It started as a playful morning at home, with laughter echoing through the hallway. Thuy, known for her gentle pranks, decided to pull a light-hearted joke on little Lala. While preparing Lala’s favorite fruit smoothie, Thuy sneakily added a touch of bitter gourd juice instead of the usual sweet mango syrup. She giggled to herself, expecting just a silly reaction. But for Lala, the moment turned into a rollercoaster of emotions.
As Lala excitedly took the first sip, expecting a burst of tropical sweetness, her face changed instantly. Her eyes widened, her nose crinkled, and she quickly pushed the cup away. “Eww! What is this? This isn’t my smoothie!” she exclaimed, a mix of confusion and betrayal flashing across her face.
Thuy tried to hold in her laughter but failed. “It’s just a joke, Lala! Just one sip of bitter gourd—don’t be mad,” she chuckled, hoping Lala would find it funny too.
But Lala didn’t. She crossed her arms and turned her back to Thuy, her little lips pouting. “That’s not funny, Thuy. You ruined my favorite drink!” she said with a trembling voice. A moment that was meant to be silly had made her feel hurt and excluded.
Seeing Lala’s eyes well up with tears, Thuy quickly realized her joke had gone too far. She knelt beside Lala and gently hugged her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to make you laugh.”
Lala sniffled and looked up. “I just wanted my mango smoothie.”
With a warm smile, Thuy wiped her tears and promised to make the best, sweetest smoothie ever—this time with extra mango and no tricks. As they sat together sipping the new smoothie, Lala finally smiled, forgiving Thuy.
The day ended with lessons learned: even small jokes can hurt, and love always means knowing when to say sorry.
