Taking The Next Step

Back in Phoenix TV, Mandy sat behind her desktop with her gaze fixed in it; working on her new project whiles the office blustered with activities.

Though there seem to be quiet a rumpus going on around her, her concentration couldn't be disturbed.

"Mandy?" She heard a familiar voice called from behind which made her look up from her desktop for the first time. She turned to the direction of the call to see Leticia approaching with some files in hand. Just then, her phone rang. She swiftly glanced at the screen and noticed it was a call from Irianda's school. Her brows instinctively furrowed at the sight while she picked the phone from the desk.

"Excuse me Leti." She mumbled to Leticia as she neared her desk and picked up the caller. "Hello–" She answered.

"Am I talking to Mrs. Mandy Kang Su?" A female voice addressed from the other side of the phone.

Leticia quietly dropped the files on the desk while she stared keenly at Mandy as a sceptical look swept across her face.

"Y–yes." She stuttered with a slight nod; not sure of what the caller wanted but her instinct told her whatever it was wouldn't be a pleasant one. Moreover, it was hardly she ever received a call from Irianda's school.

"Can you please drop by the school– like right now?" The voice added. "Irianda has..." The mention of the name Irianda made Mandy jolt to her feet; taking Leticia by surprise as she watched Mandy hastily picked her bag and without another word, sped off.

"I will be there soon." She heard Mandy say while she scampered to the door. Leticia instinctively tilted her head, wondering on what might be wrong but didn't get any answer as her mind couldn't process whatever was going on.

She gave a half shrug, dropping the files on Mandy's desk and shuffled back to hers.

Back in the school, Irianda sat on the bench in the garden; head hanged whiles her tears trekked down her face with the earlier incident still fresh on her mind.

"Stay away from me!" The voice of Milly kept echoing in her head, coupled with her scared panicked face ; flashed before Tina's eyes like a gallery of pictures.

"This can't be happening. " She grumbled to herself. "This...this.." She muttered as she choked on her tears, burying her face in her arms.

She was still sobbing when someone reached out an handkerchief to her. She slowly lifted her gaze; following the stretched hand only to see a not so familiar face.

"Huh," He muttered, tipping the handkerchief towards Irianda. "Are you okay?" He inquired, taking his seat beside Irianda with his jade eyes fixed on her. Irianda slightly nodded, drying her face while she forced out a smile.

After about 45mins of driving, Mandy finally drove into the school's parking lodge. She swiftly pulled up at the nearest empty spot; hastily picking up her bag while she turned the keys– gliding out.

When she was sure that the car was locked, she sped off towards the huge three– structured story building.

Irianda was still trying to get herself together when she noticed her mother rushing into the corridors. "Mum–" She cried as she jerked up from her seat; racing off with the intruder's gaze fixed at her back.

Mandy deftly turned to the voice of the call to see Irianda approaching. "Oh baby.. " She affirmed as Irianda ran into her arms– brushing a hand through her hair while she landed a kiss on top of her head.

"I didn't mean for this to happen." Irianda cried. "I didn't mean to hurt her– I'm so scared mum.." She attested.

"I know dear." Mandy snapped in, drawing her back from the hug while she curbed her face. "I know you didn't mean to. Just let me talk to the principal first, huh? I will be right back. "

She hugged Irianda for the last time before bolting off – her mind overwhelmed with anticipation.

After a while of being in the Principal 's office, Mandy finally came out a bit tensed down. It took a whole lots of efforts and explanations to finally get him to understand that it was an accident and she was going to see to it that the issue gets resolved. Besides that, She vowed on her words that it was not going to happen again.

The Principal initially didn't want to give in but gave her the benefit of the doubt as it was his first time hearing Irianda was involved in such an incident. Descending the stairs into the vast school yard; blustering with kids moving to and fro, Mandy wandered to the garden where Irianda sat.

"Hey.." She mumbled, settling beside Irianda who was a lot sober now. "Who were you talking to?" She inquired, glancing over her shoulders into what looked like an empty space. It was then that it dawn on Irianda that she hadn't even asked of her acquaintance 's name. But little did she know he had already left.

She grumbled, not saying anything in particular as her gaze involuntarily travelled to her left side of the bench where she knew the boy sat but her brows instantly furrowed at the empty space that met her eye. She instinctively looked into the distance; her eyes searching around for any sign of him.

"He..." She stuttered quiet confused as she wasn't sure what was happening. "Where did he go?" She grumbled mentally to herself while her eyes still scanned the distance around.

Mandy hunched forward not sure of who Irianda was looking for. "Are you okay dear?" She asked, making the former swayed her gaze her way with a creased brow– which she swiftly masked with a lopsided grin; slightly nodding her response.

"Okay.." Mandy muttered as a smile swept across her face, suddenly forgetting her initial question. "Let's go home." She said, draping a hand around Irianda's shoulders while they shrugged to their feet with Irianda glancing around for the last time before they strolled off.