Angel Smile

Hyuk was rushed to the Emergency Room .

As soon as he arrived, the doctors brought him into surgery .

Seeing that Yeo Ri wasn"t in the right condition for dealing with formalities, Jin Goo took up the role of guardian and signed the forms in her place .

Yeo Ri stared blankly at the closed doors . Her legs buckled under her, but luckily In Guk reacted quickly and caught her .

"Yeo Ri-ah, let"s sit down, okay?" He brought Yeo Ri to sit at the waiting area .

Just as she was seated, a nurse took notice of them and came close . "Excuse me, I think we should get her treated . " The nurse had noticed the girl"s worrisome condition . The young girl looked so battered .

"Ah, yes . " In Guk got up, bowing to the nurse . The nurse led them to an empty bed in the ER, where she began to clean her wounds . He allowed the nurse to do her job as he paced back and forth worriedly .

The nurse felt pity as she applied medicine on Yeo Ri"s bruises . She started from her arms, down to her hands, then moved to her face . Once she was done, she asked the girl, "are there anywhere else that"s hurting?"

Yeo Ri contemplated the question, then nodded slowly .

"Can you show me?"

Yeo Ri did not reply . She glanced at In Guk"s figure soundlessly, seeming uncomfortable .

The nurse noticed her plight, then tactfully ordered In Guk to step back as she drew the curtains, hiding the bed from view .

"Now, can you show me?"

Yeo Ri hesitated for a while before uneasily raising her dress, showing her injuries to the nurse .

The nurse gasped sharply, her eyes wide in horror .

The girl"s body was covered with a multi-colour of marks . Hickeys dominated her upper body and there were bruises in different shades of reds, blues, purples, and yellows marking her body . A detail she noticed was that they were all in places that were usually hidden underneath clothes . Clearly, whoever did this to her knew what he was doing .

The nurse examined the bruises closely for a short moment, then raised her head to meet the girl"s eyes . "Do you need any help? Should I file a report?" The nurse lowered her voice and asked in concern .

Yeo Ri flinched, then shook her head in panic . "N-no, I"m fine!" That man had threatened to kill Hyuk and Gun . If she reported him, then Hyuk and Gun would be in danger . She couldn"t risk it . "I"m really fine," she repeated . It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself .

The nurse looked at the girl with a complicated gaze . On one hand, she was worried, and on the other, she didn"t want to be a meddling stranger . She wanted to offer help, but seeing the girl"s stubborn and insistent gaze, she gave up . It looked as if no words could change the girl"s mind .

The nurse took out a small memo pad from her pocket, then scribbled a series of number and words on it . If she was so adamant about not turning to the authorities, then the least she could do as a concerned adult was offer some support for the girl . She tore the page from her memo pad and placed it in the young girl"s hand . "This is my personal number . If you need any help, just know that I"m available . " She stared at the girl seriously .

Yeo Ri looked at her hand which held the nurse"s number, then looked up at the woman . "T-thank you," she says softly, lowering her head . Yeo Ri bit her lips as she sniffed, tearing up .

"Stay strong," the nurse whispered as she enveloped the young girl in a comforting hug . Then, she finished up with Yeo Ri"s treatment .

She handed Yeo Ri a clipboard, asking her to fill in her information . "A doctor will come by to check up on you later, okay?" The nurse offered a few more words of encouragement before going back to her tasks .

Yeo Ri rubbed her eyes and nodded obediently .

"Yeo Ri-ah," In Guk entered the curtained s.p.a.ce just as the nurse exited, followed by Jin Goo . "Get some rest . Me and Jin Goo will look after your brother for you . Don"t worry too much; Hyuk"s a fighter . He"ll live . " In Guk smiled rea.s.suringly, patting her head .

" . . . Okay . " Yeo Ri lied down on the bed . It was only after the situation calmed down that she felt the brunt of her wounds . Her body was heavily fatigued and sore . The moment her head hit the pillow, she pa.s.sed out .