Chapter 12

Chapter 12 — $The Missing Piece)

The four friends sat quietly together.

The student's death was still fresh in their minds.

But one thing bothered them more than anything else.

The message he had sent before his death.

STUDENT: Actually… I think I remember who she was talking to.

They had all seen it.

And then, after his death, the message had been deleted.

There was nothing left in the chat now.

Miho looked at the empty space.

Miho: “We already know what he was going to tell us.”

Han-seok nodded.

Han-seok: “Who Soo-ah was talking to.”

Seo-jun looked thoughtful.

Seo-jun: “And he was the only person who claimed he saw her that day.”

Miho nodded.

Miho: “He lived near her house too.”

Han-seok leaned back.

Han-seok: “Then we should find out who else was around her that day.”

Me-yongi quietly asked:

Me-yongi: “How?”

Seo-jun answered.

Seo-jun: “Soo-ah's sister.”

Miho looked at him.

Miho: “She already told us she didn't know anything.”

Han-seok shook his head.

Han-seok: “She told us she didn't want to talk. That's different.”

Miho thought for a moment.

Miho: “Then we'll ask her again.”

After School

The four friends went to Soo-ah's sister's house.

Seo-jun knocked.

After a few seconds, the door opened.

Soo-ah's sister looked at them and sighed.

Soo-ah's Sister: “I told you already. I don't know anything.”

Miho spoke gently.

Miho: “We're not asking about how Soo-ah died.”

Her sister looked at her.

Miho: “We just want to know what happened before that day.”

She remained silent.

Seo-jun continued.

Seo-jun: “Did anyone visit Soo-ah?”

Her sister's expression changed slightly.

Han-seok noticed.

Han-seok: “Someone did, didn't they?”

She looked away.

Soo-ah's Sister: “I don't remember.”

Miho: “Please.”

Her sister took a breath.

Soo-ah's Sister: “There was someone.”

Everyone became attentive.

Seo-jun: “Who?”

Soo-ah's Sister: “I didn't see the person's face.”

Han-seok: “Was it a boy?”

She hesitated.

Soo-ah's Sister: “No.”

Miho's eyes widened slightly.

Miho: “A girl?”

She nodded.

Soo-ah's Sister: “Yes.”

Seo-jun exchanged a look with Han-seok.

Seo-jun: “Did Soo-ah know her?”

Her sister nodded again.

Soo-ah's Sister: “They knew each other.”

Before they could ask anything else, she stepped back.

Soo-ah's Sister: “That's all I can tell you.”

The door closed.

The four friends stood silently outside.

Han-seok finally spoke.

Han-seok: “A girl.”

Miho nodded.

Miho: “Just like the student was about to tell us.”

Seo-jun looked serious.

Seo-jun: “Then we need to find out which girl.”

They walked away.

None of them noticed the curtain move behind the closed window.

Someone was watching them.

To be continued…