Her Bully | PURINZ

029

Y U N J I N
—

"You what?"

Eunchae gasps, her bite of sandwich nearly falling out of her mouth. I giggle and tip her jaw back closed, making her chomp again.

Sighing, I lean on the palm of my hand and frown.

"Yeah, Mrs. Jones told me to tutor Chaewon, and I can't back out," I mumble, fiddling with my hot chocolate.

Eunchae pouts deeply and shakes her head in disgust.

"Is there really no other way?"

Actually, there is. Mrs. Jones asked me if I was okay tutoring Chaewon and if I'd be comfortable with her attitude.

Obviously, I'm not okay, but I have to do it.

The reasons why? Well, one is because I can't leave Chaewon to fail and be out of the cheering squad.

She loves it too much, and just like she said—it's the reason for her position in school. She needs it—and it's her only way to get into college.

Her scholarship, remember?

If she doesn't graduate as a cheerleader, then there's no point in her scholarship. Even if Chaewon is mean and awful and has never made a point to try and apologize to me, I still care for her.

And I guess I'm just too nice to think about the negative things.

Second, Mrs. Jones offered to give me full merit rights and a special degree certificate that she doesn't want to tell me about until I complete my tutoring lessons with Chaewon and graduate. She wanted it to be a surprise for being such a good student, and who wouldn't want that for an application fill-up?

"Yunjin?"

I snap out of my thoughts and look back at Eunchae's dark eyes, smiling softly.

"I can't, she had good offers," I reply simply, shrugging my shoulders. I forget how hot my hot chocolate is and accidentally burn my tongue when I take a sip, causing me to half-spill some of its contents.

Eunchae snorts, and I glare at her playfully.

"Sorry—that was funny," she excuses herself, standing up to rush to the counter for some napkins.

I swat away some hot chocolate drops from my arm and pout when I see it staining my favorite duck sweater.

"Here, drink this," she tells me lightly, offering me a few napkins and a mug of cold water.

I accept it gratefully and sigh when the cold liquid pours over my stinging tongue, making it cool off from the slight burn.

Eunchae smirks at me and goes back to her seat, laughing.

"I just realized something," Eunchae hums, tapping her chin. "It's amusing how I'm always there when you need some cleaning," she jokes, hiding away from me by taking a long chug of her coffee.

My jaw drops, and I blush furiously because, yeah, that's so true.

She's always been there to help clean me up from bullying, and now this too? Because of my clumsiness?

What would I do without Eunchae? If only she was not my best friend, I'd totally do anything to be with her relationship-wise.

I'm about to say what was just going on inside my head when I feel a buzzing in the back pocket of my jeans.

Frowning because I wasn't expecting any calls today since Eunchae's with me, I slide my phone out of my pocket and check who was texting me.

Chaewon:
House. Now. Tutor time, nerdy.