Hearts & Minds

Chapter 2: Blind Eye

*Jazz*

After everything went dark, I woke up with a dull throb in my left eye, an ice pack pressed against it. My mind flashed back to the moment before it all went black—me, ready to swing at Axel, and him already aiming for me. Now, here I was, in the principal's office, feeling the lingering ache of his punch. Groaning, I glanced down at the floor, waiting to be called in. The seconds felt like hours, the pain in my eye pulsing in time with my heartbeat. Finally, the speaker crackled to life, calling me in.

I walked in, my feet heavy, and saw Principal Samely staring directly at me, her disappointment radiating from her gaze. I slumped into the chair near her desk, unable to meet her eyes.

"I'm very sorry, Principal Samely, for causing a commotion," I said quickly, the words tumbling out. "But I'm not sorry for almost punching Axel Ford."

She just smiled, a soft, knowing smile that made me feel even worse. "I know you didn't want to cause a commotion," she began, her tone gentle yet firm. "But you did, and about Axel Ford..."

"Axel Ford will not receive any warning or any punishment because his father is the school president," I interrupted, my voice tinged with bitterness. I knew exactly where this was heading.

She sighed, confirming my fears. The injustice of it all made my blood boil, but what could I do? I was already in trouble, and Axel would walk away unscathed as usual. "I'm going to accept whatever punishment you give me," I said, my voice steady. "I'm not like those people who get away with their mistakes."

Principal Samely leaned back in her chair, her expression softening. "I'm glad you're accepting responsibility, but you're not going to receive any punishment—just a warning."

I blinked in surprise. A warning? That wasn't what I expected at all. I thought for sure I'd be stuck with detention or forced into some community service. Principal Samely was known for being fair but firm, and I had prepared myself for the worst.

"A warning," I repeated, still processing.

"Yes, a warning," she said, leaning forward slightly. "I understand your frustration, but you have to remember that acting on impulse can lead to more harm than good. You're right to care about others, but you have to think before you act. Sometimes, there are battles you can't win, some that need to be left untouched."

Her words stung, the idea of letting injustice slide was something I couldn't easily accept. "What? I don't agree with you, Principal. I can't just let go of those oppressors," I said, my voice rising with anger.

"What can you do?" she asked calmly. "What can we do? The system is in their hands."

"Stand up. We stand for those who can't stand for themselves," I shot back without hesitation.

She studied me for a moment, her eyes softening with something like pity. "I can't tell you not to stand up, but I can advise you to choose your battles wisely. There was a teacher here once, much like you—passionate about justice, always standing up for what's right. He challenged the system too, but because the person he challenged was powerful, he lost his job. Sometimes, standing up comes with consequences."

Her story left a heavy silence between us. The reality of it all weighed on me, making my earlier resolve feel shaky. Even so, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. But what could I do when the odds were stacked so high against me?

"That's all, Mr. Haero," she said finally, her voice gentle. "I hope you'll take this to heart."

I nodded, thanked her, and left her office, feeling frustrated.

*****

The rest of the day dragged on in a haze of whispered conversations and sideways glances. The ice pack on my eye didn't do much to hide the bruising, and I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I went from class to class. By the time my last class rolled around, I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. I was packing up my things when Raezen approached me, a look of admiration in his eyes.

"I'm impressed by what you did back there," he said, his voice sincere.

I glanced up at him, unsure how to respond. Raezen was like Principal Samely in many ways—calm, collected, always weighing his options before acting. He sat down in the chair next to mine, leaning in as if to share a secret.

"Not everyone could stand up against Axel Ford," he added.

"That's because most of you are too afraid to stand up," I replied bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat my words.

"Perhaps you're right," he said, nodding. "Perhaps we were afraid."

"You were supposed to be the student government president," I said, my voice tinged with disappointment. "You were supposed to stand up for us."

"I'm sorry. I'm not the best SGP you've had," he admitted, his tone filled with regret.

"Don't be," I said, forcing a smile. "It's not your fault the system is built this way."

"You're unique, you know that?" Raezen said suddenly, his eyes locking onto mine. "You're not like most people here at school. We've been friends since 9th grade, and I've always admired you—your bravery, your intelligence, and how you care for your family and friends. I see how you treat Leigh and Yane. I wish everyone was as brave as you."

His compliment caught me off guard. Raezen had always been kind, but this felt different, more personal. "Thank you," I managed to say, feeling a strange mix of emotions.

I glanced at my watch and realized it was already 4:40 PM. "It's getting late. We should go," I said, hurriedly gathering the rest of my things.

Raezen nodded, grabbing his bag. We walked together to the school gate, where we parted ways. I needed to catch the bus home and was mumbling to myself as I hurried along. The sun had already set, and darkness was creeping in as I reached the bus stop.

While waiting, I heard a commotion in a nearby alley. Curiosity and a sense of déjà vu tugged at me. I approached cautiously and saw a man trying to snatch a woman's bag. The scene was eerily similar to my confrontation with Axel earlier. Principal Samely's words echoed in my head: 'Sometimes, there are battles you can't win, some that need to be left untouched.'

But how could I just stand by? If I did nothing, that woman could lose more than just her bag. Before I knew it, I was running toward the altercation, my bag swinging in my hand. With all my strength, I swung it at the robber's head, sending him stumbling to the ground. I quickly grabbed the woman's bag, ready to defend us both. The robber, now on his feet, didn't look at me but at something behind us. His face twisted in fear before he bolted, disappearing into the shadows.

As I turned to hand the bag back to the woman, I noticed a strange distortion in the air behind us—a bluish, swirling mass that seemed to warp reality around it. My breath caught in my throat as a figure emerged from the anomaly, humanoid but otherworldly. It moved with lightning speed, closing the distance between us in an instant.

The figure spoke, its voice an eerie mix of sounds that didn't belong to any language I knew. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, but I was frozen in place. The figure drew a sharp, dagger-like object, its intent clear in the way it gripped the weapon.

Before I could react, it plunged the dagger into my stomach. Pain exploded through my body, hot and all-consuming. I gasped, the air forced from my lungs as blood began to soak through my uniform. The woman screamed and ran, leaving me alone with this otherworldly being. My vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges.

What a day, I thought bitterly, my mind slipping away. A black eye in the morning, and now this—a stab wound in the afternoon. Maybe being blind to it all wasn't such a bad idea after all.