Chapter 6: Confrontations

Wendy was sweating and panting hard as she finally crossed the finish line and fell onto the grass. Irene walked over with a bottle of water and gave it to her.

“Are you okay? You’re usually never this tired when we’re running,” Irene asked, seeing Wendy’s tired face.

“I-I’m okay. I think maybe I’m just a little hungry, that’s all,” Wendy drank from the water bottle.

Irene still looked concerned as Wendy continued to massage her left leg.

“Is something wrong?” Irene didn’t want to pry too much, but seeing the usual athletic Wendy so broken down made her worried.

Wendy shook her head and stood up quickly, “I’m fine Irene, I’ll meet you back in class,” she spoke bluntly as she walked slowly down the track, hiding her injury.

Wendy stifled a groan as she took small steps over to the locker rooms. After a short shower, she changed back into her uniform and took one more look at her ankle, which was now swollen. She hissed as she rewrapped it and pulled her socks up.

After going back to class, she took her seat next to Irene and sighed.

“Hey, do you want to go to the roof for lunch today? We haven’t gone up there in a while,” Seulgi suggested, after Irene told her what happened on the track earlier.

“Yeah! Sounds good. Wendy, do you want to join us?” Irene looked over at Wendy, whose face was blank.

Wendy thought about the long flights of stairs and shook her head, remaining silent.

Irene and Seulgi looked at each other as their friend took out her book and read quietly. Before they could say anything, the teacher walked in and began his lesson.

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“Are you feeling better Irene?” The teacher asked, handing her a brand new uniform.

“Yes, thank you Mr. Kim,” Irene bowed.

“I heard about what happened, did you contact the police?” He whispered as Seulgi walked over next to them. “No, I didn’t. But I could barely remember what happened so…” Irene drifted off as she saw Wendy dash out of the classroom.

 “You should, I’m sure they can-“ Mr. Kim was cut off as Irene ran towards the door.

“Sorry Mr. Kim!!” Seulgi called out behind her as she chased after Irene.

Irene caught up to Wendy at the bottom of the stairs.

“Wendy!” She called, stepping down towards her. Wendy looked back and turned around quickly, trying to head out the school doors.

Irene placed her hand on her shoulders and felt Wendy shaking as she tried to walk forward.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you ignoring us?” Irene was a little angry as Seulgi held onto her arm.

“Irene…calm down…” Seulgi said quietly as other students walked past them.

“Wendy, just talk to us, please…” Irene looked at the back of her friend’s head.

“Sorry…I have to go home now…” Wendy walked forward, leaving Irene’s hand in the air as she dropped it weakly to her side.

“Irene, I think we should just leave her alone for now,” Seulgi said, holding her arm.

“I just don’t understand…” Irene walked slowly with Seulgi out of the school gates. She turned the corner, hoping to see Wendy once more, but she was already gone.

Seulgi and Irene strolled down their empty street. Despite Seulgi’s attempts, Irene was speechless the whole way home. She kept thinking about what happened today, and couldn’t find any reason why Wendy would suddenly be acting like that towards her. Without thinking, she walked all the way up to Seulgi’s house before Seulgi finally tapped her arm. She looked up, surprised at where she was.

“Um, do you want to come in?” Seulgi asked, as Irene blocked the doorway.

“Oh…no, sorry, I was just thinking…I’ll see you tomorrow,” Irene turned around and left without a word as Seulgi sighed and unlocked her front door.

Even Irene couldn’t understand why she felt so troubled about everything. She hadn’t known Wendy for that long, but she always thought they were close friends. At least close enough that they wouldn’t hide things from each other. She dropped her keys as she tried to open her door.

Wendy…

The whole night went by with Irene barely finishing her homework. Her mind kept seeing the back of Wendy’s head as she was walking away. It bothered her to a point where she decided she was going to

confront her about it. She hated when things weren’t resolved quickly, but she was also worried that she might have done something to cause this issue.

Irene wrote down her last words and tossed her homework aside. She grabbed her phone and tapped on Wendy’s name. The phone rang several times before going to voicemail, and Irene puffed as she tried again, with no luck.

She dropped her phone on her bed, overwhelmed at the boiling frustration inside of her. Instead of throwing things in her room, she jumped on her bed and texted Wendy.

[Wendy, it’s Irene. Can you please talk to me? I’m really worried.]

She thought about it again.

[I’m sorry if I upset you today, I didn’t mean to.]

Irene rested her back against the wall.

[I just hope you’re okay.]

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Wendy’s phone buzzed again as she lay on her bed in the dark. She turned over and tapped on her phone, seeing the messages that Irene had sent her. She sighed and sat up, straightening her back. She turned around onto her stomach and unlocked her phone.

[I just hope you’re okay]

She sighed again as she pressed on the reply line.

[I’m okay.]

She tapped send, and then immediately regretted it the moment she did. She groaned and turned over onto her back and spread her arms and legs wide open.

What am I doing?

Wendy didn’t want to make Irene worried, but it was difficult enough acting like the shy girl at school. She never had to think about anyone else worrying about her. It caught her off guard today, and she reacted the only way she thought appropriate: ignoring them.

Stupid! Stupid!

Wendy hit herself as she tried desperately to think of a way to fix this problem. She never meant to hurt her friends, especially not Irene.

She was just being kind to you! What’s wrong with you!?

Wendy hit herself again as her phone buzzed.

[You’re lying.]

Wendy replied.

[No I’m not.]

[Yes you are! You’re a big fat liar!]

Wendy giggled.

[I’m fine! See? :D :D :D]

[I want to know what happened today. You weren’t acting like yourself.]

[I don’t know what you’re talking about.]

[Wendy! Don’t make me come over there!!!]

[You don’t know where I live :P]

[>:(]

[I was just a little hungry, and tired. I wasn’t thinking straight today]

[Are you feeling better now?]

[Yes, I’m fine]

[I still don’t believe you] [Why not? :(]

[Because you’re ignoring my calls]

Wendy held her breath as her finger hovered over Irene’s name. She closed her eyes and pressed it, putting the phone to her ear. The phone didn’t even ring before Irene picked up.

“Hello?” Irene spoke first.

 “H-hi…” Wendy went back to her soft voice.

“Are you really okay Wendy? I’m sorry if I did anything to make you feel uncomfortable. I just hate it when something’s wrong.” Irene ranted without taking a breath.

“Y-you didn’t do anything! I was just a little bit tired today. I’m sorry for worrying you,” Wendy replied.

She heard Irene sigh loudly on the other side.

“You have no idea how much better that makes me feel. I thought you were mad at me or something!” Irene exclaimed, her voice chipper than before.

“Why would I be mad?” Wendy couldn’t help but smile.

“I don’t know…you didn’t eat lunch with us today, and you just walked off without saying goodbye after school…” Irene’s voice became softer.

“I just…had a lot on my mind today,” Wendy made something up.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Irene asked, clearly worried.

“It’s…complicated,” Wendy avoided the question, scratching her head.

“Well…as long as you’re better now. I’m really glad.” Wendy could hear Irene’s smile.

“Thanks…” Wendy wasn’t acting anymore.

“Okay, well it’s late. I don’t want to bother you. Sleep well okay?”

Wendy smiled, “You too. Good night.”

“Night!”

Wendy couldn’t stop smiling as she looked up towards the ceiling. It was the first time she spoke to Irene on the phone, and it felt different, not having to pay attention to the way she looked in front of her. She grinned and closed her eyes, unaware that her leg felt a lot better than before.

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“Good morning Wendy!!”

Wendy found Irene standing outside her house, waving at her.

“Were you waiting for me?” Wendy asked, surprised.

Irene nodded, “Of course! We walk to school together right?”

Wendy smiled awkwardly as she followed Irene towards school. She noticed Irene’s light steps as she hummed. Seulgi met up with them, with some more food stuffed in .

“Wendy! Are you okay?” Seulgi spat as she chewed on her food. She received a nice smack on the head.

“Seulgi, that’s disgusting!” Irene said.

Wendy laughed and nodded as Seulgi sighed in relief.

“Thank goodness, you have no idea how many texts I got from Irene last- MMPH!” Irene quickly covered Seulgi’s mouth and glared at her.

“I’m okay, Seulgi,” Wendy smiled.

The three of them walked happily to school, only to find Jung-Min standing at the school gates, waiting for them.

“What the hell does he want?” Seulgi grunted as she ignored his stare. Wendy kept her head down, but paid close attention to his actions.

Irene tried to walk past him, but he stepped in front of her.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” He was mad, and it shocked Irene, since that was the first time he spoke that way to her.

“What’s your problem?” Seulgi stepped in between them.

Jung-Min pushed her aside, making her trip. Wendy held onto her. “Hey!” Seulgi shouted, but Jung-Min continued to stare at Irene, who was now shaking.

“You…you did this to me…” He breathed, his face still a mess.

“W-what are you talking about?” Irene kept staring into those sinister looking eyes.

“YOU RUINED ME!!” Jung-Min raised his hand up, making Irene drop her books as she closed her eyes.

Wendy dashed in front of her and Jung-Min’s fist went straight across her face. Wendy fell to the ground, her left cheek burning as she tried hard to control her anger.

“Wendy!” Irene shouted and pulled her away from Jung-Min, who was now shouting crazily as Seulgi had just kicked him in the leg. The commotion drew the attention of several teachers, as they came and grabbed Jung-Min, who was now yelling at the top of his lungs, and thrashing wildly.

Irene was terrified at his actions, but went back to taking care of Wendy.

“Wendy? Are you okay?” Irene had tears in her eyes.

Wendy put her hand on her face, “Y-yeah…I’m okay, it’s nothing.”

Seulgi ran over as well.

“Wendy!” She grabbed Wendy by the arms, “I took care of that . Does it hurt?”

Wendy blinked rapidly and looked up at the two worried faces staring at her. She smiled and nervously rubbed her face.

“It stings a little, but I’m okay.”

“What the heck has gotten into him?” Seulgi glared back at Jung-Min, who had been dragged away. Another teacher came up to them.

“Are you girls okay? What happened?” She asked.

“Jung-Min just attacked us! For like no reason!” Seulgi blabbered on as the teacher tried hard to follow what she was saying. Irene pulled Wendy over to a bench and sat down next to her. She pulled Wendy’s hand aside and looked at her face.

“Oh no…” She placed her hand gently on Wendy’s face, making her flinch a little.

“Does it look bad?” Wendy asked, trying to smile. “Well it’s definitely going to bruise…” Irene said, staring closely at her face. Wendy looked into Irene’s caring eyes and turned away as she felt herself losing her breath.

“I-it’s okay!” Wendy blurted and stood up, too quickly. She tripped as the pain in her left ankle shot up to her spine, and she fell onto the dirt.

“Wendy!!” Irene ran over and helped Wendy up. Wendy winced as she fell down again, unable to hold back the pain anymore.

Irene looked down at Wendy’s hands that were now tightly wrapped around her ankle. She pulled Wendy’s socks down a little, revealing the white bandages underneath.

“Oh my god…” Irene gasped as she looked down at Wendy, who was tightly clenching her jaw.

 Without a second thought, she picked Wendy up and carried her slowly to the nurse’s office.