You're looking for Kronii in the library, your usual hang out. It's been some weeks since you've become friends. Her mood improving, she no longer cared about the ostracization in class.
You're surprised when you see her on the corner, she's crouching over someone huddled and visibly shaking.
You walk on over slowly. You see a small petite body, red hair and loud sniffling.
Kronii turns her head towards you, she motions towards you a hand gesture.
"Sad" She told you in sign language, something you now have a rudimentary knowledge in.
"What's wrong?" You recognize the girl.
Bae Hakos, she was a popular girl in the same year as you but in a different class.
You're not caught up on school gossip but apparently she's been target of bullying.
She looks at the both of you with puffy red eyes, her cheeks are flushed and snot is cascading down her tear stained face.
"A-All my friends are gone..."She wipes her nose, a long trail of mucus now on her arm.
"Wazh da madder?" Kronii was getting better at talking, she's had practice with you . You gave her a lot of feedback on intonation and pronunciation.
"T-They found out I'm Chinese." She squeaks out.
You recoil internally, you understand now a little the sudden reversal in her fortunes. No matter how sociable and friendly one can be, being Chinese can be off-putting to some.
"Wesh kan be youw fwiends." She offers her palm towards Bae, who stares at it in shock before her face scrunches up. She starts crying again as she launches herself at Kronii who hugs her.
Kronii looks back at you with a dumb smile on her face unaware that she took your friendship for granted.
You admit you're hesitant at befriending a chink, but seeing Bae like this made you feel some measure of pity.
You crouch too, patting Bae on the back.
Well, looks like your friend circle has expanded, and it's another one with a disability too.