Faith and The Vampire ✔️

Chapter Two

Most disclipinary or academic failure issues went to The Institute Guidance Counselor. They helped students discuss their problems, thoughts and feelings in a confidential setting. Their duties include helping students adjust to the culture of this college, completing administrative tasks and working with college staff to create a supportive environment. Sometimes they oversaw students alike and was known for their creative and oft-used repertoire of punishments. They simply took student behavior seriously and dealt with it as they saw fit. There were some issues, however, that were beyond their jurisdiction.

The Institute Guidance Counselor calling University Scholarship Board, disciplinary committee, Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences and of course Domnule Alexandru, our beloved prep class teacher. This was very, very rare. You probably had to do something pretty serious to piss them off to get that sort of response. Like, say, failing an essential language proficiency test.

I sat in Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences office, facing the committee. They sat at a long table, looking imposing, while I sat in a single chair and felt very vulnerable. Several other people were sitting in and watching.

"Miss Darmawan" said The University Scholarship Board member, "I'm Mrs. Gerigan, secretary of The University Scholarship Board . And this meeting is about your scholarship status."

Mrs. Gerigan started to introduce everyone at that long table in front of me. "And this is Doamna Profesoară Padma, Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences." I watched her carefully, as i figured that she would be my future Dean. I mean, Dean of the Faculty that i've dreamed of. Doamna Profesoară Padma was probably mid-fourty, and as tall as I'd figured, probably six-two or six-three. Waist-length blond hair, hazel eyes, sat elegantly and wore her white blouse with high dignity.

"So, I presume you are attempting to join our Psychology Program, Miss Darmawan?" Doamna Profesoară Padma asked me while crossed her hands.

" Yes ma'am. I mean, yes, Doamna Profesoară Padma"

"Mrs. Padma is fine. Well, unfortunately your language proficiency test result is detaining you to do that." said Doamna Profesoară Padma, fully in her strict-executive mode. "As you know, every scholarship awardee must gain competence in Romanian, minimum level B1. While your test result, it's not acceptable. Your reading and writing score was so, so low. Do you have anything to say about all this?"

"I.... I had trouble for understanding long paragraphs, Mrs. Padma. I'm so sorry." I felt so embarassed, and scared of getting expelled from this scholarship.

"Well, have you studied for this test?"

"Of course!" I exclaimed. " I.... Yes, I have."

"Then, can you explain why were you skipping off 3 session of the language prep class?"

I froze for a moment. I didn't think they would bring this up. Yet, here we are. " I got sick."

But, that was a dang lie. I wasn't sick. I skipped off to course because I helped an old granny near the student dorm to harvest potatoes and corns. Why, you might ask? Well, long story short, I came from a middle-class family, and my family needed money so my brother didn't quit school and my family had something to eat. And, there I was, picking up every potatoes underground and yellow corns instead of went to language prep class. I needed money.

"Okay, we will fact check that reason later. Do you have other reason for this failure? For your information, you are facing removal from this semester studies." Mrs. Gerigan said.

"Oh." I suddenly not feeling as bold. Silence hung in the room for several moments. "I have followed every rule laid down for me since coming here. I've gone to course and obeyed every curfew. I hope... there's still a chance for me to be here, somehow. I really... really want to be a psychologist! I really need to study here, I want to help people."

Five chair from Mrs.Padma, a man raised his hand. He was older than me, maybe mid-twenties, and as tall as I'd figured, probably six-six or six-seven. Shoulder-length brown hair, tied back in a short ponytail. Dark brown eyes, wearing a long brown coat.

He glanced at Mrs.Padma for permission to speak. "May I?" She nodded, and he turned back to me. "I saw her test result and scholarship application form. Her speaking and pronunciation score were almost perfect. She might be bad at writing and understanding text, but if she has potential- Classes about to start, we can put her in."

I at least had the satisfaction of seeing Mrs. Padma caught off guard as she glanced between us and that kinda vampire. "She'll still be hopelessly behind her peers."

My pride was hurt, but it occurred to me that he might very well keep me here. "No, I won't," I argued. No one listened to me.

"Then give her extra training sessions," he said.

They continued on while the rest of us watched the exchange like it was a Ping-Pong game.. "Who's going to put in the extra time?" demanded Mrs.Padma. "You know, this rarely happened."

"Yes," he said. "Second year Indonesian-awardee can mentor Miss Darmawan. They can give her extra sessions."

"And then what?" retorted Mrs. Padma slightly irritated "Ruined those students timetable? I'm not sure everybody has the ability to teach new language." Silence hung in the room for several moments. Mrs. Padma crossed her arms with satisfaction. " I have a better idea. Why don't you teach her, Mr.Amar? Your fluency was already proved. "

Mr.Amar's argument came to an abrupt stop. "Well, that's not what I-"

"Considering similar background of you two, I believe she will be with the right hand.."

Clearly at a loss, he frowned. His eyes flicked toward me, and I wondered what he saw. A pathetic girl, looking at him with big, pleading eyes?

"Yes," he said finally. "I can mentor her. I'll give her extra sessions along with her normal ones."

Domnule Alexandru suddenly spoke up from his corner. "I'm inclined to agree with Mr.Amar. Sending Miss Darmawan back to her country would be a shame, a waste of talent."

Mrs. Padma stared out her window. "If Miss Darmawan stays, here's how it will be." She turned to me. "Your continued enrollment at this Institute is strictly probationary. Step out of line once, and you're gone. You will attend all classes and required trainings for freshmans.. You will also train with Mr.Amar in every spare moment you have-before and after classes. Fail to comply with any of this, and you will be sent...right back home."

I'm about to say that it wasn't quite fair, but then I caught Mr.Amar's gaze. It was hard to read. He might have been telling me he believed in me. He might have been telling me I was an idiot if i ever fight Mrs.Padma. I didn't know. Looking away from him for the second time during the meeting, I stared at the floor. At long last, I exhaled and glanced back up at the Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences.

"Fine. I accept."