Chapter five: “We’ve Had Enough”

Maya crossed her arms tightly, her expression stormy as she paced in a slow circle near the lockers.

Maya: “I think we should talk to the principal… I mean, this is getting way out of hand. There are like—what—three teachers who aren’t scared of the bullies? This school’s turning into a jungle.”
She glanced at the others. “Something needs to change. Fast.”

The girls exchanged glances. One by one, their heads nodded.

Mina: “You’re right. We should go. Right now.”

Emma: “But… don’t we have class in like—one minute?”

Maya’s lip curled. “Who cares. We’ll just say we were with the principal.”

Mina: “Exactly. It’s a justifiable rebellion.”

Kerrie: “What about Luke?”

Maya's confident front cracked. Her gaze dropped, and she exhaled quietly through her nose.

Maya: “He’s not talking to me…”

Mina: “What?! But you didn’t even do anything wrong!”

Maya: “Doesn’t matter. He’s pissed. Probably doesn’t want to take it out on us… or maybe he’s just—done.” She rubbed her temple. “I don’t know. It’s like I lost him overnight.”

Emma bit her lip and offered gently, “I could try to talk to him? Or apologize or—”

Maya: “It’s not that simple. Ten days ago, before we were together, things felt perfect. We hugged, he kissed my cheek, we joked around like idiots… now it’s like he’s on mute and I’m invisible.”

Her voice cracked just slightly.

Maya (softly): “It hurts. I feel like my feelings are slipping. But I don’t want to hurt him…”

A heavy pause.

Kerrie: “Whatever you do—listen to your heart. We all know your mind gets loud sometimes… but your heart always knows the truth.”

Mina: “Yours especially.”

Maya smiled faintly, but her eyes were still troubled.

Maya: “I don’t have time to listen to my heart right now. We’ve got a school to fix.”

Emma: “Right. Let’s go full-on justice squad.”

With that, the girls picked up their pace and strode toward the principal’s office like a rogue task force. The first floor buzzed with chatter, footsteps, and the low hum of fluorescent lights—but they kept their focus.

They stopped in front of the office door. For a second, all four hesitated.

Kerrie: “You think we could get expelled for this?”

Maya: “Only if the world’s completely upside down.”

She knocked, sharp and clear.

From inside, a muffled voice called, “Come in!”

The door creaked open. The principal—a tired-looking woman in her fifties—blinked up at them.

Principal: “Oh, hello, girls. How may I help you?”

Maya: “Miss… we were wondering…”
She stepped forward, standing tall despite her pounding heart.
“Why are the bullies still in school? Shouldn’t they have been expelled already?”

A heavy silence fell like a curtain. The principal visibly tensed.

Mina: “They should’ve been kicked out weeks ago. Don’t you think?”

Principal: “Listen, girls… I know what’s going on in this school. I—I lowered some of the rule restrictions to let students feel free and safe. I wanted this place to feel less like a prison. But…”
Her voice cracked.
“...It got out of hand. And now I can’t stop it.”

Emma: “But you’re the principal. No disrespect—but you have to do something. Even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Maya: “Miss… why can’t you expel them?”

Another silence.

The principal’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Because… they own me.”

The girls exchanged startled looks. No one needed further explanation—they knew the kind of influence the delinquents had over people. Fear. Control. Leverage.

Maya took a breath and leaned forward.
“Then don’t expel them. Just… remove them temporarily. Even a short suspension would give the school room to breathe.”

The principal blinked, almost startled by the suggestion. Her eyes welled up a bit.

Principal: “You girls really are something else. No student has ever dared to talk to me about the delinquents.”

Maya grinned softly.
“What can I say… we’re special.”

---

Thirty minutes later, they had come up with a plan. It wasn’t perfect, but it was bold.

Principal: “I’ll take care of this. By the end of the post-lunch class—consider it done.”

Maya: “We’ll be expecting it.”
She gave a small salute. The others followed with playful bows and waves.

Principal (smiling): “Thank you again, girls. Truly.”

All: “Bye, miss!”

They stepped into the hallway… and instantly stopped.

There he was. Mark Lee, the smug Korean ringleader of the bullies, flanked by his usual minions. He leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes sharp.

Mark: “Aww, the little smurf had a playdate with her tiny friends in the principal’s office. How sweet.”

Maya (deadpan): “Piss off, Mark.”

Mark: “Not until you tell me what you were doing in there.”

Mina (eye-roll): “Why do you care?”

Mark: “Oh, the others speak too?”
He smirked. “How cute.”

Mina (stepping forward): “Yeah, we speak. Loud and clear. You don’t own this school, Mark. You don’t control the students. And the teachers? They’re above you. And we? We’re not scared of you.”

Mark: “That’s adorable. Also… hey, um—midget? Pretty sure my grandpa has those exact jeans. He keeps them in the trash can.”

A few snickers echoed from his crew.

But Maya tilted her head and smirked.
“Aww, I think Mina here knows more about fashion than you ever will. Especially since…”
She pointed.
“…you’ve got kissy duckies on your boxers. Cute pattern, Mark.”

Gasps.

Laughter.

Mark’s face turned the color of a boiled tomato as he yanked his shirt down to cover the waistband of his sagging jeans.

Mark (snarling): “Shut up! This isn’t over, smurf. When you least expect it—you’re finished.”

Maya: “Sure, Marky. Tell grandma I said hi. Oh wait… she hates you, doesn’t she?”

More laughter. A few students clapped.

Mark shoved past them, face burning.

Kerrie (giggling): “That was legendary.”

Maya: “Hey Mina, those jeans cost you way too much for him to roast them. He’s just mad he can’t pull off ‘fierce.’”

Mina: “Thanks, Flame.”

Maya: “No prob.”

Suddenly, the intercom crackled.

Principal (voice steady):
“Attention students. In two weeks, all regular classes are cancelled for Booth Week. Additionally, students over the age of eighteen will not be permitted on campus during that time. That is all.”

The announcement echoed through the halls like a cannon.

Cheering erupted from classrooms, but in one quiet corridor, a certain girl smirked as her eyes locked with a fuming boy’s glare.

Mark clenched his fists, jaw tight.

And Maya?

She just smiled wider.