Chapter 13

Chapter 13 — (The Girl)

The next morning, the four friends met before class.

Miho placed her notebook on the desk.

Miho: “We need to make a list.”

Han-seok raised an eyebrow.

Han-seok: “A list of what?”

Miho: “Girls who were close to Soo-ah.”

Seo-jun understood immediately.

Seo-jun: “Good idea.”

They started writing down names.

Classmates.

Friends.

People from Soo-ah's neighborhood.

Anyone who might have known her.

After a few minutes, Han-seok looked at the list.

Han-seok: “That's a lot of people.”

Miho sighed.

Miho: “We need to narrow it down.”

Seo-jun looked at the final names.

Seo-jun: “The girl Soo-ah's sister saw was probably someone Soo-ah trusted.”

Han-seok nodded.

Han-seok: “And the student who died recognized her.”

Miho looked at the list again.

Then she stopped.

Miho: “Wait.”

Everyone looked at her.

Miho: “What if she wasn't just someone Soo-ah knew?”

Seo-jun frowned.

Seo-jun: “What do you mean?”

Miho: “What if she was someone Soo-ah was close to?”

Han-seok looked thoughtful.

Han-seok: “Then there should be someone who noticed their relationship.”

Seo-jun suddenly remembered something.

Seo-jun: “Soo-ah used to meet people after school sometimes.”

Miho looked at him.

Miho: “Did she ever say who?”

Seo-jun shook his head.

Seo-jun: “No.”

Han-seok closed the notebook.

Han-seok: “Then we ask her classmates.”

Lunch Break

They began asking a few students about Soo-ah.

Most of them knew nothing.

Then one girl finally said:

Student: “I remember seeing Soo-ah with someone.”

Miho immediately asked:

Miho: “Who?”

The girl thought for a moment.

Student: “I don't know her name.”

Han-seok: “What did she look like?”

The girl described her.

Miho listened carefully.

Then the girl added:

Student: “They were talking near the school gate a few days before Soo-ah died.”

Seo-jun frowned.

Seo-jun: “Did they seem upset?”

Student: “I couldn't hear them. But Soo-ah looked worried.”

Miho thanked her.

As they walked away, Han-seok spoke quietly.

Han-seok: “So Soo-ah really was meeting someone.”

Seo-jun nodded.

Seo-jun: “And she looked worried.”

Miho looked at the description she had written down.

Something about it bothered her.

Miho: “We need to find that girl.”

A few steps behind them, Me-yongi had gone completely quiet.

Miho turned around.

Miho: “Me-yongi?”

She quickly looked up.

Me-yongi: “Yeah?”

Miho: “You okay?”

Me-yongi smiled.

Me-yongi: “Of course.”

Miho smiled back.

Miho: “Okay.”

They continued walking.

But Me-yongi's smile slowly disappeared.

To be continued…