Mercy sits quietly in the principal's office.
The atmosphere is tense and quiet as the principal stares at him in disbelief.
The man sighs tiredly. "Just tell me the truth, Mercy." He says dryly. "I haven't called your mum yet, because I want to hear from you."
"I have tell you the truth, Mr Andrew. I am not on drugs." Mercy says dryly.
"Then why did you behave in such a strange way?" The man asks in confusion.
"I can't say, sir." Mercy looks down at his feet. "It's personal."
The man rests his back on his chair and sighs. "I see. Mental illness?"
Mercy keeps quiet.
The principal sighs. "I'm sorry if it looks like I'm sounding rude, but..." He trails off and sighs. "I need a reasonable excuse to give to his parents."
Mercy looks up at the man with a frown. "And what does me taking drugs have to do with it, Mr Andrew?!" Mercy snaps. "It's personal! I don't like bringing up the topic."
The principal sighs. "Very well then." He picks up a book and flips through the pages. "I am giving you one week suspension and giving him two weeks." He says calmly.
"Sure, sir." Mercy says dryly.
The principal gives him a look of concern. "If you are having issues, you can come to me, Mercy." He says in a gentle tone.
"Thanks, but there is no need for that." Mercy says quickly. "My sister is handling that one well."
The principal sits up and smiles. "That's nice to hear."
Mercy nods. "Yeah."
"You may go."
"Can I ask for a favour sir?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Can I be staying at the boardroom, everyday, for the whole week?"
The principal looks at Mercy in silence, surprise showing on his face. "Why so?"
"Because of my sister. I love her a lot and don't want to leave her side. I want to come with her everyday and go with her everyday."
The principal looks at Mercy in pity. "As much as I want to free you, I have to punish you to teach you and others lessons. That's why I'm giving you just one week." The man smiles. "As for your request?" He looks up in thought. "Let's just say I'll accept because I am a human and I love close siblings relationship." He says with a wide smile.
Mercy beams a wide smile at the man. "Thanks a lot sir!" He shouts and bows his head. "I promise not to behave in that manner again."
"Of course you wouldn't dare." The principal says with a soft smile. "Because that would attract a month suspension." His sweet smile widens. "And of course you don't want that now, do you?"
Mercy nods quickly. "Yes, sir."
The principal nods. "Good. You can go now."
Mercy stands up to leave.
"Mercy."
"Yes, sir?"
"Do come to me if you want to talk."
Mercy nods. "Okay sir." He walks out of the office.
"What a strange kid." The principal says with a tired sigh. He picks up his phone. "Hello, Mrs Anna. Please come to the school as soon as you can. Don't worry, when you arrive I shall let you know." He cuts the call and sighs. "Let's see how this will end." He says with a worried expression on his face.
Mercy walks straight to the school's clinic, where his sister and Josh are.
He enters and goes straight to the side where his sister is lying on a bed.
Amanda is lying face up on the bed. She turns to look at him. "Why?" She asks quietly as tears begins running down her face. "You promised."
Mercy stands in silence and bends his head. "I'm sorry." He says sincerely. "I tried. I swear I really did."
"You didn't try hard enough!" Amanda shouts. "Please... Please just go away." She sniffs. "You have done enough for today. Go home now and rest, ok?" She adds calmly.
"Ok." Mercy says, still looking at his feet. "Stay safe."
"I will."
"See you at home."
Amanda nods and smiles. "I hope so."
Mercy leaves the room.
Amanda chuckles. "He is definitely not going home." She shakes her head sideways, a soft smile on her face.
Mercy goes to the school's big boardroom and sits on a seat. He rests his head on the boardroom table and sighs as some unpleasant flashbacks begins flashing before his eyes. Not able to bear the pains from the memories, he forces himself to sleep.
"Wake up, Mercy dear." A gentle feminine voice says, shaking him lightly.
Mercy wakes up with a yawn and groans. He scratches his eyes and opens them to see a young beautiful woman looking down at him and smiling sweetly.
"Hi dear. I am Josh's mother."
Mercy's eyes widens, every trace of sleep leaving his eyes.
The woman chuckles. "Don't be scared." She says reassuringly. "I am just here for a talk." She pulls a chair closer and sits down beside him.
"You are the one that beat my child?" The woman asks calmly.
Mercy being tense, only nods.
The woman sighs. "I am Mrs Anna." She stretches her hand for a handshake and Mercy shakes it. "Nice to meet you, Mercy."
"Same ma'am." Mercy says with a shaking voice.
The woman noticing the boy is tense, laughs out, surprising Mercy. "Why are you tense? Are you scared of me?"
Mercy nods and goes down on his knees, surprising the woman. "Please don't tell my mum or report us to the police." He says in a sincere and apologetic tone. "I am ready to pay for my offense alone."
The woman smiles warmly. "Oh, honey. I am not going to do such." She says reassuringly. "Although I'm not supporting you or praising you. I am just simply thanking you."
Mercy looks at her, dumfounded. "Why ma'am?"
"Well, your principal told me all that happened. That you and your sister were bullied and attacked by my son. And you did it out of self defence." She places a hand on his shoulder. "So, why should I report you if you aren't on the attacking side." She sighs. "And besides I've been warning that spoilt brat son of mine. And hoping someone will put him in his place one day." She sighs. "You aren't the first to tenth child he has attack badly. And somehow I believe you won't be the last." She frowns. "I knew someone will put him in his place one day before it becomes too late. It might be you sweetheart. So, I'm not angry with you."
"Thanks a lot ma'am." Mercy shouts not too loudly.
"It's okay. You can stand up now."
Mercy sits back down. "Thank you ma'am."
"No. Thank you for putting my spoilt brat of a son in his place." She says with a warm smile. She stands up. "I have to get going now." She brings out ten bundles of cash. "Here, take this money and do whatever you want with it. It's a hundred thousand dollar."
Mercy mouth drops. "Are you for real?!" He shouts.
"Yes. Take it and do whatever you want."
Mercy kneels down. "Thank you so much ma'am! You will definitely get more in the future to come!"
"Thanks love. And same to you." She walks to the exit and pauses, turning back to look at Mercy with a serious expression. "Be careful and don't get involved in such violence again, ok?"
Mercy nods.
She smiles. "Good. Because next time you won't be this lucky." She says, causing goosebumps to erupt all over mercy as he nods. "Good boy." She leaves the boardroom.
Mercy quickly stands up and puts the cash in his bag. He checks the time on his phone and smiles. "It's already closing time." He mumbles.
"I knew it!" A voice shouts, shocking him. "I knew you wouldn't go home!" Amanda shouts from outside the boardroom.
Mercy smiles warmly. "You are welcome. Let's get going." He walks out of the boardroom, stopping in front of Amanda. "Aren't you forgetting something?" He asks with a grin.
"Whatever." Amanda says in a fake nonchalant tone and hugs him tight.
He hugs her back. "Good. Now let's go home."