-Hugo's pov-
The chill of the principal's office seeped into my bones as I sat there, my heart pounding in my chest. A knot of fear tightened in my stomach as I wondered what punishment awaited me. I clenched my fists, my brown skin flushed with anxiety.
I watched in disbelief as the teacher led Diego into the office, closing the door behind them. My fists clenched at my sides as anger and guilt churned in my gut. This was all my fault. That stupid fight over nothing had spiraled out of control, and now Diego was the one being punished.
I slumped down in my seat, my brown skin flushed with shame. I knew I should have just walked away, but my temper had gotten the best of me yet again. Now we were both paying the price for my impulsiveness. I dropped my head into my hands, wishing I could take it all back.
***
I couldn't believe how long Diego was in there. It felt like an eternity waiting outside that office, my mind racing with worry and anger. When he finally emerged, his face was unreadable, not a single emotion breaking through that stoic mask.
But then his eyes met mine, and I saw it - the disgust. It was like he could see right through me, could read every thought in my head. The way he looked at me made my skin crawl, my heart pounding against my ribcage.
I just sat there, frozen, as he walked past me without a word, leaving me alone with the shattered pieces of my pride.
Ms. Johnson's voice snapped me back to reality. "Hugo, please come see me in my office." My heart dropped as I felt a lump forming in my throat. I slowly pushed myself up from my desk, palms sweaty. Each step towards her office felt heavier than the last.
As I stepped into Ms. Johnson's office, the warm scent of pumpkin spice filled my nostrils, momentarily easing the tension in my shoulders. I sank into the plush chair across from her desk, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. The air seemed to thicken with each passing second as I braced myself for the conversation to come.
I clench my fists, avoiding Ms. Johnson's gaze as she closes the door behind us. Her questions hang heavy in the air between us. I know I should tell her the truth about what happened with Diego, but pride and anger choke back the words.
"It was nothing," I mutter, staring down at my scuffed sneakers. Just a stupid fight with Diego. It won't happen again.
Ms. Johnson sighs, her brow furrowed. I can tell she knows I'm lying, and she asks me again, her voice firm and louder. I shift uncomfortably, the urge to bolt rising in my throat. Why can't this nosy lady just drop it? It was a stupid mistake I know, but she needs to know when to mind her own fucking business.
Ms. Johnson's stern voice cuts through the tension as she informs me that our little spat isn't going to fly. She fixes me with a stern glare, making it clear that she knows this wasn't going to end well. With a heavy sigh, she tells us that she's going to have to expel both Diego and me for the next two days. My stomach drops as the reality of the situation sinks in - my temper has gotten the better of me yet again, and now I'm paying the price. I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I avoid eye contact with anyone in the room, too ashamed to face their judgment.
I refuse to shed a tear, this is all my doing. Stomping down the hallway, my fists clenched tightly at my sides, the buzzing lights overhead do little to soothe my agitated state. Reaching the attendance office, I slump into one of those uncomfortable hard plastic chairs and stare blankly at the wall, anxiously awaiting my mother's arrival.
As I glance up, my eyes lock onto Diego, tears streaming down his face from across the room. A pang of guilt hits me as I debate whether I should go over and comfort him.
I can't believe what I'm hearing. Ms. Johnson stands up from her desk, a stern look on her face as she opens the door. "Your mom has already been informed about this," she says firmly. My heart sinks. This is it. There's no way out now. I've really messed up this time.
I slowly get up from the chair, my vision blurred by unshed tears. I blink them back, refusing to let them fall as I walk out of her office. My brown skin feels hot, almost feverish, as the emotions churn inside me. I clench my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I try to hold myself together. But with each step, I can feel my composure crumbling, the tears threatening to spill over. I keep my head down, not wanting anyone to see the turmoil written across my face. I just need to get out of here, to find somewhere private where I can let it all out.
After a long internal struggle, I finally approach Diego. As I sit down beside him, he glances up, his eyes red and puffy from crying. His voice is sharp and defensive as he asks, "What do you want?" I take a deep breath, steeling myself. It's now or never.
"Diego, I need to tell you something. The truth about why I fought you that day." His brow furrows but he doesn't interrupt. "I was jealous. Seeing you with everyone, flirting and laughing...it made me sick to my stomach. I wanted you to look at me the way you look at them." The words pour out of me in a jumbled rush. "I thought if I could beat you, prove I was better somehow, then maybe you'd finally see me. But I was wrong. I'm so sorry for hurting you."
I knew most of what I was saying wasn't true, but I couldn't confess that I had jerked off to a picture of him and had a crush on him. The words stuck in my throat, my brown skin flushed with shame and desire. I had to keep up this angry facade, even as my heart raced at the thought of Diego's touch.
-add Diego's pov later-
