Chapter 5 What kind of man is Ryan?
Chapter 5
Elieen pov
“No! Please hear me out.” I begged, sobbing. “I’m innocent.” I cried out as I was being taken to the principal’s office.
Principal Willow walked to the back of her desk and had her seat. She pulled down the sunglasses on her eyes to the bridge of her nose and glanced at me warily.
In a low voice, she spoke. “Despite my warnings, miss ?”
“Marlowe,” I replied.
She clasped her hands, propping her elbows on the desk. “Miss Marlowe, despite my warnings, you choose to cheat.” Her voice was low but icy.
I shuddered. “It’s not me! I swear it Ryan who had done this to set me up.” I accused, already weighed down with emotions. I couldn't even think straight anymore.
Silence fell over the office and Principal Willow’s mouth dropped open.
She canted her neck. “Could you please repeat what you just said?”
My heart thrummed under my chest at my revelation but I didn't see anything wrong with what I've just said.
Ryan was a jerk. He clearly told me I was going to regret sitting in his seat. The other classmates warned me that no one ever sits beside him. That sitting beside means getting on his blacklist.
What about the canteen humiliation?
He had poured my lunch on the floor and asked me to eat from it.
Other students were watching as everything unfolded.
So it's not just a secret! People know, they watch it happen so I'm definitely going to get a witness who will testify.
“I said Ryan must've put the cheat sheet in my pocket,” I repeated, without wavering.
Principal Willow removed her sunglasses and squinted.
“Why would you say that?” There was a hint of disbelief in her tone.
I dragged in a deep breath and sighed. “Because the first time I had tried to sit beside him, he asked me to get up and find somewhere else to sit.”
“And why didn't you find somewhere else to sit? Why him?”
My eyes rolled at Principal Willow’s words. What was she implying?
Why him?
I swallowed and bit hard on my lips. “Because there was no empty seat so I decided to sit beside him. There was no way I was going to sit on the floor when there was a space beside him.”
“And this is what prompts you to accuse him?” Principal Willoe asked and anger boiled within me.
This woman’s words were annoying.
“He threatened to make my life a living hell. The class heard him saying that, not only that, but he also attacked me during lunch. Pour my food on the floor and forced me to eat when everyone was watching.”
By the time I was done narrating Principal Willow couldn't take her wide eyes off me.
She swallowed. “But, that's not substantial evidence to accuse him of planting the exam sheet in your pocket, Miss Marlowe,” she said then grabbed the table phone, punching in the keys.
The phone rang and it was picked up. “Tell Ryan Blackwood to see me in my office right now.”
The phone call ended.
“Well, I will look into the matter of him bullying and threatening you later but right now, my concern is the cheat sheet that was found in your pocket.” She slammed her hands on the desk. “Were you daring me to know what I will do when I catch you cheating? You think I was just bluffing on the assembly ground?” Her voice was loud now and sinister.
Before I could respond, a knock landed on the door and the door clicked open.
A familiar cold and dominant air seeped into my spine and the pine scents caught my nose.
Ryan Blackwood was here!
Principal Willow looked at him with a smile on her face, “So fast? You're here. I just called Professor Maxwell to get you.”
“Oh, I left the classroom long ago. I was coming here to talk to you about her.”
About me? Waves of panic gripped me and my eyes gawked.
What is it he wants to talk about me?
The principal willow mouth formed an O shape. “Then what a coincidence Miss Marlowe just told me you planted the cheat sheet in her pockets and bullied her.”
“Oh?” Ryan turned to me with his brows arched. “That’s unfortunate. I was actually coming to talk about the cheat sheet too. To clear her name.” A sardonic smirk settled at the corner of his lips.
Principle Willow replied. “And here she is, already accusing you.”
Ryan darted his gaze away from mine, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Well, seems she is eager to speak first. Bold of her.”
Principal Willow huffed out air, cupping her chin. “Bully aside, I want us to talk about this cheat sheet.”
Tension rose in the air except Ryan who was feeling so overconfident in himself and unperturbed about my reports regarding him bullying me.
“Well Principal Willow I've got some evidence about the cheat sheet but I will only spill it when she's out of here.” he turned back to snarl at me, giving me the feeling of defeating me in my own games.
I glared hard at him too, refusing to get intimidated by his silly attitudes towards me.
Principal Willow dragged her hands over her face and yawned. She jabbed her hands at me, “You should leave.”
I swallowed, hesitating while still looking at Ryan. I rolled my gaze away before walking out the door.
I met Anna already standing a few meters away from the principal’s door. Immediately she saw me, she trudged over with a fake hint of concern on her face.
“Oh, Eileen what is it you've done? Trying so hard to tarnish Dad’s name? Why would you cheat?” She held get hands over her mouth as she accused me.
I tried so hard not to allow her words to hurt me but somehow her words pierced through my heart, and it hurts so much.
“I didn't do that!” My voice choked with tears.
She ironed her dress with her hands and flipped her shoulders. “Well, save your tears for when dad comes.”
My eyes widened and fear gripped my heart. “Dad knows about this?” My lips trembled as I studied Ana’s face. “How did he know about this?”
“I told him you cheated just to pass the test. Well, that is not why I'm here. No one must know you were writing the test on my behalf.” she poked her fingers at my head.
“Anna look at your daddy.” someone screamed from behind.
My heart froze.
Dad was coming. It was him truly.
Anna rushed to meet her dad and hugged him. Dad pecked her on the forehead and cheeks.
When he got to my side. My gaze was lowered to my feet and my hands were fiddling with the hems of my shirt.
Anna spoke. “Eileen, won't you say your greeting to Dad?”
Slowly, I raised my face and something stinging connected with my cheeks unexpectedly.
It was so fast that I didn't have time to duck.
Dad slapped me. Hot tears poured out of my eyes as I raised my eyes to meet his.
His eyes spoke volumes.
The door to the principal’s office opened, and she was surprised to see people gathered on our side.
“Dad you can't blame her. I trust Eileen is a good girl, someone must've set her up.” Ana cried, tears cascading down her cheeks. She came over to my side, trying to pull me into a hug.
And rage flared up within me, a voice whispering that I push her off me.
