The Bad Boy's First Kiss

Chapter 9

THE BAD BOY’S FIRST KISS

CHAPTER 9

DEVVY’S POV

“THANKS, mom,” I told my mom, and I closed the car’s door after she flashed a smile.

I am now walking toward the gate, but I paused to take a deep breath. "It's gonna be okay, Devvy,” I told myself and calmed myself.

When I finally got inside the campus, I quickly noticed a few students looking in my direction. I could not help but be conscious. I diverted my eyes to the front and proceeded with my steps, not minding the stares I received. I tried to listen to their buzzes when they started it, but I could not clearly hear them.

“Devvy!" I suddenly heard Mikayla's voice from behind me. Her voice was almost inaudible, though, but I managed to listen to it, so I tilted my head only to see her with Yannie. Now, we are three already, and we walked altogether.

“How are you?” Yannie asked.

“I’m not really okay, but I’m fine. I can handle it. I’ve cried it all yesterday.” I gave them a half-smile for them not to worry about me.

Mikayla tapped my shoulder. “We’ll help you. Let us prove to them that you did not do what Calisha said and that she’s just telling lies,” she said eagerly.

“Yes, that’s right!” Yannie agreed.

I was getting teary-eyed, but I controlled myself not to cry. “Thank you, girls,” I muttered sincerely.

The closer we were to our classroom, the number of eyes looking in my direction was becoming many, the murmurs getting clearer. We stopped right at our classroom door—at the back part, not in front where the blackboard is—when Lyka blocked our way.

Lyka smirked as she crossed her arms. “You still have a face to show after what you did? Wow! The nerve!” she said sarcastically.

My friends were about to defend me, but I promptly replied, “Of course. I still have a face to show. Why? Because I didn’t do anything wrong.” I didn’t know where I got that bravery, but it was a good thing, though.

I confidently stepped in. She was blocking the way, so I’ve bumped her lightly, which finally made me go in. My friends followed me afterward. I saw Calisha standing beside her seat. She was glaring at me, so I glared back.

“You can’t prove yourself, though. We have evidence.” Calisha grinned evilly.

“And I wonder what you did and how and why you have that evidence when I’m innocent, unless…” I trailed off to put my things down, then I looked at her and continued, “unless you want to taint my image. Right? Anyway, the truth will eventually come out, so if I am worried, just less.” I flashed a smile to show that I wasn’t bothered and worried, even though I really am.

My words shocked my classmates that caused them to murmur more. I saw Calisha’s grin shift into a frown, her hands forming into a fist. I think she was about to say something else when she had not because our first subject teacher arrived. That pissed off Calisha.

I saw my friends giving me a thumbs-up sign.

The first subject went well, but it just felt awkward because our teacher kept looking in my direction. That only means that he already knew what’s going on. And I think the other teachers knew it already as well.

During our vacant time in the morning, my friends and I got so nervous when I was summoned to go to the principal’s office. I noticed that Lyka and Calisha were outside already. They were heading to the principal’s office too.

“We’ll go with you, Dev. We’ll help explain that you’ve done nothing wrong. Let’s go,” Yannie told me, and she stood up.

Mikayla and I stood up too, and we went out of the room. And I was surprised to see that students from neighboring sections were gazing at me. I could not clearly hear what they’re saying, though.

“Let’s see who they will believe,” Calisha told me confidently before she and Lyka walked first.

From afar, I sighted Matthew. His eyes darted on Calisha, but I quickly looked away from him when his eyes suddenly met mine. I hope he didn’t catch me looking at him.

We were finally in front of the faculty’s office. It was open, so I saw Calisha and Lyka already in. As soon as they went inside the principal’s office, my friends and I stepped inside the faculty. The teachers looked at me with different emotions. I saw some of them with their disappointed look while the others remained calm. I just bowed down a little because I was shy.

“It’s gonna be fine, Dev.” Mikayla tapped my back, and they both gave me a comforting smile.

We got inside the principal’s office. Sir Victor Nguyen, the principal, is seated on the sofa, which only one person could occupy. There is one long sofa on his right side and another one on his left side. Sitting on the right are Lyka, Calisha, and Ma’am Lina Suarez, our section’s adviser.

“What are you waiting for? Please be seated, Miss Quiroz. Miss Regale and Miss Alcantara, you may now go out,” Ma’am Lina announced.

“Uhm, Ma’am and sir, can we stay at least? Our friend needs us,” Yannie said in a begging tone.

“But—”

“Okay. Just let them, Mrs. Suarez,” Sir Nguyen promptly interrupted Ma’am Suarez.

Ma'am Suarez nodded. The three of us sat on the long unoccupied sofa.

“So, Miss Quiroz,” Sir Nguyen started. “Is it true that you stole Miss Ferolino’s diary and read the entries there and you cheated in the exam conducted previously?” he asked me.

“No, Sir. I promise I didn’t do the things you’ve mentioned,” I answered instantly.

“She’s lying, Sir,” Calisha said.

“Miss Ferolino, wait for your time to be asked,” Mrs. Suarez told Calisha.

“Miss Ferolino, Miss Quiroz said she didn’t do it,” Sir Nguyen said.

“It’s true, Sir and Ma’am,” Calisha replied as she looked at the ones she had mentioned.

“We can show proofs, Sir and Ma’am,” Lyka inserted.

“Show us the proofs,” Sir Nguyen requested.

Mikayla, Yannie, and I looked worried when the principal said that, and Calisha opened her small bag and took out the so-called proofs that they had mentioned and showed them to the principal.

“Here, Sir,” I heard Calisha say.

Mrs. Suarez and Sir Nguyen examined the proofs. Those were developed pictures. They were surprised based on their facial expressions.

Ma’am Suarez looked at me. “Can you explain these to us, Miss Quiroz?”

Mikayla, Yannie, and I looked at the developed pictures, which are now on the table in the center. My eyes widened when I saw that my face was on every photo.

Based on the pictures, I went into our classroom, and I was alone inside. Then I went to Calisha’s seat and searched for her diary in her bag. When I found it, I read some of its entries and wrote something on it. Then I headed to my locker and put the diary below the notebook at the very top. On the other hand, about the cheating, and based on the pictures again, I went to the teachers' faculty when nobody was around. Then I opened the cabinet near Mrs. Suarez’s cubicle desk and took out the test papers. I captured the answer keys at the back of the test papers of every subject using my phone.

“Oh, my gosh…” I mumbled right after seeing the developed pictures. Even Mikayla and Yannie were greatly shocked. They did not expect these as well.

“Now, what did you mean by these? These prove that they are telling the truth. Aren’t you aware of the consequences of your actions?” Mrs. Suarez’s tone was furious.

“Ma’am, Sir, I never did these. I promise,” I uttered, panicking. I was getting teary-eyed.

“Are you sure that this girl was really Devvy? How did it happen when we are always together?” Yannie asked.

“Aren’t these pictures photoshopped or something?” Mikayla added, holding the pictures.

“Photoshopped?” Calisha raised her brow. “Look at the pictures carefully so that you will know if it is photoshopped or not. It is very clear that it was Devvy.”

“We can have it checked with the experts, Sir, Ma’am, if you want,” Lyka suggested.

“I think that should be better, Sir, even if it is clear that it’s Devvy in the pictures,” Mrs. Suarez agreed.

I am not sure, though, about the outcome. We don’t know; this might be planned already. And I’m so afraid of it.

"I will call your parents later to inform them about this, Miss Quiroz,” Sir Nguyen stated.

“Sir, can—” I was suddenly interrupted by someone knocking on the door of the principal’s office. I bit my lower lip because it seems like my tears were about to fall. Yannie and Mikayla comforted me with their tapping hands.

Mrs. Suarez sighed softly. I think she was slightly annoyed with the interruption, but she stood up and excused herself to the principal. The principal nodded, so she went toward the door. When she opened it, we heard the voice coming from the outside.

“Ma’am, you should see this!” a girl said loud that we got to hear it.

We looked in the door’s direction, and I could barely see our two classmates. I was not really sure, but I think they were Shaine and Gab. Mrs. Suarez talked to them for a few seconds, and after that, Mrs. Suarez came back to us as she’d done closing the door. This time, she was holding a phone. She looked at me and Calisha and Lyka before she stood by the principal’s side.

“Sir, you should see this,” Mrs. Suarez told the principal, handing over the phone to him.

All of us, except the two professionals, did not have any idea what was going on. Mikayla, Yannie, and I exchanged looks. I did not bother to look at the two mean girls opposite us.

Mikayla’s phone buzzed, so she took it out and picked up the call. “Hello, Shaine?” she greeted. “What? OMG!” she added, almost screaming that made Mrs. Suarez and Sir Nguyen look at her. “Sorry, Ma’am and Sir,” she quickly apologized. Then she told us, “Open your phones and look at the school’s page’s latest post.”

Yannie did what Mikayla said while I didn’t, but I just looked through Yannie’s phone as she looked for the latest post on the school's page. And we were shocked when we saw what it was. I think it was what Mrs. Suarez and Sir Nguyen were seeing at the moment.