Chapter 5

Chapter 5 — (The News)

7:20 p.m. — The Party

Miho checked her phone again.

“No message.”

Han-seok looked at the clock.

“They've been gone forever.”

Me-yongi sat quietly, looking toward the door.

“Maybe something came up.”

Miho shook her head.

“Seo-jun said he'd bring her.”

Han-seok shrugged.

“Maybe they're stuck somewhere.”

Me-yongi forced a small smile.

“Yeah. They'll be here.”

But something about the silence in the room didn't feel right.

The decorations were still glowing.

The food was still on the table.

Everything had been prepared for Soo-ah.

Then Me-yongi's phone vibrated.

She looked down.

It was a message from Seo-jun.

SEO-JUN: Don't wait for us.

Me-yongi's expression changed.

Miho noticed.

“What did he say?”

Me-yongi showed her the screen.

Han-seok immediately stood up.

“What happened?”

Before Me-yongi could answer, another message appeared.

SEO-JUN: Something happened to Soo-ah.

Nobody spoke.

Miho's face went pale.

“What does that mean?”

Han-seok grabbed his jacket.

“We're going there.”

Me-yongi stood up immediately.

“I'm coming too.”

7:45 p.m.

The three of them arrived outside Soo-ah's house.

Seo-jun was already there.

He stood completely still.

His face was pale, and his eyes were fixed on the ground.

Miho rushed toward him.

“Seo-jun!”

He looked up.

For a second, he couldn't speak.

Han-seok stepped closer.

“What happened?”

Seo-jun swallowed.

“Soo-ah…”

His voice broke.

Me-yongi covered her mouth.

“Where is she?”

Seo-jun looked toward the house.

“Soo-ah's sister told me…”

He stopped.

Miho grabbed his arm.

“Tell us.”

Seo-jun finally whispered,

“Soo-ah is gone.”

Everything went silent.

Miho's eyes filled with tears.

“No…”

Han-seok looked away, unable to believe it.

Me-yongi stood frozen.

Then she walked toward Soo-ah's sister and hugged her.

“I'm so sorry…”

Her own eyes filled with tears.

Soo-ah's sister cried against her shoulder.

Seo-jun remained standing a few steps away.

The small box he had planned to give Soo-ah was still inside his jacket.

He slowly touched it.

He had spent days planning what he would say.

And now he would never get the chance.

Later that night, the five friends' group chat remained completely silent.

The last message from Soo-ah was still there.

SOO-AH: Can't wait to see you guys tonight!

Nobody could bring themselves to delete it.

To be continued…