Angel Smile

"How are you feeling, Miss Lee?" The doctor asked with a slight smile .

Yeo Ri merely spared a short glance at her before turning to observe the other patients who were currently milling about in the vicinity .

After lunch, Yeo Ri had been taken to the hospital"s recreational park for some fresh air, and at the same time, to meet with a doctor who specialised in the psychological department .

Receiving no reply, the doctor smiled tightly . She scribbled some notes in the notebook she had been carrying before moving on to start another conversation with the girl .

"The weather is nice today, don"t you think?"

Yeo Ri glanced at her with a dull gaze, a flash of wryness in her eyes . It was winter; while it was rather bright outside compared to previous days, it was still very cold . She wondered if this doctor was in her right mind .

Sensing the strangeness in the younger girl"s gaze, the doctor chuckled awkwardly . " . . . Shall we go inside and get warmed up?"

Yeo Ri kept mum, tacitly showing her agreement . She allowed the nurse to push her wheelchair back inside without complain .

With the nurse"s help, Yeo Ri was brought to Dr . Hong"s consultation office .

Dr . Hong offered the girl a warm cup of coffee, but the girl did not accept it nor reacted to any of her comments .

Dr . Hong observed the girl with thoughtful eyes . Yeo Ri was clearly conscious, yet she was stoic . Most victims would have fallen into hysterics or breakdowns, but she was calm . Too calm . It was as if she had shut herself out from the rest of the world .

"Her heart is dead, huh . . . ?" Dr . Hong sighed inwardly .

Yeo Ri, who was sitting in front of her in a daze, resembled a life-like doll . She stared at the wall with jaded eyes, thinking of nothing and not wanting to do anything . Added with her spectacular looks, she truly looked like a doll .

But, she was not a doll . She was supposed to be a human .

"Miss Lee, how do you feel right now?" Again, Dr . Hong repeated her question to the girl .

Yeo Ri remained mute .

Dr . Hong could tell that she was able to hear her question, but chose not to respond . Nevertheless, she pushed forward, "Did you have a good lunch? It may sound like boasting, but our hospital"s food is quite tasty . "

" . . . "

Dr . Hong did not give up . She smiled amiably at the girl, "Miss Lee, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?"

" . . . "

"I heard you have two brothers? How lucky; I was an only child so it was quite lonely growing up . "

" . . . " Yeo Ri raised her eyes to look at the woman briefly at the mention of her brothers . However, she remained quiet .

Seeing her change, Dr . Hong leaned forward, testing the waters, "Miss Lee, do you want to talk about what happened that day?"

" . . . " Yeo Ri looked away . Clearly, she did not want to .

"Then, should we talk about something else? What do kids these days like to talk about . . . ah! I recently heard BTX"s new song on the radio . Do you like BTX?"

" . . . "

Dr . Hong pursed her lips . Was she being too pushy? She leaned back into her seat .

"Miss Lee," she started, recollecting her calm . "If you want to talk about anything, do come to me . I"m all ears . "

She got up and kneeled next to Yeo Ri"s wheelchair . Dr . Hong placed her hands above Yeo Ri"s squeezing it rea.s.suringly, "I"m always available . Remember, Miss Lee, we are here to help you . "

Unlike the time with Gun, Yeo Ri did not pull away . Perhaps because the other party was a woman, she did not display any revulsion . She simply stared at the woman with deep, empty eyes .

Dr . Hong gave her a smile . "It might take a long time, but I a.s.sure you, you will be able to become yourself once again . "

"Until then, you"re stuck with me," Dr . Hong added with a chuckle .

Then, the a.n.a.log clock on her desk beeped, signalling the end of their session .