~ a lily among thorns~

"you owe me"

"I'm never going to be able to show my face to them again!" Nari groaned as she walked along the pathway towards the physician's room, her hands plastered over her humiliated face as she thought back to the morning's events. "They just HAD to be showering when I went in there."

The embarrassed girl sulked as she mentally tried to delete the disturbing images from her brain, nearly bursting into tears when realising it was impossible.

"What am I going to do?!" she whined in horror, pulling on her hair with distraught.

Before she could answer her own question, she arrived at Ah-Ro's residence. She'd already gone there earlier that morning, to be met by a crying Poong-yeon. However, visiting her brother and best friend was what kept her going. Poong-yeon meant the world to her, and just seeing his face gave her courage to face another day in Hwarang. Besides, she'd had an awful morning and needed a distraction. Sliding open the door, Nari poked her head inside.

"Ah-Ro?" she called out.

Her friend appeared from behind a stack of wooden boxes.

"Nari, you're back!" Ah-Ro greeted as she dusted off her clothing.

Nari stepped inside with a smile, closing the door behind her.

"Yes, I have the afternoon off again, so I thought I'd come here."

"Is that the only reason?" Ah-Ro asked suspiciously as she eyed her friend's teary eyes and bright red face.

Nari let off a weedy smile. She began to tell Ah-Ro about her humiliating experience but was quickly cut off by an excited yell.

"Nari! You came back again!"

Poong-yeon rushed over to his older sister gleefully. Nari met him with a bright smile, leaning to meet his height.

"You've cheered up since this morning, cheeky," she cooed, squeezing his soft freckled cheeks. "Did you meet an angel or something?"

Poong-yeon shook his head, pointing to a small hole in the wall.

"Today I watched the Hwarangs practice sword-fighting again! When I grow up, I'm going to be one just like you!"

Nari grinned proudly at her younger brother, beaming at his enthusiasm.

"I'm sure you'll be the talk of the town when you get older," she laughed. "All the girls will be swarming over you."

"Just like his sister," Ah-Ro uttered as she began sorting through a bag of medicines.

"Very funny," Nari murmured in reply as she settled herself on the floor with Poong-yeon.

Poong-yeon sat down in front of her, fiddling with a piece of wood he'd begun carving.

"Is this what you do to keep yourself entertained?" Nari asked him, holding out her hand as Poong-yeon passed the object to her. "What are you making?"

"A lily," he answered. "Like the one on your necklace."

Nari clung to the carving as she inspected its rough edges and splintered surface.

"Show it to me when you finish it," she said softly, thoughts of her father filling her mind. "I'd like to see it when it's done."

Ah-Ro caught onto the solemn atmosphere and piped up with a smile.

"Nari, I just remembered! I have to go pick up some materials from Soo-yeon tonight. I helped her with a few things the other week so she's repaying me with a few boxes of her old wear. I'll make you a dress if you'd like."