Chapter 6

Chapter 6 — (The Empty Seat)

Thursday — 8:00 a.m. — Haneul High School

The school felt different.

The same hallways.

The same classrooms.

The same morning noise.

But something was missing.

Soo-ah.

Miho walked into Class 2-B with Me-yongi.

She looked toward Soo-ah's desk.

It was empty.

Miho stopped.

Me-yongi quietly placed her bag down.

Neither of them said anything.

Han-seok entered a few seconds later.

Usually, he would have made some stupid joke.

Today, he didn't.

Seo-jun arrived last.

He walked straight to his seat.

Nobody spoke.

Their teacher entered the classroom.

She looked around sadly before speaking.

“Everyone, I know today is difficult.”

The room became silent.

“We're going to give you some time before beginning the lesson.”

Miho looked down.

Her eyes filled with tears.

Me-yongi quietly held her hand.

Han-seok noticed and sat beside them.

“We're together,” he said softly.

Miho nodded.

Seo-jun remained silent.

During lunch, the four friends sat at their usual table.

There was one empty chair.

Soo-ah's chair.

Han-seok stared at it.

“She should be sitting there.”

Miho wiped her eyes.

“I know.”

Me-yongi looked at the empty chair.

“She always complained when we took her seat.”

Han-seok gave a faint smile.

“She complained about everything.”

For the first time that morning, Seo-jun smiled slightly.

“She really did.”

Then his smile disappeared.

He looked down at his hands.

“I was supposed to pick her up.”

Nobody answered.

Me-yongi looked at him.

“This isn't your fault.”

Seo-jun didn't respond.

Miho reached across the table.

“We'll get through this together.”

Han-seok nodded.

“Yeah.”

Me-yongi squeezed Miho's hand.

“Together.”

After school, Seo-jun stayed behind.

He walked toward Soo-ah's empty desk.

Something was lying underneath it.

A small folded piece of paper.

He picked it up.

There was no name on it.

He slowly unfolded it.

Inside was only one sentence:

“She wasn't supposed to be alone.”

Seo-jun stared at the words.

His expression changed.

Someone else had been involved.

But who?

And why?

He quickly folded the paper and put it in his pocket.

Outside the classroom, Me-yongi was waiting for him.

“Seo-jun?”

He looked at her.

“What?”

“You coming?”

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

He followed her out.

Neither of them noticed the classroom door slowly swinging shut behind them.

And the mystery surrounding Soo-ah's death had only just begun.

To be continued…