Caught Up In Lucifer's Eyes

Kabanata 14

Punishment

The tension inside the silent office is very intimidating. Napuno ito ng tao. I was shocked when I saw the other two girls on that bathroom incident.

Charm looks very pale. Kasama niya ang kanyang mga magulang. Abby, Marco, Dannah, as well as their parent, are here too. Kagagaling pa lang ni Dannah sa ospital at maputla pa ang kanyang mukha.

We are all gathered here for a serious matter. The heavy lines on the principal's forehead are showing. It justifies that all of us here are nervous and stressed at the same time.

"I suppose everybody here is accompanied by their guardian already? May we start?"

Napalunok ako roon.

"Wala po akong guar--"

I was shocked when the door flung open. Lahat kami napatingin roon. We saw a man in his white polo with matching black slacks, and a very intimidating figure.

"L-Lucius!"

I was still on shock. Lumapit ito sa banda ko. Kunot ang noo ko sa presensiya niya rito. What was he doing here?

"You are?" bungad na tanong ng Principal sa kay Lucius. Napahawak ito sa salaming makapal at kuryosong nakatingin sa binata.

Lucius extended his palms for a handshake.

"I am Ms. Helena Demetria's guardian. Apologies to my late arrival."

The principal shook his hand. She was quite amused of Lucius' formality. Samantala ay kinuha kong oportunidad ang pag-upo niya sa gilid ko kahit pa ang atensiyon niya ay nasa nagsasalita.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered.

He only sighed. "You didn't tell me about this."

Ibinalik niya na ang tingin sa nagsasalita at ako naman ay napatahimik nalang. Who told him about this? Si Abby?

Malaking gulo ang ginawa ni Charm. May kasalanan din sina Marco at Abby. The admin was hard on her offenses. Hindi nito pinalagpas ang kahit isang gulong ginawa ni Charm.

Una ay yung sa restroom. Physical violence. Pangalawa ay yung kay Dannah na food poisoning. Pangatlo ay yung pagseset-up niya sa pagkakakulong ko sa storage room.

The principal had a  brief recap of the rules and agreement of the school. Dito kasi, malamang, magbebase ng bigat ng salang ginawa ng estudyante.

All of Charm's offenses were all major. Ang kina Marco at sa dalawang babae ay minor lang ngunit mayroom pa rin iyong halaga. It could lead to suspension. Abby will be punished too, hindi lang kasing bigat ng parusa sa iba.

Charm's mother cried violently in the middle of the meeting. Nakaawa tignan ang nanay niyang nanginginig ang balikat kakaiyak. Charm was stoic all the time.

Samantala, paulit-ulit na pinipilit ng Dad ni Charm na magbabayad nalang sila ng financial damages. He was pursuant to settle his daughter's offenses into money, na hindi sinang-ayunan ng principal.

"What your daughter did were major offenses and we do not tolerate such actions in this university. It is clearly stated here that whoever defies any of the offenses, should be punished. And yours, major that is, corresponds to expulsion."

The principal was ruthless in declaring their punishment. Wala siyang pagdadalawang-isip. No mercy was shown.

"And for you, Mr. Marco Dacillo. You should be expelled as well. You  inflicted physical violence to Ms. Helena Demetria. That could not be tolerated,"