Chapter 14

Chapter 14 — (The First Suspicion)

After school, the four friends met at Seo-jun's house.

The notebook containing their clues lay open on the table.

The deleted message.

The student who had died.

Soo-ah's sister.

The unknown girl.

Everything seemed connected.

Han-seok pointed at the notes.

Han-seok: “The student saw Soo-ah that day.”

Seo-jun nodded.

Seo-jun: “And he remembered who she was talking to.”

Miho added:

Miho: “Soo-ah's sister also saw a girl with her.”

Han-seok looked at the description from the student they had spoken to.

Han-seok: “And another student saw Soo-ah talking to a girl near school.”

Seo-jun frowned.

Seo-jun: “So we're definitely looking for the same person.”

Miho looked at the list of names.

Then she noticed something.

She slowly turned the notebook toward them.

Miho: “Look.”

Han-seok leaned closer.

Han-seok: “What?”

Miho pointed at one name.

Miho: “She was close to Soo-ah.”

Seo-jun looked at the name.

Then his eyes widened.

Seo-jun: “Wait…”

Han-seok stared at it.

Han-seok: “She knew about the party too.”

Miho nodded.

Miho: “And she knew Soo-ah was upset before anyone else did.”

A silence fell over the room.

Me-yongi looked at the notebook.

Her face changed for just a moment.

Han-seok noticed.

Han-seok: “Why did you react like that?”

Me-yongi looked at him.

Me-yongi: “What?”

Han-seok: “When we mentioned her name.”

Me-yongi shook her head.

Me-yongi: “I didn't react.”

Miho looked between them.

Miho: “Maybe Han-seok is just overthinking.”

Han-seok didn't look convinced.

Seo-jun picked up his phone.

Seo-jun: “We shouldn't accuse anyone without proof.”

Miho nodded.

Miho: “Then let's find proof.”

Me-yongi stayed quiet.

A few minutes later, everyone started discussing what to do next.

But Han-seok kept watching Me-yongi.

Later That Evening

Miho's phone suddenly vibrated.

An unknown message.

UNKNOWN: Stop looking for her.

Miho's smile disappeared.

Another message arrived.

UNKNOWN: You are getting too close.

She immediately showed Seo-jun and Han-seok.

Han-seok's expression hardened.

Han-seok: “They're watching us.”

Seo-jun looked at the message.

Seo-jun: “Or they know what we're investigating.”

Miho slowly looked at Me-yongi.

Me-yongi was sitting quietly across the room.

She looked completely normal.

But now…

Miho couldn't stop thinking about Han-seok's question.

Why did you react like that?

For the first time, a small doubt entered Miho's mind.

Not proof.

Not certainty.

Just a suspicion.

And that suspicion was enough to change everything.

To be continued…