Chapter 8

“SeulGi!”

SeulGi has heard her name at least a hundred times this morning already and it’s not even past seven yet.

Though, oddly, she does not tire of hearing her name over and over.

“SeulGi!” The unending chant never seems to end.

Strangely, it became music to her ears.

Especially when it’s Irene calling her.

“I’m here!” SeulGi shouts from her room.

“Let’s have breakfast already!”

“Yes! I’ll be there in a minute!”

---

When did Irene start eating in the dining room for breakfast?

And just when did Irene allow SeulGi to eat breakfast with her?

“Pass me the bread.” Irene bosses ily.

At least that part of Irene still exists.

“Yes, Ma’am.” SeulGi hands it to her.

“Princess.” Irene stares at SeulGi as she corrects the younger, “Princess Irene.”

SeulGi could only stare back, the basket of bread still between their hands.

It’s only when a corner of Irene’s lips curved into a small smile that SeulGi gives a smile of her own.

“Okay, Princess Irene.”

---

“Bye, bear!”

Though there is still this thing about Irene and not being seen with SeulGi at school.

Irene still demands SeulGi to be meters away from her in school premises.

It’s like they’re not living in the same house after every dismissal.

“Bye.” SeulGi says as weakly as possible, though as not what she intends to.

Why should not being with Irene in school even affect her?

It’s not like they’re friends or anything.

Perfectly what Irene said and still says every day.

They’re still strangers.

They’re still nothing.

---

Irene makes it more clear to SeulGi when Irene tells SeulGi that she will not be going home with the taller girl. It’s clearer because Irene says it more frequently these days.

SeulGi could only nod her head as she enters the car and asks the driver to take her home because the Princess would either be hanging out with friends or, as SeulGi has already expected since the very first day that she laid eyes on the Princess,

Going on dates.

---

It was never new to SeulGi. Irene has always been popular before.

Before her family owed their family.

Not really -dropping popular, just popular.

It was not new to SeulGi when she would unknowingly look at one d