Lyra

4.

"Do I have to go to school on my birthday?" Lyra whines as she gets ready for school, her mother staying quiet.

"Mama?" Lyra asks with a frown and her mother hums and she looks over at her daughter.

"Why did daddy leave us?" Lyra asks and her mother finally sees tears spilling from her eyes. The sight alone shattered her heart.

"He just...well.."Her mother tries to explain but she just couldn't tell her daughter. She crouches down and just hugs her daughter tightly.

"I'll tell you when you get older." She whispers and pulls away and wipes her tears and kisses her forehead.

"Let's get you to school, we can get ice cream afterwards."

~~

As Lyra was walking down the stairwell she feels someone push her. Stumbling yet not falling, she reaches the bottom. She looks back over and sees Min-Soo and her cliche. Min-Soo keeps her poker face as she turns to the side and glares at her before starting up the stairs. Lyra sighs and heads to class.

After school Lyra was walking to the bus stop when Min-Soo pushes her behind the school. She pushes Lyra onto the ground and points at her. At the signal, Lyra tries to get up and run away but Min-Soo's friends instantly start to kick her back to the ground.

Guarding her face, Lyra takes every kick they give her. As she lays there with her eyes tightly shut she hears someone shouting. The kicking ceases.

"This doesn't concern you Yeon Minji." Min-Soo says and Lyra opens her eyes and sees a girl standing in front of her, stopping the other girls from getting to her.

"Leave now, before you get hurt." Minji says slowly and the other girls glare at her before Min-Soo finally tears her gaze from Lyra and turns and walks away.

Once they were gone Minji turns around and holds her hand out. Lyra hesitantly takes her hand and she winces as Minji helps her up. Minji gently places her hand on her back and takes her to her car.

"I'll take you home. How old are you?" She asks and Lyra holds her side as she limps.

"Just turned fifteen today." She winces and Minji shakes her head.

"Terrible way to treat someone on their birthday. I'm sixteen but I'll be seventeen." Minji says as she helps her into the passenger seat.

The drive felt longer than it was. Minji and Lyra talked and got to know each other. Minji never knew about the bullying since she's usually in a different hallway but now that she knows, she'll make sure it doesn't happen again. As soon as she gets to Lyra's house she walks her to the door and helps her inside.

From there Minji helps with Lyra's bruising and wraps her up. Minji crouches down and looks up at Lyra.

"Thank you for helping me." Lyra's says quietly and Minji nods and pulls her phone out and hands it to her

"Anytime. Give me your contact." Minji says and Lyra nods and puts her number in.

"You have an accent." Lyra says as she hands her the phone back.

"Busan." Minji smiles and Lyra nods and hears the door unlock.

"Lyra!" Her step father calls and Lyra whines as Minji stands up.

"She's in here." She calls while Lyra quickly says no.

Her step father walks further into the house and sees Lyra sitting on the toilet lid. He looks at Minji confused and then back at Lyra.

"What happened?" He asks and Minji explains the whole thing.

He thanks her for helping and wishes her well and she leaves. Her step dad gently helps her to the bed and gets an ice pack.

"I'm so sorry. I knew I should have taken you to a public school. Do I need to take you out?" He asks and she shakes her head no.

"I'm okay I promise." Lyra says quietly and he sighs.

"If something else happens I'm taking you out." He says and before Lyra can say anything to protest against him, he was gone.

She sighs and lays back on her bed. This was not how she planned on spending her birthday. Once her mom came home the three of them go out to eat at a dog cafe since Lyra insisted on not doing anything too fancy or special.

On her way to sleep she hears her phone buzz. She groans and reaches over and answers the phone.

"Hello?" She answers and clears her throat.

"Hey kid. Happy birthday, sorry I'm a little late." Taehyung says and she hums and places him in speaker phone and lays back down.

"I wouldn't necessarily say it was a happy one." She sighs and he shifts a bit.

"Dad told me. I have a surprise for you tomorrow. To help make things better." Taehyung says and Lyra smiles a little before frowning.

"Oppa." She says quietly and he hums.

"Do you like me now?" She asks and he was silent for a second. Lyra was about to speak when Taehyung starts.

"I do..and I'm sorry for being rude earlier. I want to make it up to you and be the best brother I can be." He says and she smiles before yawning and apologizing.

"I'll let you sleep now. Good night kid."

"Good night."