Dean’s Office. April 19, 20XX. Thursday. After school.

Three students sit at the Dean’s Office of Beaufort Academy where they are currently being questioned by the Dean. Two versus one; complainant versus the defendant while the Dean and four teachers act as the judge and the jury.

The students’ chairs are divided into two, with two people on one side and one on the other end. Dana soothes the crying Ella while Fedina just sits there quietly.

“How could you do that?” One of the teachers asks, arms crossed and looking sternly at the latter.

“I know your family is currently struggling but…” another says.

“My family isn’t struggling,” Fedina defends herself.

“Then that is even worse. How could you steal something from your classmates? Not one, but two classmates at that.” Sir Eugene, the teacher whose arms are crossed, comments.

“That’s a problem. You’re not only a kleptomaniac but also a liar.” Dean Franco talks for the first time after the three students plead their case.

“How sure are you that I was the one who stole the wallet?”

“You don’t talk to me that way-”

“How sure are you that I was the one lying?”

“Young lady!” the Dean finally loses his temper and shouts at Fedina.

The student visibly gulps. “It wasn’t me,” she stresses once more.

“Then who do you suggest? Who?” the man with the highest position taunts the accused.

The two other students start to wail louder to remind the Dean how miserable they are.

“Look. Look at your classmates, crying and trembling.. You’re not even showing any kind of remorse!” he continues. “Poor souls, they got to be classmates with a problematic child like you.” He jeers.

“Why are you so sure that it was me? You didn’t even check. There are CCTVs, other students… check their bags, check everyone. Do your job-” Fedina also loses her temper and starts talking back to the Dean.

“That’s it! You don’t get to tell me how to do my job, young lady! You are suspended for two weeks for what you did to your classmates and your unruly behavior.”

“But Dean, isn’t it a bit too much of a punishment?” Ella interjects. “I didn’t mean to overrule your judgement but she already gave back our money and we forgive her for what she did. We understand her circumstances so I guess…” her voice comes as soft and understanding, as if it belongs to a poor heroine of a manhwa who is being bullied by a villainess.

Dana nods in agreement, understanding the reason why her friend comes to Fedina's defense. “The school term’s about to end and I don’t want her to have bad records. It’ll be hard for her to be accepted in universities if she has bad records. I don’t want to ruin her future…”

“Don’t be sorry, hijas. She’s the one ruining her future. Besides, a person like her won’t get that far anyways.” The students’ homeroom teacher, Ms. Delevan, assures the two students. Then, she addresses Fedina, “See, your classmates are worried for you. You should be thankful. Say, ‘thank you.’”

“Suspend me for three weeks, I don’t care.”

“How ungrateful!” Ms. Delevan reprimands her student before she turns her attention to the Dean, “I already called their guardians and I believe that they’ll arrive soon.”

“Good, good." Dean Franco thans Ms. Delevan before he turns his attention to the two young ladies. "Why don’t you two hijas go outside first and refresh yourselves. I believe your friend is waiting for you outside.”

“Thank you, Dean.” The two politely answer before exiting the room.

“And you,” he points his finger at Fedina, "you stay here. I don’t want any students to be robbed again.”

The last student in the room twitches her lips but no longer replies.