It was a bright Friday afternoon, but Linda didn't feel any of the cheer the weather promised. She dragged herself home from school, her bag sliding off her tired shoulder. As usual, she went straight to the kitchen, craving a snack to dull her exhaustion.
Halfway through peeling a banana, she caught sight of her parents tiptoeing toward the front door. They moved like teenagers sneaking out, whispering and exchanging quick glances.
Linda tilted her head, amused. She covered her mouth to keep from laughing, but when they reached for the doorknob, she couldn't help herself. "Mum! Dad!" she giggled. "Where are you going?"
Both Lees froze mid-step. Mr. Lee turned, scratching the back of his neck with an awkward chuckle. "Uh—we're going on a date, sweetheart. Just take care of yourself, okay?" He grabbed Mrs. Lee's hand and rushed out before Linda could tease them further.
Shaking her head, Linda smiled faintly. A date? Since when did they sneak around for dates? Still chuckling, she returned to her snack, unaware of the real purpose of their outing.
---
The Lee couple arrived at the school within the hour. The building loomed quiet, most students already gone for the weekend. A receptionist guided them into a waiting room, where the faint smell of paint and old books filled the air.
Soon, they were ushered into the office of Mrs. Kara, the principal. She was a middle-aged woman with warm eyes behind her glasses and a smile that put most parents at ease. "Mr. and Mrs. Lee?" she asked kindly.
"Yes," Mr. Lee answered, his voice clipped with nerves.
They sat across from her polished desk, and almost immediately Mrs. Lee spoke up, her worry spilling out. "Our daughter comes home with bruises, torn clothes, sometimes in tears. Every time we ask, she says she can handle it. But we can't ignore this anymore."
Mrs. Kara's kind smile faded. She leaned forward, listening intently as Mr. Lee unlocked his phone and showed her photos—Linda's bruised arms, her split lip, the uniform that had ripped.
"This is serious," Mrs. Kara said at last, though her brows knitted in thought. "But I must also consider… sometimes children exaggerate situations, or misinterpret them. In rare cases, they even invent stories to gain attention."
Mrs. Lee's eyes flashed, her voice rising before she could stop it. "Are you saying Linda is lying? That we made these up for entertainment?"
The office seemed to freeze. Mr. Lee gently touched his wife's arm, trying to steady her. The principal, still calm, raised her hands slightly. "Please forgive me if I sounded insensitive. My role is to understand fully. Perhaps her class teacher, Miss Flora, can provide clarity."
She picked up the phone, and within minutes Miss Flora entered the room. The young woman smiled politely, greeting the principal before turning to Linda's parents. "It's lovely to finally meet you. Your daughter is one of my brightest students."
Her words were sweet, but the tightness in her smile didn't escape Mrs. Lee.
"Miss Flora," Mrs. Kara said evenly, "the Lees are concerned about bullying. Could you shed light on Linda's behavior and interactions?"
Miss Flora hesitated, her smile twitching. "I… don't believe anyone is bullying Linda. In fact, she's quite formidable. A skilled karate fighter. Not the type to be easily pushed around."
The air in the office shifted. Mrs. Lee narrowed her eyes. "Formidable? That's news to us. And what about the bruises? The torn uniforms? Are you saying she hurts herself?"
Still smiling, Miss Flora gave a little shrug. "Maybe she's accident-prone. Or perhaps… it's all a misunderstanding."
Mrs. Kara's eyes flicked sharply toward the teacher, noting the defensiveness in her tone. "Let's be clear, Miss Flora. What exactly have you observed?"
Miss Flora's voice grew firmer. "She skips classes often, spends long hours in the restroom, avoids her classmates. She's rude to her teachers and… she always complains about one girl in particular—Regina. But I assure you, Regina is a calm, well-behaved child."
Mrs. Lee's frown deepened. She could hear the favoritism dripping from every word. "And who is this Regina?"
Miss Flora hesitated, then admitted, "Her seatmate."
Mrs. Lee exchanged a look with her husband, a silent understanding passing between them.
The principal, sensing the tension, interjected. "Perhaps we should hear Regina's perspective directly." She motioned for her assistant, who returned moments later with the girl in question.
Regina strolled into the office as if she owned it. Her uniform was perfectly pressed, her hair sleek and styled. The faintest smirk played at her lips as she glanced at the Lees.
"Regina, these are Linda's parents," Mrs. Kara explained. "We're discussing issues about Linda's relationships with her peers."
"Hello," Regina said coolly, her tone lacking warmth.
Mrs. Lee noticed immediately how Miss Flora straightened in her seat, her posture protective—like Regina was her prize student.
"Tell us," the principal asked evenly, "what is your relationship with Linda?"
Regina shrugged. "We sit together. That's it."
Mrs. Lee leaned forward. "Do you know why Linda avoids you?"
The smirk widened. "Maybe because she's jealous."
Mrs. Lee blinked. "Jealous? Of what exactly?"
"Of me," Regina replied without hesitation. "My grades, my friends, my life. Everything."
Mr. Lee's jaw tightened, but he held his tongue.
The principal cut in firmly. "Regina, let's be clear. Did you bully Linda?"
"I don't think so," Regina said with false innocence. "She's just… different. And maybe she can't handle that."
Mrs. Lee's patience snapped when Regina added with a snicker, "Her hair, her skin… honestly, did someone burn her? How does a Korean family even end up with a black child?"
The room went still.
"You disrespectful girl!" Mrs. Lee shot up, her voice trembling with fury. "How dare you talk like that?"
"Mrs. Lee," the principal warned gently, though her eyes had hardened as she turned to Regina. "That language is unacceptable. You will apologize."
Regina rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
"Regina," Mrs. Kara said, her voice iron-clad, "I will be contacting your parents. This behavior will not be overlooked."
Regina's smirk returned as she rose from her chair. She glanced at the Lees with a mischievous glint in her eye before strolling out of the office, her confidence untouched.
As the door shut behind her, Mr. Lee exhaled heavily and turned to the principal. "One request. Please—don't let Linda know we came. It would only make her upset."
Mrs. Kara gave a solemn nod. "Understood."
But outside the office, Regina's smirk lingered.