Chapter 8: The Angel

Irene had just finished showering and came back into her room. Wendy sat quietly on her bed, looking around.

“You don’t have a lot of things huh?” Wendy asked.

Irene shrugged, “No need.”

Irene sat at her desk, a towel wrapped around her head, as she pulled out her homework. She glanced over at Wendy, who was shifting nervously on her sheets.

“Did you finish your homework already?” Irene asked, trying to make Wendy feel more comfortable.

“Yeah, I finished it when you went to shower,” Wendy said.

Irene’s eyes grew wide, “That quickly?”

Wendy nodded, “Do you need help?”

Irene’s cheeks flushed as she looked back at her homework, “No it’s okay, thanks.”

Irene was always at the top of her class. She prided herself in the fact that she wasn’t just a pretty face walking around for people to gawk at. However, ever since Wendy joined their class, she noticed how much more competitive she felt.

“Are you sure?” Wendy had gotten out of bed and walked over to Irene, who hadn’t written a single number down.

Irene slid her book away from Wendy, “I can do it…”

Wendy smirked and went back to the bed. She pulled out her phone, which was still off.

Stupid Joy…

Wendy was bored. Very bored. But she couldn’t risk Joy finding out where she was. After rolling around for a while and playing with her fingers, she couldn’t take it anymore. She walked over to Irene and leaned over, secretly.

Irene was almost finished with her work, but it seemed that she was stuck on a problem. As Irene scratched her head, Wendy smiled and reached over, grabbing Irene’s pencil. Irene jumped a little as Wendy leaned further in, her head just over Irene’s shoulder, and helped Irene solve the problem.

“There, all done.”

 Wendy looked over and met Irene’s eyes. They stared at each other. Their faces were so close she could feel Irene’s breath. Eventually, they both looked back down at the paper and cleared their throats.

“Um…thanks…” Irene coughed. Her cheeks were pink.

“Y-yeah…no problem…” Wendy turned back around and went back on the bed, her legs feeling a bit weak.

Irene put her homework away and took off her towel, gently shaking her head. Her hair was slightly curly, and flowed down, just barely reaching her waist. Wendy gulped a little as Irene started to blow dry it, her hair blowing back like golden waves.

“Are you sure you want to sleep on the floor?” Wendy spoke shyly.

“What?” Irene couldn’t hear over the blow dryer.

“I said are you sure you want to sleep on the floor!?” Wendy shouted, making herself blush.

Irene turned off the blow dryer and looked down at the thin mat she had prepared.

“My bed’s not that big…” Irene glanced towards her bed, and then at Wendy, who was looking down.

“I…I don’t mind…” Wendy stuttered.

Irene stood up and sat down next to Wendy.

“Are you sure?”

Wendy nodded, still looking away.

Irene thought about it for a while, her mind mainly focused on Wendy’s leg.

“Okay then, but you’re sleeping inside. I don’t want to risk you falling off the bed,” Irene laughed a little as she grabbed her pillow from the floor and placed it next to Wendy’s.

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Wendy couldn’t sleep.

There she was, lying next to Irene, who was almost touching her, as she faced the wall. In all the years she’d known Joy, she had never once slept in the same bed as her. She’s known Irene for only a few weeks, and she wasn’t just lying next to her. They were sharing the same covers.

Wendy slowly turned around and peeked over at the clock.

2:45am

Wendy almost screamed out loud when Irene and suddenly turned around, slightly as she inched closer towards Wendy, who now had her back pressed up against the wall. Wendy didn’t even dare to breathe as she looked at Irene’s face, slightly open as she breathed lightly in her sleep.

After realizing that staying against the wall the whole night would be torture, Wendy eased down and placed her head softly on her pillow, which Irene was almost sharing at this point.

Irene’s eyes were closed, but they still seemed to be beautiful that way. Wendy wasn’t blind. She knew about Irene’s beauty before she even applied to their school with all those rumors of a perfect goddess. She didn’t believe the rumors at first, but that first day she sat next to Irene, she could tell that she was almost…perfect. 

Irene shifted a little bit closer as her legs brushed against Wendy’s. Wendy felt like she was in a death trap, that touching anything would mean the end for her. She held her breath as Irene’s face scrunched up a bit.

Don’t touch her, don’t touch her, don’t touch her…

Wendy’s thoughts shattered as Irene finally pushed herself all the way forward, her face just a centimeter away from Wendy’s. Wendy was so close she could hear Irene’s breathing, which was calm and relaxed, unlike hers. Irene’s leg was now touching her knee, which she could make no straighter.

Wendy’s body was completely tense. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was afraid it would actually cause Irene to wake up. As Wendy lay still for what felt like hours, she began to take notice of Irene more closely.

She was very beautiful, possibly the most beautiful person she’s ever seen. Her cheeks were always a little bit pink, maybe because it was warm. Irene’s head was rested on her hands, which were white and slim. She had such perfect, smooth skin that almost looked like it was shining under the moonlight. Her eyes, which were naturally blue, were now closed; her long eyelashes extended that beauty. Her lips, which were full, and moistened as Irene’s breaths escaped them.

Wendy could almost feel her body pulling towards Irene the longer she stared. She felt a strange, foreign feeling as she eased her body towards Irene. Her forehead pressed gently against Irene’s as she finally let go and allowed herself to touch Irene’s warm body. She closed her eyes, feeling the subtle movements of the sheets as they both slept. She opened them again, slightly, as she put her fingers up to Irene’s face, gently moving her hair to the side.

She wasn’t a perfect goddess, but rather something more. Something realistic, that was vulnerable, but still beautiful. She was an angel.

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“Wendy?”

Wendy opened her eyes, blinded by the bright light in the room.

“Wendy? It’s time to get up,” Irene touched Wendy’s shoulder and lightly shook her awake.

Wendy sat up, rubbing her eyes, “Good morning…”

“Good morning,” Irene had already changed and prepared breakfast downstairs.

Irene helped Wendy up out of bed towards the bathroom.

“Get yourself cleaned up. I put a new toothbrush there for you, as well as a fresh towel. Just call me if you need anything okay? I’ll be downstairs,” Irene smiled and skipped back down the steps.

Wendy rubbed her eyes again and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was messy and tangled, and her face was bruised. She started to brush her teeth as she heard some noise downstairs. She peeked down, but only saw the front door. After washing up and fixing her hair, she started her way slowly downstairs. 

She entered the kitchen and saw Irene placing the dishes she had prepared for breakfast on the dining table.

“Oh you’re done! How’s your ankle feeling?” Irene was wearing a small little apron that gave Wendy the impression of a mother.

“A lot better, thanks,” Wendy said, taking a seat.

Irene sat down and handed Wendy a bowl of rice. An assortment of small dishes covered the table, making Wendy drool a little.

“Sorry, I like traditional foods sometimes,” Irene said, looking towards Wendy.

Wendy took a bite and her eyes shot open.

“It’s so good~!!” Wendy shouted in delight as she ate this rare meal.

Irene smiled in relief as she began to eat herself.

“Do you normally eat breakfast?” Irene asked.

“No, I usually don’t wake up in time,” Wendy replied.

Irene frowned, “You should eat breakfast. It’s good for you.”

“I don’t know how to cook.”

“I can teach you.”

Wendy smiled at the thought as she finished her last bite of rice.

“I don’t have a stove at home,” Wendy lied.

“You can come over to my house, of course.” Irene said, handing Wendy another bowl.

“When?”

The question was a bit surprising to both of them.

“Whenever you want. I don’t go out at night,” Irene said, glancing up at Wendy.

Wendy sat there, quietly thinking.

“Do you think…” Wendy hesitated.

“Hmm?” Irene looked up.

“I mean…can I stay with you...?” Wendy whispered.

Irene blinked as Wendy stammered.

“I-I mean, you know…until my ankle gets better!”

Irene smiled warmly.

“Of course you can.”

Wendy’s face gleamed as she looked back down at the best food she’d ever had, and began to eat her second serving.

Irene, Wendy, and Seulgi all arrived at school, expecting the worst from the students around them. Surprisingly, it seemed that no one really cared about what had happened the previous day. Due to

Jung-Min’s reputation, and the fact that Irene and Wendy were almost always together, the students almost looked like they wanted to avoid bringing the incident up.

However, there was one thing that was out of place.

“Jung-Min didn’t come to school today?” Seulgi asked, eating her lunch.

Irene shook her head, “I heard that his friends didn’t come to school either.”

Seulgi scoffed, “Good. I hope he never comes back.”

Irene looked over at Wendy, who was silently eating.

“What if he got expelled?” Irene was worried.

“Who cares!? He deserves a lot worse,” Seulgi angrily punched her backpack next to her.

“But…” Irene stopped herself after seeing Wendy’s face, which now had a big bruise near her eye.

“Forget it Irene. Those guys were always causing trouble around our school. I’m sure everyone else feels the same way I do.” Seulgi scarfed down her last bite and clapped her hands together.

Wendy noticed Irene’s confused look, but she agreed with Seulgi. It was strange that just one day after, him and his friends were gone, without a notice. It’s possible they were expelled, but their lockers and desks were still filled with their things.

“Maybe the principal decided to give them a day to cool off,” Wendy commented, trying to take Irene’s mind off of it.

Irene nodded as Seulgi continued to insult Jung-Min.

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“See you guys tomorrow!” Seulgi called from her doorway as she waved towards her two friends.

Irene and Wendy waved back and walked down the street. Irene pulled Wendy over and supported her again.

“I-I’m okay Irene…I can walk…” Wendy said, embarrassed.

“Until you can walk without limping, I’ll never believe you,” Irene proceeded to semi-carry Wendy all the way back to her house again.

“Fine,” Wendy said, as Irene unlocked the door, “but you’re not going to make me sit on the couch again.”

Irene smirked, “Would you rather sit on the floor?”

Wendy pouted, “You’re supposed to teach me how to cook, remember?”

“Already? Are you sure?”

“Why not? There’s nothing better to do. Plus we have to eat dinner anyways.”

“But your leg…”

“If you keep treating me like I’m going to break at any moment, need I remind you that even though my ankle was hurting, I still beat your time the other day,” Wendy teased.

“Which is why you’re even more hurt now,” Irene countered.

“You can’t keep me down forever,” Wendy said, as Irene led her to the couch.

“I’ll do my best,” Irene tried to sit Wendy down on the couch.

Suddenly, Wendy grabbed Irene’s arm and swung her over, landing her straight onto the couch. Irene’s hand, however, had kept a grip on Wendy’s shirt, pulling her down towards her. Wendy ended up right above Irene, her hair hanging just over her face. Wendy’s hand was the only thing that prevented them from crashing on top of each other.

Irene blinked rapidly as she tried to compose herself.

“W-what are you doing?” Irene looked away from Wendy, who was staring straight down at her.

“Showing you that I’m not as weak as you think,” Wendy quickly got up, letting Irene go.

Irene sat up and cleared , “Well, that’s doesn’t mean you should pretend that nothing’s wrong.”

Wendy smiled as she followed Irene into the kitchen to prepare their second dinner together.