Being Bad For Good Sake

It doesn't matter who apologizes first... The apology is the one that matters.

After the argument with Damien, I left for my class. It was also my first day as a class representative, so I couldn't afford to be late. As I entered the classroom, a strange and cold atmosphere surrounded Damien. It was challenging to imagine spending the entire day sitting next to someone who wanted me to regret my decision. While I felt a pang of guilt, I reminded myself that distancing myself was for his safety.

Instead of sitting next to Damien, I chose to sit in the front with Luka and Felix. Their banter and jokes lightened the mood, and I could sense their growing friendship. Every now and then, I caught glimpses of Damien's frustration. It puzzled me. Was it truly this difficult to coexist in the same space? Why was he so upset? After all, we weren't really close friends, were we? These thoughts filled my mind until they came, The French class.

As they introduced themselves one by one, Lila Rossi took the spotlight. "Hi, my name is Lila Rossi, And I am the umm... gagnante (Winner) of this concours(competition). And I am single. merci(Thank you)" she exclaimed with a poorly executed English accent, considering she supposedly traveled the world she don't know the most common language. The rest of the class followed, some attempting to speak in French while others relied on Translators. Finally, it was my turn.

"Good morning, everyone. I assume you all know me, but for those who don't, I am Marinette. Formerly the class representative of the French class, but someone else has taken over now. I mainly run errands and organize events. Even though I'm no longer the representative, I would like to apologize in advance for any chaos or confusion they may cause," I stated, my voice tinged with a hint of regret.

I took my seat as the professor began assigning seats. To my surprise, Lila ended up sitting next to Damien, though I doubted she was aware of it. Being herself, she had the audacity to ask for my seat. "Professor, actually I have an eye infection. Don't worry, it's not contagious, but it's causing difficulty for me to see from a distance. I believe it would be more comfortable for me if I sat in Marinette's place," she explained, abandoning her attempt at English.

Fortunately, our professor was multilingual and understood French. He responded firmly, "Lila if you have an eye infection, it's important to seek medical treatment. However, according to the classroom seating rules, I cannot assign a seat that is already occupied." It was a refreshing change from Ms. Bustier's leniency.

As I contemplated the situation, I realized that Lila was currently sitting next to Damien, who was clearly struggling to restrain his anger toward her. If she wanted to put herself in that position, perhaps it would be my way of helping. After all, Felix and Luka seemed capable of handling her.

"Excuse me, professor, would it be permissible for me to give her my seat? It is a voluntary offer on my part," I spoke up, seeking approval. The professor nodded in agreement, understanding the underlying dynamics. It was time for me to face Damien, to address the rift between us. By distancing him from Lila's lies, perhaps we could find a way to reconcile.

I gathered my courage and approached Damien's desk. There was a mix of nervousness and determination as I asked, "Is it okay if I sit here?" Damien, caught off guard by my request, hesitated for a moment before nodding silently. I took my seat beside him, feeling the palpable tension between us.

For a while, both of us remained focused on our own tasks, avoiding eye contact and keeping to ourselves. The silence became almost unbearable as if the weight of our unresolved issues hung heavy in the air. I could sense Damien's guarded demeanor and the growing distance between us.

During a short break, I caught a glimpse of Damien across the room. His expression was a mix of frustration and disappointment. Something inside me softened as I realized the impact of my decision to distance myself from him. While it had been done with good intentions, I now questioned whether it was the right approach.