REGINNA

Title: The Hard Way

Regina walked into the classroom with two of her friends, and instantly, every eye turned toward her. The guys were smiling—big, eager smiles that followed her wherever she went.

“Why do they always smile like that when they see me?” Regina asked her friends one day. “The guys in class, I mean.”

Agnes smiled softly. “Because they like you. You’re beautiful, you make them happy. Honestly, Regina, you’re loved by everyone.”

“Not everyone,” Mary cut in quietly, nodding toward the back of the room. “That guy—John—thinks otherwise.”

John had watched Regina for months. Yes, she was beautiful, polite, kind, always smiling—but something about her bothered him. She sat with her legs carelessly open, wore clothes that were too short and too tight (mostly hand-me-downs from her mother and aunt), and seemed to welcome every guy’s touch or attention. Every Dick and Harry could hold her hand, brush against her, make her laugh. Mrs. Favour, their class teacher, was constantly on her case.

“Regina, can you behave like a responsible young woman for once?” Mrs. Favour would snap. “You’re at it again!”

To most people, Regina seemed stubborn. But the truth was simpler and sadder: no one had ever https://iksarchive.blogspot.com/2026/01/reginna.html taught her how to carry herself with dignity. She lived with her mother and sisters; the short skirts and revealing tops were all she had. Even her family kept telling her to “be responsible,” but they never explained what that truly meant. Mrs. Favour scolded her repeatedly but never sat her down to talk, never showed her another way.

One afternoon, after Mary’s comment, Regina walked straight up to John.

“Why are you different?” she asked, voice low but steady. “Why don’t you smile at me like the others? What am I doing wrong? And… how can I please you?”

John looked at her for a long moment. “You wouldn’t want to know the answer,” he said gently. “Because if you actually listened and changed, you’d lose your popularity almost immediately. Almost every guy in this class would stop giving you that attention. Are you ready for that?”

Regina went quiet. She glanced at Agnes, who shook her head slightly—no, don’t do it. Then she looked at Mary. Mary didn’t smile or frown; she just gave a small shrug that said, It’s your choice.

Regina understood what Mary meant. Mary was never the center of attention, never the most popular girl—but everyone respected her. Deeply.

Regina took a slow breath.

She chose the hard way.

She started dressing more modestly. She sat properly. She stopped letting every boy touch her or get too close. She still smiled, but the smile became quieter, more genuine. The crowd of admirers slowly drifted away. Some boys mocked her, called her proud, said she had “changed.” Others just stopped noticing her altogether.

But John noticed.

Years later, John and Regina stood together as husband and wife—deeply in love, built on mutual respect and shared values. Mary, who had once quietly admired John, had found her own happiness married to Joses. Everyone ended up where they were meant to be.

The lesson from Regina’s story is simple but powerful:

Don’t just judge people by what you see on the surface—try to know them first. Understand their background, their struggles, what they’ve been taught (or never taught). Instead of constant criticism, offer guidance, patience, and teaching. A little understanding and gentle instruction can change a life far more than harsh words ever could.

Popularity that depends on lowering your standards is cheap and temporary.  

Attention that comes from being too open, too available, too eager to please everyone usually disappears the moment you start respecting yourself.

Real love, real respect, and real happiness come when you choose the harder path—when you decide to value your own dignity more than the crowd’s approval.

Regina didn’t just gain a husband.  

She gained herself.

And that is the greatest victory of all.

I need a prompt text to generate a cover photo for this