CHAPTER IX
Cocky

Today was a Friday. And it's been three straight days since Baekhyun did not show up to school. For the past three days, the only time Mari saw him was last night, when he unexpectedly showed up to the library and help Mari finish out the paper. 

"It's great that you finished the paper, but there are some minor mistakes and revisions that needs to be done. I've done the necessary corrections and instructions...," the Chemistry teacher, Mrs. Zhong, said to Mari as she passed the printed draft to her. 

Mari just nodded at her, a bit unfocused to the task at hand. Her mind was off worrying about tomorrow's dinner. The dinners usually have a neutral or negative impact to her. 

Neutral as there was nothing to gain. Negative as bad things happen only during the dinners. She would rather have the neutral option. But logically speaking, this dinner might just be an unwanted one. 

"Ms. Shin, did your partner help you make this?" the teacher pried, which prompted a response from Mari. 

"Yes, he did," she softly answered. 

"But he has not shown up in class since Wednesday," Mrs. Zhong stated as a matter-of-fact. 

Mari felt this urge to defend him and make her understand the truth. "He was with me yesterday when we finished the paper." She was careful of her choice of words, as to not raise any suspicion. 

Mrs. Zhong raised a challenging eyebrow, "Oh? But he didn't come to school today either, did he?" 

Mari felt threatened by Mrs. Zhong's suspecting demeanor. But this wasn't anything she was new to. After all, top student Mari was a successful debater in competitions. 

"Mrs. Zhong, I can attest to you that Byun Baekhyun helped me write this paper, not just last night, but we had meetings prior to that. Now, I don't know the reason why he's been absent since Wednesday but that's not of my business anymore." Mari didn't mean to sound so serious and disrespectful, but in the end, she did. She's in serious trouble now. 

Mrs. Zhong just held a stern face. "If you say so." was the only thing she said, before moving on to another student's paper. 

Mari let out a breath of satisfaction. Thank god, Mrs. Zhong didn't snap out at her like other teachers have. She has to fix this bad habit of hers. 

X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X

As soon as she got home, Mari had to prepare the house for tomorrow night's dinner. 

"Eunshin, can I see the menu for the dinner?" Mari asked, setting down her bag by table in the receiving area. 

Nanny Eunshin handed her the menu, to which Mari scrutinized carefully. 

Eunshin, along with other house helpers do not understand why Mari had always wanted to prepare for the family dinners. It wasn't like she had to, that was their job, not the lady's. 

Mari finished giving instructions to the changes she wanted to be made for the menu and proceeded to drag her bag to her room, where Nanny Eunshin had told her that her dress was waiting for her to try on. 

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