After Story 277

She reflexively turned her head to face the girls sitting by the window. Jungyeon, who made eye contact with her, smiled faintly and turned around. There was a book in her hand.

Dahae stayed quiet and walked over to them.

I believe thats mine.

It is.

Why did you take it without permission?

Oh, dont say that. Im just having a look because I was curious.

Jungyeon handed the book back to her. The moment she reached her hand out to take it, Jungyeon slightly pulled the book back.

But whats the reason you bothered to bring this all the way to school to read it? To show off?

No. I never even thought about that.

Jungyeon looked at the people around her and spoke,

I was just asking, yet you have to be so sa.s.sy. Well, I guess you were like that during the day too. I just asked out of curiosity, but you looked down on me. Its like you were disdaining me for not reading.

Wh-what?

Look at her. Nayoung, didnt you see it? I just asked out of curiosity, but Dahae shamed me.

The one named Nayoung nodded while saying that she was right. Dahae was flabbergasted.

When did I do that?

You didnt? Then why did we feel like that? Its not just me. The others felt the same.

What are you saying?

She felt angry. At the same time, she thought that this girl was pretty incredible. What did she say to the others that made them look at her with hostility in such a short time?

If you didnt, then its you didnt. Theres no need to snap out at us. Im getting embarra.s.sed again. Here, take it.

Smiling, Jungyeon held out the book. When she tried to take it again, Jungyeon pulled it back again. She couldnt help but bite her lower lip.

Why arent you taking it? My arm hurts.

When Jungyeon held out the book again, Dahae quickly reached out, grabbed the book, and pulled it with all her might.

Ouch.

Jungyeon rolled her hand and frowned. Along with a tick-?sound, something fell on the floor. Dahae had a look at the floor. She caught sight of a pink fingernail tip. It seemed to have fallen off of Jungyeons finger when she pulled back the book.

There was no need to go that far, was there?

Jungyeon wrapped her hand and made a dejected expression. The girls next to her looked at her like she was being ridiculous as well. Dahae told them that she didnt do it on purpose.

You didnt do it on purpose yet you s.n.a.t.c.hed the book away like that? She broke her fingernail.

Its not that.

Shouldnt you be apologizing first? I really dont like this girl. Hey, Choi Dahae. Is my friend a joke to you?

Nayoung pushed Dahae on the shoulder with an index finger. Rather than ashamed, Dahae felt afraid. These girls probably knew how to be delinquents. Not just any delinquents, but those that never show it to the teachers and acted like model students.

Nayoung, forget it. Maybe she doesnt like us. Dahae, sorry for touching your book without permission.

Jungyeons spiteful apology came out of nowhere. It felt like Dahae had become the bad girl for staying quiet.

Someone who didnt even do anything wrong apologized first yet shes still like that. I looked that book up on the internet and saw that the main character of that book was a psychopath. Do you perhaps admire stuff like that? Im scared now. Dahae, you arent going to stab me, are you? If you are, then please tell me about it beforehand, Nayoung said with a smile.

Dahae rolled her eyes left and right before flinching a step back. Just as she took two steps back though,

Hey, pick this up at least, will you? Jungyeon even apologized to you first, someone else from the group said, pointing at the nail tip on the ground.

Dahae quietly looked at the girls before taking a step closer and bending down. She was about to stand up again when someone pressed down on the back of her neck strongly. She lost balance and toppled forward.

Dahae, what is it?

Why did you fall over all by yourself?

Maybe she has a weak body.

She could hear words reverberating above her head. Dahae held back her tears and stood up with the nail tip.

Here.

Dahae, your eyes are really red. Are you crying?

Stop it now. Im sorry. But I really didnt do it on purpose.

Yes, Im sure you didnt do it on purpose. I understand.

Jungyeon smiled brightly. Dahae tensed her strength because she felt like she was about to cry. She just had to breathe well and turn around.

But Dahae, this is pretty expensive.

What?

This isnt one ma.s.s-produced at a factory, but a custom-made one at a nail shop. The unni that makes this is really famous. I went to her workshop over the weekend and had the fake fingernail custom-made for the size of my fingers. Its hand-made so its really expensive.

How much is it?

If I want to do it again, I have to pay at least 400 thousand. Thats why I only did it on two fingers.

No way.

What are you saying? If you dont believe it, you can look it up, Jungyeon said boldly.

She didnt look like she was saying a lie that would be exposed easily. Was it truly 400 thousand won? If true, she would have to save up her pocket money for four months straight.

Did auntie Sora make that?

A voice jumped in. Gaeul was next to her before she knew it.

You know about it too? Jungyeon said in agreement.

I do. Auntie Sora is really good at crafts. I believe the price is about 400 thousand.

Dahae, did you hear that?

Gaeul shouldnt be lying. Was it truly 400 thousand won, then? She couldnt help but sigh at the cost.

But are you sure auntie Sora made this? Gaeul spoke again.

Jungyeon frowned.

If you dont know that well, then you can stay out of it. Who are you to have been calling her auntie for a while now?

No, no. I just know her personally. Ive seen this style before. But there arent many people that received it. Auntie gave them only to special people. Also, if it is what I think it is, then 400 thousand won isnt nearly enough.

...What do you know?

Wait a sec.

Gaeul took the nail tip and took a photo of it with her phone. She seemed to be looking it up. There were all sorts of related products on the internet.

There are so many fakes like this. Whenever theres a new release at her workshop, theres a counterfeit produced the next day in China.

I really went to Sora-unnis workshop and did it.

Really?

Yes!

Jungyeons voice became higher. Nayoung, who was next to her, also chimed in,

What are you doing? Choi Dahae was the one in the wrong, so why are you saying something to Jungyeon?

Im not saying anything to her. Im just saying we should check the facts. Itd be tiring for both parties to shout and fight.

Fight? Do you think were fighting here?

Nayoung raised her index finger. It looked as though she was about to push Gaeul like how she pushed Dahae before. The moment her finger landed on Gaeuls shoulder, however

Dahae felt a breeze. Gaeul s.n.a.t.c.hed Nayoungs hand and twisted it above her head. It happened so quickly that it took some time for her to realize what exactly was happening even though it was happening right in front of her eyes.

Ack: Nayoung shouted. The girls next to her all flinched back.

Gosh, that startled me. It shouldnt hurt that much to shout like that.

Let me go!

Mom said something to me the first time we sparred. Those who know that it hurts to get hit dont fight easily. But unexpectedly, there are many people who dont know that it hurts to get hit. Thats why they hit others without restraint.

I get it, so let me go!

Youre acting so weak. I didnt even put a lock on you properly. I didnt stretch any ligament and its just slightly bent, but youre making a fuss.

When Gaeul let go, Nayoung frowned and backed off. Gaeul, who was looking at the group who were gathered up like a pack of meerkats, turned her head around to Dahae.

I was going to keep watching if nothing special happened. You were trying to endure and overcome those people, but I felt like she was lying. Thats not something I could stand. You arent uncomfortable that I interrupted, are you?

Dahae felt that it was very much like Gaeul to ask something like that in this situation. She shook her head. She felt a twinge on her nose, and she felt much more relaxed ever since Gaeul came over.

Nam Jungyeon. Good, I remember you now. And also, wait a moment.

Gaeul put her phone against her ear. She seemed to be calling someone.

Auntie, Im Gaeul. Are you okay with a video call? I need you to check something for me.

Gaeul showed her the phone screen. A woman in her mid-thirties, no early forties, was yawning on the other side.

But who was that? she tilted her head and looked at Jungyeon. Jungyeon seemed to know the person quite well. She was startled before shrinking her shoulder and covering her hand. She seemed to be hiding the rest of her fingers.

-What do you want me to have a look at?

Theres a girl who says she has the nail tips that you made. But as far as I know, you only gave the nails with pink waves to mom.

-Oh, those? There were many fakes that came out. Other than the one your mom has, everything else is fake. Especially the ones that say they came from my workshop.

Then what about this one?

Gaeul reached her hand out. Jungyeons hand was relentlessly pulled forward. Having experienced Gaeuls strength for herself in the convenience store, Dahae thought that even boys wouldnt be able to endure if Gaeul decided to use her strength.

-Thats crude. Its hard to even call it a fake.

I see.

-But what is it?

Nothing much, auntie. You should sleep now. Sorry for waking you up.

-You woke me up and wont even tell me what its about?

Im sorry. I love you.

-Youre the same as your mom in glossing over things like that. Geez, youre her daughter alright.

Ill go over to play later. Lets talk then.

-Alright, have fun at school.

The call ended. Jungyeons eyes turned uneasy.

I need to go to cram school.

Jungyeon left the cla.s.sroom. Nayoung and another girl quickly followed suit. The remaining girls looked at each other before coming over with a smile.

There was something strange about her. Jungyeon, was it? Shes really funny.

Right. Dahae, are you okay?

They talked for a while among themselves as though nothing had happened before they too left the cla.s.sroom with their bags.

Dahae took a deep breath before uttering it out. She felt dizzy. If Gaeul didnt step in at the right time, she wouldve suffered inwardly all by herself. Perhaps she might have handed money to Jungyeon. Just as she was about to thank her,

Wow, my heart is fluttering.

Gaeul fell to the ground. Dahae had a look at Gaeul, surprised.

What is it? Are you hurt?

Not really. I just lost my tension.

Lost your tension?

Gaeul let out an awkward smile.

Of course I was scared. There were so many of them. I was having a hard time because my heart was thumping too hard while speaking. I thought they could hear it.

Now that she looked at her again, Gaeul seemed to have turned slightly pale. Her lips looked parched as well. They were symptoms of being nervous.

Can you pull me up? I think I lost strength in my legs. Gaeul reached her hand out.

Dahae grabbed her hand. The hand was trembling like a phone on vibrate mode.

Feeling bad, she grabbed the hand tightly and pulled her up. Having stood up, Gaeul started breathing slowly.

Were you really that scared? You didnt look the part though. You twisted that girls arm and spoke boldly.

It was an act. Its what I watched growing up, so Im pretty confident.

That was an act?

Was that okay? Dad never got fooled even once, but my cla.s.smates were pretty easily fooled.

Now Im okay Gaeul let out a big breath.

Dahae couldnt help but smile. That was an act? She pretended and was holding back her fear?

Youre a really strange kid.

I do be like that.

Gaeuls eyes then looked at the book in her hand.

So its that one. I had fun reading it too.

You read this?

Yes, I did. It was one of the books in the pile when uncle was gathering materials for his next work. He said something about how cla.s.sics were always helpful.

Just why was it so relieving to hear that she enjoyed the book Dahae felt her tension relax. Maybe because of that, the tears she was holding back despite her frustrations, anger, and fear started falling down.

I guess my appearance was touching, Gaeul said with a serious expression.

Dahae immediately burst into laughter and wiped her eyes.

Gaeul.

Yeah?

Should I buy you strawberry milk?

Err thats really good, but its time to go home and eat dinner now. I dont have an appet.i.te if I eat something right before dinner.

So you keep things like that, huh?

Food is important.

Gaeul looked at the clock in the cla.s.sroom and spoke,

Dahae, are you fine on time today?

Me? Yeah. I dont have cram school today.

Then do you want to come over to my house?

Your house?

You should come and eat with us. Ill lend you some books as well. I just thought of a book thatll match your preferences.

Is it okay to visit so suddenly? Your parents will not be okay with it.

Gaeul vigorously shook her head.

Youll definitely be welcomed. Absolutely. In fact, theyll tell me off if I dont bring you home.

Still

If you dont like it, then you dont have to come. Im not forcing you at all.

Dahae immediately spoke,

No, I want to go.

Then theres no need to hesitate. Wait a sec.

Gaeul called someone. She started off with mom before handing her phone to Dahae halfway through the conversation.

Mom wants to speak to you.

Me?

Dahae cautiously received the phone.

-Are you Gaeuls friend?

Yes.

-Hold Gaeuls hand and come over. Theres no need to hold back at all, okay?

Is it really okay?

-Ill be sad if you dont. Okay?

Yes, maam. Ill go.

Dahae thought as she returned the phone that she felt like she heard that voice a lot before. Where was it?

Lets go.

Gaeul smiled and started walking. Dahae got on the bus following Gaeul. Not long later, they got off. There was a high-rise apartment right in front of the bus stop.

Even Dahae, who was clueless when it came to real estate, knew how expensive this apartment was, which there were only two of.

You live here?

Yeah.

Are you actually rich?

Gaeul smiled and went inside. They were only able to get to the floor they wanted after pa.s.sing two gates that required a residents pa.s.s, one before the elevator and one after getting on the elevator.

Come on in.

Gaeul opened the door. The moment she opened the front door, Dahae saw three cats and two dogs playing around on the other side of the transparent door to the porch.

Your daughter and her friend are here, Gaeul said as she took off her shoes.

Dahae also took off her shoes in a hurry before standing next to Gaeul.

There was s.p.a.ce to wash their hands in the corridor that led to the living room. On the side were three places that looked to be dress rooms.

Just the corridor of this house seemed to be larger than her entire house.

Youre here?

It was the voice of the madam that she heard through the phone.

Dahae tried to stand upright and greet properly, but the moment she saw the madams face, she froze up on the spot.