Echoes of Red [BINI AU]

Chapter 8

Third Person's Point Of View

As the principal's gaze shifted from one girl to the next, Mikha couldn't help but feel the weight of his scrutiny bearing down on her. The office seemed to shrink around them, the air thick with tension as they awaited his verdict. Mikha's eyes flickered to Stacey and Maloi, their expressions a mix of apprehension and defiance.

Stacey cleared her throat, breaking the uneasy silence. "Sir, I just want to clarify that Mikha and I were merely trying to diffuse the situation. We never intended for things to escalate like they did."

Maloi nodded in agreement, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah, I was just trying to protect myself. Anna was being completely unreasonable."

The principal listened intently, his brow furrowed in thought. Mikha watched his every move, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. On one hand, she wanted to defend Maloi and Stacey, to ensure that justice was served. On the other hand, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her conscience.

Mikha's thoughts drifted back to the events that had led them here. She replayed the argument in her mind, each word and action dissected with meticulous precision. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, a sense of frustration simmered beneath the surface.

When the principal finally addressed her, Mikha met his gaze head-on. "Miss Mikha, do you have anything to add to Miss Stacey and Miss Maloi's accounts?"

Mikha took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. "Sir, with all due respect, I believe that Anna's actions were unwarranted. Maloi was simply defending herself against baseless accusations."

"Again, it wasn't just an argument, sir," Mikha added, her tone firm. "Anna was hurling insults and grabbed Maloi's hair."

The principal's raised eyebrow prompted Maloi to speak up, though her hesitation was evident. "I... well, sir, it's complicated," Maloi began, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the right words.

"Anna's been spreading rumors, sir," Maloi continued after a moment, her sigh echoing Mikha's frustration. "She's been calling me names and trying to turn everyone against me."

Mikha watched as the principal turned to her, his expression skeptical. "You seem awfully confident in your friend's innocence, Miss Mikha," he remarked, his tone probing.

Mikha shrugged, her nonchalance masking her true feelings. "I'm just stating the facts, sir," she replied coolly. "But if you want my opinion, I think Anna's the one who's causing all the trouble here."

The principal nodded, his expression unreadable. "Thank you for your input, Miss Mikha. I'll take everything into consideration before making my decision."

With that, the conversation drew to a close, leaving Mikha with a sense of unease that lingered long after they had left the guidance office. As she walked alongside Maloi and Stacey, she couldn't shake the feeling that their ordeal was far from over.

Principal Alvarez's sigh seemed to echo throughout the room, signaling his exasperation at the situation before him. His brow furrowed in concern as he contemplated the gravity of the altercation that had occurred, "Well, regardless of who's to blame, this behavior is unacceptable. I'll need to speak with Miss Deal Cruz and get her side of the story."

"But sir, Anna's not exactly known for her honesty..."

Stacey's voice cut through the heavy silence, her words laced with frustration and indignation. Mikha could see the determination in her friend's eyes as she spoke up, unwilling to let the injustice go unaddressed.

But the principal's response was firm, his raised hand halting any further protests. Mikha couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation wash over her as she realized the futility of arguing further.