46 The Vulnerable Girl, Foolish and Stubborn (1/2)

”Yeo Ri-ah, today, Oppa will be home late, so stay with Hyung, okay?” Gun gently spoke to Yeo Ri as he bundled a scarf around her neck. ”It's a good thing that tomorrow is the weekends, so you can just stay at the hospital overnight. Did you bring a change of clothes?”

Yeo Ri nodded her head absentmindedly. ”Hm? Oppa, do you have something important today?” Yeo Ri tilted her head questioningly. Gun often insisted to pick her up regardless of his own schedule, so whatever he had to do later was probably something he couldn't avoid skipping.

”Mm. Our teacher is holding a last-minute revision session after school and attendance is mandatory. I might be late, so you can go first,” Gun smoothly lied. No, half-lied. Though it was true that his teacher wanted to have a revision session, today was Friday and it was exam season so school would have ended earlier. By the time the session finished, it would probably be around the same time the normal school hours end. In truth, he would probably be able to go home earlier rather than later as compared to other days.

”Okay,” Yeo Ri agreed without fuss. Gun had been sacrificing his study time to take her home, and since it was an especially crucial time for him, she didn't object. He needed all the time he could get to cram, she thought.

”Thanks for understanding, Yeo Ri-ah,” he smiled sweetly.

Yeo Ri returned his smile, ”What are you talking about, Oppa? I'm the one who should feel thankful that I have a brother who's as nice as you.”

”Yeo Ri-ah, you're so sweet,” Gun's smile widened. Hearing those sugary words made him slightly guilty for lying to her, but he comforted himself by reminding himself that he was doing it for her sake.

”Let's go.” Gun sent Yeo Ri to school, then parted ways as usual.

After school, inside a classroom at Yanghwa Middle School.

”Huh?”

Yeo Ri searched through her bag just as they were about to get out of the classroom.

”What's wrong, Yeo Ri-ah? Did you forget something?” Min Chae stopped and looked back at the girl.

Yeo Ri re-entered the classroom, placed her bag on a nearby desk, and took out her things. ”It's not here!” She cried in distress.

”What? What's not here?” Min Chae came close to her with a curious look.

”My... my...” Yeo Ri blushed. ”My you-know-what...”

”What?” Min Chae widened her eyes quizzically. ”Your what?”

”My intimates,” she leaned next to Min Chae's ears and whispered. Her body had been feeling heavier and more lethargic since the morning; a telltale sign that her period was coming. Or perhaps it was just because of the pre-examinations stress. She hoped it was the former rather than the latter. Since her period might come soon, she wanted to put one on before going to the hospital. She didn't want to stain her uniform, after all.

”Ah, you mean your pads?” Min Chae nodded in realisation.

”Min Chae-ah, do you have to be so loud?” Yeo Ri tugged Min Chae with a flustered face.

Min Chae raised an eyebrow in response, ”what's so embarrassing about that?” She truly could not understand why other girls were so embarrassed about their periods. Wasn't it a natural part of being a girl?

”Forget it,” Yeo Ri pouted. She rummaged through her bag and unfolded the dress she kept in her bag. ”Huh?” A second sound of confusion came out from her mouth involuntarily.

”What is it again?”

”I...” Yeo Ri looked at Min Chae with even more distress than before. ”I think... I also forgot to bring a change of underwear.”