Reborn: The Unexpected Twist

Standing in front of the Principal's room, Lee Jinhee turned the knob and pushed open the door. Sucking in the warm air, Jinhee mustered up her courage.

Walking into the room confidently whilst supporting herself on the crutches, Lee Soohyun looked straight at the sight before her. The Principal and her dorm teacher, Lee Aera, stood before her.

Bowing at them politely, Lee Jinhee walked further into the room. The Principal and the dorm teacher seemed to be surprised after seeing her injured just as Jinhee had expected. 

Jinhee informed Taehyun beforehand to not mention anything to the school for the librarian, Kim Hyojoo, for Jinhee was afraid either she would not be present. Since the librarian was being irresponsible, she needed to suffer the consequences as well.

"You got injured?" The Principal asked.

Standing in front of the Principal's desk, Lee Jinhee nodded and said, "It happened last Monday."

"You can sit down," The Principal voiced out.

Lee Jinhee nodded and took the seat in front of him. Under the gazes of the principal and librarian, Lee Jinhee felt nervousness grown within her.

"What is the matter, Principal?" Jinhee asked.

"On Monday, you have not showed up in the dorm room, and even if you have gotten injured, you should have informed about it beforehand. However, you decided to not contact the dorm for days before the school had to contact your parents?"

"About that, can you possibly call the librarian here, Principal?" Lee Jinhee asked politely.

"The librarian? Kim Hyojoo? What does she have to do with this?" The Principal inquired.

"I can explain this to you when she comes, Principal," Jinhee voiced out.

The Principal said, "Alright then. I'll order for her to come here."

°°°

"Can I come in, Principal?" 

Knocks on the door were heard, and Lee Jinhee could easily guess who it could be. Revising the plan she had inside of her mind, Lee Jinhee forced out a confident expression.

"You may," The Principal voiced out in a stern tone.

The door to the library opened, and Jinhee could hear the sound of footsteps as the librarian stepped in. The librarian bowed respectfully at the Principal.

As the Kim Hyojoo stood up straight, she asked, "Did you need me for anything, Principal?"

"Student Lee Jinhee requested for your presence. Student Lee Jinhee, now what do you have to say?" The Principal stated whilst staring at Lee Jinhee strictly.

Kim Hyojoo walked towards the Principal's desk, and raising her head, Lee Jinhee looked at her with a soft smile on her face. Hyojoo was curious on what could have happened and had a nagging feeling that it was not anything good.

"Teacher Hyojoo, on Monday, before locking the library, did you check properly whether or not there were any students present?" Lee Jinhee asked whilst arching her eyebrows.

Monday— Kim Hyojoo recalled that Im Jieun decided to help her out on that day, and that's why, Hyojoo returned home early. Hyojoo did not lock up the library that day. 

However, if that got found out to the school, it could bring potential danger to her job, and Hyojoo did not want to such high paying job. Seeing how Lee Jinhee was questioning, Hyojoo suspected that something could have happened on that day in the library.

"Of course, I did," Hyojoo answered, "I double checked the entire library as always and made sure no one was inside."

Hint of nervousness was noticeable in her tone, and Lee Jinhee had seen it. Although Jinhee had no idea on how she got locked in, she knew that the librarian and Jieun was involved in this.

"Really? Then, how was I locked in the library with the lights turned on? Then, all of a sudden, the light just went off, and that's how, I received these injuries," Lee Jinhee said— raising one of her eyes eyebrows.

Trying to wear on a confident outlook, Hyojoo lied, "I have no idea on how you got locked in, Student Jinhee, but don't get me involved in this. I checked all the places in the library, and there was not even a student behind when I locked the door."

"Student Jinhee, if you are trying to create trouble, the punishment you'll be receiving will be worse," The Principal warned.

Facing the Principal, Jinhee voiced out, "Principal, aren't there CCTV camera at the library? We can just check the footage."

Hearing that, Kim Hyojoo's eyes widened. She had completely forgotten about the CCTV when she took the leave before, and now that Jinhee brought it up, Hyojoo remembered about. Hyojoo will be really done for after this. Not only did she leave early, she also lied to the Principal.

"The CCTV? Student, do you think the CCTV can be checked just because of your baseless accusation? Stop creating trouble," Hyojoo voiced out.

Kim Hyojoo, although it did not sound possible, desperately prayed that the Principal won't agree to checking the CCTV footage. If the matters on how she got fired from here and irresponsibility got outside, it will be very much difficult for her to find a job somewhere this much high paying.

"Yes, Student Jinhee has a fondness for creating trouble me after all," Lee Aera added.

"Principal, can't we check it?" Lee Jinhee asked.

"If I am lying, I wouldn't have suggested to check the CCTV camera. So, shouldn't you be giving be a chance and check the CCTV?" Jinhee voiced out.

Heading Lee Jinhee's words, Kim Hyojoo's eyes widened. It would make the Principal look unjust  if he rejected Jinhee at this point, and Hyojoo understood that as well.

Hyojoo's face turned pale, and sweat dripped down her face. Her hands started to tremble. For returning home two hours early, she will be losing everything now. 

She regretted agreeing to Im Jieun's request, and Hyojoo had an inkling that this entire thing was Jieun's idea. Hyojoo had fallen into a trap planned by Jieun, and she realized that just now.

Hyojoo wondered on whether apologising at this moment would make the actions taken against her much less serious, and without a second thought, Han Hyojoo bowed apologetically towards the Principal.

"Sorry, Principal, Student Jinhee. I was afraid of the actions that will be taken against me. That's why, I lied. I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Student Im Jieun took the library keys from me that day said that she will take care of the Library so that I can return home early. Since I was extremely tired, I agreed to her request," Kim Hyojoo voiced out— spilling out all the truth.