Faith and The Vampire ✔️

Chapter Twenty One

My throat dry as I stood in the center of the room. I heard soft murmurs from the audience, looked out at their expectant faces. I could sue her. I wouldn't risk losing a chance to embarass her. I wanted to prove that Tuba was wrong, and I was right. This could be my epic comeback. It was such a tempting thought.

If I sued her, everything would become normal again, right?

But, what if l decided wrong? I worried as I stood there. What if I was just seeking revenge?

In my heart, I knew that suing her was a right and fair thing to do. Tuba nearly ruined my life, but even so I had my own fault. I couldn't blame her for every mistake I made, for every dumb thing I've said. Because if I start running tallies on stupid, I know that I was going to come out ahead. It would make me feel so much better if I could point at someone—anyone— and say, "This is your fault". It was juvenile, I knew, this need to assign blame, but everyone had a right to childish emotion from time to time.

"No." I declared

Mrs. Padma frowned. "What do you mean, no?"

"I won't sue Miss Avci. I won't take this matter to the court." I said primly

The look of shocked surprise on their face was obvious. The three of the board seemed to find it hard to believe that I drop this thing off. I remembered my own words: Speculation and suspicion had done enough harm already. I knew that Tuba was ruthless and dangerous, but I'd ignored all that, gave her a chance to somehow come to her senses.

"You decline the offer? Why, if I may ask?" Domnule Alexandru mused

"I'm aware of the fact that this rumor has possibly ruined my reputation here in the Institute. At a certain point, yes, it had everything to do with what Miss Avci has done. But I don't blame Miss Avci for the entirety. Because that's how it is for girls. People judge you for the way you look and the things they hear about you."

As soon as I said it, the truth of the words hit me so hard that it left me breathless. I looked out in the audience, which was starting to disband and buzzing with talk over what would happen now. Glancing over at the committee section, in the back, I saw Khalid. His eyes were on me too, dark and endless. He looked surprised too, but as he stared at me, I could see determination and pride radiating. Only when the room was
practically vibrating with tension did he nod at me I took a deep breath.

"Doamna Padma?" I asked. I think she'd been about to give her declaration. "May I say something else?"

She thought about it, exchanging glances with the other board, then shrugged. "I see no reason not to."

"Okay," I said, hoping I sounded reasonable and wasn't going to lose my temper. "I won't settle my defamation claim, but it doesn't mean I voluntarily let her gets away with it. I hope Miss Avci will be punished for what she's done- a fair detention, of course. No more nor less."

I glanced at Tuba, who was sitting right next to me. She didn't have the nerve to raise her head. She looked down at the floor, with her hands playing her skirt restlessly.

Mrs.Padma appeared to consider this. She beckoned Domnule Alexandru and Domnule Puiu toward her, and a couple committee and counselors leaned closer. They had a whispered conference. Mrs.Padma gave a resigned nod, and the others leaned back.

"All right," she said wearily "Here's what we've decided, Miss Avci. You're lucky to not have Miss Darmawan sue you, or this decision might have been different. You'll be suspended from classes of your program for a week."

Before Tuba let out any protest, I heard Mrs.Padma continued to speak.

"And you'll be spending your day off this month doing community service."