Trouble Maker's Lover

16 : Breaking News

Peony POV

To be honest, I want to skip school today. I can't even sleep the whole night. My phone almost burst with texts and pings. Like the whole school was bothering me all night long.

So, I decided to switch off my phone.

If it's not because of this one last paper, I think I'll pack my bag and leave the town.

But I put up some courage and was ready to face the chaos.

So as I thought.

The first obstacle is just right in front of me. My locker looked like a wreck ship, with a huge writings in red

WHORE.

Well, that's expected!

I open the locker slowly, toss my bag in and grab my pencil case. It's a last paper. I need to focus on that. This is not a time to think about this!

No sight of both Benji and Tina. Probably they already in exam hall by now. One less problem. I have no will to explain things.

Especially to Benji.

The exam hall is quite, like a graveyard. Everyone gives 100 percent for this exam. It's a step stone for a good university. Although it's just a trial, but still there's a chance for early admission.

I keep focusing on my paper, although I know all eyes are glaring at me. I know by now, everyone must have that video.

I just want this to over.

"Time's up. Put down your pencil. We will collect the answer sheet," I held a huge breath.

One less problem.

Tina turns her, glancing at me. She pouts a bit. I just nod and look away. Seeing her face, it breaks my heart.

***

"Peo! Wait!" the girl gasped while chasing Peony from behind. She grabbed her forearm, and pulled the girl closer to her.

"You got some explanation to make..."

"I don't wanna talk about it,"

"Almost everyone got the video! Come on! How can you shut yourself like this?" Tina forced Peony. The girl just stood there, with teary eyes.

"You trust me, aren't you?"

"Of course! I know who you are!" Tina pulled Peony into her embrace. The girl cried her eyes out. Tina worked her best to calm Peony
down.

"Peo..." she tapped Peony's shoulder a few times. The girl looked up a bit. Tina pointed her index finger upfront. Peony shivered to the bone.

It's her parents.

"Miss Lee, the principal demands you to the counseling room," said Mrs. Garret, the principal's secretary.

Peony grabbed Tina's hand tight. She looked at her with sad expression.

"It's okay. Just tell them the truth," said Tina. Peony slowly nodded. Discreetly, she prays that everyone will listen her side of story.

And one thing for sure.

Her parents will love her, no matter what!

***

"Pa, please... Listen to me..."

"I have no daughter like you!" the girl held her head down, crying her eyes out.

"Please pa... Please..."

"You tarnish the family name, Peony! How can I face our family after this?! Now, everyone talks about my daughter slept with boys! This kid-"

Yu steps up in front of Mr. Lee before he can touch Peony.

"Calm down, Mr. Lee..."

"Stay away from my family business!"

"Pa... Calm down..." Ang grabs his father's hand. The old man snaps away his hand, watching the boy with fury in his eyes.

This morning, when he was just about to close his noodle shop in town, he got a phone call from his wife. The school called them for a disciplinary hearing.

Lee thought it was Ang; his only son always involves in trouble at school. But, it's been a long time since the boy acts up. Ever since he got transferred to the vocational school, Ang changed a lot.

He never expects this call is from his daughter's school.

His daughter who he count on so much. His little blooming flower. The family's precious treasure.

But still, he instructed his wife to dress decently and brought her to school. Since he had no will to drive, he asked Ang to drive them.

As he entered the principal's office, there's a woman with a tall stud handsome kid, sit at the other side of the table. The woman looked calm, with her expensive bag on the table. He knew it was expensive because he saw rich wives come to his noodle shop so many times. They are almost identical; the bag.

His wife whispered that she knew the kid. Saying that he is Peony's classmate. He glanced at him for a brief. He looked like a troublesome kid. He felt worried. Maybe something happened to Peony.

Maybe she got hurt, that's why she was not there.

As the principal came in, the assistant play a video through the screen.

That's when the worry turned into horror. As the video played, Peony slowly entered the room. And Lee couldn't hide his expression anymore. Peony was more than embarrassed when she realized her parents already knew about the incident between her and Yu.

The school agreed not to take any harsh action. One, because Peony is the best student in the high school. Two, because both Yu and Peony admit they were in that video. But, the real problem came when the second video got played.

That's when Peony couldn't held her tears.

As she failed to explain her defense, the school decided to suspend her for further investigation as well as for her safety. Turns out, someone informed the administration that she got bullied by the whole school because of the video.

It's a best decision for her mental health, but the record is permanent. And, she's gonna miss her early admission interview which will held on the next week.

Not only that.

Now her family's dignity has tarnished as well.

"Listen, Peony!" the girl held up her head. She prays to God that her father will at least have a little mercy to her.

"From now on, you are not my kid anymore..."

"Pa!" Peony chimney voice echoes across the aisle.

"Pa, what are you talking about?!" Ang tries to stop his father.

"Shut up, Ang. Or, you can get lost from my house as well!"

His wife cries her eyes out next to him. She tries to reach for Peony but his husband pulls her hand, drags her away even before she got a chance to touch Peony's hair for the last time.

Yu watches this devastating moment with a heartbroken. He looks at the woman next to him. The woman shakes her head a bit, touch his forearm before leave the scene as well.

Slowly, Yu held Peony, who still hysterically crying. He hugs her tight, tries to come out with something that can help her.

That's when he makes a decision.