Breaking In {BTS In School}

75. Heart Warming

YeongMi woke up slowly, with no recollection of where she was.

Whether it was due to the sleeping pill or the hangover, she wasn't sure.

While she rubbed her temple and tried to remember the events of the night before, Miss Yi was in the kitchen, finishing up the breakfast tray she had prepared.

Truthfully, she was really happy that she had someone to cook for again. It had become very boring, being all alone in this huge house. And, she was excited to see YeongMi, now that she was sober and rested.

By the time Miss Yi had made it up the stairs to her room, YeongMi had remembered most of her night.

"Good morning, young mistress."

"All these years and I still can't convince you to call me YeongMi, can I Miss Yi."

A small smile rose at the thought of YeongMi remembering her. "No, young mistress."

"It's too bad, young mistress sounds like something in a bad porn-"

"Miss Ko, you're too much!"

YeongMi smiled, though she didn't look too happy. "Funny, it's been so long since anyone has called me by that name."

"But it is your name, you can't escape that."

"I know, it's just nice to forget sometimes."

"Well, you'll have to remember someday."

"But it doesn't have to be today."

Miss Yi didn't respond, only setting the tray on the bed for YeongMi.

"Eat up, young mistress, and then we'll talk."

YeongMi nodded, and miss Yi left her alone.

YeongMi enjoyed the fresh meal; it was so much better than the school meals, but her enjoyment was greatly hindered by the nerves growing in her gut.

They would talk, meaning she was in trouble.

"So, what did you do to get yourself landed in a holding cell?"

What was the best way to explain it?

"Well.... school life hasn't been so good for me, so I went to town to relax, and, well-"

"You thought getting drunk would be a good idea?"

"No, I knew it was horrible, but I just didn't really care."

"And you didn't care about getting hurt either?"

"Well, you should see the other guys."

Miss Yi looked alarmed, "how many people did you fight?"

"Um," a bashful chuckle, "I don't remember."

"Oh, you just attract trouble wherever you go, don't you?"

"I guess so. But if it makes you feel better, some of my classmates followed me and jumped in."

"Why were they following you? Do you have a stalker?! Are you that popular in school?"

YeongMi laughed in embarrassment. "No, actually everyone hates me."

"Oh," Miss Yi smiled, "I'm sure that's not true."

It was, but YeongMi didn't want to alarm Miss Yi.

"Well, you don't have to worry about them until tomorrow, alright?"

"What, how?"

"I called the school and told them you'd return tomorrow."

Relief flooded YeongMi; she hadn't realized how much she was dreading going back until that moment.

"The strangest thing happened," Miss Yi gave her a sly smile, and YeongMi furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"They seemed to think I was your mother."

YeongMi blushed, giving another bashful chuckle as she scratched her neck in embarrassment. "When I was thinking of a fake name, you were the first person I thought of, so I used your name, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, it's quite alright. I don't mind."

Miss Yi was insanely flattered, and she grinned as she thought about YeongMi using the name as her own.

"I always said that I wished you were my mother anyways, Miss Yi."

She smiled sadly at the young girl.

Miss Yi had always wanted children. So she had been devastated when she had been told that she wasn't able to conceive children. It had caused such disappointment and pain for her, but she had grown to accept it, after many painful years.

She had gone under the Ko family's employment initially to look after their children. It was a way to ease her pain, but often caused more, as she was shown what she couldn't have. But she had grown very fond of the both of them, feeling like they were something like children to her.

"If I had a daughter, I'd have liked her to be like you, strong, beautiful and smart. Yes, I think you would've been the perfect child for me."

YeongMi stared in awe, her eyes stinging at the kind words.

All her life she had been led to believe that she was the worst child ever. She had been told that she was a disappointment, a disgrace, a let-down. To hear that Miss Yi wanted a daughter like her was enough to move her, warming her heart and cracking the concrete wall enclosing it.

"I'm so proud of you for everything that you've done and gone through, young mistress. You should be proud of yourself too, for standing up to your parents even though it was hard, and for growing up so nicely despite being alone for so long."

YeongMi couldn't respond, so instead she threw herself into Miss Yi's embrace.