Step Out!

Chapter 28

Step Out!

Lyla Atelo.

Whatever was being said went in from one ear and went out through the other. I wasn't listening. I couldn't concentrate in the meeting, but I saw the principal's mouth moving.

What Elijah told me still weighed heavy on me. I aimlessly scrolled through my phone to find the numbers that he had always used to text me. It struck me that I never bothered to ask him how he got my number, but that would still be a stupid question if I asked him.

"Mrs. Lyla, what do you think?" I was brought out of my reverie when I heard my name being called.

My eyes snapped to the podium where Principal Michelle stood in her well-pressed suit and skirt, looking young and sharp.

I was a bit flustered at being called because all eyes were on me.

"What do you think about our deliberations and conclusion?" Mrs. Michelle repeated her sentence.

The words stuck in my throat because I didn't know what to say. I hadn't been listening to the conversation at all.

"Uh..." I cleared my throat and continued. "I think the conclusion is a wonderful idea, ma'am." I looked around to find any clue concerning the topic of the meeting until my eyes settled on the projected screen behind Mrs. Lyla.

The topic was about a camping trip with final year students. Sage's classmates... The way his name flashed at me again almost made me stumble. I had to focus on this meeting.

"Which part of the contribution is a wonderful idea?" She asks. It was like she knew I wasn't listening to the conversation.

"Every part of it?" I grimaced since my answer came out more like a question.

Then, there was a sudden gasp from the podium. "Oh, Lyla! I'm really sorry." Mrs. Michelle began in a way that startled me. "How is your health? I heard you fell into the pool yesterday. You shouldn't even be in school today, you should be at home resting!"

She looked so emotional as she stood on the podium.

"It's okay, ma'am. I'm fine." I told her.

She shook her head vigorously. "No, it's not fine! I should have known better. Just now, you escaped being punished because I saw you were distracted. I'll have to let this go."

I heard gasps from all corners of the room, but I didn't understand why that was so.

"You know I don't condone tardiness within my staff. It doesn't matter if you are favoured by our golden student, I still run this school. Okay?"

My mouth hung open in shock. Favoured by their Golden student? Did she mean Sage? I almost scoffed in disbelief but I kept my cool.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." I said.

She nodded and gestured for me to sit down, and this time, I made sure to pay attention to what she was saying. The way she spoke with so much authority spiked fear in my heart.

"As I was saying..." She continued, "Lyla, take note please. We haven't come to a conclusion of this discussion. We are just starting."

I forced a smile on my face and nodded.

"Erm." She cleared her throat. "This camping experience is for our students to develop social and personal skills in the terms of teamwork and communication, independence and resilience, leadership and building relationships with each other. After this year, they would most likely be spread across the world away from each other, and I want to use this opportunity to have them build an interpersonal relationship because of the nearest future when they step into their lines of work."

Teachers nodded in agreement. Some were taking down notes while some were raising their hands to give suggestions. But Mrs. Michelle didn't seem to care about those hands at all. She faced me squarely, licking her bottom lips.

"Lyla..." She called me. "What do you think?"

I stood up immediately before she had a chance to try to ridicule me.

"Well, I think it's a beautiful idea. The main thing we have to look at are the type of games or activities that will make this camping trip a successful and a beautiful experience for the students. You know, something that will help them also broaden their perspectives on life. Something that will..." I didn't know the right words to use, so I just paused there.

"Is that all?" Mrs. Michelle cocked her head to the side, a ghost of a smile forming on her face.

This look reminded me so much of Sara, my assailant. Were they joining forces together to try to get rid of me? I couldn't understand what was going on, but I tried my best to have my passive reaction on my face.

"Yes, ma'am." I nodded. "I'm just a little lightheaded and I can't seem to remember the right words to conclude. It could be that I still haven't recovered from the accident." I told her.

She searched my face for a while before a scowl covered her face. "Why would you come in to teach our students when you're in such a state? Don't you know how much we value the quality of learning gotten by our students? Do you know that you have to be in your best health to teach them, else you will make mistakes and teach them the wrong things! Do you know what wrong things do? They affect the future of our students, and we are trying our best to avoid that!" Her voice was loud, but she wasn't yelling.

The embarrassment was so much to handle. Maybe I should have just listened to Michael and called in sick, but that didn't still guarantee anything.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." I could only bow in apology.

"Keep your apologies to yourself, Mrs. Atelo." She spat out. "Step out of this meeting immediately."

She said immediately.

"Huh?" I was surprised. Was she kicking me out?

"Didn't you hear me? Wait for me in my office. We have to talk before I relieve you to go home and rest."