Angel Smile

Over the next few days, Yeo Ri was very free. Aside from helping Gun prepare for college, she did not have much to do nor did Park Soo Yeon give her anything to do.
And today, just as she was about to go to the hospital to see her friend, Park Soo Yeon had called her.
"Yeo Ri-ah, the results for that audition has come out. You pa.s.sed the preliminary audition! Congratulations!"
"...Eh?"
A confused sound slipped out of Yeo Ri's mouth. It took her five whole seconds to process Mrs. Choi's words.
"R-really?" Yeo Ri asked incredulously. Truth be told, she didn't think she had much of a chance to pa.s.s the audition, so the news came as a surprise to her.
"It's true. The audition will be held in three days. You can check the details on the email I sent you," Park Soo Yeon said. Her voice was calmer than the younger girl, but an obviously gleeful lilt could be heard in her tone.
Although Park Soo Yeon was not physically near her, Yeo Ri still bowed out of thankfulness. "Thank you very much, Auntie!"
"No, it's all due to your own hard work. Choon Jae-ssi said that you were quite easy to work with since you were so photogenic. Ninety percent of the shots he took was useable but we only included the best of the best in your profile," Mrs. Choi said, heaping praises onto the younger girl.
"Still... it's thanks to Auntie that I had such an amazing opportunity. And Mr. Jang too; his pictures were fantastic. I never imagined I could look so beautiful." After realising that her words sounded rather vain, Yeo Ri blushed. "I-I mean..."
Park Soo Yeon laughed, "Why did you get embarra.s.sed? It's true that you're a beautiful girl, Yeo Ri-ah," she teased. After working with Yeo Ri for some time, she had easily guessed that Yeo Ri had a rather low self-esteem. It was strange, considering her looks. But then again, it was not impossible for her to be so insecure, she mused.
She had heard snippets about Yeo Ri's background from Da Na. Living in such an oppressive home, with an abusive parent—it was really not that strange for Yeo Ri to grow up so pa.s.sive and insecure.
However, Da Na kept the most important facts a secret from her mother—she did not tell her mother about what truly transpired that day when she chased after Gun, and she did not tell her that the girl in the news related to a certain son-murdering-father case was Yeo Ri.
Thus, Da Na's parents who were aware that Gun's family was in such an upheaval did not actually know about what truly happened in the Lee family household. They only a.s.sumed that Yeo Ri was hurt by the dad and that the sc.u.mbag was now in jail and out of the picture.
"Auntie, you're really too kind," Yeo Ri replied, her face burning a bright red.

"Ah—well, I'd love to talk to you some more, Yeo Ri-ah, but Auntie has to go now. Once again, congratulations."
"Yes. Thank you, Auntie."
Yeo Ri ended the call.
She stumbled backwards, then plopped onto a seat. She brought her trembling hands to her face. "Is this real...?"
"Haha..." She laughed, her eyes wet. "What's this feeling...?"
A strange feeling was bubbling inside her. Excitement, anxiousness, and hope swirled in her heart, making her body tremble.
"What is this?" She chuckled. She glanced at her reflection on the only mirror in the room. The girl reflected on the mirror seemed bright and exuberant; her eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed out of excitement. It was the first time she saw herself look so lively.
"Calm down, Lee Yeo Ri. You didn't pa.s.s the audition yet; it was only the first round," she reminded herself, snapping herself back into reality. That was right—so what if her pictures were pretty? She was not the only person coming to the audition so obviously the others must've been pretty too.
With seemingly newfound purpose, she jumped up from her seat and quickly left the house. Her steps were hurried as if she couldn't wait to tell someone about the good news.
A smile slowly broke out on her face. After what seemed like forever, she finally felt as if she had a purpose in life.