Leona : Unreachable

Episode 02 - Truth Almost Revealed

The disciplinary office was still heavy with silence, the kind that pressed down on every chest. Then—knocks sounded on the door.

A girl stepped in, her expression both nervous and determined. Her hands clutched a phone tightly, as if it were a lifeline.

“Excuse me, teachers…” her voice trembled slightly. “I… I have something to show you.”

It was Naya Solen.

Ms. Marissa frowned, gesturing for her to come closer. “What is it, Naya?”

With a deep breath, Naya unlocked her phone and handed it over. A video began to play on the screen, the sound sharp in the quiet room. The footage was clear. It showed the group of girls shoving and mocking Leona at the staircase, their voices laced with cruelty. Then, just when things escalated, several male students rushed in to block the attackers, protecting Leona. The evidence was undeniable.

The room froze.

Leona’s breath caught in her throat. Her chest rose and fell quickly as she watched, her eyes stinging. Finally… proof. Finally, the truth. Relief swept over her so strongly she nearly cried right there. When she looked up, her gaze fell on Naya. There was no mistaking the raw gratitude in her eyes, silent but powerful. Her lips curved into the softest smile—a thank you without words.

Naya’s cheeks reddened. She had always admired Leona—not only for her beauty, but for her kindness toward everyone, no matter their background. And now, standing here, she felt proud to finally stand by her idol.

“Thank you…” Leona whispered so softly it was barely audible.

But the moment of relief shattered in an instant. The father of the accused bully shot to his feet, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. His face was red with fury, his eyes sharp as knives fixed on Leona.

“Even if my daughter is at fault,” he snarled, voice shaking with restrained rage, “you, had no right to raise your voice at us earlier!”

Leona froze. Her heart sank. Why? Even with proof, why am I still the one to blame?

The bully’s mother leaned forward, her voice dripping with scorn. “Exactly. A truly good girl would never speak rudely to elders. Evidence or not, your attitude says everything.”

Confusion mixed with anger inside Leona. It didn’t make sense. How could they twist this even after the truth had been shown? And then—words that made her blood run cold.

“You’re from the Virelle family, aren’t you?” the father growled. “Don’t make me place a single phone call… or your family will vanish.”

The office fell dead silent.

Leona’s eyes widened. For a moment, she could only hear the thunder of her heartbeat. His words weren’t just arrogance—they were a direct threat to the Velmonthe name. Slowly, deliberately, Leona lifted her head. Her gaze sharpened into steel, her voice low but cutting.

“Are you… threatening me?”

The way her words sliced through the air made even the arrogant man hesitate, his bravado faltering for a heartbeat.

“Leona!” Ms. Marissa and Mr. Jonathan quickly stepped in, pulling her gently back. “Enough. Please.”

Prof. Caleb, however, turned to the father, his tone ice-cold. “That’s enough, sir. Regardless of your opinion, your daughter’s guilt is undeniable. If this behavior is repeated, we will have no choice but to expel her from the academy.”

The father’s jaw tightened. Anger and humiliation battled in his eyes, but this time he had no comeback. With a sharp motion, he grabbed his wife’s arm, yanking her toward the door. They stormed out, the door slamming so hard behind them it echoed in the walls.

Silence lingered once again. The bully and her friends stood frozen, their faces pale, stripped of excuses.

Mr. Jonathan’s voice broke the quiet, firm and resolute. “Starting today, the lot of you will clean the campus restrooms for two weeks. Any further incidents, and harsher punishment will follow.”

The girls bowed their heads, shame burning their cheeks, but said nothing. Leona remained still, her breaths uneven. Relief and dread tangled inside her chest. Her innocence was proven, but the incident had come dangerously close to exposing her. She cast one last look at Naya. And in that single glance, gratitude and relief spoke louder than words. For the first time in a long while, Leona realized—maybe she wasn’t entirely alone.

After that incident, the atmosphere on campus still felt tense. Whispers about the meeting in the disciplinary office spread slowly. Some believed Leona was guilty, while others began to support her after the recording was shown. But for Leona, only one thing lingered in her mind—that overwhelming relief that, at last, someone had dared to stand on her side.

That someone was Naya Solen.

Leona searched for an opportunity to meet her. Her heart brimmed with gratitude. All this time, although many admired her from afar, not a single person had truly, sincerely wanted to be close friends. Most only saw her as a threat—afraid that if they befriended Leona, their boyfriends might fall for her, or their friends would prefer her over them. When in truth, Leona… only wanted to have friends like everyone else.

That day, after class ended, Leona gathered her courage to wait in the corridor outside. When Naya walked out with her backpack, Leona held her breath before calling out.

“Naya Solen?” Leona’s voice was soft.

Naya turned, slightly startled to see the girl she had admired only from a distance. “Yes… I’m Naya. You’re… Leona, right?”

Leona offered a small smile, though her eyes shone with genuine emotion. “Thank you… for helping me that day. If it weren’t for you, I might have been branded guilty forever.”

Naya lifted her hand with a modest wave. “Oh, don’t worry. I only showed the truth. You were never guilty, Leona. A person like you… doesn’t deserve to be treated that way.”

Those words warmed Leona’s chest. A subtle tremor stirred in her heart, a feeling she rarely experienced. “I truly appreciate it. If possible… I’d like to be friends with you. Real friends.”

Naya froze for a moment. She had admired Leona for a long time—her beauty, the way she treated people, her resilience. But she had never imagined Leona herself would extend the hand of friendship. Slowly, Naya smiled. “Of course… I’d love to be friends with you.”

Leona chuckled softly, and for the first time in a long while, she no longer felt alone.

Time passed. They grew closer. Leona realized that Naya had actually been in the same class with her all along, though she hadn’t noticed her presence before—Naya often sat at the back, quiet and reserved. Now, after each class, they would walk together, chat lightly, and gradually build trust. For Leona, Naya’s presence was like a small light saving her from the darkness of people’s prejudice.

Meanwhile, in the disciplinary office, the three teachers involved in Leona’s case were still restless. Ms. Marissa, Mr. Jonathan, and Prof. Caleb sat around the table, each with serious expressions.

“The Virelle family data… doesn’t exist?” Mr. Jonathan asked, frowning. “That’s impossible. We have records of every student who enters this campus. At the very least, there should be an address, a phone number, or an emergency contact.”

Ms. Marissa placed Leona’s file on the table. “I’ve checked three times. In the system, there’s only her name: Leona Virelle. No other details. No address, no number, no guardian’s record. It’s as if she appeared out of thin air.”

Prof. Caleb tapped his finger on the table, his face grim. “It’s impossible for someone to enter this elite campus without a clear background. If the Virelle family doesn’t exist… then who exactly is Leona?”

The three exchanged glances. The atmosphere in the room grew heavier. It was unthinkable that a student as brilliant and well-mannered as Leona could simply come from nowhere.

“We need to investigate further,” Ms. Marissa said at last. “I’ll instruct the staff to dig through the registration records again. Make sure nothing was overlooked.”

A few hours later, while they were still discussing the mystery surrounding Leona, a knock came at the door. A staff member entered, holding a new file.

“Sir, ma’am… this is the file of a new student enrolling today. His mother has come for an official meeting.”

The teachers quickly adjusted their expressions, preparing to welcome their guest. The door opened wider, and a graceful woman stepped in. Her gown was elegant, her smile full of confidence. All eyes immediately turned to her with respect because she is from Verin's family.

“Welcome, Madam Viviana” Prof. Caleb greeted, standing at once.

The woman inclined her head lightly. “Thank you for receiving us.”

Behind her, a young man entered. His face was striking, with sharp eyes and a tall, sturdy build despite his youth. He walked with confidence, though without arrogance.

“This is my son, Kael Verin,” Viviana said, gently patting her son’s shoulder.

The name alone was enough to silence the teachers for a moment. The Verin family. A name well known among the nation’s elite. They were a family of immense wealth, influential in real estate, banking, and politics.

Ms. Marissa quickly rose to her feet. “Of course, Madam. We are honored to welcome Kael as a new student.”

Kael simply nodded politely, though his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, as if measuring the atmosphere of his new campus.

“Make sure my son receives the best treatment,” Viviana said softly, yet with undeniable weight.

“Of course,” Prof. Caleb replied. “This campus will be his second home.”

Once the matter was settled, Viviana departed with her commanding presence, leaving her son in the staff’s care to be escorted to class. But once the door closed, the three teachers exchanged thoughtful silence.

“Verin and Virelle…” Mr. Jonathan whispered. “Two names that sound… powerful.”

Ms. Marissa glanced again at Leona’s file, her chest tightening. “If Leona truly is connected to some great family that’s being hidden… maybe that’s why her data doesn’t exist. It might have been deliberately erased.”

Prof. Caleb drew a long breath. “Whatever the truth is, we must tread carefully. We cannot afford a single mistake. The world outside is far more dangerous than we realize.”

The three of them exchanged another uneasy look, aware that the days to come would bring greater challenges—not only for Leona, but for the entire campus.

To be continued...