Time's Cruel Twist: A Second Chance Amidst the Ruins

"Brother!" Somiya called out, standing near a filter. She signaled to the school guard, to come over. Brother closed the school gate and approached Somiya. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"Uh... could you help me put the jar in the filter? I need some water..." Somiya rubbed her neck, her eyes darting towards the gate every few seconds.

Brother removed the empty jar and began to replace it with a new one.

Somiya glanced at the gate and spotted Elli, Sophia, Seth, and Fred sneaking out. She crossed her fingers, hoping Brother wouldn't notice them. Just as Brother was about to insert the new jar, Somiya exclaimed, "Wait a minute, Brother! Look! There's a half-filled jar over there!"

Brother followed Somiya's gaze and saw a half-filled jar in the corner. "Who the heck took that out!?" he gritted his teeth, exasperated by the students' pranks.

Somiya noticed Elli giving her a thumbs-up before the gate closed. She let out a sigh of relief, her heart finally calming down a bit. She smiled at Brother. "I forgot to bring my water bottle. Let me grab it from my class." She headed towards the gate and closed it before dashing away.

After placing the jar in the filter, Brother walked towards the gate. Seeing it still closed, he didn't suspect anything and stood guard.

"She might have gone to the cemetery!" Seth exclaimed, running with his friends. They crossed the road and headed straight for the cemetery. After a fifteen-minute run, they finally arrived at the gates. Panting heavily, they entered.

"L-let's go straight to Uncle's tomb," Sophia suggested, her heart pounding from the running. Everyone nodded, still panting.

Standing before a tomb, they saw Amaya sleeping peacefully on it. She had turned someone else's tomb into a chair for her bag and her father's tomb into a bed for herself.

"On my birthday, I'm going to wish for a ghost to scare her so bad she pees her pants," Fred said, carefully trying to lift Amaya onto his arm without waking her.

Seth shook his head and picked up Amaya's school bag and shoes. "I wouldn't be surprised if I found this tomb in her house one day," he whispered.

Carrying Amaya on his back, Fred's brows furrowed. Sophia noticed his expression change and asked, "What's wrong?" Everyone's eyes turned to Fred.

"She's... incredibly light. It's worrying," Fred replied, his voice laced with concern. His heart ached as he felt her sharp bones through her thin legs.

"Just wait until Amaya wakes up and hears this. She'll be jumping for joy," Sophia said, linking arms with Elli and walking ahead with her head on Elli's shoulder. Seth and Fred followed behind.

"What's so great about being all bones? Chubby is the best!" Seth exclaimed with a playful smirk. Fred nodded in agreement and high-fived him.

"Chubby is the best then choose an hourglass figure. Two-faced hypocrite," Elli retorted, rolling her eyes at Seth.

Before Elli could escape, Seth lunged and grabbed her from behind, locking her neck in his arm. "Who do you think you're talking to? And when did we ever choose an hourglass figure?" he demanded.

"They need to look at you first before you can choose them which is impossible." Elli replied, stepping on Seth's toe to free herself from his grip.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Seth clutched his toe and then chased after Elli. "You're lucky I went for your toes instead of your...!" Elli screamed, running away.

Sophia sighed and looked up to the heavens. "Forgive me, Lord, I know not these vulgar beings."

"Did you hear? Even the education minister is here!" one student whispered while filling her water bottle.

Another student nodded, her eyes darting around to ensure no one else was listening. "I heard Mrs. Hailey specifically requested the chairman to blacklist Subash sir and call police on him."

"He deserves it," said another student, sitting with his friends in the cafeteria. "I'm shocked none of the girls ever complained about him after all that harassment."

"He's a teacher. They might have been afraid or threatened," another whispered.

Walking towards Grade 9, Section A, Ruby ma'am knocked on the door and called out, "Mitasha, Sumi, and Riya, you're wanted in the principal's office."

Afterward, she turned and headed towards Grade 9, Section C, calling out to another student, "Hina and Vinya, go to the principal's office."

She hesitated before Grade 12, Section C, but took a deep breath and knocked. "Shreya, go to the principal's office," she announced.

Six girls stood before six adults and two teachers in the room, their hearts pounding in their chests. They all swallowed nervously.

"We're ashamed to call ourselves your teachers," one of the adults, the principal began. "Talking about this may be difficult for six of you..."

"More than twenty..." Shreya whispered, tears streaming down her face, her hands trembling. "We're the only ones who promised Sophia we'd speak the truth... the others were too scared to come forward..." Sumi whispered, unable to hold back her tears.

Hailey ma'am and Ruby ma'am clenched their fists as they watched them sob, their heads bowed in shame. They were filled with disappointment for not being able to protect them.

"They're lying! It's all a setup! Sophia and I had a feud..."

"Shut up!" Hailey ma'am's voice echoed through the room, startling everyone. "A monster like you deserves to be executed in the streets, naked! How dare you molest your own students? They're like your daughters!"

*Bang*

With a swift kick, Hailey ma'am sent Subash sir crashing into the table, his head hitting the surface with a loud bang. "Hailey ma'am!" everyone gasped, fearing she had killed him on the spot.

"Hailey ma'am, violence isn't the answer," the Education Minister began.

"You're right, sir," Hailey ma'am interrupted, her voice icy. "My niece told me the same thing. Violence isn't an answer; it's the ultimate solution."

Ruby ma'am grabbed Hailey ma'am's hand as she saw her taking a step towards Subash. "Hailey ma'am, please control yourself! This is a job for the police, not for us." Ruby ma'am pleaded, and everyone nodded in agreement.

After a few minutes, Hailey ma'am finally sat back down, Ruby ma'am acting as her leash. One by one, the six students shared everything that happened to them, their faces wet with tears. They spoke of molestation, blackmail, and the horrors they had endured. With each revelation, the faces of the adults grew darker.

Three hours later, the girls had finally calmed down. The sun was setting, the school was empty, and the meeting was finally coming to a close. Police officers stood outside, ready to take Subash into custody.

The board of directors, the Education Minister, the principal, the teachers, and all the staff bowed their heads to the students. "We are deeply sorry for our negligence," the principal said, his voice filled with guilt and remorse. "Please forgive us. If there is anything we can do to make up for it, please tell us."

Vinya shook her head. "We all thought that none of you would stand up for us," she said. "That you would try to hide it all to protect the school's reputation. Thank you for believing us and placing us before school's reputation."

Hailey ma'am and Ruby ma'am hugged the students. "School is your second home," Ruby ma'am whispered, "and you are our second children. If we, as parents, don't stand up for you, then who will?"

*Slice*

Amaya sat on the couch, staring at the kitchen with the longing eyes of a lost puppy. While Elli and Sophia bustled around like busy bees, preparing food, Seth and Fred were taking out juice straight from the carton. Amaya licked her dry lips and pouted in boredom. With a sigh as heavy as a lead balloon, she flopped back on the couch, only to sit up again and glance at her friends.

"How much do you guys love me?" Amaya asked, pouting her lips like a spoiled child.

"0%" replied Sophia, her voice as flat as a pancake.

"Negative 100%" replied Elli, her expression as sour as a lemon.

"Negative infinity," replied Seth, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"But there's no such thing as negative infinity," Amaya protested, her voice as confused as a lost kitten.

"Then there's no love in us either," Fred replied, grinning mischievously from ear to ear.

Amaya rolled her eyes and turned towards her TV to watch instead, her hopes of getting any attention from her friends dashed like a wave crashing against a rock. Seth and Fred plopped down beside her, their long legs stretched out on the table like a couple of lazy lizards. They switched the channel from cartoons to the news, earning a murderous glare from Amaya.

"By the way, I've chosen the university for us," Elli informed, walking towards the couch with Sophia, carrying salads, chicken wings, sausage and momo. "I'm pretty sure none of you have thought about what to do after highschool so let's read at..." She sat down and put her legs on the table, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Her gaze met with Amaya and the boys then she grinned, "L.R. University."