Repercussions

Kaia

I was seated in the middle of the huge meeting room facing the disciplinary committee delegates. To say I wasn't nervous under their strong gazes would be lies. I clutched my skirt, trying to calm my heart that was frantically beating against my chest.

After deciding that they'd tortured me enough by not saying anything for about 30minutes, the disciplinary hearing finally started.

"Do you agree that you intetionally harmed Nadia Banks?" Mrs Cooper asked.

I gulped. "Yes."

"Why?"

I exhaled before fixing my posture to appear confident. "I was angry that she dared to let everyone know how Mr Fitzgerald tried to take advantage of me."

"What makes you think it was Nadia who revealed what happened to you?"

"She was the only person I confided in after what happened."

"So, that's why you assumed it was her fault?"

"I didn't assume. I strongly believe she was behind it all."

"Evidence? Where's the evidence to back up your claim?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Evidence to incriminate Nadia? I didn't have any.

"You don't have any, do you?"

"I...I..."

"So, you don't have any evidence. You just assumed that Nadia was at fault. That's your reasoning for assaulting someone that bad?"

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. This was not going in my favour.

"I'll apologise for what I've done." I said, hanging my head low, in shame.

Hopefully, this would make them go easy on me. After all, I was admitting to being in the wrong here.

One of them chuckled dryly. "Apologize? Your sorry means nothing considering the pain you've put my client through."

Client? Was he a lawyer? It seems I was right.

"You better not go lenient on her. This girl right here is a bully, and she deserves a fitting punishment for what she's done." The lawyer glared at me. "Otherwise, expect us to sue this institution. We'll make sure to drag you down."

The principal chuckled, trying to ease the situation. "It doesn't have to get that. Don't worry, we won't go easy on her."

The lawyer leaned back in his seat, waiting to hear the punishment I'd receive.

"After tracing the IP address of the person who sent everything we saw on the school's official forum, everything pointed to you, Kaia."

My eyes bulged in surprise. How did they find out?!

The lawyer guy scoffed. "So, you orchestrated everything. You just wanted a sorry excuse to assault my client."

I didn't have to look in his eyes to know that he was glaring at me. I let everyone down.

I closed my eyes, trying to zone out from the tense atmosphere. The disciplinary hearing stretched on for a longer time because the lawyer guy was not appreciating the school's leniency towards me.

The punishment that the principal was proposing didn't seem befitting to the lawyer guy. That resulted in him engaging in a confrontation with the principal and the others.

Nonetheless, the principal and school's disciplinary delegates had no choice but to give in to the lawyer's demands. Otherwise, the school wouldn't be spared.

"We don't tolerate any kind of bullying, Kaia. You know this too well, so I don't understand why you assaulted a fellow student." The principal voiced his disappointment in me. "As punishment, we have no choice but to let you go."

No! Tears welled in my eyes.

"As of today, you're expelled from Elitecrest High. In addition, you'll financially compensate Nadia for the physical and emotional pain you've put her through."

This is not what I wanted. What have I done? Expulsion? How will I explain this to Annie and Warren?

The lawyer guy smirked upon seeing my distraught state. He followed behind the other disciplinary hearing delegates out of the meeting room. The disciplinary hearing was finalised just like that.

My life's over.