Nari tied her hair up before picking up her bag.
"Nari. You got more friends outside." Her mother said as she put the food she packed for Nari inside a bag.
Nari's plan to sleep at Deokhye's place didn't happen because of the incident.
Her father sighed while putting his arm around his wife's shoulders. "You don't sound happy, my dear."
Closing the zipper of the bag, her mother said "I just feel like they all have an interest on our daughter. Studies first, Nari."
Nari laughed, one that is natural. She thought what her mother said was nonsense. "They are all my friends, mom."
"Besides, there's nothing wrong to enjoy her school life by having a boyfriend."
"I don't want to see her crying because of a boy." Her mother said.
"She'll grew up experiencing things and learning things teachers and us, parents, cannot."
"But it'll just hinder -"
"Honey." Nari's father called his wife lovingly, "You know how good it feels to be loved by the person you also love. Right?"
Nari just shook her head watching her parents have a heart-to-heart talk. She picked up her lunch box. Before heading out the house she told her parents, "I'll be late, mom, dad. Let's talk again alter when I get back. Okay?"
She sprinted out and closed the gate.
"Got everything you need?" Dawon asked.
"Hi!" Rowoon greeted. Hwiyoung and Chani just smiled at her.
"I came along!" Taeyang said. Nari was amazed at how cheerful he is early in the morning.
Behind Rowoon, there was Zuho, standing. He was just looking at her. Nari smiled at him but the tall guy did not smile in return. She kept her smile there as the cool wind passed by them. Her smile soon slowly faded before Dawon spoke.
"Let's go? We'll walk today. No bicycles. Okay?" He said and Nari nodded.
●●●
Hwiyoung stood beside Nari's left and Chani on her right. He noticed she was quiet. He nudged her elbow and asked "Are you alright? You haven't uttered a word since we left your house."
Chani turned his head on his left. "You look... gloomy too. Are you not happy to see all of us? Well... this isn't really everybody but, yeah."
"Taeyang, does he know about -"
"Don't worry. He doesn't. We want you tell him about it yourself." Chani said cutting her off from talking.
They stopped in front of Hwiyoung, Dawon and Rowoon's classroom.
The tall guy turned around and told them, "We'll have lunch all together." Then he ruffled the top of Nari's hair before he continued, "I've prepared lunch for all of us."
"All of us? Did you include Deokhye?" Nari asked with her eyebrows raised.
Rowoon smiled widely before he cupped Nari's cheek. "Yes, I did. I did for you."
She was too happy. Because of that, she failed to control herself and threw herself to Rowoon to hug him. "Thank you!" She exclaimed before loosening her arms around Rowoon's body. "I'll tell her that now."
She tried to run off to their classroom but Chani grabbed her hand to stop her. "We'll go with you. And don't run." He reminded.
She bit her lower lip before smiling. "Sorry."
"It's alright." Chani said before standing closer to Nari. Then he turned to the three boys, "We should head now to our classroom? See you guys later." He told them.
Rowoon, Hwiyoung and Dawon entered their classroom before Nari left with her classmates.
"Nari!" Deokhye, a noisy friend just like Dawon, shouted while running along the hallway. Her arms were spread out, wanting to hug Nari. Nari ran towards her, escaping from Chani's grip.
"Tsk, tsk." Taeyang, sign of disapprovement. Then he placed his arm around Chani's shoulder. "You just got her in your hands but she escaped."
Chani elbowed Taeyang lightly causing Taeyang to laugh. "Guilty as charged, Kang Chani."
They watched Nari and Deokhye happily greeted each other. They were standing still not until they saw Yoonji standing in front of Nari and Deokhye.
"You are going to Mina's party?" Yoonji asked.
"I think you already asked us that before." Nari uttered making Yoonji's eyebrow to move. "Good. Your decision didn't change. See you then." Yoonji said. She was about to leave when Chani suddenly spoke. Even Nari, who was in front of him, was startled.
"Do you really have to ask them that same question several times?" He asked. Deokhye and Nari smirked at each other.
"Oh, hey Chani." Yoonji said. Her tone obviously changed. She's flirting with him. Her face was all smiles, while Chani's was the total opposite.
He was frowning.
Chani didn't respond to Yoonji but instead he turned around. He put his hand on Nari's back and told them, "We should go in now. There's no point of talking to Yoonji about these things."
"Are you dating her, Chani?"
He didn't turn around, but he stopped walking.
"Should we go?" Nari asked Chani.
He slightly shook his head and asked her to stay. "So what if I am?" He asked.
"Fine. I already had you. And you're not an exciting boyfriend. No fun at all! She'll surely leave you, too."
Yoonji huffed and angrily crossed her arms across her chest. After gritting her teeth, she cursed silently in her mind. "I'll surely get my revenge on you, Seo Nari." as she watched the three of them go inside their classroom, followed by Taeyang and Zuho.
"Yah, Chani?" Nari slightly pushed him away as she supported herself holding onto Deokhye. "What was that? So what if I am? What exactly are you trying to say?" She asked and imitated Chani what he told Yoonji just a while ago.
Chani shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing. I just asked what if I'm dating you or any other girl here? She's an ex, like how she always call me. She didn't want me to care whoever she's seeing. I guess she should not care about whoever I date as well."
"But don't ask that again! I mean, don't answer her like that again. You seriously know she hates me."
"Ah, I thought you'll complain that we aren't dating yet I told her that."
"Well, you just did?" Nari said.
"I thought you'll tell me to date you for real. Too bad." Chani said, earning him a slap on his arm from Nari. "Relax. Yoonji is not that evil to do something really bad to you."
"You still believe that, Chani?" Taeyang asked, interrupting the two who were talking.
"Stop! You all. Whatever. I'm out of here. I'll go ahead first, Nari." Deokhye said and headed straight to her seat.
Taeyang just shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands a bit before smiling at Nari for seconds and left. Zuho didn't spoke but just passed by the two.
Chani and Nari just watched them leave. "I'm done here, too." He said and left Nari alone there.
*****
Sorry for not being able to update for days!
I started my work a week ago and it was difficult since it's my first job and everyone was too busy. I'm trying to learn things on my own like the processes (it's s food processing factory!).
I have to be strict like they should follow me telling them to wear their apron. You know, it's hard to tell someone who's older and worked there first than I did though my position was higher than theirs. I can't be too friendly, they said. That's the most difficult one for me, being less friendly. Haha!
Anyway, thank you if you are reading up to here ❤
- lovingseoul ~