𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 /GXG/

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Mom ended up inviting Sana to join us for lunch. She prepared ddeokbokki, gimbap and watermelon juice. She's sitting at the head of the table and then there's Sana on the left ㅡ with her empty plate; and then there's me on mom's right side ㅡ with mine half full ㅡ, facing the blonde.

I was disgusted that Sana had pressed her lips to my cheek. I get a queasy feeling that rises in my throat every time I focus my attention on her eyes. I taste like a rotten, fermented apple, full of loathsome sins. A promiscuous girl who sleeps with a married man and whoever she offers her body to.

''Aren't you going to eat anything? Not even a juice?'' Mom asks Sana.

''I am pleased Madam Tokizaki. But continuing the story... I made a complaint to the council that Se-yeon beat me. In principal Song's one ear and out the other'', Sana continues with the case of the day Se-yeon was chasing her. The day Sana punched me in the face in the fight in the library. It was Mom who brought it up, wanting to know how I had hurt my mouth. I had said it was during physical education.

''Se-yeon hit my head on the table and I didn't do anything.'' As Sana talks, she swirls the remaining watermelon juice at the bottom of the glass.

''You say 'I didn't do anything. Look how good I am,'' I say, splaying my hands flat on the table.

''Akari, please?'' Mom catches my eye.

''It's okay, Madam Tokizaki. She is like that, but she likes me.'' Sana shows a crooked smile as she plays with the towel passing her fingertip. ''If I was bad I would hit Se-yeon back, but my parents always taught me that we should love our neighbor.''

''They do very well. Violence gets you nowhere.'' Mum gives me a condemning look and then stands up with the empty glasses, throwing them in the sink and 'running' when she hears the intercom ringing in the living room.

''Go wash your mother's dishes,'' says Sana.

''I'm looking for someone tougher than you!'' I say angrily, keeping my eyes firmly on hers.

'' You sleep in the same room as her.'' Sana flashes her snobbish smile, and under the table, lightly kicks my foot. With all my strength, I return the aggression, kicking her skinny one.

''I stay here all day until Chae ein shows up. She, at some point, will have to show up, right?''

''Chae won is not-''

''Akari!'' Mom rushes in, her dress even flutters around her legs; the distinct pallor of her face. ''Akari, an investigator wants to speak with you!''

''With me why?'' I stand up quickly.

''A policeman?'' Sana also stands up and we both look at each other scared.

It's obvious! The police frighten even those who are not to blame, and I, who have a guilty conscience.

''II don't know...Detective, I think," Mom says. ''It's about Se-yeon!''

Last time it was an investigator. But that doesn't lessen my anxiety.

''Take off those pajamas, Akari! I told you to change your clothes!'' Mom is desperate and pulls me by the shoulder, leading me out of the kitchen and into the hallway. ''Change your clothes and I'll go downstairs and talk to him for a bit.'' She hurries back.

As soon as Sana enters the bedroom, I slam the door.

''Investigating Se-yeon's disappearance?'' she asks curiously.

''How do you know?''

''I just heard your mother talk about it...'' Sana whispers, turns her back on me, goes quickly to the window, opens the curtain a little and looks out. ''You avoid talking about things in detail and involving names...''