[Book #1 of the 'Lover Boy' series]
"Who did this to you?" Ni-ki asks, his eyes darkening. Ria tries to close the door, the boy blocking it with his foot.
"Go home, Ni-ki." She says quietly, letting out a tired sigh. Ni-ki shakes his head, pushing...
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☼ Chapter Three ☼
Paintings
Ria rubs her eyes, trying to blink the exhaustion away. She leans back in her desk chair, tilting her head as she stares at the painting she had been working all night. She hadn't been able to sleep, deciding to start a project for the art club that wasn't due for another month.
The sound of her bedroom door opening startles her out of her tired thoughts, Ria turning her chair to see her aunt poking her head into the room.
"Ria, what are you doing up so early?" Her aunt asks, stepping into the room. She leans against the door frame as Ria shifts to the side, giving her aunt a full view of her painting.
"I wanted to get a head start on my painting." Ria says through her yawn, brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes. She stands, taking her cup of paint water into the kitchen to empty it. A knock on the door startles her still tired mind, Ria watching her aunt open the door. Sunoo and Soomin walk into the apartment, both of them beaming as soon as they see Ria.
"Morning, Sunshine!" Sunoo says, leaning on the counter between them.
"Are you in a kdrama?" Soomin says with a small laugh, motioning to the paintbrush that Ria had used to hold her hair back. Ria rolls her eyes as she pulls it out of her hair, the strands falling around her shoulders.
"You look awful, were you up all night?" Sunoo asks, peeking into Ria's room through her open door. Ria nods as she takes a drink of the iced coffee that Soomin hands to her, frowning at her two friends.
"Where's Yuna?" She asks, tossing a handful of paintbrushes into the sink. Soomin and Sunoo glance at each other, both of them shrugging.
"She said that she had to take care of something and she'll meet us later." Sunoo says, earning a scoff from Soomin.
"Yeah, or someone to take care of." She says, earning a surprised look from her friends. Soomin was always the bright one of their group, it was very rare for her to show any kind of hostility towards a person. Ria had only seen Soomin angry a handful of times in her life, and each time it was because she was protecting either Sunoo or Ria.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ria asks, lifting an eyebrow as she looks at her friend. Soomin shakes her head, walking to the living room. Ria and Sunoo frown at each other before Ria goes to her room, quickly changing into her uniform.
"Remember, Ria, we have plans later." Ria's aunt calls from her office, her niece humming in response. She leads her friends out of the apartment, the three of them making their way towards their school.
"So, Minnie, what did you mean earlier?" Ria asks, putting an arm around her friends shoulders. Soomin tries to escape from Ria's grasp but the girl tightens her grip, Sunoo walking on her other side.
