Bahiyyih: Good morning to our Independent Regents!
Jungwon: Can we have your attention, please?
Bahiyyih: This is an important emergency public announcement
Jungwon: We have received many complaints from the school Seoul International Junior High.
Bahiyyih: And we are afraid that we must share some with you. One says, “The school must be closed down. It is the one school that still holds the traditional rules that we don’t need to this day!”
Jungwon: Another says, “My daughter could have died from depression! She was beaten and yelled at by a lot of the teachers and the students! Sue this school until it is no more!!”
Bahiyyih: Our last one says, “My daughter Bianca was stoked to go to a real school in Korea, ever since we moved here. The uniforms, new friends, and fun activities. But I didn’t realize this school had a dark secret. By the time she was thirteen, Bianca went through an adolescent stage of depression and would not want to wake up in the morning. The school contacted me and said she would be expelled if she didn’t arrive at a proper time. But she said that they “don’t like children”. Then I realized that she was being pressured to be smart and participate in the lesson conversations, forcing her to explain the things that she does not care about learning but does the homework anyways. At that point, it sickened me. My Bianca really was getting hurt at that school. And so, when COVID hit, I pulled her straight out of there and had her homeschooled for the rest of the second semester. Now I am finally glad that she is safe in Independence Academy and not with the people that destroy children’s dreams.
Reliving the moments when she was hurt in the hands of the SIJH, Bianca knew that her life would only become worse when she was treated awfully by the staff and students.
However, when she was younger, Jake was at the school too. But he was about to graduate. He still remembered the mistake that he had made when he ratted out on her for having the jewelry all around her neck, wrists and fingers.
But it wasn’t just the jewelry…it was also about her hair color.
When Bianca was twelve, she skipped to school as if it was any school day of the week. But little did she know that the school would not approve of her British tweaks.
It was while they were in their math department when Bianca was given a question. She only liked basic math and not Algebra, Geometry, or even Calculus. But this question was more suspicious.
“Bianca,” called the teacher, “Can you stand up for a moment?”
Bianca did as she told her to do. But the teacher had a remark about her hair, not her focus, or her work.
“Did you know that in this school we only have black hair? It is vital that you dye it black, unless that is your original color.”
“Why would I dye my hair?” asked Bianca.
“And also, you cannot tie your hair up. Only we can decide the hairstyles and the color of your hair.”
Bianca froze. But she did not want to follow rules that did not appeal to her. She sat back down and put her head on rest.
“You will be suspended for this.”
“I don’t care,” said Bianca, muffled inside her arms, “My mummy will kill you anyways.”
“Bianca, you have to listen.”
“미안해요 선생님.” said Bianca in Korean, “엄마는 내 머리를 묶고 싶어했다. 규칙에 어긋나는 줄 몰랐어요. 내가 벗을게. (I’m sorry, teacher. My mum wanted to tie my hair. She didn’t know it was against the rules. I’ll take it off.)”
Bianca then untied her hair and laid her head down again, muffling her cries from the incident. When break began, Bianca snuck herself in the bathroom, and pulled out another ribbon in the same color as the first one. She then tied both sides of her hair, to see what the students or teachers would do.
And then, while at recess, she was on her phone with her mother. She told her about the incident that happened during math class. Before she received a reply, the vice principal and the assistant student patrol caught her in the act.
“Where did you put your phone?” asked the vice principal.
“In my pocket, reason?”
One student checked her pockets. But it wasn’t there. However, it was in the inner pockets.
“I was only talking to my mother,” said Bianca, “We are on break, really.”
“I suppose,” said the Vice President, “If only your mother wasn’t stupid enough to not figure out that this place is of power and that you are only meant to study in order to succeed.”
“Stupid? My mother?”
“And these pony tails must be off of campus at all times. This is not England anymore! You are competition to Korean society! Either chop these things off or I will do it myself!”
But Bianca did not understand.
“Ribbons don’t harm people.” Bianca mumbled.
“They are a distraction to others around you, and even to your studies. Don’t you want to get into a good college one day?”
Bianca nodded. But refused to take off the ribbons.
As punishment, she was called up to the assembly room. Standing there were the student patrol and the school’s principal.
They grabbed her by the wrist and yanked out the pink ribbons. And then, she slapped her. It echoed from the ceiling.
“OUCH!” Bianca cried.
“The slap had better teach you a lesson. I want to see your hair in a proper color and not in an inappropriate style. Capiche?”
Bianca nodded her head and was given back the ribbons straight after.
Her mother drove home with a worried look to Bianca. She noticed her daughter rubbing her left cheek. She knew something must have happened.
“Did something happen at school?” Mother asked.
Bianca sadly frowned and looked at her mother with a slow nod.
When they got home, Bianca laid on her bed with exhaustion from crying. Mother entered a few minutes after and saw the tears in Bianca’s eyes.
“What happened, darling,” she said, “What had hurt you today?”
“They hated me for the ribbons in my hair and my hair color. They only allow black. But I didn’t dye my hair. I would never.”
Mother fumed with anger and frustration. The school had five stars in rating. But it was from the traditionalists that wanted to keep schools that made their children prim and proper. But Bianca did want to be prim or proper. She wanted to be a wild child.
So, her mother cut out a few strings of her hair and a recent photo of Bianca. First thing in the morning, she talked to the front office.
“My daughter did not have to go through that. Usually she would follow important rules at school. She did so at home in England.”
“I’m sorry,” said the principal, “But it is the school rule. Thank you for proving her hair color and feel free to send any other questions you have at a later date.”
It only helped a little. Bianca still wouldn’t pull though in the school.
The next day, she wore her BTS jewelry. With Kim Taehyung around her neck and BT21 around her wrist, she felt secure. However, it was “against the school rules”. So, she took it all off and stuffed it in her locker.
However, a young Jake noticed the girl stuffing something inside her locker. He wanted to report it to the vice principal. But he was afraid he would hurt her. He then walked away.
While Bianca was late for class, she noticed that another student was scolded and beaten as well. She realized she wasn’t the only one having to go through this trauma. She thought of getting help after school and talking about her pain.
It was the end of the day when Bianca went back to her locker to retrieve her jewelry. But everywhere she felt wasn’t in that spot. That was when she realized she was in trouble for certain.
“Bianca,” said Jake, “The principal checks the lockers for anything that the students are trying to hide. She said to me that your jewelry was not supposed to be here. You need to have a good explanation for it.”
“But what am I going to say?”
“L/N!!”
Bianca flinched. The principal instructed her to follow her. At first, she looked at the young Jake.
“Do you want me to go with you?” he asked.
Bianca nodded and she grabbed his hand as they walked to meet the principal.
Bianca was met with the eyes of a fiery tiger. She knew that she was in trouble with the school, but not with her mother.
“Bianca,” said the principal, “You knew exactly how the school feels about you lying about not having jewelry in your locker, even if you still don’t understand.”
She pulled out a cane and ordered her to get down on her knees. But Bianca refused. She called again. Bianca refused.
Now, she was forced down on the ground and was hit more than the usual set of times. Bianca screamed in pain and for her mother. She felt her mindset being flooded with trauma.
Meanwhile, Mother arrived with a traumatized Jake.
“Where is Bianca?” she asked.
Young Jake pointed to the room next to him.
Mother bursted through the door.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY DAUGHTER?!”
*~*~*~*~*~*
“We take the rules very seriously at this school,” said the vice principal, “I assure you that the principal was just trying to do her job.”
“I’m sorry,” said Mother, “Can you just explain to me what’s going on? Weren’t you the one who nearly beat my daughter to her death?”
“Ma’am, she was just reluctant about the school rules here. It is normal to resist a certain rule. She has only a few more years until her graduation.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better, eh? Well what if I were to tell you that Genovia had made it clear that punishment should never be used under any of the circumstances given?”
“Then that country has a problem!” The vice principal snapped, “It’s their fault more people are going to jail a lot frequently.”
“It does not. If there is any rule breaking going on here at all, it is never Bianca.”
“When we pressed her, it was obvious that she was a rebellious student. To most of us, she just wanted to play around like a normal kid. But in Korea, everything is like a competition, you have to study as hard as you can in order to succeed!”
“And that’s going to make her happy? Bianca cannot study well and wants to be smart in her own way!”
“Well then, how about coming to hagwon, a Saturday program that will surely help Bianca succeed in any way.”
“And have her come home with only one day to take a break? Not in my family! Look if you aren’t up to hearing what I’m going to say, then I guess I have no choice. She is only thirteen and is too young to be dealing with this. My Bianca is going through a depression I hope you know. I had to take her out on walks and other things to help deal with this trauma.”
“The original plan was to suspend her for at least two days.”
“That’s it? How about no days off. How about you give her a chance to explain why she even broke the rules in the first place! After all of the money I had poured into this school? And what would you have me do? Huh? Bend over backwards for every teacher in the school? No one can get their feelings hurt, ever? You are not doing these children any favors! You just stick up a little kid in the air and beat it with a riding crop!”
“Not always!”
“‘Not always,’ you say! Well just so you know, Bianca cannot change the fact that she wants to be a photographer in college. Maybe you can change the way you see her. Thank you for this, we won’t be back in the fall. And I look forward to seeing you in court!”
Mother stormed away with the vice president’s jaw dropped.
Bianca stood with Jake.
“I think my mum is pulling me out of the school,” she said, “She said it has a bad influence on most of the students here.”
“I told my mum the same thing,” said Jake, “I was also punished by my teacher, too. I called my mother. She said that she will talk to the government about it.”
“I didn’t think that school’s in Korea would be this bad.”
“I think the Korean president is going to solve everything. I’m sure he is planning something right now. Maybe it’s a petition.”
Mother entered a while later.
“I have to go. If I don’t return tomorrow, then that means I have left for good,” said Bianca, “But just so you know…you have been very kind to me.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
Bianca woke up from this memory. She found herself in Kim Namjoon’s classroom. She then smiled, knowing that she was in a safe place. But still, she felt the pain that she was once in.
Kim Namjoon returned with a smile on his lips. Most of the students were concerned about this.
“Are you happy about something?” asked Bianca.
“Students,” said a content Namjoon, “I have exciting news to share with you! And it is better than the rules that Mrs. Kim banned not long ago!”
“Mrs. Kim banned the rules from the SIJH?” asked Jake, raising his eyebrows.
“Yup! She announced it over the P.A system! The rules are permanently gone! For good!”
“Then what’s the other news?” asked Bahiyyih.
“Ladies and gentlemen…I am officially engaged! My girlfriend and I happened to meet while I was in Ireland for a few days!”
The class rejoiced!
Kim Namjoon was finally going to have the love of his life with him forever.
Meanwhile, after school, Jake and Bianca went on their first date. However, it was not exactly a date. They were only walking home from school.
“I have to say, I feel like flying away from those stupid rules.” said Jake.
“I am, too,” replied Bianca, “But it’s over now. And we still have a few months until graduation. This school year has been pretty good so far. Even though a whole week went by with those ridiculous school rules.”
“When I go to college, I will definitely study what I want to study.”
“You’re going to college already?”
Jake nodded his head.
“Next year. But don’t worry. I’ll be waiting for you when you go to college. I’ll be in my junior year by then, right?”
Bianca nodded, before they had a chance to share a kiss and continue their walk.