DISHEARTENED. || BAEK KYUNG

III.

"Gaeun." The quiet voice of Jooda called out as she ran up to Gaeun, linking their arms together. Jooda wore a bright smile, it was always on her lips even though she was always harassed by the other girls in school yet it never seemed to fade. "Would you like to eat lunch together with me today? We never seem to, unless it's when you visit me at work." Jooda questioned.

Gaeun nodded her head. She didn't know whether or not this would have been a scene or just them within the shadows, but she didn't care much. She hated that her character was scared to show others that she was friends with Jooda, and honestly hoped that changed as the story progresses. "Let's!" She replied with a smile on her lips as the two walked into the lunch room.

Though as the two entered the cafeteria, it was utterly quiet. Seemingly, no one had appeared yet but from the corner of Gaeun's eyes she could spot a bowl of dried squid being served. Though it only felt like two days since the blonde fairy disappeared, it may have felt like two weeks to everyone else.

The two quickly got into line, as the lunch ladies piled food upon their trays. Gaeun couldn't help but to scrunch her nose at the dried squid as she became closer with it. "May I please have less of that." She requested, signaling towards the bowl. Though her request was ultimately denied as the lunch lady still piled quite a lot onto her tray.

She pulled her tray away after receiving the curry and rice. Gaeun's gentle brown eyes glanced around the lunch room, mostly looking for an table with a single lone girl, knowing that Jooda went more overly ahead of her to find a table to sit down. Upon finding her, she quickly sat down next to her with a smile on her lips and Jooda returning the same.

The two quietly ate their lunch as the lunch room began becoming more and more crowded and the sound of girls screaming came following. Gaeun couldn't help but to roll her eyes. "Why?" Jooda asked, perhaps confused by Gaeun's sudden action.

"Nothing, let's eat." She simply said, taking a spoonful of rice and curry into her mouth though her eyes averted at the sight of Saemi, Danoh, and Soochul sitting across from them. The brunette just shook her head as she continued to eat her food, though she was pulled into utter surprise yet again as she heard Danoh mention about 'preventing misfortunes from happening'.

Gaeun ignored it before the loud voices of Iljin, Yijin, and Samjin came before the two. Loudly slamming down their trays as they crowded around Jooda, throwing snarky insults towards the less wealthy girl about Namju paying for her lunch and how lucky Jooda must have been.

Gaeun grew every bit annoyed, frowning as she turned to look up at the three girls insulting her friend. "Do you have anything better to do than harass someone for a simple mistake?" She asked rhetorically before a scuff left her mouth. "Leave. Let us eat in peace." Her voice coming out harsher than every, though she can tell Jooda was looking at her with pleading eyes as if asking Gaeun not to get involved.

"Wow.. Gaeun you really snooped down low as well huh." Samjin began eyeing between her and Jooda, before being able to get another word in a teacher appeared yelling at the three to stop bothering Jooda and to go sit down at their table, expect for Iljin who sat right in front of the two.

Gaeun realized that this was a scene at this very moment. She watched as Iljin harassed Jooda, moving Jooda's tray as to tease her. "Would you leave her alone?" Gaeun glared at Iljin.

Jooda quickly snatched her tray away from Iljin before standing up, "Its fine... I'm done eating anyway." She said quietly, trying her best to walk away quickly. Though the misfortune event that the writer had plotted for Jooda's fate that day found its way to both Danoh and Jooda.

Gaeun watched in shock as the bowl of curry spilled onto both Jooda and Danoh, meanwhile everyone stood up practically cheering at the incident. She looked towards Samjin and Yijin who sent a innocent smile towards the brunette's way. There was truly nothing Gaeun could do until the scene was over, but even if she did do something to teach those them a lesson, it wasn't as if they'd even remember it at all.