My Romance Life System-Chapter 75: Principal

’I better get this done before the first bell rings.’

I walked down the hallway toward the main office, leaving Nina to wait for me, because this was something I had to do alone. My purpose was clear, and I wasn’t scared, just focused on getting the facts out before the school day officially started.

The main office was a small, busy space, and the woman behind the front desk looked up from a mountain of paperwork with an expression that said she was already having a long day.

"Can I help you?"

"I’d like to see Principal Joseph, please." My voice was even and polite, just like I’d planned.

She gave me a quick up-and-down look. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, I don’t. But it’s important."

She let out a long, tired sigh and picked up her pen. "And what’s your name?"

"Kofi Dameire."

Her pen stopped moving, and she looked at me again, her expression shifting from annoyed to curious. "You’re the one who ditched class the day before yesterday."

’I have a reputation now.’

"Yes. This is about that."

That was apparently enough for her, because she just nodded toward a row of uncomfortable-looking plastic chairs. "He’s on a call. You can wait."

I sat down, and the office door closed with a soft click. Nina was probably still out there, pacing. I just leaned my head back against the wall and stared at a motivational poster with a picture of a mountain on it, the words ’AIM HIGH’ printed in big, cheesy letters.

I wasn’t scared, which was weird, I was just focused. This wasn’t about me getting in trouble, it was about making sure an adult with actual power did something. I just had to present the facts, calmly and clearly.

After about ten minutes, the door opened and Principal Joseph stepped out. He was a tall man, starting to go a little gray at the temples, and he looked permanently tired. He said something to the secretary, then his eyes landed on me.

"Kofi. My office."

I followed him in, the door closing behind us with a heavy, final-sounding thud. His office was surprisingly neat, with a big wooden desk and shelves full of books that looked like they’d actually been read. He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

"Have a seat."

I sat, and he sat down opposite me, steepling his fingers on the desk. "Ms. Lail tells me you had an unexcused absence the day before yesterday. And now you’re here, first thing in the morning. So, talk."

I took a breath. "This is about another student. Thea."

His expression didn’t change. "I’m aware there was an incident during lunch that same day."

"It was more than an incident. She was assaulted. And a dozen other students just stood there and filmed it."

"We’re looking into it," his tone was dismissive, like he was reading from a script. "Disciplinary action will be taken."

"That’s not why I’m here." I leaned forward just a little. "This isn’t just about the fight. It’s about her. I walked her home when i skipped class."

That got his attention, because he leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You did what?"

"She was scared and alone, so I made sure she got home safe. But her uniform... it was old, torn in places even before the fight. Her shoes were falling apart." I paused, letting the words sink in. "And her house... it’s in bad shape. Peeling paint, broken fence. It just looks... neglected."

He was quiet, just watching me.

"I don’t know her story, but I saw a fourteen-year-old kid who looks like no one is taking care of her, and then I saw her get beaten up at school while everyone just watched. Sir, I think something is really wrong, and it’s more than just a fight between students."

I finished and just sat there, my heart pounding a little now that I’d said it all. I had no idea how he would react, he could tell me to get out, to mind my own business.

He was silent for a long time, just looking at me with a new, unreadable expression. He picked up a pen from his desk and rolled it between his fingers.

"You skipped class to walk her home?"

"Yes, sir."

He put the pen down and sighed, running a hand over his face. The tired look was back, but it was different now. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Kofi. You did the right thing."

’Wait, what?’

"I can’t discuss the details of another student’s situation with you, but I can assure you, we will look into this. All of it."

"Okay." A wave of relief washed over me. He’d actually listened.

"Now, about you skipping class," he started, and I braced myself. "I will give you a simple warning this time. But don’t make a habit of running off, you understand? Next time, you come to me first."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

I stood up, and he stood up too, walking me to the door.

"Kofi," he said, stopping with his hand on the doorknob. "It takes courage to speak up for someone else. Don’t lose that."

I walked out of the principal’s office and Nina was right there, pacing back and forth in the hallway like a caged animal. She stopped the second she saw me, her eyes wide and full of questions.

"So? What happened? Did he threaten you with suspension? Are you expelled?"

"No, he actually listened." I couldn’t keep a small, surprised smile off my face, because I honestly hadn’t expected it to go that well. "He thanked me. He said he’d look into it."

The worry on her face just melted away, replaced by this look of pure relief. "For real? He’s actually going to do something?"

"Yeah. He said I did the right thing."

She just stared at me for a second, then a huge grin spread across her face and she punched my arm, a lot harder than she probably meant to. "See? I told you that you were a good person. You’re like, a real-life hero now or something."

"I’m not a hero," I said, rubbing my arm. "I’m just the guy who got detention and then had to talk his way out of it."

"A hero with detention, then," she shot back, her usual teasing energy completely back. "It makes you mysterious."

We started walking to class, the first bell about to ring any second, and the heavy cloud that had been hanging over us all morning was just gone.

When we got to class, Jake was already at his desk, and he gave me this quick, almost unnoticeable thumbs-up from across the room, which I ignored because he looked way too excited.

A few other people looked at me as I walked to my desk, but it just looked like normal glances now.

That was a relief.

The good feeling from the principal’s office lasted all the way through first period, which had to be a new record for me. For once, my brain was quiet and I could actually focus on the teacher’s lecture without getting sidetracked by my own internal monologue.

We were good, Nina and I, and that felt like it was enough to make the whole day a win.

When first period was over, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and my brain just kind of stalled, because Ruby was walking toward my desk.

’Uh oh. What’s this about?’

It was like a switch flipped in the room. Ruby, the girl who was so shy she practically blended into the walls, was walking directly toward me with a determined look on her face, and it was the most dramatic thing to happen in this class all week.

Well...maybe that is a stretch.

She stopped right next to my desk, clutching a notebook to her chest.

"Hey, Kofi?"

"Yeah, what’s up?" I leaned back in my chair, trying to act like it was totally normal for us to be the center of attention.

"I, uh, wanted to apologize about yesterday," she was really speaking low. "For leaving the library so suddenly. It was rude of me."

’She’s apologizing to me? This is a new one.’

"Don’t worry about it," I said, keeping my voice low so the whole class couldn’t hear every word, though I knew they were trying. "It wasn’t your fault. It was mine."

She just blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

’crap, almost blew it’

"I, uh... I put too much pressure on the study session," I said, trying to find the right words. "I made it seem like this super serious thing, and it got awkward. That’s on me, sorry."

’Good. That sounds believable enough.’

Her expression of confusion softened into relief, and she gave a small, shy smile. "Oh. I just thought I was being weird."

"No, that was all me," I gave her a reassuring nod. "So we’re cool?"

"Yeah, of course," she said, her shoulders relaxing. "Thanks, Kofi."

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