Chapter 11: Tteok Care

                                    

                                          
These days Yongsun made so much effort trying to talk to Byulyi but it all resulted in a cold attitude in return. 
                          
"Byul-ah good-" wham! Door slammed right in her face.
                          
"Byulyi, what are you eat-" silverware thrown by Byulyi clattered on the dining tray as she removed herself from the table immediately after Yongsun sat on an empty seat adjacent to hers.
                          
"Byulyiii..." she waved excitedly when she entered the faculty room, her face lit up when she saw Byulyi smiled and waved in return, 'is this it? Perseverance prevails, yeet!' Byulyi walked over with Yongsun's arms wide open ready for a forgiveness hug and she was given an 'invisible' treatment when Byulyi just walk past her leaving Yongsun hugging the thin air to greet Elijah who were seated next to Yongsun. 
                          
Some of the teachers giggled at how foolish she looked, which made her cough in embarrassment and stretched her arms wide and crossed them as if she is doing light exercise trying to act as if nothing happened. Deep in her embarrassing thought, she found a surge of energy full of determination, 'Ignoring me? Fine. Two can play that game. I'll make you talk!'
                          
With that, Yongsun called out Byulyi's name in class for every reason she could find:
                          
"Byulyi hak seng, please read the next paragraph."
                          
"Byulyi hak seng, answer the question on the board."
                          
"Byulyi hak seng..."
                          
As soon as the class ended, Yongsun approached Byulyi proudly, "See? Can't ignore me now. You're finally talking to me." Byulyi simply shook her head looking out the window to avoid eye contact but Yongsun has not given up. She took out an envelope swinging in front of her, "Don't you want your money back?"
                          
Byulyi got up from her seat causing a wild screech, taking her back with her and was about to leave until Yongsun held her wrist, "W-Wait. I'm just joking, sheesh! Take it." She shoved the envelope in Byulyi's hands but she wasn't having any of it and threw it away leaving Yongsun dumbfounded.
                          
The next day came and Yongsun placed her stack of teaching materials on the podium and noticed an empty seat by the window – Byulyi's, "does anyone know what happened to Byulyi hak seng?" she asked.
                          
"ssaem, are you sure she isn't skipping school because you pick on her all the time?" Eric raised an eyebrow while resting his head on his fist staring back at her. Yongsun couldn't care less about the hostility in the classroom, but she is certainly bothered, guilty that what she had done yesterday may cause her to skip class.
                          
Class ended at the cue of the bell and Yongsun waste no time to check with Elijah who replied to her with a smile, "We don't live together,  Yongsun-sshi. As I've told you yesterday, my dad isn't fond of her so she lives by herself. Don't worry, she's independent enough to take care of herself.... But if you are worried let me give you her address."
                          
Yongsun thanked her with a bow and before she left the faculty office. Although she is new in town but she managed to find her address and pressed the doorbell. Once, no answer. Twice, silence is over when the unlock tune played and the doorknob turn to open, revealing a haggard looking hamster who was coughing  and wrapping herself in a blanket. She was about to close the door upon seeing her visitor but Yongsun held the door in time with her foot and forced herself in.
                          
Before Byulyi could retaliate any further, Yongsun made her intention loud and clear, "You don't have to talk to me. Just let me help you. I know you don't need help but let me do it." Byulyi looked at her for a moment before she gave up before she even began her retaliation.
                          
Byulyi walked back inside the room with Yongsun following her behind. She then lies down, pulling the cover while facing her back on her. Yongsun approached carefully placing one of her hands on her forehead, "You have a fever." Was all she commented and she got up to the kitchen to find fresh ingredients nicely stocked up in the fridge.
                          
Looking around the room, it is indeed what she claimed before – neat and tidy. It didn't take Yongsun long enough to find where all the tableware and cooking utensils are for her to get cracking boiling water and adding rice to cook congee. She finished off with spring onion as garnish and a swirl of sesame oil.
                          
Rummaging through the drawers of cutleries, she found the medicine box beneath the television cabinet. Shocks were evident on her face that she even has labels on every medicine. With a full-package care in a single tray, she took it back to Byulyi's bedroom who seemed to have fallen asleep.
                          
"Byul-ah... Wake up. I cooked congee, you need to eat before taking the medicine." Yongsun gently shook her to wake up and she did as she was told while Yongsun left the room knowing that she wouldn't want to eat if she waited there.
                          
After cleaning up after her cooking in the kitchen, she returned to check on Byulyi and replaced her ice pack on her forehead. She then crossed her arms on the bed while resting her head in between, watching her sleeping soundly
                          
She didn't realise she had a smile on her face, 'Cute. She looks like an adorable hamster when she sleeps.' Yongsun thought while poking her cheek which made her victim scrunches her nose as if it itches and go back to sleep.
                          
While Yongsun finally entered the dreamland unbeknownst to her, the other returned. Byulyi woke up to find a brand-new ice pack on her forehead and looked around that it didn't took her long to notice Yongsun rested her head in the nest of her own arm, sleeping uncomfortably at the side of the bed. 
                          
Byulyi then took the blanket and covered her back before kissing Yongsun on the crown of her head as she whispered, "Thank you for the hard work taking care of me today, ssaem."
                          
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(End of Chapter 11)
                          
-A/N-
                          
In the previous chapters I mentioned 'Heol' its Korean way of saying 'No way' or 'Bullshit'.