Innocent until proven guilty
“Sorry, can you repeat that?”
“I said, Sprite here caused a huge mess.”
You were probably wondering what kind of mischief the mentioned girl made. So, let’s take a trip to the past.
It was Sprite’s fifth day at her new school. It wasn’t as bad as she thought. Most of the teachers were nice, she made some new friends, and she easily understood the lessons due to all of those years she spent living in this world. She might actually love school.
“Hey, new girl!”
Well, almost.
Smiling smugly, a girl walked to her. Anyone could guess that this person was spoiled with wealth ever since she was born. Everything she wore, from head to toe, seemed expensive. She was the definition of a rich arrogant girl.
“Hey, Kyle.” Sprite greeted back with a fake cheeriness.
She never knew why this girl kept bugging her since her first day at school. It started from mocking greetings to conversations. Her torments got longer and longer which made Sprite’s patience run thin.
“So, did you enjoy the party that I hosted?”
Sprite was confused. She couldn’t recall any party that she had attended in the past few days. She thought more about it and suddenly everything made sense for her.
“Oh yeah I forgot, no babies allowed.”
Sprite rolled her eyes. Of course, another insult.
She walked away from her, eager to just go home and maybe scream out her frustration in her room. Kingo would probably shout at her though, to tone it down. But she really didn’t care anymore. Sprite could still feel that Kyle was on her tail, blabbering nonsense. So, she fastened up while thinking of ways to shut her up for good.
“Hey! Stop ignoring me! Didn't your mom teach you manners?”
Sprite stopped on her track. The word ‘mom’ kept repeating on her head like a broken record. Then, that name appeared. That one name she tried so hard to forget, Ajak. Ajak was a mother figure for her. She was kind, loving, and thoughtful. She was her everything and she missed her every day. So, when someone mentioned her the way Kyle did, she wasn’t having it.
“What did you say?”
“What? You don’t like it when I mention your mom?”
“Just stop already.”
“Again with that bad attitude. You got it from your mom huh? What a horrible person she must’ve been..
just like you.”
Right at this moment, Sprite had lost it. Everything was a blur, it happened so suddenly.
She landed a punch and then a fight started. They started hitting and pulling each other’s hair. Through the midst of it all, cheers were audible. Students had gathered around them before she realized. How could they not? She created such a scene.
A few moments later, a teacher separated them and angrily ordered them to go to the principal’s office.
So here she was, with Druig in front of her principal. She wanted to meet her parents but since she didn’t have one and Kingo was busy, Druig decided to step up. Maybe he was just bored or he wanted to laugh at her for being in this stupid situation. Either way, she was grateful to have someone here.
“So? Why am I called here?”
“You’re here to discuss Sprite’s bad behavior with me! I have explained that!”
“Yeah, but that's her problem, not mine.”
Sprite elbowed him in the stomach, telling him to behave. Frowning, he shot a glare at her. The principal who was watching this interaction sighed loudly. Her face showed how irritated she was right now.
“We’re giving her a warning for now since it’s her first violation, oh and I want an apology letter from her on my desk next morning.”
“You hear that Sprite?”
Sprite didn’t like this. In fact, she hated it. This school was blaming her for defending herself and her family. Was that fair? No, it wasn’t and Sprite was angry because of it. Not only at her school and Kyle, but at the man beside her too.
She was expecting some support from him but all she got was his nonchalant attitude. She wondered if she told him her reason, how would he react?
“She insulted Ajak,” Sprite did it, she caught his attention. She continued, “ said she was a bad mother.”
Sprite triggered something within him, she could feel it. Because now, he was grinning mischievously and she knew that look all too well.
He was in his sassy mode.
Nobody ever won an argument with him if he was like this. Nobody.
He shifted his gaze back to the principal, his grin not leaving his face yet. The principal, although looked nervous, was staring back at him. Tension ensued in the room and a question was asked. “Now I’m suddenly curious, that girl, Kyle. What does she get as a punishment?”
“She is a victim she isn’t responsible for this.” Druig chuckled at her response.
“Well that’s funny because my sister here has some bruises because of that girl, doesn’t that make her a victim too?”
Silence in the room was suddenly so loud. Sprite looked at her brother and the principal back to back. The old woman was still sitting straight, looking stern and unafraid. But deep down, Sprite knew it was all an act.
“Why are you so quiet now, ma’am?” Druig stood up and now seriousness was present on his face.
“She’s innocent as long as you can’t prove that she is not. Come on 'little sister', we’re leaving.” He motioned for Sprite to follow him out which she gladly obeyed. They walked out of there with Druig’s hand lying on her shoulder protectively.
“Oh, one more thing.” Druig stopped abruptly and used his power. He made the principal slap herself five times and wrote a letter explaining that Sprite was free from any form of punishment. The girl was ecstatic. She fist-bumped Druig and then they continued their walk. Out of nowhere, Druig asked her something.
“Who won?”
“Huh?” It took a moment before Sprite realized he was talking about her fight.
“Seriously, you’re asking that? Of course, it was me!” She answered, feeling insulted. Druig just laughed and ruffled her hair. This annoyed Sprite even more but she allowed it this time.
After that exhausting day, they agreed that both of them need a break. So, they walked side by side to Starbucks to enjoy a cup of coffee together.
THE END