I walked closer to the teacher's table. He was sitting behind the wooden table and I stood in front of him. The sturdy table separated me from him.
"I have signed all these documents," he said and shifted things on the table. He put them inside a folder and handed it to me. "I want you to give it to Rogie."
I blinked at what he said. What? Rogie?
I scratched my nose lightly. "Why it has to be Rogie, Sir?" I asked, disappointed.
Teacher Anthony leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms on his chest. He then stared at me longer than usual. "You're blushing," he said in a matter of fact.
I smiled wryly. I knew that my cheeks heated up when I heard Rogie's name. It was an odd reaction and I knew that, but I could not help blushing out of embarrassment and annoyance. I never forgot what he did last Christmas party and I never forgot how that boy stared at me the whole time during class hours. If not because of my seatmate whom I made as a shield from Rogie's stare, I would certainly blushed throughout that morning.
I did not know what happened to that Rogie guy but I knew and I could feel that he was up to no good. And now, hearing his name upon Teacher Anthony's lips, I could not help but to show my embarrassment. I gritted my teeth silently.
"It was nothing, Sir." I cleared my throat and reached for the folder on the teacher's table. "I will go and find Rogie."
"Do you know what's in that folder?" he asked.
I shook my head and looked down. I felt Teacher Anthony shifted in his chair but then he did not stand up. He just seated there and watched after my every move.
"Your credentials," he said in a serious tone.
That was when I looked up at him. Our gaze met but I did not mind it at all as what he said matter more to me. "What about my credentials, Sir?"
"Rogie wants to revoke your scholarship and kick you out of this school."
I blinked for how many times. I even stepped back as I felt my knees lose their strength. I immediately opened the folder and read every lines written on that sheet.
It was indeed a behavioural report. The report stated that I did cheat on a test for two consecutive times. And I knew that if that report fell in the hands of the prefect, I would certainly bid goodbye to my school days. The school admin would kick me out of that school instantly.
"Cheating?" I exclaimed. "I did not cheat! When did I cheat in your test, Sir? This is a mistake!"
He nodded. "Of course."
"Then why did you sign these papers!" I paced back and forth in front of him. "I don't have the money the pay my tuition for the previous years! My scholarship is my last hope to study, Sir. Please, don't do this!"
He did not say anything and just stared at me that made me more upset. "Sir," I said between gritted teeth. "You know that I did not cheat. Why are you doing this?"
"It's for your own good."
"My own good?" I laughed bitterly. "Sir, I'm sorry for being rude but you don't have to do this! I will respect you if you want but this revoked scholarship is too much for me. Sir, please!"
He sighed and stood up. "Come, let me escort you to him."
I stamped my foot in defiance. "No!"
Teacher Anthony squinted his eyes on me. "You promised to respect me, Sydnee."
I whimpered under his gaze and looked down. "I don't want to hand these to Rogie."
"Sydnee," he warned.
I looked up at him, eyes were in rage. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why you people always push me to edge? Why are you treating me so bad? I just want to study and I never stepped on anyone to bring myself to the top like what you're doing to me! I always keep myself low so I could study peacefully but you people always stepping me down further from where I am now! Why are you so heartless!"
I made him speechless after I said those words but I did not have plan to apologize. There was nothing that I should apologize for. My words were all true.
The students in that school mocked us who were only there because of a scholarship. I did not mind it at all for years because I thought that it was normal. But at that moment, when I read that report, I knew immediately that those treatment were not normal at all. They were stepping us down, adding salt to our wounds, treating us as if were lowly rats and pigs in that society.
And it was not good. We were still people! I clenched my jaw in rage and closed my fist.
Teacher Anthony stepped closer to me and snatched back the folder. He sighed. "It was not like that, Sydnee."
"Don't speak," I whispered, eyes glowing in rage and disappointment. "I thought that you were different from them but I was wrong."
"Sydnee," he whispered under his breath. "I'm doing this for your own good. Please understand."
"It's not for my own good but for your own selfish motives, Sir! Rogie is a bastard who wants nothing but to ruin my life because of such petty things! He is a worthless bastard just like you!" I spat in his face and stormed out of that classroom.
I did not know what I was thinking but I found myself in front of Rogie. We were inside the canteen. I could hear whispers and I could feel their gazes on me. But those did not bother me at all.
What I wanted in that time was to slap and tear Rogie apart but I held myself back. I wanted to know what did I do to him that he went too far on revoking my scholarship. Since it was my last day in that school, then I should enjoy myself tearing him apart later after I hear his side.
"Sydnee," he said, lips curved into a thin smile. "I did not expect you having the courage to stop me from drinking." Then his gaze went down to my hand holding his wrist.