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

It has taken another half an hour before the other students’ parents arrive. This time, the school staff rise from their seats and greet the five newly arrived people.

Dean Franco rushes to Ella’s mother and shakes her hand. “Good afternoon, Madam Bella. I hope I don’t take too much of your precious time. You see, the student already confessed and we already have an appropriate punishment for her that would surely satisfy you.” He smiles widely, hoping to get on the other’s good side.

“I don’t expect less from you, Dean,” without being told, she and her daughter sit down on the opposite side of Fedina and her brother.

“Good afternoon, too, Dr. and Mrs. Cortes. As you might have heard already, there’s already a verdict so this is only a formality and we’ll be done as soon as possible. Sit, sit.” He ushers them next to Ella.

The two siblings look at each other meaningfully.

When everyone has seated, Dean Franco clears his throat once again and officially starts the meeting, “As you might have known already. We are currently having a meeting to address the current misdemeanor of one of our students who stole money and other things from her classmates. We have already-”

“Excuse me. Are you not going to introduce us?” Fedina’s brother cuts.

“There’s no need. We just need to know the verdict so that we can go and continue with our lives because unlike others we have work.” Mrs. Cortes sarcastically answers.

“Oh, well, then. Let’s omit that part, shall we?” He smilingly answers, faking friendliness. “Let’s proceed to the important parts, then.”

“Well, then-” Dean Franco starts to talk once more but he is cut once again by the same man.

“If you would allow me… I would like to record this conversation. I don’t have any witnesses other than myself and my sister here since I think we all know why these bunch of respected teachers are here?”

“We cannot allow-”

“Why, so? According to your school book, as long as it is a formal meeting there must be a typist. I don’t see one so why not just record. Let’s not trouble ourselves with typing each word precisely and unbiasedly. Let’s just record our voices and when we have disagreements later, we could just… play it.”

Fedina can’t help but snort at how her brother talks, he was sarcastic and he talked as if he was explaining to a four-year-old child.

“… Sure, then. You can record. Any other… qualms? If none, shall we proceed, then?”

“No other questions. Here, it’s already recording.” He puts the recorder in the middle of the table and sits down.

“As what I have said… if I wasn’t interrupted… we already decided on Ms. Phsmelba’s punishment which will be two weeks of suspension.” He announces. “You might think that it is too much, Mr. Pshmelba, but your sister actually did more than steal. She ah… shouted at us, she was rude and she wasn’t remorseful of what she did. So, we decided to extend her suspension because of her attitude. That’s all.” He informs Fedina’s brother before addressing her personally, “Now, I want you, Fedina, to apologize to Ella and Dana for what you have done and promise them that you won’t do it again.”

“I also want a written apology from her, Dean, promising that if she ever does it again, we will no longer settle it in this room. If possible, may the guardian also sign the letter as her guarantor since she’s only a… minor.” Mrs. Parvejo requests.

Her brother nods slowly, “Correct. You are right, I haven’t thought of that.”

“Of course.”

He claps his hands, “No, not what you’re thinking. What I mean is, my sister is a minor. So, you questioned a minor without her guardian nor any third party available.” He looks at Dean Franco.

“No, Mr. Pshmelba. There’s a third party available- the teachers, there are four… five including me. It’s impossible for all us to be biased-”

“Oh, I don’t think so. May I see the minutes? ... of what you had talked earlier?”

“Ah- there’s… I’m afraid there’s none.”

“But that’s illegal. You are not allowed to question a minor without a guardian present. You are not allowed to put a verdict without showing evidence. Speaking of which, where are the evidences?” He asks in all seriousness, playfulness no longer evident in his voice.

“There’s nothing to show you, your sister already confessed.”

“Give me a written document or a recording of her voice admitting to the crime you’re accusing her of.”

“Why are you hung up on that? Stop defending your kleptomaniac of a sister!” The male parent said.

“First of all, she’s not a klepto. Second, I am just doing what you- they…” he points at the staff, “should have done. I’m asking for proper documentation of what happened because they don’t have any proof to prove that my sister indeed admitted to such crimes. The reason why you’re asking for a written letter from her with my sign is because you know that her verbal words don’t really matter at court. And a minor’s words cannot be used without their guardian’s permission and such, am I right?” he says continuously without breathing.

“T-that... I…” the latter stammers.

He then looks at the Dean. “Show me your evidence. Your students’ money got stolen, their stuff got stolen and you didn’t even bother checking the CCTVs nor question where is whom in what-time. These two told you it was my sister and you decided that it was her. Why? Is it because these two’s parents contribute financially to this school? Is it because my sister is quiet and doesn’t sport luxurious goods so you assume that she is jealous of what the others have?”

“Please don’t accuse us of such things, you do not have any proof!” the Dean stands up and points a finger at him.

“See! I only talked… verbally… and you demanded proof for my accusations and it is also right for me to demand one from you so where is it?”

“Sir, your sister was rude and so are you.”

“We got that from our father. Now, where are the evidences, where’s your proof that my sister is the one who stole how much? How much?”

“Two-thousand pesos from me and one from Dana, plus her wallet.”

“Where’s the money? May I see the very money she stole?”

“You’re scaring my child.” Mrs. Parvejo says as she hugs Ella.

“Your child is scared when she has her mother and the whole room to her rescue? How do you think my sister felt? Elated?” He sarcastically responds. “Now, children, put the very money and the wallet you said she stole on the table.”

The two friends look at each other before taking out their money and wallet and put it on the table.

He sighs and talks to his sister while looking at the Dean’s eyes. “Sister, capture a video of this, please. Voices are not enough for what’s next to come.”