Chapter Three: An Unexpected Visitor
619 Words
Sydney stepped back into her room—and froze.
Someone was sitting on her bed.
The girl looked about her age, but everything about her was… wild.
Her bright pink hair was messy and fluffy, sticking out in every direction like cotton candy. She wore an outrageous pink outfit—a sparkly pink jacket over a hot-pink top, with matching boots that looked like they belonged on a pop star.
She was casually spinning Sydney’s desk chair like she owned the place.
When she noticed Sydney staring, she flashed a huge grin.
“Oh! You’re finally back!”
Sydney blinked in shock. “Who… are you?”
The girl jumped up excitedly.
“I’m Lily!” she said proudly. “And I live next door.”
Then she leaned closer with a mischievous smile.
“And since you’re new here… I decided we should totally be besties.”
Sydney wasn’t sure whether to laugh… or scream.
At that moment, across the hall, Nuri peeked out. Her emerald-green eyes lingered on Sydney just a little too long. A soft smile tugged at her lips—but there was something shy in the way she looked away when Sydney noticed her.
Sydney hadn’t even met Nuri properly yet, but something about her stare made her heart skip a beat.
Meanwhile, Lily bounced around the room like a live wire, totally oblivious to the subtle tension forming between Sydney and Nuri.
It was going to be a very interesting start to Sydney’s new life.
Nuri gave Lily one last sharp look before turning and walking away down the hallway.
Lily watched her leave and sighed. “Ugh, she’s so moody sometimes.”
Then she suddenly shouted, “Bestie! Let’s go shopping after school!”
Sydney blinked. “I don’t even know you.”
Before Lily could answer, Sydney quietly looked away.
“I don’t have friends here anyway,” she murmured to herself.
Her thoughts slowly drifted back to a memory she wished she could forget.
Flashback
Seven-year-old Sydney stood in the schoolyard in Korea. Children surrounded her, whispering and laughing.
“Look, it’s the weird girl,” one boy said.
Another girl added cruelly, “Her mom died.”
Sydney’s fists tightened.
“Say that again,” she said quietly.
The kids laughed again.
That was when Sydney pushed one of them, and soon the playground turned into shouting and chaos.
Later that day, the parents of the students were called to the school. Sydney sat beside her father in the principal’s office while the other parents complained loudly.
“She attacked our children!”
“She’s violent!”
No one listened to Sydney when she tried to explain what really happened.
The school gave her two weeks of suspension.
Tears filled Sydney’s eyes as they left the office.
She looked up at her dad and asked in a small voice, “Dad… do you believe me?”
Her father gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Yes,” he said softly. “I will always believe you.”
But when Sydney returned to school two weeks later, things only became worse. The whispers, the stares, the bullying—it all became more painful.
Every day felt heavier.
Finally, one night Sydney broke down in tears.
“Dad… please,” she begged. “Can we go back to America?”
Her father hesitated at first. But seeing how hurt and unhappy his daughter had become, he finally agreed.
Besides, his business was doing better in America anyway.
After that day, Sydney stopped trying to trust people.
End of flashback
Back in the present, Sydney blinked and pushed the memory away.
Maybe things here would be different.
Or maybe… they wouldn’t.
- Writer
