HERSHE - SEULRENE

SR - Game

"She called in sick today," said Krystal.

Seulgi slumped her shoulders, couldn't take her eyes away from Irene's table. "Do you think she's okay now?"

"I don't know. She said she's not in the mood to go to work today."

"Have you told her about what we've talked about last night?"

"Nope. It's your job now to tell her that. Not me, honey." Krystal put emphasis on the last word.

Seulgi scratched her nape, feeling shy and guilty.

"Do it today or else I'll kill you for making my friend cry, okay?" said Krystal.

"I will. I will. I don't have plans of prolonging this either," said Seulgi, sighing. "After last night all I wanted to do is just to straighten up things with her."

"But I think you've got to be a little tough. Expect she would resent you at first, or maybe push you away. It's a normal defense mechanism of a person who's hurt."

Seulgi puffed her cheeks. "You're right. I'll go to her house after work."

"Seulgi..." Krystal called when she's about to leave. "This is the first time I'd seen Irene got swept off her feet. So please, please take care of her. I'm entrusting her to you because I know she'll be in safe hands."

Seulgi smiled. "Thanks. I promise I will take care of her."

"You better be, or else..." Krystal didn't finish her sentence, but she made a throat cut signal with her hand.

Seulgi chuckled. "I'll remember that."

---

Seulgi pulled her car over onto the side of the road. She rolled down her window about halfway to better see if someone's inside Irene's house.

Seulgi grabbed her phone and dialed Irene's number. It took a few more rings before someone answered.

"Hello?"

Seulgi felt happy hearing Irene's voice. But the small sniffs on the other end of the line pinche her. 

"Irene?"

"Yeah. What?"

"Are you at home? You didn't come to work today." Seulgi glanced at the house again.

"I was not feeling well."

"Oh. So, you're just home?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Seulgi felt a little nervous knowing that Irene is just a few meters away from her. "Is your mom in there too?"

"Nope. Why do you keep on asking me things?"

"I... I'm right here in front of your house."

"What?"

There was a movement on the other end of the line. The sound of Irene's footsteps followed. Seulgi saw Irene peeking through the window. Seulgi fully rolled down her window and waved a hand.

"What are you doing here?" asked Irene.

"Uh, visiting you?"

"I don't need visitors now, Seulgi."

Seeing Irene through the window made Seulgi realize how much she missed this little tyrant. "I came here to talk to you."

"Is there anything else to talk about?"

"There is. There's a lot. Especially after what happened last night."

Irene sighed. "Go home, Seulgi. I'm not in the mood to talk to you yet."