The teacher grips the boy's hand tightly, her face flushed with anger and fear. The boy, trembling and wide-eyed, looks up at her.
(hissing, nervously)
"Listen, no matter what happens, don't tell your mother about this. Do you hear me? Just say you tripped over. Understood?"
The boy nods hesitantly, fear clouding his innocent face.
(whispering)
"Y-Yes, ma'am. I'll do it."
The teacher loosens her grip slightly, but as soon as she does, the boy yanks his hand free. Without hesitation, he bolts toward the school gate.
(shouting, furious)
"Ahhh! Come back here, you brat!"
The boy looks back briefly, sees her chasing him, and pushes himself to run faster. Fortunately, the gate is unmanned, and he escapes onto the street.
Moments Later
The boy runs down a dusty path, panting and crying, calling out for his mother.
(crying)
"Mom! Mom!"
He slows down, looking frantically around the small village, his heart pounding. Finally, he spots his mother near the well, doing laundry. Relief washes over him as he sees her.
(softly, to himself)
"There she is..."
He takes a step toward her but suddenly stops. Doubt creeps into his mind. What if telling her makes things worse? What if she gets hurt because of him? His small body trembles as he hides behind a nearby tree, peeking at her from a distance.
The mother hums softly as she works, wringing out clothes and laying them on a line to dry.
(muttering to herself, smiling)
"There's so much laundry today. I guess I'll be here forever. Oh! I almost forgot—my son should be back soon. I'd better hurry and prepare some food for him. Hehe."
The boy watches her smile, and his fear deepens. His heart races as he imagines her disappointment, her sadness. He leans against the tree, clutching his chest.
(whispering, trembling)
"What if I break her heart? What if she gets mad? What should I do?"
After a moment of hesitation, he resolves to hide the truth. He splashes water on his face from a nearby basin and wipes away the tear stains. Picked up a mirror, he forces a cheerful smile, masking his pain and fear.
Moments Later
The boy approaches his mother, his innocent smile firmly in place.
(cheerfully)
"Mom, I'm home!"
The mother stops mid-wring and turns to look at him. Her smile falters as her eyes scan his face. Her gaze sharpens, noticing the faint bruise on his wrist and the redness around his lip. Her expression grows serious.
(intensely)
"Son… what happened to you?"
The boy freezes, his forced smile fading under her penetrating gaze. The fear he thought he had buried rushes back, and his hands tremble slightly.
(stammering)
"N-Nothing, Mom! I just… tripped, that's all."
She steps closer, kneeling to his eye level. Her hands gently hold his face, tilting it to get a better look at the redness around his lip.
(softly, but firmly)
"Son… don't lie to me."
The boy's resolve begins to crack. His vision blurs with tears as he clutches her hand tightly, his voice breaking.
(sobbing)
"Mom… I'm sorry! The teacher—she… she hurt me and told me not to tell you!"
The mother's expression hardens, her jaw tightening. She pulls him into a protective embrace, stroking his hair as he cries into her shoulder.
(whispering)
"It's okay, son. You did the right thing by telling me. I'll take care of this."
Her voice is calm, but her eyes burn with quiet fury as she glances toward the school in the distance.
Fade out as the boy clings to his mother, finally feeling safe while the mother silently vows to stand up for her child.