"Mr. Natividad," Becca finally said with a heavy sigh. He just wouldn't stop following up about the suspension of the students under Miss Celestial.
"There won't be any suspension, Mr. Natividad. Okay, I respect you as the school guidance counselor, but the students you're accusing are innocent. They don't even know the students who punched them," she explained firmly, her eyes locked onto his.
"We need to discipline our students, Ma'am Becca. We can't let these unruly kids get away with it," he countered.
"You have no proof that they started it. You and I both saw who provoked the fight first, and you need to explain that to yourself."
He frowned at her. "What do you mean, Ma'am?"
She opened her laptop and showed him a video—clear footage of Mr. Natividad paying the students who started the fight right before the incident took place.
"Can you explain this to me?" she asked, staring him down.
He was speechless, visibly stunned by what he saw. He turned pale and swallowed hard.
"I—I'm sure it's edited. Someone just used my face in that video."
Becca sighed deeply. "No, it's not. A student from the other school confessed. They said you paid them to cause trouble here. You know those kids, don't you?"
His hands trembled. "Yes! I did it! I wanted those students suspended for what they did to my girlfriend. Do you even know what she's been through? You didn't support her either."
"I supported your girlfriend. The sad truth is, she was the one who gave up. And the fact is, she wasn't even teaching those kids properly. Do you think that wouldn't reach me? Her personal anger toward those students? Her inability to manage her temper? She even hurt Shaina and caused a damaging rumor about that child."
"Section D isn't the only problem. Some teachers who passed through that class are also part of the issue. Stop blaming the students. We all carry our own burdens for how your girlfriend's class turned out."
"So, what now? Are you going to expel me?" He scoffed. "Terminate my contract?"
She sighed again. "For now, I'm assigning you to an advisory class. I'm not terminating your contract—not yet—but I am putting you under surveillance. This is your second chance. Be careful with any schemes of revenge against those students you've made personal enemies of."
"You're a teacher. Be kind to your students, especially in this harsh reality."
He said nothing and walked away. Becca exhaled heavily. Since Mariely was on leave, Veron was temporarily in charge of her class and advisory duties.
***
"Ma'am Veron," her students called out.
"Yes?" she responded, busy checking papers. She had also heard that Mr. Natividad had been demoted from his guidance position.
Deserved, she thought to herself.
"Ma'am Celestial's coming back on Monday, right?" one student asked.
She nodded. She noticed some of the girls exchanging glances, clearly plotting something.
"Hey, if any of you misbehave when Ma'am Celestial returns, I'll make sure you regret it," she warned half-seriously.
The girls giggled. "It's a secret, Ma'am—we've prepared a little surprise for her."
Veron frowned. "Eh? Why are you telling me this?"
"Because we want you to be part of our plan for Monday," they said, laughing.
"If she gets mad at me, I'll pinch all of you!" she joked.
"So? What's the plan?" she asked, smiling.
They quickly outlined their prank. Veron laughed—clearly, the boys were in on it too.
"Are you ready, Ma'am? Let's prank Ma'am Celestial!" they asked.
"Sure, I'm in," Veron said, laughing along.
***
"Are you really okay to go back to school today, Ely?" Nathan asked Mariely with concern.
Mariely nodded. Her brother was driving her to school. Her wounds were healing, and she felt it was time to return—she worried about falling behind.
"Okay, just don't go throwing yourself into danger again," he said with a sigh.
She smiled. "I'll be careful now, brother."
"Okay, be safe."
She nodded. He gave her a quick hug before she stepped out. She waved goodbye as he drove away.
Mariely walked toward the faculty room with a sigh.
"Veron! Good morning!" She greeted cheerfully.
"Hey! Welcome back! Are you really okay now?" Veron asked.
"I'm really good today," Mariely replied, sitting at her desk and sorting her things.
"Hey! I've got some tea for you," Veron said excitedly.
"You're gossiping this early? What's the chika?" Mariely teased with a laugh.
"It's about Mr. Natividad."
Mariely's brow furrowed. "What about him?"
"He's no longer the guidance counselor," Veron shared.
"What? Why?" Mariely asked, now genuinely interested.
"I don't know, really," Veron shrugged.
Mariely raised an eyebrow. "Ugh, your gossip is so incomplete."
"By the way… Faith," Veron suddenly turned serious.
"What now, Veron?" Mariely asked, her smile fading.
Veron pulled out a white envelope. Mariely frowned, her heart suddenly pounding. Veron handed it to her.
She accepted it, confused and anxious.
No. No,. she thought to herself.
"Don't freak out, okay?" Veron warned.
Mariely didn't respond—she tore the envelope open, heart racing. Inside was an official-looking notice.
She hesitated to read it, overcome with nervousness. Then she stood up.
"A—Are my students here today? Did they come in?" she asked in a panic.
Her hands trembled, sweat forming on her brow. What a stressful way to start her first day back.
"Just read it," Veron said softly.
So she did. Her heart sank.
Suspended for two weeks? She read silently.
"I—I thought they weren't going to be suspended?" she asked Veron.
"That's what I expected too, b—but Ma'am Becca said your students need to be suspended," Veron said.
Mariely didn't know what to feel. She started pacing.
"So… I don't have students for two weeks?" she asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. You'll be temporarily transferred to Section B," Veron replied.
Mariely shook her head in disbelief, unable to sit still. She reread the letter—but no matter how many times she tried to reinterpret it, it still said suspension.
She suddenly rushed out of the faculty room.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Veron called after her.
"I—I need to talk to Ma'am Becca about this! I have to ask if it can just be five days instead of two weeks," she said, determined.
"Hey! Calm down," Veron said, trying to stop her.
"I need to do something, Veron," she sighed.
"It's absolute. It can't be changed," Veron said.
"No way. I need to at least try," she insisted.
"Okay, okay. I get it," Veron relented with a sigh. "But first, go to your classroom and pack up your stuff. You're moving to Section B for now."
"I'll go with you. Just calm down," she added.
Mariely nodded. Veron accompanied her to her classroom. She already knew it would be empty—and she was right. Her students weren't there. It made her want to cry. She hadn't been there to defend them.
"Welcome back, Ma'am Celestial!" A chorus of voices surprised her.
She turned and saw all her students smiling at her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, unable to process what was happening.
Some of them giggled. She quickly looked at the envelope in her hand. There was a second letter inside. She opened it.
"It's a prank!" it read.
"Hey! Who came up with this prank of yours?!" she asked, hands on her hips.
"Just sit down, Faith," Veron said, barely containing her laughter.
Mariely playfully pulled Veron's hair. "You're the worst!"
Veron laughed and pulled out some food.
"I was so nervous. I really thought you guys were suspended," Mariely sighed.
"Ma'am Veron helped us pull off the surprise. Welcome back, Ma'am!" her students chimed.
"Welcome back, my foot! I almost ran straight to the principal's office," she said, shaking her head.
Veron laughed even harder. "What? My acting was amazing, right?"
"I'm going to throw something at you," Mariely teased.
They all shared the food her students had brought. Mariely felt grateful that the suspension wasn't real—and happy to be back again for her students.