"savannah marie."
i nodded, the intense aura that washed over the room made me uncomfortable.
i was so close to feeling dizzy and wheezy.
"do you understand why you are here?"
it took me some time to acknowledge why i was here again.
it all felt like some sort of dream.
i needed to wake up from this dream.
shit this isn't a dream, this is a nightmare.
wake up, this is reality.
i nodded again, this time keeping my head low, avoiding all social skills.
i wanted to keep less eye contact for a reason.
"do you understand that what you've done has put both of these employees of mine jobs on the line?"
i looked to my left where in the other two seats sat ms. white and jimin.
i had to hold everything in my will to not get the fuck out of my chair and pounce on the both of them.
i felt hurt, i don't know why though.
jimin looked pissed like any regular child would be if they were stuck in a room they didn't want to be in.
the anger inside him was probably boiling at the pit of his stomach.
descriptive i know, but it feels natural to describe my surroundings that way.
my gaze landed on ms. white for a millisecond.
the thought of her and mr. park on the sofa made me sick.
i turned back around to mr. franci and nodded.
"what took over your senses that made you want to take that video, which i may add has been sent to 'only a few seniors'?" he quoted with two fingers.
i shrugged.
i wanted to get over this, we were looking at exclusion.
i don't need a prepared pep talk before the devastating news.
"that's not good enough." he stated with a harsh tone.
it felt as if he wanted everyone to spill out the information and make something of it.
i turned to my aunt who was heavily staring at me.
she looked pained to watch me go through this.
but somewhere in the midst of her thoughts, she was angry.
fuming probably.
she's probably asking herself where she went wrong.
it all started to settle in.
why me?
why should i take the blame for some crazy stupid shit?
i shifted my legs to the side, nodding to show i understood.
i'm willing to take ultimate defeat.
"are you okay?" my aunt asked me.
a simple question that was about to send me off the cliff.
i turned to my side to face her.
i wanted to nod.
i wanted to show that everything was alright.
but I couldn't find the courage too.
i used up the remaining bravery i had in me to save my friend in depth of her situation.
i paused, letting out a shaky breath, moving my gaze over to a vase that sat on the desk.
i monitored the delicacy of the paintings that stood out on the vase.
i turned to my aunt, my lips pursed in a scared manner.
i shook my head, answering her given question.
"you're crying." she pointed out.
i hadn't realize i had been crying.
i was too busy focusing on the concept of this whole situation.
the tears had started to blur out my eyesight, making me realize that her statement was true.
i wiped the lone tear that had escaped and turned to everyone in the room.
all eyes were on me.
i couldn't imagine any human being having to go through this.
i recall when i faced jay, telling her i was going to help.
at this moment i was so quick to change my actions and let her take the bullet instead.
i was so caught up in fear of losing my only friend that i didn't realize what actually mattered.
"it wasn't me."
mr. franco who had been standing up, sat down and leaned forward in his chair.
"excuse me?" he asked, slightly surprised at my sudden confession.
"i didn't take the video." i confirmed, lowering my head.
i sniffed, taking my time to fish my pockets for a pack of tissues.
they waited for me to continue my speech.
instead, i kept quiet and didn't speak.
"who took the video?" my aunt leaned into my stature for a half hug.
i sighed as she asked me once more.
"i suggest you tell me who was behind all this, considering they are in a lucky position since the footage managed to not get out to the seniors." mr. franco said, ignoring my state.
i paused, sinking into the embrace that i openly took from my aunt and muffled in her work attire.
"jay."
"jay r." i repeated.
+
i was allowed to go home that morning.
my aunt insisted it was for the best.
of course mr. franco didn't encourage the idea but my aunt didn't care.
either way i was going home.
when i got home, my aunt was already rushed to go back to work.
she was on training to be a full time doctor only because i had a limited amount of time before i would go to college and move out.
"honey i have enough time to get back to work so i'll get going." she said, fumbling in her bag for extra keys.
i sighed, shifting in the passengers seat.
she paused herself from rummaging through her bag and turned to me.
"what you did this morning was very brave."
i nodded.
i was somewhat proud but then the other half of me could see the look on jay's face when she finds out about the moment i bailed on her.
i rubbed my face.
it got deep way too quick.
betrayal was all that was running through my head.
but then again, part of me didn't care what would happen to jay.
i deserved answers as to why our relationship was going downhills these days.
"water the garden plants for me." she said, dangling the backyard keys to me with a sheepish smile.
i stared at the keys and a smile formed on my face.
it was only then when i realized how much my aunt does for me.
she's the only relative that i had ever since the day my mom lost custody over me.
i hated my aunt.
i felt as if she was the one that was taking me away from my mom.
but if i could argue now, she's the only one that has maintained that soul of relationship.
i leaned over and gave her a warm tight hug.
i whispered something that i've been struggling to say to her and only her.
"thank you."
i pulled away before i started crying and watched her meek smile form on her visage.
that was my form of an apology.
she was the one that deserved it.
no one else.
not even jay.
i opened the car door and ran to the front porch.
she watched me from the car to check if I went in safely.
i pushed the door open, hearing the sound of the engine start and the car driving out the driveway.
as i was about to close the door, i looked out into the neighborhood, spotting mr. cole, one of the elderly men of our street pull out a 'for sale' sign just on his front yard.
i gave him a friendly wave as he caught my curiosity in the midst of the morning.
he returned the wave and i decided that i should get inside before he started a fresh cut conversation.
i closed the door and threw my bag to the side.
i wasn't planning on doing anything that had to do with school.
nor was i planning on crying any doubts, fears, or regrets away.
+
the day had swiftly went by quicker than i expected.
probably due to my extensive viewing of weekly idol.
but who am i to complain? i have a day off from stress.
i checked my watch that clung onto my wrist and checked the time.
1:32, approximately the start of a blissful lunch for me and a dreadful one for students that attend my school.
i made my way to the kitchen and shuffled to the fridge.
when i first got into the house, i planned on taking a cold shower and changing into some comfy ass pajamas.
which i did, and now i regret the idea of changing to pajama shorts and an oversized shirt.
only because of the slight drift draft of air that moved around the kitchen, causing goosebumps to form on my skin.
i was cold to put it shortly.
i moved to the backyard door and closed it.
i had just remembered the single chore my aunt had given me.
i sighed heavily and grabbed the watering hose, opening the door and walked out into the garden.
i shivered as the wind crept up on my skin, giving me a flush freezing touch.
"shit." i cursed.
i forgot to switch the water works on.
once i switched it on, i went to water the plants.
going out to the garden in shorts and a tee wasn't the best idea.
one, it's cold.
and two, i have perverted neighbors.
watering the plants was time consuming but it gave me enough time to clear my mind.
i placed a hand on my hip, causing my shirt to lift up slightly.
"what's up?" a low eerie voice spoke behind me.
i jerked in fear.
i was home alone a few seconds ago and now someone has invaded my house.
i turned around with a hand on my heart, a common act that people perform when frightened, i stared at the figure before me.
"jimin, what are you doing here?" i asked, trying to catch my breath.
i hadn't noticed that when i spun around, the water hose was aimed at him.
i basically watered him like he was a plant.
his mouth gaped open and his hair flopped.
he was drenched.
i moved the hose away from his direction, a small giggle leaving my mouth.
"i rang the doorbell multiple times, i heard you back here."
he looked pissed as i continued in my fits of laughter.
it took me a while to settle down.
"are you done?" he asked, looking down at his wet attire.
"you deserved it." i stated rather coldly, setting the hose down and walked towards the house.
i was at ease, i can say that i needed the laughter.
"i deserved it?" he asked, following me.
he paused as i entered the back door into the kitchen.
"what's that suppose to mean?" he asked, his curiosity rising.
he entered the kitchen, leaving a trail of wet footprints.
i eyed the mess, giving him a glare to inform him that he will be cleaning that up.
i kept my silence, not in the mood to be in a bitchy augmentative phase.
i turned around to face him.
"you need to leave." i muttered.
seeing him made me lose my appetite.
all that went through my head was the vision of him and ms. white.
he didn't budge.
"look, all i want to do is talk to you savannah."
i shrugged.
he moved closer.
"don't be like that." he quipped.
"i should have believed you." he said.
a rather warm yet wet hand placed itself on my cheek.
"yet you told mr. franco it was me anyway." i muttered, moving my face away from him.
i shook my head.
"you didn't believe me, instead you accused me." i stated coldly.
it was quite obvious that he had nothing left to say.
"you should leave." i repeated.
he leaned down and attached our lips into a kiss.
it was a kiss that meant more than it should of and it frightened me.
it was a fitted make out that made me want to forgive him, no matter how angry or hurt i was.