"You are very pretty"
Yerin side-glanced at the red-haired female with a raised eyebrow. "Again? You've said so a hundred times today."
"Because it's true," Sowon said with a grin. "You're my pretty girl.
Yerin turned to her suddenly. "Thank you for walking me home. I'm sure you have a long way to go now."
Sowon smiled. "But you'll know I'll do anything for you, Yerin."
The younger blushed and looked away. She giggled and hit Sowon's arm. "Go on, now. I'll see you tomorrow at school."
Sowon held her hand out, her pinky protruding while the rest of her hand was in a fist. "Promise?"
Yerin connected their pinkies. "I promise."
The older was about to say something, but an all too familiar car pulled up from down the road. Sowon's face turned stone cold as the car approached them with its angry tinted windows. The car stopped beside them, the window nearest to them rolling down.
"In the car. Now." The man driving didn't waste any time. Sowon sighed, looking at Yerin with apologetic eyes. "Hurry up, time is ticking."
"Bye," Yerin said quickly so that Sowon could actually move. Sowon nodded and finally got into the car. As soon as she closed the door, the car drove away. Yerin's expression, once happy, became more melancholy at the lack of Sowon's presence.
"Who was that person, anyways? He's rude..."
"What did I tell you about seeing that girl?"
Sowon kept her mouth shut, refusing to talk to her father. She rather crossed her arms, staring out of the window in anger. The older man sighed fiercely, glaring at her daughter through the rear-view mirror.
"If I ever see you with that girl again—"
"Then what? What are you going to do? Lock me up in my room?" sowon snapped, her arms uncrossing in anger. "You've done that before. It didn't work."
"Unfortunately," the man grumbled bitterly. "I will not allow you to put shame upon our family."
"What are you so afraid of?" Sowon demanded. "It's not like Eunbi doesn't have a certain girl that she's casually having sex w—"
"Your sister is already a disgrace to this family!" the man yelled. "I will not allow you to shame our family name with this horrid sexuality of yours! You will not be seeing that girl ever again. If you do go to that girl one more time, I'll send you to another country."
"You wouldn't dare. I'm your insurance," Sowon said, folding her arms again. "I know you're not going to give that house to Eunbi — you already don't like her. I have to get that house so that it doesn't get sold."
"No one said I didn't like Eunbi," the man told him. "she may be homosexual, but she's intelligent. She uses her brain — unlike you, who is prone to failing school subjects. That's your first disgrace to the family. The second would be to get into a relationship with a woman. I will not let you disgrace us like that."
"It's 2020, grow up," Sowon rolled her eyes. "No one cares about lesbians. You're literally the only one that is worried."
"I'm not. There are people that look at us and see two lesbians, which are a disgrace to society," the man snapped. "I don't want to hear another word from you. Shut your mouth. You're not seeing that girl again."
Yerin was worried the next day. School had already started and Sowon had yet to arrive. Eunbi was already at school, which was extremely odd. "It must be the guy in the white car," Yerin muttered to no one in particular. Umji shot her a strange glance as the chewing of her sandwich became slower.
"Okay...?" Umji frowned, picking up chewing speed again.
"It's nothing," Yerin muttered.
It felt weird not having those two familiar hands on her waist as they had the most random conversation about anything. Yerin thought about how they spoke about sugar-free lollipops and how they were technically useless (what use is a lollipop with no sugar?). And as they spoke, Sowon held her waist. She missed her gentle grip, so much that she actually wanted to go to Sowon's house to check up on her.
Yerin quickly went through her contacts and searching for Sowon's number immediately. She quickly found it, reaching to press on it. But she stopped. Yerin knew that the man in the car had something to do with Sowon's absence. Shaking her head, she pressed the number.
Yerin placed the phone to her ear as soon as it started ringing. She bit her lip as those painfully slow rings echoed into her ear. Soon, there was a small click sound. "Hello?"
Yerin sighed heavily, relief falling from that one breath. "You're not dead, thank God."
"Why would I be dead?" Sowon questioned. "And were you really concerned? You're so sweet, baby."
Yerin blushed. "Of course I'd be worried. I... I kind of miss you? I don't know if I can say that."
Sowon laughed a bit. "You can say you missed me. Flattering, really — thank you."
Yerin rolled her eyes. Of course. "Why didn't you come in today?"
"Tummy ache. Was 'vomiting and excreting bodily waste at an alarming rate', as mom told the doctor my symptoms. It could be my lactose intolerance reaction because I ate cake when I got home."
"Oh, you're lactose intolerant? Poor you," Yerin fake pouted.
"Don't look down on me!" Sowon whined. Yerin smiled lovingly as she shook her head. "You can come see me after school. Dad isn't going to be home for the evening."
"Oh. Can I?" Yerin asked carefully.
Sowon laughed. "Of course! I really miss you, you know. Like — this much. Oh shit, you can't see."
Yerin laughed. "Okay, I'll see at your home. Don't wait up on me, okay? And rest lots."
"I'll sleep just before you come," Sowon answered, her voice quieter than before. "So... see you later?"
Yerin smiled. "Later."
"Gosh, your voice is so pretty."
"I need to go now. Good-bye, Sowonie."
Sowon laughed. "Good-bye, baby."
Yerin blushed a bit and hung up before Sowon said anything further. She sighed melodramatically, putting her phone to her chest as she looked up at the ceiling. "Gosh, why did it have to be her?"
"Admit it, you are SO whipped for Kim Sowon," Umji said quietly before judging those 2 lovesick humans go on and on.
