Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter 16 — (Cracks in the Group)
The next morning, the four friends met before class.
But things weren't the same anymore.
Han-seok barely spoke to Me-yongi.
Seo-jun seemed distracted.
Miho noticed everything.
Miho: “We're supposed to be solving this together. We can't keep acting like this.”
Han-seok looked at her.
Han-seok: “I'm just being careful.”
Me-yongi lowered her eyes.
Me-yongi: “It's okay. I understand.”
Miho frowned.
Miho: “No, it isn't.”
Seo-jun finally spoke.
Seo-jun: “Miho's right. We need to focus on Soo-ah.”
Han-seok opened the notebook.
Han-seok: “Then let's focus.”
He pointed at the clues.
Han-seok: “The student who died saw Soo-ah before the party.”
Seo-jun nodded.
Seo-jun: “And he knew she was talking to someone.”
Miho added:
Miho: “Soo-ah's sister saw a girl with her.”
Han-seok looked at Me-yongi.
Han-seok: “And someone doesn't want us to find out who that girl was.”
Me-yongi looked uncomfortable.
Me-yongi: “Maybe we should stop.”
Miho immediately shook her head.
Miho: “No.”
Me-yongi looked at her.
Miho: “We can't stop just because someone is trying to scare us.”
Han-seok nodded.
Han-seok: “Agreed.”
After School
Seo-jun went to the library to look through old school records.
Me-yongi followed him.
Seo-jun: “You don't have to help.”
Me-yongi: “I want to.”
They sat together and searched through old class lists and activity records.
After a while, Me-yongi pointed at a name.
Me-yongi: “Look.”
Seo-jun leaned closer.
Me-yongi: “She was in Soo-ah's club.”
Seo-jun wrote the name down.
Seo-jun: “That's useful.”
Me-yongi smiled.
Me-yongi: “See? I'm helping.”
Seo-jun: “You are.”
She looked at him.
Me-yongi: “You still trust me, right?”
Seo-jun paused.
Then nodded.
Seo-jun: “Yeah.”
Me-yongi smiled.
Me-yongi: “Good.”
Meanwhile…
Miho and Han-seok were walking home together.
Han-seok suddenly stopped.
Miho: “What?”
He looked at her.
Han-seok: “You're still defending Me-yongi.”
Miho nodded.
Miho: “Because I don't believe she's involved.”
Han-seok: “Even after everything?”
Miho: “She's my friend.”
Han-seok sighed.
Han-seok: “Just promise me something.”
Miho: “What?”
Han-seok: “If you ever feel like something is wrong, don't ignore it.”
Miho smiled.
Miho: “I won't.”
Han-seok nodded.
They continued walking.
After a few steps, Miho's hand accidentally brushed against his.
Neither moved away.
They looked at each other.
Han-seok smirked.
Han-seok: “You nervous?”
Miho rolled her eyes.
Miho: “In your dreams.”
He laughed.
That evening, Seo-jun sent everyone a photo of the information they found.
SEO-JUN: We found another connection to Soo-ah.
Miho replied immediately.
MIHO: Who?
Before Seo-jun could answer, another message appeared.
SEO-JUN: I'll tell you tomorrow.
Miho frowned.
Then her phone vibrated again.
This time, it was an unknown number.
UNKNOWN: You're trusting the wrong person.
Miho stared at the screen.
She didn't reply.
Across the city, someone else was staring at the same conversation.
And smiling.