章 7: A Quick Meeting with the Headmaster
As the two approached the entrance gate towards the school campus, two guards also blocked their way. Both have a respectable stance and Sofia could tell that these guards were old enough to be respected.
"I'm sorry but we do not allow delinquents, non-students to enter. We just received this order this afternoon," one of the guards eyed Stephen apologetically.
Stephen just scratched his head and looked embarrassed. He was told by their headmaster that it was his last time that he could enter the school grounds earlier.
The guard also felt conflicted.
Sofia smiled at the guards respectfully, "We have no intention of breaking the school rules. But we need to speak with the headmaster. He needs to be there."
"Young lady, we cannot do anything anymore. We were scolded earlier..." the other guard looked on the ground to avoid the persuasive gaze of Sofia.
"Wait here then," she glanced at Stephen before entering the gate.
'She did not argue with the guards?' Stephen mentally questioned as he stared at her retreating back until she turned into a corner and was gone from his sight.
The headmaster's office was just a few walks away from the entrance gate. Sofia quickly reached the door. But before her hands could knock, a flyer that was pinned on the bulletin board caught her attention.
The flyer was for the senior students but the topic had perked her interests.
WHAT: Basic Financial Literacy Seminar
WHO: Graduating Senior Students
When: Feb 8, 2017 Wednesday 7:00am - 12:pm
Those who are interested are also welcome to join! See you there!
The content of the flyer was brief. Below were the organizer's and the faculty staff's signatures.
Sofia took a photo of the flyer and sent it to the other members of the Chronos Squad. Then she finally tapped her hands on the office door.
The knocking sound was soft. It was enough for the person inside to notice that somebody was outside yet the volume did not interrupt them from what they were working on inside.
An old secretary quickly opened the door.
"May I help you?" she asked while smiling at Sofia.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am. If it is not a trouble, may I speak with the headmaster?" Sofia softly told the old secretary.
"Yes, the headmaster is here. Come in!" the old secretary quickly pushed the door wide open to let her enter. She did not even ask the headmaster for permission. Somehow, there is something in the way Sofia spoke, perhaps her tone, that made the old secretary welcome her.
"Aunt, who is it?" the headmaster asked without looking at the newcomer. The headmaster was a woman who looked like in her late thirties and the old secretary was her aunt.
"A lovely girl is looking for you!" the old secretary announced with enthusiasm.
Her tone made the headmaster curious and looked up. As the two of them made eye contact, she could only admire how clear the gaze of Sofia.
'Is this a young miss from a rich family? What does she want?' the headmaster mentally asked. Her eyes slowly traveled at the outfit of Sofia. From head to toe, she looked at her.
Under the scrutinizing stare of the headmaster, Sofia remained her head upwards. She did not flinch even a little.
'What a domineering composure! For a young student to possess this bearing, it's too rare! Which family did this girl come from?' the old secretary secretly admired from the corner of the office. She could not sense any hint of being a spoiled brat in Sofia's action. All she could feel was Sofia's aura of authority looming around.
After a few minutes of examining, the headmaster placed her hand on the table and clasped her fingers.
"How can I help you?" she asked in a tone that does not sound like the headmaster of the school at all. Even her aunt was surprised hearing her voice. Heck, she was also surprised of her voice!
"Good afternoon, Headmaster Pamela. I am Sofia Su, one of the students in the junior night class. I am a friend of Steph---" Sofia abruptly paused. She did not know the complete name of Stephen! This was the first mistake she had ever noted. She should have asked him for his complete name!
Fortunately, the headmaster was quick to understand what she wanted to speak. Stephen's case was the highlight of her headache that day, hence, she knew directly where the discussion would be heading.
"For Stephen Jiang's case, it is a confidential matter. We have data privacy and I cannot disclose this to you," the headmaster stated with a firm tone.
"I understand about the importance of data privacy, headmaster Pamela. I was with him earlier, yet because of his status in school, the guards did not allow him to enter our premises. But I still came here, not to discuss the private matter about his case but to say something. I hope you can listen to me, headmaster." Sofia explained with a crisp sound. She remained standing in front of the headmaster for the lady did not invite her to take a seat.
But, the way she spoke and the way she stood in front of the headmaster, it was as if her position is higher than the woman sitting behind her desk.
"You want to say something? Go ahead..." the headmaster retracted her hand and brushed her hair uncomfortably. She felt like the air between them was suffocating her!
"Headmaster, at some point in our life we make mistakes. I am not here to pursue you about 'nobody is perfect' discussion because I am certain that you are more knowledgeable than me. My reason for coming to you is to say that a second chance is the way of the heavens to allow us to finish our goals," Sofia halted. Unknowingly, she was talking about how she ended up as a student from her former CEO status. When the realization hit her, she lost in her tracks.
The headmaster was confused of her words and just stared at her.
Sofia grabbed her silence as the opportunity to continue talking.
"I don't know what Stephen had done, but I am sure that he had made his reflection for the two months that he was out of school. If he is expelled, his future will be ruined. If you give him a second chance, in the future you might be able to see him leading this country, or become the biggest sponsor in this school. Those people who are sincere, they know how to appreciate the gift of second chances. Please reconsider your decision of expelling him. This is only what I am here, headmaster Pamela. Thank you for your time." Sofia gave a customary bow to the headmaster and walked out of the office.
"Sofia Su..." The headmaster mumbled with a deep frown on her forehead. She stared at the door where the young lady exited.
"Have you noticed how she talked, aunt?" Pamela asked her aunt who was pouring tea on the cup.
"Yes, I have. The tone, the mannerisms... perhaps, Miss Su have gone into a private family training. You know those extremely rich people, they would send their children a trainer to monitor how they act in public," the old secretary answered while handing the cup of tea to Pamela.
"I was left speechless! Her tone did not give me any room for argument! How can a student possess such a way of delivering a speech! And aunt, you know me! I never allowed people to overrule my decisions. But her tone... it is weird and convincing!" the headmaster carefully took a sip of the hot liquid as the two of them pondered what had just happened. It was just a matter of five minutes...or less. The shortest meeting if she would ever consider it as a meeting. Yet, it left her questioning everything.
Pamela did not know what to feel. Even if she wanted to feel insulted by the way Sofia spoke to her, she could not. Sofia's tone and words have maintained politeness and respect towards her.
She is not happy either. A student just questioned her decision. This has never happened in her career as the headmaster of the school. It was the first time!
"The lady has a point." the old secretary sounded. "Second chances..." She muttered as the fragments of memory started to play in her mind.
Pamela treated her aunt like real family more than her biological parents. She was pregnant back when she was in college and her family disowned her the moment they knew. Her aunt was the one who took care of her when her family abandoned her to save their reputation.
"Second chances..." The headmaster smiled bitterly and glanced at the photo in the picture frame of her desk. It was an image of three people.
"Yes, look at you... you become the headmaster of the school. Who would have thought that you would be successful, right?" her aunt quietly sat down on the chair opposite her.
"Sofia Su..." The headmaster mumbled again. It was as if she was carving the name in her memory.
Not long after, she took a folder containing the file on the desk. The sound of a paper being tear dominated the silent office. After she discarded the paper in the bin below her desk, she grabbed the mouse and unlocked her computer. Her fingers quickly pressed the keyboard keys as she went to the school admin forum and retracted the expulsion of Stephen Jiang.
Pamela took a deep breath before she proceeded to check the student's files. She scrolled down until the name 'Sofia Blanca D. Su' caught her eyes.
She double-clicked the file quickly but the information inside was too little. It was just the information that Sofia had said to her when she introduced her identity earlier.
Student Profile
Student Name: Sofia Blanca D. Su
Age: 17
Year: Junior High
Section: Night Class
The old secretary turned around and took a peek at her monitor after seeing her confused expression.
"She is from the night class. Most of the students in that section are working and studying at the same time. So, they were not required to give so much information," her aunt explained after seeing the few details on screen.
"Then, she is not from a rich family? Ahh... but it's too unbelievable. Only the upper-class rich daughters and sons could possess the kind of aura that is around her," Pamela whispered.
"Well, perhaps it is like the stories in televisions. These dramas involving rich daughters being sent to pretend to be poor. It was also some kind of training for them," the old secretary chuckled as she remembered the favorite TV series that she had been following.
"I see. Aunt, please send a notification to Mr. Jiang's contact number that his status in our school was changed. He is no longer expelled. He can report tomorrow and comply with the projects that he had not submitted for the last two months." Pamela nodded her head and closed the profile tab.
Sofia exited the gate and saw Stephen having a conversation with the two guards.
"Oh... Young lady, did you not spoke with the headmaster?" one guard asked her. Stephen also wanted to ask the same question as it was just a matter of few minutes and she already returned.
"We have spoken already. It was just quick because I don't want to disturb the headmaster. She is also a busy person managing the school," Sofia smiled.
"Ohh... okay," the guard said and did not speak further.
Some groups of students were also exiting the gate. One of them was Chris, a senior student and the leader of the FATALITY Squad. The most famous squad in their district.
"Ohhh, look what we have here! Isn't this the tank pro? I am waiting for you to submit your application to our squad!" Chris arrogantly approached Sofia.
"Nahh... bruh, have you heard of the news that Jasmine said? She won't be applying. She will be our enemy in the tournament!" one of the students behind Chris spoke.
"Is it? Which squad did you apply to? I will make sure to trample it on the day of the tournament!" Chris turned serious. He was, indeed, looking forward to getting Sofia on his team. He saw most of her gameplay and he was certain that it would give his squad a great advantage if she plays with them.
"We will meet there." Sofia just spoke one sentence and turned away from him.
"Whichever squad it is, it will become a loser!" Chris called loudly but the lady did not bother paying attention to him.
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