Chapter 20

Chapter 20 — (The Final Truth)

The next morning, Miho couldn't concentrate.

She kept thinking about Soo-ah's sister.

“Once you hear everything… you won't be able to look at one of them the same way again.”

After school, Miho went to the place they had agreed on.

Soo-ah's sister was already waiting.

She looked nervous.

Miho: “I'm here.”

Her sister nodded.

Soo-ah's Sister: “Then you need to listen carefully.”

She took out her phone.

This time, she showed Miho the photographs.

Miho stared at them.

Her face slowly went pale.

The photographs showed Soo-ah with someone.

Miho recognized her immediately.

Miho: “Me-yongi…”

Her voice almost disappeared.

Soo-ah's sister nodded.

Soo-ah's Sister: “Yes.”

Miho shook her head.

Miho: “No. That can't be…”

Soo-ah's Sister: “I saw them together before Soo-ah died.”

Miho couldn't speak.

Soo-ah's Sister: “Soo-ah had been afraid of her.”

Miho: “Why didn't you tell us?”

Soo-ah's Sister: “Because I was scared.”

She continued.

Soo-ah's Sister: “Mi-youngi wasn't the person you thought she was.”

Miho remembered everything.

The strange reactions.

The messages.

The deleted message.

The way Me-yongi always seemed to know more than she should.

Soo-ah's Sister: “She could be sweet and innocent one moment…”

She looked at Miho.

Soo-ah's Sister: “…and completely different when nobody was watching.”

Miho's eyes filled with tears.

Miho: “What happened to Soo-ah?”

Her sister looked down.

Soo-ah's Sister: “Mi-youngi confronted her because of Seo-jun.”

Miho froze.

Soo-ah's Sister: “Soo-ah wanted nothing to do with the situation. But Mi-youngi couldn't accept that.”

Miho whispered:

Miho: “And the student?”

Soo-ah's Sister: “He saw them together.”

Everything suddenly made sense.

The deleted message.

The warning messages.

The student who had known too much.

Miho covered her mouth.

Miho: “The unknown number…”

Soo-ah's sister nodded.

Soo-ah's Sister: “It was Mi-youngi.”

Miho's heart shattered.

She remembered every time she had defended her.

Every time she had told Han-seok they were wrong.

Every time she had said:

She's my friend.

Miho whispered:

Miho: “I trusted her.”

Soo-ah's sister gently placed a hand on the table.

Soo-ah's Sister: “That's why I asked you to come alone.”

Later

The information was reported, and the investigation moved forward.

Soon, Miho, Han-seok, Seo-jun, and Me-yongi were brought together.

This time, there was no hiding.

The truth was going to be heard officially.

The courtroom was silent.

Soo-ah's sister stood before the court and told everything she knew.

The photographs were presented.

The messages were examined.

The connection between Me-yongi and the unknown number was revealed.

Then the judge looked toward Me-yongi.

Judge: “Do you have anything to say?”

Me-yongi remained silent.

Miho looked at her through tears.

Miho: “Me-yongi…”

Me-yongi slowly looked back.

For the first time, there was no innocent smile.

No nervous expression.

Nothing to hide.

She simply said:

Me-yongi: “Yes.”

Everyone froze.

Me-yongi: “I did it.”

Miho's eyes filled with tears.

Han-seok stood completely still.

Seo-jun looked shocked.

The courtroom fell silent.

Me-yongi continued.

Me-yongi: “Soo-ah was in my way.”

Miho shook her head.

Miho: “No…”

Me-yongi looked at Seo-jun.

Me-yongi: “I wanted him.”

Seo-jun's expression hardened.

Me-yongi: “And I wasn't going to let anyone take him away from me.”

Miho began crying.

Not because she finally knew the truth.

But because she remembered how fiercely she had defended the person standing in front of her.

Miho: “I believed you…”

Me-yongi looked at her.

There was no regret in her eyes.

Me-yongi: “I know.”

The judge called for order.

The hearing continued.

And Miho finally understood something painful:

She hadn't failed to find the truth.

She had been standing beside it the entire time.

To be continued…