Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 457

458. How Dare You Touch My Daughter!

The Next Day-

“Hey! Lee Seol-rae?”

Lee Ra-mi and her gang, returning from lunch, blocked Seol-rae in front of her locker as she was getting her books.

“Thanks to you, we had a great meal outside.”

“And bought a ton of cigs, too.”

That morning, Lee Ra-mi and her crew had waited for Seol-rae on her way to school and extorted money from her.

The gang, who had physically harassed and bullied her in the empty lot the day before, thought Seol-rae was completely intimidated and started acting even more recklessly.

‘The kids say your dad works at a good company? You get a lot of allowance, right?’

‘Can you give us some money?’

Seol-rae silently handed over a 50,000 won bill from her wallet.

Actually, she didn’t want to give it. Of course, she didn’t want to and felt it was a waste.

However, her stepmother had told her not to struggle if Lee Ra-mi’s gang demanded anything today, but to just give it to them, so she did as she was told.

Having received the money, the gang went out, bought a delicious lunch and cigs [cigarettes], and returned to school.

“Hey, is your arm okay?”

“No, I went to the hospital and got it stitched up.”

“Oh! Really? That must have hurt.”

Even after hearing that she had gone to the hospital, they didn’t bat an eye.

“Why? Feeling guilty and going to pay for the treatment?”

At Seol-rae’s words, Lee Ra-mi’s gang scoffed as if they couldn’t believe it.

“What are you talking about? You should be paying us for the treatment. You messed with us for no reason and made us mentally stressed.”

Seriously. Seol-rae was dumbfounded at how well they could make up such ridiculous stories.

“But Lee Seol-rae, do you know what?”

“No. I don’t know.”

“You think yesterday was the end of it? No way. We can do even worse. So, starting tomorrow, give us some snack money.”

“You’re telling me to pay you tribute?”

“Oh, as expected, you’re smart, so you understand quickly.”

“Me? Why?”

“Why? If you don’t, you’ll get hurt again.”

“…….”

“Looking at you keeping your mouth shut, Lee Seol-rae must be scared.”

“Yeah, kids who haven’t been hit before get super scared after just one beating.”

“Seol-rae, being scared becomes a habit if you do it too much.”

Watching Seol-rae remain silent, the bad kids laughed gleefully as if they were having fun.

They seemed to be acting as if they were someone great.

“Hey, guys?”

Seol-rae, who had been quietly watching the kids, opened her mouth.

“I have something I’m curious about. Can I ask you guys?”

“What’s this? Lee Seol-rae has a question for us. What is it, go ahead.”

“Kim Ha-young, what’s your dream?”

“Me? A makeup artist. I’m pretty good at makeup.”

“Choi Soo-ri, what about you?”

“I’m going to major in baking.”

“Kim Chan-sol, what about you?”

“I’m going to go to a four-year university in Seoul first and then think about it.”

“Really? Lee Ra-mi, what about you? What’s your dream?”

“Why are you suddenly talking about dreams?”

“Why? It’s fun. Tell me.”

When Lee Ra-mi made an annoyed expression, her friends urged her to answer.

“I’m going to be an actress?”

“An actress? That’s your dream?”

“Ra-mi is a trainee at a famous agency right now.”

Lee Ra-mi, who had a pretty face, dreamed of becoming a celebrity.

“Act a little, then marry a handsome and rich man and live happily? That’s my dream.”

“I see. Everyone’s dreams are more specific than I thought.”

“But why are you suddenly asking us this?”

“Yeah. I thought you were doing a career survey.”

Lee Ra-mi’s gang was curious as to why Seol-rae suddenly asked about their dreams.

“Kim Ha-young, you said your dream is to be a makeup artist, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“You’ll never be able to do it. You know why? How can someone who bullies kids do makeup on people’s faces? Who would want to get makeup done by someone with such an evil heart? Right? And you’re really bad at makeup.”

“What?!”

“And Choi Soo-ri, it’s the same for you. What bakery? Who would eat bread made by someone who bullies others?”

“Hey! What are you saying right now?”

Seol-rae went around, one by one, refuting everything they had said.

As the fact bombs continued, the other students’ attention was focused on them.

“It’s the same for you. A four-year university in Seoul? You? Don’t be ridiculous. See over there?”

Seol-rae pointed to the other kids with a nod.

“The other kids, including me, are studying hard to go to college. You don’t have the brains for studying, do you? Not just anyone can go to college. College is a place for people who study, not for people like you. Do you think getting into a university in Seoul is easy? How are you going to go to college while playing around like this? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“…….”

“Lastly, Lee Ra-mi? You’re going to be an actress? You, who commits school violence, an actress? Is that even possible? Ra-mi, you becoming an actress is like trying to cover the sky with your palm [an impossible task].”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“In short, it’s absolutely impossible. Because I’m going to stop you from doing that.”

“Wh-What! Is she crazy?”

Lee Ra-mi, who had been listening to Seol-rae’s story, glared at her as if she wanted to kill her and was about to pounce on her.

“You crazy bitch, you really…….”

Thwack-

The moment Lee Ra-mi raised her hand,

“Why aren’t you all in your seats? Why are you gathered in the back? Go sit down.”

The homeroom teacher came in for the next class.

Because of that, Lee Ra-mi quickly lowered her raised hand, threatened Seol-rae, and returned to her seat.

“You little bitch. I’ll get you later.”

Seol-rae returned to her seat as if nothing had happened, and class began. After class had been going on for a while, there was a knock on the front door of the classroom.

Knock knock-

“Yes.”

The homeroom teacher, who naturally thought it would be another teacher or administrative staff, was faced with people she had never seen before.

“Are you Lee Seon-ja, the homeroom teacher of Class 3 in the second grade?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Who are you?”

“Hello. I’m Seol-rae’s mother.”

“I’m her father.”

The people who came to the classroom were Kim Ha-seon and Lee Jae-cheon.

The sight of the two of them visiting the school for Seol-rae was impressive.

Unlike the clothes she wore to work at the salon or the clothes she wore at home, Kim Ha-seon was dressed smartly.

She exuded charisma in a stylish two-piece suit that accentuated her tall height and slender figure, complete with makeup.

Lee Jae-cheon, who had taken a monthly leave and came with her, was also wearing a suit and looked like he had put a lot of thought into his appearance.

“You’re Seol-rae’s parents? Hello. But what brings you here…….”

“Teacher, my husband and I heard some shocking news and couldn’t stay still, so we rushed to school.”

The two of them deliberately took a step into the classroom and spoke clearly so that all the students could hear.

“We heard that our Seol-rae is being bullied at school. Is that true?”

At those words, the homeroom teacher looked surprised, and the students in the class murmured with the same expression.

However, Seol-rae smiled as she made eye contact with Kim Ha-seon, looking unfazed.

“What’s this? Are those Seol-rae’s parents?”

“Looks like Seol-rae told them everything?”

“Wow, her parents have a serious presence. This is going to be a mess.”

Amid the murmuring students, Kim Ha-seon suddenly walked over and stopped right in front of Lee Ra-mi.

“You? You’re Lee Ra-mi?”

“Yes? Ah, yes…….”

“You disrespectful brat. Who do you think you are to dare touch my daughter!”

Kim Ha-seon raised her voice, and Lee Ra-mi, startled by the scolding, couldn’t say anything.

“What are you looking at! Get up now!”

* * *

Shortly after, everyone involved in the incident gathered in the principal’s office.

Seol-rae and her parents, Lee Ra-mi and her gang, the homeroom teacher, the vice-principal, the head of student affairs, and even the parents of the problematic students were all there.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t take good care of the kids because I was busy.”

“I also work with my husband, so I didn’t know the kids were doing this.”

Unlike their shameless children, the parents of Lee Ra-mi’s gang, who had been called to school, apologized, saying they were wrong. But the apology was gradually heading in a strange direction.

“Seol-rae’s parents, the kids are still young and seem to have made a mistake while playing. Can you please forgive them just this once?”

“Yes. We’ll make sure to talk to the kids sternly so they understand.”

“That’s right. They’re still kids. Seol-rae, I’m asking you a favor. Please let it go just this once. I heard you’re good at studying.”

“You guys, why aren’t you apologizing to Seol-rae?”

“S-Sorry.”

“Sorry.”

“Me too. I was just joking to get close to you, but I didn’t know you’d take it so seriously. I’m sorry.”

Lee Ra-mi and the kids, and even their parents, were giving completely insincere apologies.

Their eyes showed no remorse, and they were only apologizing superficially with their mouths.

“Seol-rae’s parents. I will punish them severely so that this doesn’t happen again, so please calm down.”

“What kind of punishment will you give them?”

“I’m thinking of making them write a letter of apology and do community service at school.”

Even the principal’s reaction was the same. He was in a hurry to resolve the issue quickly, fearing that it would be known externally and affect the school’s reputation.

“Mr. Principal, I don’t think this is such a simple matter.”

“Mr. Lee, please be quiet.”

Only the homeroom teacher knew the seriousness of the problem and offered her opinion, but the principal didn’t listen.

“Anyone can see that they committed school violence, and the kids and their parents are saying ridiculous things like it was a joke. Right, honey?”

“I know. How can the perpetrators be so shameless? Seol-rae, was what they did just a joke between friends?”

“No. If it was, I wouldn’t have scars on my body.”

“Did you hear that? These kids scarred our daughter’s body, and you’re still saying it’s nothing? I can’t believe it. Honey, is that ready?”

“Of course.”

When Kim Ha-seon spoke, Lee Jae-cheon took out the laptop he had brought so that the teachers and the parents of the offending students could see it.

‘Hey! Let go of me!’

When the video started playing, Seol-rae’s figure, being held by the kids, was clearly visible.

‘You bitch! Shut up and don’t mess with us.’

‘Lee Seol-rae, you’re going to get a real beating today.’

‘Agh!’

The video, which Kim Ha-seon had received from Gu Hee-young at the hospital, contained everything, from the kids putting out cigarettes on Seol-rae to threatening her body and causing injuries.

Lee Ra-mi’s gang not only smoked cigarettes but also didn’t hesitate to engage in reckless and dangerous behavior that anyone could see.

The quality was clear, and their faces were also clearly visible.

The audio files that followed the bullying video were also appalling.

The audio files, which contained the conversations of bullying in the classroom and on the street, were recorded by Seol-rae on her phone.

Seol-rae had secretly pressed the record button on her phone whenever Lee Ra-mi’s gang approached her to record their conversations.

She had recorded it a few times just in case, but she never thought she would use it like this.

The parents who saw the video were stunned by what their children had done, and the children were also surprised by the situation and couldn’t say anything.

“Even after seeing this! Can you say it was just a joke between friends? Huh!”

“What high school student in the world would burn a friend’s arm with a cigarette and cause a wound on their arm that requires stitches at the hospital?”

“…….”

“If your children were going through this, would you still be able to easily say such ridiculous things like it’s just a joke! Huh!”

Kim Ha-seon and Lee Jae-cheon shouted loudly at the perpetrators’ parents and the principal.

Both of them had watched the video the day before, but they were still angry enough to not be able to adjust even after watching it again.

Lee Jae-cheon was still dumbfounded and couldn’t believe that Seol-rae had gone through this.

“Do you know what this is! It’s a diagnosis written by the doctor at the hospital who treated our Seol-rae yesterday.”

Kim Ha-seon threw the copied diagnosis on the table as if to show it off.