murders in September."

"The sex scandal in October."

"That terrorist attack on Christmas Eve," Yến, my sister, recalls. "I still remember it as clear as day."

"Then our skirmish with Ms Nga three months ago. Who knew she was such a corrupt bitch?" Châu Anh chimes in.

"Mind your language," Hiếu calmly does his Mathematics problems. "And the cherry on the cake is the news that the brother of one of our schoolmates was arrested for embezzlement. While it didn't have anything to do with the school per se, the fact that it was the family of an 'A' High student who was involved dealt the final blow to this feeble school."

"Well," I cross my arms, still fuming, "it's not like our rival school is a paragon of virtue. If anything, that goddamned school should have been shut down a long time ago. Didn't news of bribery and corruption among 'H-A' teachers come up on TV and newspapers recently?"

"Don't forget about the locals. They hate our school so much that when the news spread around, they couldn't hide their joy. Say, standing here and dissing others won't do us any good. If you all want to know more, you should go ask the principal for more details."

"That we will do right now," my sister grabs me by my arm and drags me out of the Student Council room. "Forward, everyone!"

Geez, it's still the same ever since we made up. Since young, I've always been dragged around by my sister and fallen victim for her whimsical tendencies. But I guess it's not too bad after all; our household has gotten much livelier and us sisters have been hanging out more recently.

This time shouldn't be an exception. Once Yến has her eyes set on something, she will definitely endeavour to get it. That determination is laudable, but too often it leads to stubbornness, which was why we fell out in the past in the first place.

After knocking (more like banging; sorry, Ms Nga) on the door three times, a gentle voice calls out from the other side, "Please come in."

"Good morning, Ms Nga," we bow. "The Student Council and the Communist Youth would like to discuss an important matter with you."

"Oh, how unusual. Please take a seat. Would you like some Earl Grey or Darjeeling?"

"Earl Grey, please," An happily raises her right hand.

The five of us sit quietly like good little children in a mall, waiting for their turn to be on Santa's lap. "The five of us", you say? You see, Hiếu, the vice-president of the Student Council, told us that he'd stay back and hold the fort. Knowing him though, he's probably doing his schoolwork because he'd rather study.

"So, what would you girls like to talk about?" the principal places the exquisite cups of tea on the mahogany coffee table, then seats herself in the black leather sofa opposite us. "I take it is about the closing down of the school?"

"Yes, Ms Nga," I reply. "As representatives of the student body, we would like to know why such a decision has been made, and if it is not too late, whether we can still turn the decision around or not."