Lucid Veins

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Chapter 5: Mrs KIM

A strange silence fell over the crowd.

Everyone—Nicolas, Anya, Logan, Joseph, Kelly, and her friend—turned to look toward the school steps. Something had changed in the air.

"Kelly, child—go to the headmaster's office. He's calling for you."

The voice was strong and clear. It was Mrs. Kim, one of the senior teachers. She stood tall at the entrance, her sharp eyes fixed on Kelly.

"It's about the school program next week," she said firmly. "Go quickly. I think it's urgent."

Kelly blinked, caught off guard for a moment. But then she smiled like nothing had happened. "Looks like I'm special," she joked, laughing with her friend. The two girls turned and strolled away, giggling as they headed toward the headmaster's office.

As soon as they were gone, Mrs. Kim's eyes moved to Joseph and Logan. Her tone changed—now it was strict and serious.

"Joseph. Logan. Did you finish your work?" she asked, crossing her arms.

The two boys froze, no longer so bold.

"I want your notebooks on my desk by lunch," she said, her voice sharper now. "If they're not done, finish them and bring them to me. No excuses."

Joseph and Logan muttered something under their breath but didn't argue. They turned and walked away, giving one last cold look to Nicolas.

The crowd that had gathered slowly broke apart. The hallway buzzed again with normal voices and footsteps, as if nothing had happened.

But for Nicolas and Anya, the world had stopped.

Nicolas rushed to his sister, dropping to his knees beside her. Her foot was bleeding. His hands trembled as he looked at the cut.

"Anya… are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and shaky.

Anya didn't answer. She wasn't crying anymore, but her face was pale and full of fear. Her hands were still trembling. Her eyes stared at the ground, lost and empty.

Nicolas stayed on the ground, carefully pressing a cloth to Anya's injured foot. His hands were shaking. He didn't even notice the footsteps until someone stopped beside them.

Miss Kim slowly knelt down, placing one hand gently on Nicolas's head and the other on Anya's.

Her voice came softly, full of sadness.

"I'm sorry, children… I couldn't protect you. Not from them."

Nicolas looked up, surprised. But before he could speak—

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Author's POV

Miss Kim wasn't a cold teacher, no matter what others thought.

Yes, she had a sharp voice. Yes, her eyes looked strict in class. But deep down, she cared more than most people ever knew—especially for Nicolas and Anya.

She had always wanted to help. But helping isn't always easy.

She knew Kelly's father was one of the most powerful people in the school—a rich businessman, and one of the school's top donors. People listened to him. Teachers feared him.

Miss Kim had tried before… but she'd been warned to stay out of trouble.

Still, when she saw Anya shaking and Nicolas standing bloody and alone, something in her heart broke.

She couldn't ignore it.

Not this time.

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Back to the Present

Nicolas stood up slowly, brushing dust from his knees. His voice was calm, but kind.

"I know, Miss Kim. You came to help us. You always do."

Miss Kim lowered her eyes. She couldn't meet his gaze.

"I'm sorry. I can't protect you from everything. Kelly's father… he has too much power. I've tried, but—"

Nicolas gently shook his head.

"You don't need to say anything. You've done more than enough."

He looked over at Anya, who now sat quietly, watching with wide eyes.

"After our parents died, you were the only one who helped us. You got us into this school. It's one of the best in the country. That was because of you."

"And… you did it because you were Mom's friend."

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Author's POV – Flashback

Many years ago, in a small hospital room, Miss Kim sat beside her best friend—Nicolas and Anya's mother.

She was weak, pale, and holding on with the last bit of strength she had.

"Promise me, Mina…" she whispered, her voice thin, "don't let my kids fall behind. They deserve a future."

Miss Kim cried quietly, holding her friend's hand tight.

"I promise. I'll take care of them."

And she did.

She spent days begging the school board to give the children a chance. She fought behind closed doors. She even paid for their uniforms out of her own pocket.

When no one else believed in them, she did.

When no one else would speak up, she did.

But she never told them.

She never wanted them to feel like charity.

She just wanted them to have a chance.

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Back to the Present

Miss Kim stood there, silent, as tears filled her eyes. She quickly tried to wipe them away, but they kept coming.

Then—soft hands touched her face.

Anya had stepped forward and gently wiped her tears with her little fingers.

Her voice was soft and full of warmth.

"It's okay, Miss Kim. Please don't cry."

Nicolas stood beside her and placed a hand on Miss Kim's arm.

"Even as Nicolas and Anya stood there, comforting Miss Kim, something unspoken hung in the air.

They both knew the truth.

They had known it for a while now.

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Author's POV

It hasn't always been a mystery.

A few months after starting at the school, Nicolas had overheard two teachers talking in the staff room as he walked by. They didn't see him standing just outside the door.

"…the orphans? The headmaster only agreed because of Mina Kim. She begged him. She even offered to pay part of the tuition from her own salary," one of them said.

"She's too soft. These kinds of students don't belong in a place like this," the other replied coldly.

Nicolas had stood there, frozen.

He didn't say anything.

Later, he told Anya.

And from that day on, both of them understood how they really got into the school.

Not through a test. Not because they were chosen.

But because someone fought for them.

Because someone believed in them more than they believed in themselves.

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Back to Present

As Miss Kim cried softly, Nicolas's heart ached.

He could have told her then.

He could have said, "We know everything. We know what you gave up for us. We know how hard it was."

But he didn't.

Neither did Anya.

Because they knew that if Miss Kim realized they had found out—if she knew they saw her sacrifice—it might hurt her pride. It might make her feel weak, or worse… pitied.

And Miss Kim wasn't weak.

She was their strength.

So Nicolas simply smiled again, holding back his own tears.

"We're really okay. That's enough, Miss Kim."

Anya nodded, still holding Miss Kim's hand. "And we're going to make you proud. I promise."

Miss Kim looked at them both, her eyes red and full of love.

In that moment, she didn't need words.

And neither did they.

Suddenly

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AUTHOR POV

I Will Be Right Back in two days

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