The Vulnerable Girl, Foolish and Stubborn

"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."

"You ditzy girl," Min Chae rolled her eyes. "What are you going to do now?"

"I'll have to go home and get it. I think... I left it in the bedroom when I was packing my bed. They were on top of each other, so I guess that's why I forgot." Yeo Ri sighed, hitting her head. "Idiot! Idiot!"

"Do you want me to come with you?" Min Chae asked, her eyes sparkling. She had never visited Yeo Ri's home so she was excited.

Yeo Ri thought for a moment, but then shook her head. "No, it would be too much if I asked you to come with me. You're already doing me a favour by accompanying me to the hospital every day, so..."

"Oh..." Min Chae wilted in disappointment.

"Min Chae-ah, you can go home first. I'm sure I'll be fine going alone, just for today." Yeo Ri smiled, pulling her friend's hands. "But don't tell Gun-oppa, okay? He'll worry."

Min Chae frowned. "But Yeo Ri-ah..."

"Min Chae-ah, please? Nothing happened before, right? I'm sure today's just the same," she reasoned. "You have to be home early today, right? It might take more time to go to the hospital from my house, so I think you should go home first," Yeo Ri said.

"..." Min Chae looked at her with conflicted eyes. Gun had asked her to look after Yeo Ri, but the girl was insisting to go alone.

"I'll be fine," Yeo Ri insisted. "I'll call for help if anything happens. Okay?"

Yeo Ri reassured Min Chae a few more times before the girl caved in. Min Chae sighed. Does Yeo Ri not want her to see her home that badly? Even in this situation she was still adamant about hiding it from her.

"Why do you always refuse when I want to go to your house? What, do you have something to hide?" Min Chae muttered angrily.

"It's not like that, Min Chae-ah," Yeo Ri's brow creased apologetically. "It's just that... my house is small and old. You won't like it there."

"...Fine," she sulkily replied. Although Yeo Ri's explanation was stupid, she still accepted it. Yeo Ri didn't want her to see where she lived, and that was fine. It was just that, knowing that Yeo Ri wasn't willing to open up about her home life made her feel hurt. They were best friends, yet Yeo Ri was still keeping secrets from her. Was she afraid of being made fun of or something? It's not like she was so shallow that she wouldn't be friends with someone just because they lived in a small house!

Min Chae huffed and and gave Yeo Ri the silent treatment as they made their way to the school gate. Then, they went their separate ways.

Yeo Ri walked home as fast as she could.

If she was late, then Hyuk might call Gun, and Gun might call Min Chae. Then, Min Chae might tell him about how she coerced her to go home alone.

After that... well, she didn't want to know what would happen if Gun got angry.

Quickly, she slipped out of her shoes and dashed to her room once she entered the house.

"Found it!" Yeo Ri immediately found the things she was looking for sitting at the corner of her desk. She must've forgotten to pack them when she was putting her books into her bag that morning.

Yeo Ri stuffed her intimates into her schoolbag. She contemplated on taking out her books to make it lighter, but threw away the idea in fear of either Hyuk or Gun finding out. She wasn't even supposed to go home by herself in the first place.

At the same time, unbeknownst to her, a figure crept behind her silently.