"Now, perhaps you finally understand the reason," Kent said, his voice steady as he fixed his gaze on the two guardians standing before him.
The woman clutched her daughter's shoulders, her expression filled with worry and pain. "Who did this to you?" she asked, her voice trembling, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Kent, watching their interaction, leaned back slightly in his chair. "I think it would be best if you took the children home first and spoke to them in a more private setting," he advised. "That way, they’ll feel more comfortable opening up."
The woman nodded quickly, clearly anxious to get her daughter away from the situation. "Thank you," she murmured, casting him a grateful glance before turning back to her child. With one last nod, she bid Kent goodbye and left the office, holding her daughter's hand tightly as they walked out.
As the door clicked shut behind them, an eerie silence filled the room. The tension that had been held at bay in the presence of the guardians settled in like a heavy fog. Only the siblings remained, and Louie wasted no time.
"Micay, wait outside," he instructed, his voice firm but not unkind.
Micay hesitated for a moment, as if considering whether to argue, but then she simply nodded and slipped out, closing the door behind her.
The moment she was gone, the shift in atmosphere became palpable. It was as if an unspoken battle had begun, neither side willing to make the first move. Louie opened his mouth, ready to say something, but Kent beat him to it.
"I trust I've made my point clear, Mr. Davidson," Kent stated, his tone measured, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. He stood up slowly, adjusting his posture with a sense of finality.
Louie let out a slow breath, his fingers twitching slightly at his side.
"I have another class to teach," Kent continued, his eyes never leaving Louie’s. "Is there anything else you need to say before I leave?"
Louie clenched his jaw, but after a moment, he extended his hand. "No. Just… thank you for your concern, Mr. Bajwa."
Kent regarded him for a brief moment before shaking his hand.
But just as Louie turned to leave, Kent’s voice rang out again, stopping him in his tracks.
"One more thing," he said, his voice firm, deliberate. "I don’t care who my students are outside of this school. But inside these walls, they are only my students." His words were clear, each syllable carrying weight as he locked eyes with Louie.
For a moment, Louie said nothing, but the tightness in his posture betrayed his frustration. He forced himself to walk away, but by the time he reached his car, his patience had worn dangerously thin.
"Arrogant bastard," he muttered, slamming the car door shut. "Does he really think he’s that great?"
Beside him, Micay sat quietly in the passenger seat, absorbed in whatever she was doing on her phone. She didn’t acknowledge his irritation, nor did she try to soothe it.
Louie yanked his phone out of his pocket and quickly dialed a number. His fingers drummed impatiently against the steering wheel as he waited for the call to connect.
The second the line picked up, he wasted no time. "What the hell took you so long to answer?" he snapped, not bothering to hide his irritation.
The voice on the other end muttered something, but Louie wasn’t interested in excuses.
"I don’t care what your reasons are," he cut in coldly. "Just do what I asked. And do it fast."
He paused for a moment, letting his next words settle in.
"I want everything on Kent Louie Bajwa. His history, his connections, his weaknesses—everything. I don’t want a single detail left out."
A brief silence followed as the person on the other end responded. Louie listened for a few moments, then, without another word, ended the call and shoved his phone back into his pocket.
He started the car and pulled out of the school parking lot.
The drive was silent. Neither he nor Micay spoke, and the tension remained thick in the air. It wasn’t until they reached their destination that either of them moved, and even then, the quiet between them continued as they stepped inside the building.
Once inside his office, Micay sank into one of the couches, her fingers idly scrolling through her phone. She appeared calm, but something about her brother’s demeanor felt off.
Louie was pacing behind his desk, his movements restless and erratic. Every now and then, she caught him stealing glances at her, only for him to quickly look away.
She chose not to comment, instead maintaining a neutral expression.
But she was no fool.
After a few minutes, Louie finally broke the silence.
"Micay."
She looked up, pretending to be caught off guard. "Hmm?"
His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with an intensity that told her he wasn’t just making casual conversation.
"Who did it?" he asked, his tone quiet yet sharp.
"Mark," she answered without hesitation.
Louie’s expression darkened. "He still hasn’t stopped?"
Micay shook her head. "He wasn’t after me this time."
Louie’s brows furrowed. "Then who?"
"They pranked Hannah earlier," she admitted, setting her phone aside.
Louie exhaled sharply. "And you got involved?"
Micay tilted her head slightly, a small, almost amused smile playing on her lips. "Of course. She’s my best friend. What else was I supposed to do?"
Louie crossed his arms. "Do you want me to talk to Uncle Miguel? He can—"
"What, have him talk to Mark’s dad?" she interrupted, shaking her head. "Brother, it’s fine. And besides, I think Mark and his friends already learned their lesson today."
Louie narrowed his eyes. "Learned their lesson? What exactly did you do?"
Micay chuckled lightly. "What’s the point of you and Uncle Miguel teaching me self-defense if I can’t use it?"
Louie stared at her for a moment, then let out a heavy sigh.
"Just be careful next time," he muttered before stepping forward and pulling her into a tight hug.
Micay squirmed slightly in his embrace. "Ugh, Brother, you’re acting weird again," she groaned.
Louie chuckled but didn’t loosen his hold.
It wasn’t the first time he had hugged her like this. They had always been close—after all, they only had each other. But there was something different about the way he held her now.
Protective.
Possessive.
After a moment, he pulled away slightly, keeping his hands on her shoulders. He studied her face carefully, tilting her chin up slightly as he checked for any bruises or scratches.
Micay sighed, exasperated. "I’m fine, Brother. You don’t have to worry so much."
Louie didn’t respond right away. He held her gaze for a moment longer before finally sighing in resignation.
He stood up, walked back to his desk, and settled into his chair, but his mind remained unsettled.
Micay, sensing the shift in his mood, went back to scrolling through her phone, though she kept a subtle eye on him.
Louie, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
The plan needs to change.
Micay glanced up at him again and flashed him a sweet, knowing smile.
"Are you hungry?" Louie suddenly asked.
She nodded.
Louie stood up and motioned for her to follow. "Come on, let’s eat."
Without another word, they exited the office together and stepped into the elevator, the weight of unspoken thoughts lingering between them.