Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Chapter 15 — (Trust)
The next morning, something felt different.
The four friends sat together before class.
But this time, nobody was talking much.
Han-seok kept glancing at Me-yongi.
Seo-jun was unusually quiet.
Miho noticed everything.
She finally spoke.
Miho: “Why is everyone so quiet?”
Han-seok looked at Me-yongi.
Han-seok: “You know why.”
Me-yongi looked confused.
Me-yongi: “Because of yesterday?”
Han-seok nodded.
Han-seok: “Your reaction.”
Me-yongi sighed.
Me-yongi: “I already told you. I was just surprised.”
Han-seok didn't respond.
Seo-jun looked at Miho.
Seo-jun: “We shouldn't accuse her without evidence.”
Miho nodded.
Miho: “Exactly.”
She looked at Han-seok.
Miho: “She's our friend.”
Han-seok leaned back.
Han-seok: “I'm not accusing her.”
Miho raised an eyebrow.
Miho: “Then stop looking at her like she's a suspect.”
Han-seok smirked.
Han-seok: “Fine.”
Me-yongi smiled weakly.
Me-yongi: “Thanks, Miho.”
Miho smiled back.
Miho: “Always.”
After School
Seo-jun stayed behind in the classroom to organize their notes.
Me-yongi walked back inside.
Me-yongi: “You're still here?”
Seo-jun looked up.
Seo-jun: “Yeah. I'm trying to figure out our next step.”
She sat beside him.
Me-yongi: “You shouldn't carry everything alone.”
Seo-jun smiled.
Seo-jun: “I'm not.”
Me-yongi looked at him.
Me-yongi: “You know… you can trust me.”
Seo-jun paused.
Seo-jun: “I do.”
Me-yongi smiled.
Me-yongi: “Good.”
She leaned over the notebook.
Me-yongi: “Maybe we should stop looking at everyone around Soo-ah and focus on the person she was actually talking to.”
Seo-jun nodded.
Seo-jun: “That's what I was thinking.”
For a moment, they worked quietly together.
Then Me-yongi asked:
Me-yongi: “Do you still think about Soo-ah?”
Seo-jun looked down.
Seo-jun: “Every day.”
Me-yongi's expression softened.
Me-yongi: “You really cared about her.”
Seo-jun nodded.
Seo-jun: “She was our friend.”
Me-yongi looked at him for a moment longer.
Me-yongi: “You're a good person, Seo-jun.”
He smiled awkwardly.
Seo-jun: “Thanks.”
Outside the classroom, Miho stopped when she saw them together.
Han-seok was beside her.
He looked through the window.
Then at Miho.
Han-seok: “Interesting.”
Miho frowned.
Miho: “Don't start.”
Han-seok smirked.
Han-seok: “I didn't say anything.”
Miho rolled her eyes.
Miho: “You were about to.”
They walked away together.
Later
They stopped at a small café near school.
Miho sat across from Han-seok.
He pushed a drink toward her.
Miho: “What's this?”
Han-seok: “You haven't eaten anything since morning.”
Miho smiled.
Miho: “You noticed?”
Han-seok looked away.
Han-seok: “Unfortunately.”
Miho laughed.
Miho: “You're actually nice sometimes.”
Han-seok: “Don't tell anyone.”
She laughed again.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
No mystery.
No fear.
Just the two of them sitting together.
Miho looked at him.
Miho: “Han-seok?”
Han-seok: “Hmm?”
Miho: “Do you trust me?”
He looked directly at her.
Han-seok: “More than anyone.”
Miho smiled.
Neither of them noticed Seo-jun and Me-yongi walking past the café window.
Me-yongi looked inside.
She saw Miho and Han-seok laughing together.
Her expression changed.
She looked away.
Me-yongi: “Let's go.”
Seo-jun glanced at her.
Seo-jun: “Already?”
Me-yongi: “Yeah.”
They continued walking.
Behind them, the mystery surrounding Soo-ah was getting deeper.
And inside their group, trust was beginning to change.
Some friendships were growing stronger.
Others were quietly breaking apart.