Angel Smile 24 Scene 24

"Yeo Ri-ah, you're sick again?" Min Chae sighed as she supported her head on her desk with her arm. She heaved another mournful sigh.

Yeo Ri touched the face mask on her face, smiling wryly at Min Chae's overdramatic reaction. "It's almost winter, after all. The weather's getting colder, and you know I don't have a water heater at home."

"I should get you one for your birthday or something," the girl glowered. "How can I see my Yeo Ri's beautiful face like this~?!" Min Chae sighed loudly for the nth time. Her bangs were getting longer, so from certain angles one could barely see her eyes, and now more of her pretty face was being covered up by the mask. She could already hear the wailings of Yeo Ri's admirers in her head.

"I'm sick, so it can't be helped," Yeo Ri chuckled at Min Chae's antics.

"Oh, that's right. Did you know?" Min Chae suddenly raised her head as if she had remembered something important.

"What?"

"About Park Jin Ae."

"Park Jin Ae? What about her?"

"You weren't here last Friday, so you probably haven't heard, and it completely slipped my mind until just now. Park Jin Ae, I heard she's hospitalised."

"What? No wonder she hasn't been coming to school," Yeo Ri's eyes widened. She looked suspiciously at Min Chae. Did Min Chae do something while she was gone? She knew Min Chae was as protective of her as her brothers, so it wasn't impossible. "I hope she's fine..."

The girl raised her hands defensively, "I didn't do anything! I swear! She got beaten up last Friday and was sent to the hospital. Apparently she offended some gangster who had the hots for you," Min Chae eagerly spilled the tea.

"G-gangster?" Yeo Ri was perplexed. "I don't know any gangsters, though?"

Min Chae rolled her eyes, "Aigoo, you clueless girl. Of course you wouldn't know! You don't even know if someone liked you unless they confessed it face-to-face." She mercilessly dissed her friend. Yeo Ri could be so dense sometimes that it was frustrating.

"What's there to like about me," Yeo Ri mumbled sullenly.

"Your face, obviously." Min Chae stated matter-of-factly. "Girl, have you seen yourself in the mirror?"

"Hey, are you really my friend?" Yeo Ri kicked her leg under the desk.

"I'm just stating what the boys really think! Trust me." Min Chae laughed. Then, she assumed a haughty look, "aside from that face of yours, you have nothing special." Min Chae went on to list a few of Yeo Ri's weak points, earning a few pinches to the cheeks by the girl.

The two girls played around until the bell rang. Class was in session and the teachers were beginning to increase the workload since exam season was just around the corner.

The school day passed by peacefully. Yeo Ri almost felt like she was a dream.

"So peaceful..." she muttered.

"Huh? Did you say something, Yeo Ri-ah?" Jang Mi turned to look at Yeo Ri who was walking a few steps behind them. It was now after school and they were going out to eat tteokbokki again.

Yeo Ri smiled at Jang Mi, "nothing." Her tone was light, as if nothing was really wrong. "I was just wondering if it'll snow soon."

"That's true. It's been so cold lately."

"Ah~ I hate winter!" Min Chae stomped her feet childishly.

"Why? Because you can't work at the fields?" Jang Mi raised an eyebrow. Min Chae's favourite pastime was working at her farm, and her second favourite was herding goats. When winter comes, she could do neither, since the land cannot grow anything and there was no grass for the goats to graze. She was bound to feel bored.

Min Chae rolled her eyes, "Our place also has a greenhouse, okay? I don't work at the field 24/7."

"How nice~ I wish I could go see." Yeo Ri enviously sighed.

"Why don't you come to my house, then?" Min Chae excitedly jumped. "I can show you around."

"I don't think I can get permission from my dad," Yeo Ri shook her head glumly. Rather, she did not want to spend another minute talking to that man. And judging by his attitude, it was highly unlikely for him to let her go. He would probably suspect that she might go and file a report to the police or something, considering that one of Min Chae's many brothers was a police officer.

"Geez, your dad is too strict. When can we ever hang out together? In university?" Min Chae grumbled.

"Sorry," Yeo Ri touched her arm, an apologetic look on her face.

"Ah... no, it's okay! I was just saying, you know?" Seeing her downtrodden look, Min Chae suddenly felt guilty for complaining.

"Oh no, Min Chae." Jang Mi sneakily smirked. "Since you feel sorry to Yeo Ri, you should treat us this time."

"How does that makes sense?!"

The two chased each other around. Yeo Ri chuckled at their childishness. It was times like these where she truly felt like she was just a normal 14 years old girl.

"Wait for me!" Seeing them getting farther, Yeo Ri hastily ran after them, her eyes curving in amusement.

Chapter end

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