21 Why Violence Is Never The Answer

The midday sun streamed through the long windows of the school, casting golden patches onto the polished tile floors. Students moved through the hallway in clusters, their chatter blending into a lively hum. Some were hurrying to their next class, while others lingered by their lockers, swapping gossip and laughter. Among them, two class 4A girls, Pensri and Malivalaya, walked side by side, their school skirts swishing with each step as they clutched their textbooks to their chests.

Their topic of conversation? Thanwa Kittipong —the boy who seemed to make time slow down whenever he passed by.

Pensri introduced the topic grinning, nudging Malivalaya's arm.

" I swear, every time Thanwa walks past, the entire hallway just stops. It's like he has this invisible force field of charm." 

"Right? It's almost unfair. He's not just good-looking—he has that effortless confidence, like he doesn't even realize how handsome he is." Malivalaya replies laughing, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder .

They passed a group of first-year students giggling by the lockers, whispering amongst themselves. Further down the hall, a few seniors stood near the windows, casually checking their reflections in their phone screens. The school was always buzzing with life, but Thanwa Jirawat? He was a topic that seemed to unite every year group. 

"And those eyes. They're so sharp yet warm at the same time. Every time he looks at someone, it's like he's seeing right through them. "Added Pensri sighing dramatically.

"Exactly! And have you noticed his smile? It's not just any smile—it's that slow, almost teasing one, like he knows he's making hearts race but pretends he doesn't. " Malivalaya supports the claim grinning.

They turned a corner and nearly bumped into May and Belle, two of their classmates who had also been deep in conversation. 

"Let me guess—Thanwa? " Asked May raising an eyebrow, smirking.

"You two sound like the official presidents of his fan club." Belle added laughing, adjusting her glasses. 

"And proud of it! " Malivalaya replied flipping her hair playfully.

They all dissolved into laughter, but before they could continue, a group of boys rounded the corner. Leading them—Thanwa himself. 

His neatly pressed uniform fit effortlessly, his school tie slightly loosened, giving him that effortless charm. His dark hair was styled just messy enough to look natural, and his deep brown eyes scanned the hallway as he spoke to his friends, his voice low but smooth. 

For a split second, he glanced in their direction 

"Oh. My. God. Did he just look at us? " Asked Pensri frozen, whispering.

"I don't know, but if he did, I need a minute to breathe."Malivalaya replied gripping her arm.

The moment passed as quickly as it came. Thanwa and his friends disappeared down the hall, leaving behind a trail of hushed squeals from nearby students. 

"You two are hopeless. "Says May shaking her head,amused. 

"But I have to admit… he really is something else."Belle laughs it off .

Pensri and Malivalaya exchanged wide-eyed grins before linking arms and continuing down the hallway, their conversation now an excited blur of whispers and giggles. 

Behind them, Thanwa walked on, completely unaware of the chaos he left in his wake.

But before they could discuss further. They were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. It was Pear, strolling down the hallway with her usual confident stride. She had an expression of mild curiosity on her face, but that quickly changed when she saw the two adults standing together.

"Good afternoon, Malivalaya," Pear greeted, her tone a touch casual as she offered a quick nod to Pensri.

Malivalaya looked at her with a raised brow. "Pear, where are you headed?"

Pear smiled mischievously. "Just looking for Tanya. I think she's in the library. I need to show her something."

The mention of Tanya made Malivalaya pause. "Phakit? You two aren't planning anything, are you?"

Pear gave her a sly smile. "No, nothing like that. I'm just being a good friend." With that, she turned and made her way down the hall, leaving Malivalaya and her hopeless romantic friend behind.

Pear had barely reached the library when she spotted Tanya sitting at one of the tables, her nose buried in a small bundle of papers. As Pear drew closer, she could see that Tanya was reading love letters, her eyes scanning the pages with a dreamy expression. One letter, in particular, seemed to catch her attention, and Pear couldn't help but peek over her shoulder.

Tanya read aloud softly to herself, "You are my world..." Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough for Pear to catch every word.

Pear raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "You are my world, huh? What, am I a village then? I mean, no one's ever said that to me," she said in a teasing tone.

Tanya glanced up, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Pear, stop it! This is serious!"

"Oh, it's serious, all right," Pear continued, her grin widening. "Maybe they meant it like a little kingdom. You know, with castles and all. You could be their queen, ruling over... a bunch of chickens."

Tanya let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. "Can you not be so sarcastic all the time?"

Pear sat down beside her with a shrug. "I'm just saying, 'You are my world?' Really? It sounds like a line from a movie."

Tanya couldn't help but laugh, despite herself. "Well, I think it's sweet."

Pear leaned back in her chair, pretending to inspect the ceiling. "Sure, sure. Sweet. But remember, when you're the queen of that little kingdom, don't forget who helped you rule it."

Tanya shot her a playful glare. "You're impossible."

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It wasn't long before Ms Ivy was pulled into yet another scene, this time in Miss Duangkamol's office. As usual, Miss Duangkamol was seated at her desk, sorting through paperwork. But today, she was not alone. Ms Ivy, her best friend, had come to visit with a very interesting request.

"Ms Ivy, I told you not to bother me when I'm busy," Miss Duangkamol said, trying to maintain her professional tone.

But Ms Ivy was having none of it. "Duangkamol, please, please! Can you turn on the loudspeaker for me just this one time?"

The teacher's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What for?"

Ms Ivy grinned widely, looking far too pleased with herself. "Because I want to hear both sides of the argument when you and your husband are fighting. It's so much fun, Duangkamol! You never know what's really going on unless you hear both perspectives!"

Miss Duangkamol blinked in surprise, her face turning slightly pink. "Excuse me? That's... that's absurd, Ivy."

"Oh, come on!" Ms Ivy persisted, leaning forward in her chair, her hands clasped together pleadingly. "I promise, I won't tell anyone. I'm just so curious about what goes on behind closed doors. It's like real-life drama!"

The teacher sighed, clearly not amused by the request. "Ivy, I'm not turning on the loudspeaker so you can eavesdrop on my personal life."

Ms Ivy pouted dramatically, clearly not getting the reaction she wanted. "Duangkamol, you're no fun. Everyone knows eavesdropping is the best part of any argument!"

At that, Miss Duangkamol crossed her arms and gave her a firm look. "No loudspeaker. End of discussion."

"Fine, fine," Ms Ivy relented, though she still looked somewhat disappointed. "I'll just have to imagine it, then."

As Miss Duangkamol returned to her work, she couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. Ivy's antics were always unexpected, but at least she kept the teacher on her toes.

It's a bright, sunny Monday at noon as the students of 3C and 3B gather in the school hall for the assembly. The air is filled with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety as everyone knows they are about to speak on an important topic—"why violence is never the answer". The tension from the previous incident involving Phakit still lingers among the students. The room falls silent as the principal, Miss Araya, takes her place at the podium.

The 3C students—Noon, Pear, Namtarn, Bow, Aom, Chompoo, and Mint—sit in a neat row, eyes focused ahead. Their faces are a blend of nervousness and determination, especially after the altercation that had occurred between the groups. Now, they are being given the opportunity to address the entire school on a crucial issue. The students from 3B—Warinya, Nicha, Fah, Mook, Pim, and Kanya—sit across from them, ready to present their part. The guidance counselor, Miss Duangkamol, had worked closely with the students on their presentations.

Miss Araya steps forward to speak.

"Good afternoon, students. As we all know, last week there was an unfortunate incident involving Phakit. Our purpose today is to address a critical issue—why violence is never the answer. Each group will present their perspective on how we can resolve conflicts peacefully. I trust you all will listen and reflect on what is shared."

The students from 3C nod, taking in their principal's words. Noon, standing at the front with Pear, Namtarn, Bow, Aom, Chompoo, and Mint, exchanges a quick look with them, a silent reassurance passing between them.

Noon, takes a deep breath, then steps up to the microphone first

"We're here to speak about something important. Recently, we saw how violence escalated over Phakit's situation. But we believe that there are better ways to solve problems than through fighting. Violence only leads to more pain, confusion, and anger. It never solves the issue at hand."She introduces.

Pear who's standing next to Noon, speaks next.

"Instead of fighting, we should focus on listening to each other. Everyone has their own perspective, and if we try to understand it, we can resolve our differences without hurting anyone. It's about creating space for peaceful dialogue."

Namtarn adds on with a thoughtful tone.

"Sometimes, we don't realize that our actions affect more than just the people involved in the fight. It affects our friends, families, and even the school as a whole. It creates division where there should be unity."

Bow, speaking with a clear voice, continues.

"We could have chosen to talk, to meet with Phakit and resolve the conflict calmly. But instead, we let our emotions take over, and we all regret that. I regret that. What we need is self-control, respect, and understanding."

Aom, visibly serious, takes the mic.

"And we're not saying that conflict won't happen. But what we are saying is that there are peaceful ways to approach it. We can use our words to resolve problems, not fists. If we choose peace, we'll be stronger as a school community."

Chompoo, turning to the audience with conviction, adds her voice.

"I want to ask everyone here today to think about the consequences of their actions. We can all make choices that reflect kindness, patience, and respect. No one should have to fear violence as a solution."

Mint steps forward last, with calm but firm words.

"Let's make our school a place where we lift each other up. Where we talk through our problems, not fight them out. Because violence is never the answer—it's only a dead end."

The group of 3C students takes a collective breath after their presentation, the weight of their message hanging in the air. The room remains silent for a moment, everyone reflecting on what was just shared. Then, the students from 3B rise, ready to give their own perspective on why peace must prevail.

Miss Araya smiles softly, nodding her approval as she steps forward once more.

"Thank you, 3C, for your powerful words. Now, let's hear from the students of 3B." She says, introducing the next group.

The 3B students begin their presentation, their voices just as determined as their peers'.