It was a pleasant Friday afternoon, the sun casting a warm glow over the house. Linda trudged in, exhausted and famished, her usual state after a long day at school. As she headed to the kitchen for a snack, she noticed her parents tiptoeing towards the door. Her mother, wearing a simple yet elegant yellow sundress with sandals, and her father, dressed in a humble navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt, looked like they were up to something mischievous. Linda couldn't help but giggle silently as she watched them play their roles like children.
Just as they reached the door, Linda broke the silence with a playful giggle. "Mum! Dad! Where are you both going? Do you have to be so secretive?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. Mr. Lee chuckled awkwardly and turned around, trying to maintain the charade. "We're going on a date, dear. Take care of yourself," he said, hastily exiting the house with Mrs. Lee in tow. Linda smiled, lost in thought, and continued with her snack.
Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Lee arrived at the school and were greeted by the receptionist, who led them to the waiting room. Fortunately, the principal, Mrs. Kara, was available to meet with them promptly. As they entered her office, Mrs. Kara, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, welcomed them warmly.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lee, Linda's parents?" she asked to confirm. Mr. Lee nodded. "Yes, that's us."
Mrs. Kara's expression turned serious as they recounted Linda's ordeal. "We've noticed that whenever she comes home, she's either hurt or upset," Mrs. Lee explained, her voice laced with worry. "We've asked her about it, but she insists on handling it herself."
The principal listened attentively, nodding sympathetically. "I see. We take bullying very seriously here. Can you tell me more about what you've observed?" Mr. Lee pulled out his phone and showed her pictures of Linda's bruises and torn clothes. "These are from the past few weeks. We think it's getting worse."
Mrs. Kara's expression turned stern. "This is indeed serious. However, I have to consider the possibility that there might be more to the situation than meets the eye. Sometimes, kids can misinterpret situations or even frame incidents to get attention."
Before she could finish, Mrs. Lee interrupted, her voice rising in anger. "What are you saying? You're implying that we're overreacting or that Linda is fabricating this? Do you think we came here for entertainment?"
Mr. Lee tried to calm her down, but Mrs. Kara remained composed. "I apologize if my words came across insensitively. I'm just trying to understand the situation. Perhaps Linda's class teacher, Miss Flora, can provide more insight."
Mrs. Kara picked up the phone and contacted Miss Flora, who arrived shortly after. As Miss Flora entered the office, she greeted the principal warmly. "Good morning, ma'am."
"Good morning, Miss Flora. This is Mr. and Mrs. Lee, Linda's parents," Mrs. Kara introduced, gesturing towards the couple.
As Mrs. Kara introduced the couple to Miss Flora, a flicker of recognition crossed Miss Flora's face upon hearing "Linda's parents." She composed herself, forcing a warm smile. "It's lovely to finally meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Lee. Your daughter is one of my brightest students."
The principal's expression remained serious. "Mr. and Mrs. Lee are here to discuss a concern, and I thought it would be best to involve you since you're Linda's teacher."
Miss Flora's smile seemed to falter for a moment before she regained her composure and took a seat. Mrs. Lee began to recount Linda's ordeal, her voice laced with worry. "We've noticed that Linda comes home with bruises and torn clothes. We've tried talking to her, but she insists on handling it herself."
Mr. Lee added, "We're concerned that someone might be bullying her. As her teacher, perhaps you could shed some light on the situation?"
Miss Flora's response was unexpected. "I don't think anyone's bullying Linda. She's actually quite...formidable. Linda's a skilled karate fighter, and she's not afraid to stand up for herself." Her tone seemed to imply that Linda was the aggressor.
The atmosphere in the room grew tense, with Mrs. Lee's expression turning skeptical. "A karate fighter? That's news to us. But the bruises and torn clothes...those aren't from her fighting back?"
Miss Flora's smile never wavered. "Well, perhaps she's just a bit...accident-prone. I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding."
The principal's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on Miss Flora. "Let's hear more about this. Miss Flora, can you tell us more about Linda's behavior in class?"
Miss Flora's voice was firm as she spoke, her words dripping with an undertone of defense. "Well, nothing much. Linda usually skips classes and spends all her time in the restroom. She hardly interacts with her mates and acts rude to her teachers. Whenever she's asked why she avoids her peers, she always mentions a girl she hates – Regina."
Mrs. Lee's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing Miss Flora's bias. She knew the telltale signs of favoritism, and Miss Flora's tone seemed to convey a deep-seated support for Regina. Mrs. Lee's curiosity was piqued. "Who is this Regina? Linda must have a reason for avoiding and disliking her."
Miss Flora hesitated, her reluctance palpable before she finally spoke up. "She's Linda's seatmate." The words seemed to be dragged out of her, and Mrs. Lee sensed a deeper connection between Miss Flora and Regina.
The principal, Mrs. Kara, intervened, her voice calm and collected. "Maybe we should invite Regina and hear her side of the story." She nodded to her assistant, who went to fetch Regina.
As they waited, the tension in the room grew thicker. Mrs. Lee's eyes locked onto Miss Flora, who seemed to be anticipating Regina's arrival.
Soon, the girl walked in with an air of confidence. She was stylishly dressed, her hair perfectly styled, and her demeanor exuded an aura of superiority. Mrs. Lee couldn't help but notice the contrast between Regina's polished appearance and Linda's more laid-back style.
"Regina, these are Linda's parents," Mrs. Kara introduced. "We're discussing some issues regarding Linda's behavior and interactions with her peers."
Regina's gaze flickered over the Lees before she nodded slightly. "Hello."
Miss Flora seemed to straighten up, her posture subtly shifting to convey her support for Regina. Mrs. Lee observed this and wondered what exactly was going on.
"Regina, can you tell us about your relationship with Linda?" Mrs. Kara asked, her tone neutral.
Regina shrugged. "We sit together in class. That's about it."
Mrs. Lee sensed there was more to the story. "And do you know why Linda might be avoiding you or disliking you?"
Regina's expression turned slightly mocking. "Maybe because she's jealous?"
The atmosphere in the room grew tenser, with Mrs. Lee's eyes narrowing slightly. "Excuse me,Jealous? Of what?"
Regina's smile was quick. "Maybe of my grades, my friends, my life in general."
The principal, Mrs. Kara, leaned forward, her expression stern but controlled. "Regina, let's get straight to the point. Did you bully Linda?"
Regina shrugged, her confidence unwavering. "I don't think so. I just said it. I think Linda's just jealous of me."
Mrs. Lee's patience wore thin. "Linda's a wonderful person just the way she is. We just want to know who's making things hard for her."
Regina snorted. "Wonderful person? She's...different. And that hair...well, let's just say it's...interesting. And the skin, ew! Did someone roast her on the fire or something?. I wonder how white Korea parent can give birth to a black child."
Mrs. Lee's temper flared. "You disrespectful girl! Have some manners!"
The principal intervened, her voice calm. "Mrs. Lee, please. Let's resolve this calmly. Regina, apologize for your comments."
Regina rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
The principal's expression turned firm. "Regina, I expect more respect. Let's schedule a meeting with your parents and Linda's. We'll sort this out."
As they set a date, Mr. Lee added, "One more thing – Linda shouldn't know about this. She'd freak out."
Regina smirked, a mischievous glint in her eye, as she left the office.