The Dean's office was big, bigger than all the offices Ivie had slipped or broken into, it would be hard to corner the priest to see what colour of underwear he was putting on, what was Gaga even thinking?
He stood by the window, overlooking the greenery of the forest. Ivie knew some offices faced the forest, but she never guessed the Dean's office was amongst them. Had he perhaps seen her on one occasion escaping into the woods?
He was not alone, seated on one of the chairs across his was the teacher in charge of Ivie's form. What was her doing there? She ignored him and bowed to the Dean. "Good morning, Father."
"Is that you, Ivie?" Father Chibuike asked. "Your meekness has blinded me into believing it is someone else."
The Dean cleared his throat, turning away from the window. "Morning. What happened to your forehead?"
"Do tell, what happened to your forehead?" Father Chibuike pressed.
Ivie did not know why he was playing interpreter and why the Dean was letting him. She had somehow expected him to barge into the infirmary to confirm she was there.
"I bumped my head on the door," she replied, wondering why it kept switching from door to wall and back to door.
"It looks serious," Father IK said. "It's a good thing you have it cleaned up, be careful next time."
"Yes, be careful," Father Chibuike added. "If you look well, you'd see that these doors are old, don't go around knocking them down with your forehead."
Before Ivie could reply, the Dean gestured her to seat. "Have a seat," he said. "Good thing the teacher in charge of your form is here." He left the window and sat across them. "I hear you are a very bright student, the best in your form and it would be very bad losing you."
"Losing me?" She questioned.
"Expulsion."
Her heart dropped.
"You see, I've had reports, you're not a very good student, are you?" With grades, yes, but you're terrible at obeying school rules. You skip class, break into teachers' offices, chew gum in class and what not."
"Now I'm surprised, where is all these coming from?" Father Chibuike asked. "I mean, I'm supposed to be the one laying all these complaints to you since I'm in charge of her form, and I didn't do it, then who?"
"Well, you also told me that she loves being mischievous and goes into the woods at night."
Ivie's head took a sharp turn at Father Chibuike to which he said. "I did say that, and it's not completely a lie." He looked back to the Dean. "But he's making it sound like I came to his office and had a tête-à-tête about you diving into the woods at night. I see what he's trying to do, you know too, right, Ivie?" He turned to her. "He's trying to create a rift in our newly found friendship."
"We're not friends!" Ivie said through clenched teeth, and then whispered, "I thought you now know that I have a leverage against you too?"
"Yes," he whispered back. "And we agreed to keep it a secret."
"Hello, I'm still—" the Dean started to say only to be cut short by Father Chibuike's raise of hand.
"We're whispering to each other about the possible remedies to this newly found problem of ours, if you can exercise a little patience."
The Dean stared at him in surprise, did the priest not understand hierarchy and authority? "Don't cut me off like that again," he warned.
"Then allow us finish." Father Chibuike turned back to Ivie. "I did mention that to him, but it never to get you into trouble."
Ivie felt discomforted under the scrutinizing gaze of the Dean, especially because Father Chibuike leaned in too much to whisper into her ear.
"I believe you," she said quickly in a bid to get him to move.
But he read her like an open book. "You are saying that because the Dean won't stop looking, do you want me to put him to sleep for a while?"
What did he mean put him to sleep? But she had no time to ponder upon that. "Father, please don't get me into any more trouble than you already have."
He moved away from her and tsked, "No fun at all." Then he waved to the Dean, "Carry on."
Father IK looked obviously displeased. "I don't know how it happens in the east, but here we respect those in charge."
"And I'm in charge. She's my pupil, if you're going to expel her, shouldn't you go through me first? I think you're the one who's got the hierarchy confused."
Ivie's palm became sleek with sweat, her head throbbing with a headache. It would have been easier to know what underwear the Dean was putting on than be in the middle of this. She nudged Father Chibuike's leg.
It urged him. "You have heard series of rumour about a student in my form, shouldn't you confirm with me first? It seems you're the one who doesn't respect people."
Ivie stepped on his foot.
"You're just new here," the Dean said, "What could you probably say about a student who has stayed here longer than you have?"
"So you've been gathering scores against her for a very long time? That's very unpriestly."
"You tell me then, if she's been a very good student and not guilty of the things she's accused of?"
"Like you said, I'm new, what could I possibly know?" Father Chibuike fired him his own shot.
"Ivie?" The Dean called. "You've never done anything like skipped class or going into the woods at night?"
She touched her wound, as if making a reference to it. "I have lost all my memories."
Father Chibuike tried to stifle his laugh as he leaned to whisper, "How we make such a good team."
She stomped on his feet. "Stop whispering!"
The Dean slumped on his seat. "If that's how you want to play it then, but don't say I didn't warn you, you're done here."
Father Chibuike stood up. "What a relief that is. If you have any more issues against my students, I'd prefer you meet with me. Ivie, shall we?"
Ivie avoided the Dean's gaze as she left his office. This was the last thing she expected to happen.
"I think we scared him," Father Chibuike said, sounding smug about it.
"I did not want to scare anybody," she shot at him.
"So much for defending you."
"Yes, you defended me, but only after you told him I go to the woods at night."
"We have gone passed that, you said you believed me."
She felt tired. That her wound did not hurt didn't mean it did not take a toll on her. "Just leave me alone, I don't just want any trouble."
"I knew it won't be appreciated." He sighed. "Would you tell me the truth if I asked about the wound on your head?"
How come everybody knew she was lying? It seemed she had to top her game.
"I don't think that's your business," she replied. "I want to stay out of trouble so help me, and by help me, I mean don't go telling him how Sister Gabriel and I are best of friends, I don't want to be expelled. Then she added in a quieter tone, "There's nobody waiting for me outside here."
"If you don't want to be expelled, then you won't be."
Ivie searched his eyes and saw nothing but sincerity, maybe she should put her worries to rest and believe him, but even Father Chibuike could do so little.