24 The Foolish Girl Smiles, Choosing to Suffer in Silence (1/2)
”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.