INSCRIPTED REALITIES

It was a spacious room, neatly organized. Filtered light poured in from the wide windows behind the large wooden desk. There were only a few essential items placed on its surface—a computer, a stack of neatly arranged files, and a polished nameplate bearing the principal’s name. A leather-bound chair stood behind the desk.

The walls were adorned with framed certificates, awards, and photographs of past graduating classes. A large bookshelf lined one side of the room. In the corner, a filing cabinet stood, its metal drawers labeled.

I shifted on the flat chair. The ticking clock reminded me of the impending doom, while across from me the Principal glared over her glasses as if I’d killed her cat. The gym teacher roaring about me being a delinquent didn’t help.

The Principal cleared her throat, glancing at him with raised eyebrows. ‘Mr. Park Jin-seok’.

Mr. Park’s ears twitched, and he straightened his back.

‘Ahem, yes. Madam, I found Minjun about to hit our Daekyu here. He even cursed at him! This kid, he's already like this at such a young age. I mean, he’s only been here for 2 weeks, and look at him! I tell you, kids like him need to be dealt with harshly early on for them to come to their senses otherwise-’

He turned his head, looking down at me. ‘-our crime rates end up rising…’

Wow. This dude’s a teacher?

I felt a lump form in my throat, a pressure weighing down on my chest. ‘That’s not what happened! I-’

I jolted as a sharp pain shot up my waist, flinching as a pinch twisted my skin from behind.

‘Teacher, please don’t blame him like that’.

Daekyu’s voice trembled, as he looked at them with wide watery eyes.

‘It’s my fault. I saw him jump out the window, and try to leave school. So, I stopped him because I didn’t want him to cut class. I should’ve considered that he must’ve had his reasons…’ His voice trailed off.

This fucking bitch! Why don’t you just become a fucking actor with those skills!

I whipped my head toward him, feeling another pinch as his fingers dug into my side. I shoved him and he gasped, raising his hand over his head, trembling.

‘I’m sorry, Min-Jun! Please don’t hit me.’

Daekyu’s lips curled in a slight smirk as he cast a glance my way, his eyes gleaming.

The sound of the clock felt louder, grating on my nerves. I stopped, wide-eyed at his actions. I felt suffocated. My hands shook as I clenched my fist, knuckles turning white, my nails digging into my hand. I glared at him. ‘You-!’

A hand grabbed my shoulder, pushing me down back to my seat. ‘Min-Jun! Stop it! Don’t you understand what situation you’re in yet?! Mr. Park yelled, squeezing my shoulder.

‘Mr. Park’. The principal furrowed her brows, staring at me with narrowed eyes.

Mr. Park frantically pulled his hand back.

At that moment, a loud crash echoed through the room, followed by the sharp, rhythmic clicking of heels against marble. I turned my head as a black-haired woman stormed in, her entire figure draped in designer clothes. Her heels struck the floor with a precise rhythm, each click increasing the tension in the air. Her makeup was flawless, delicate, with eyeliner that sharpened her narrowed eyes into slits. Her nose was scrunched, her lips pursed into a thin line and her ring-adorned fingers were clenched tightly into fists.

Her eyes widened as her eyes moved in my direction. Her expression softened, lips parting as she unclenched her fists.

She walked straight toward Daekyu, taking him in her arms. ‘Oh, my dear child!’ Her

She turned him around, touching him frantically. ‘Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere? Is anything broken?’

Daekyu smiled, tapping her shoulder. ‘Mom, I’m ok. Don’t worry. Mr. Park found us before anything happened.’ He glanced at me. ‘It was just a small misunderstanding between friends anyway.’

Mrs. Seong’s eyebrows raised following his line of sight.

I stood up and turned trying to inch away to a distance, but it was too late. Before I could move that woman had already turned her head and glared at me, her sharp gaze pinning me in place.

I jumped back as a sharp fingernail pointed between my eyes. ‘Is it him?!’ she shrieked.

Ugh, just kill me already.

I raised my chin. ‘Yeah, so what? I didn’t do anything. That’s what I’ve been trying to say all along. I did not do anything. It was all your son. He bullied me. I was just trying to-’

A crack echoed through the room. Heat exploded across my cheek, my head snapping to the side as a dull, throbbing pain set in. My eyes watered, skin tingling, as if pricked.

For a moment, my ears rang, muffling the sounds around me, and my vision blurred with the sudden shock. My heart raced as I stared at her in shock.

‘HOW DARE YOU!’ she yelled.

With a loud bang on the table, the Principal stood up. ‘Mrs. Seong! Please conduct yourself.’

Mrs. Seong raised a hand toward her, glaring at me. ‘HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE MY CHILD OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS!’

She turned to face the Principal. ‘Ms. Jeong, I apologize for my actions. You’d understand if you were a mother.’

Principal Jeong raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. Mr. Park raised his hands. ‘Principal Jeong, please don’t take it the wrong way, Mrs. Seong just couldn’t bear our Daekyu being treated falsely accused.’

Mrs. Seong sharply nodded. ‘Exactly! If my husband knew the school he’s been sponsoring treat his son like this. Well, let’s just say you don’t wanna know.’

Mr. Park gasped. ‘No, no. Don’t you worry! We will deal with this matter fairly.’

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. ‘Yeah, right.’

You’ll just act like their bitch anyway.

She narrowed her eyes at me. ‘Where are his parents? How have they educated their child?!’

I looked her straight in the eyes. ‘Dead.’

Everyone fell into silence, the air becoming heavy.

She suddenly snorted. ‘No wonder.’

My throat felt constricted. What? No wonder?

I smirked. ‘Well, no wonder your kid turned out to be a fucking asshole with a mother like you.’

Principal Jeong banged the table. ‘Mind your language, Mr. Kim.’ I turned to look at her as she narrowed her eyes. ‘I agree Mrs. Seong’s behavior was inappropriate, to say the least, however, it does not excuse the foul language.’

Mrs. Seong puffed out her chest, raising her chin as she began, ‘I—’

But Principal Jeong cut her off. ‘There is no way to prove your accusations since the incident took place in the back alley, where there happens to be a CCTV blind spot. It only captured you jumping out the window thus supporting Mr. Seong’s claim, coupled with the fact that you were caught red-handed by Mr. Park I am afraid the evidence points against your favor.’

My chest tightened, breath hitching as I clenched my jaw. My eyes watered, my nose stung, and my whole body trembled. ‘Why? Why can’t you just believe me? I didn’t-’

Principal Jeong sighed. ‘However, since it is your first offense-’ She glanced at Mrs. Seong.

‘You need to hand in a letter of apology. That is all.’

I blinked, staring at her. Mrs. Seong stomped her foot. ‘This is outrageous. How-’

Daekyu held her shoulder, tilting his head. ‘Mom, it’s okay. I forgive him. Let it go, please?’

She took a deep breath. ‘If you say so, but there won’t be a second time!’

Daekyu raised the corner of his lips, glancing at me.

Principal Jeong pushed up her glasses. ‘Now, I would like everyone to leave-’

She glanced at me. ‘-Except Mr. Kim…I would like to have a word with you.’

To be continued…