The Rooftop Meeting
Rain lashed against the rooftop as I pushed through the access door, the storm matching my mood perfectly. My phone read 11:58 PM. Two minutes early—just enough time to scout exits before—
"Punctual. How... working-class of you."
Joonho emerged from the shadows near the HVAC unit, umbrella in hand like this was some damn noir film. Water dripped from his polished Oxfords as he stepped into the dim glow of a security light.
I kept my hands in my pockets. "Cut the crap. What do you know about my parents?"
He smirked, tapping his phone against his palm. "More than you, apparently. Did you really think your father's death was an accident?"
The words hit like a sucker punch. My fingers curled into fists. "Explain. Now."
---
The Revelation
Joonho swiped open his phone, revealing a scanned news article from 2005:
"Factory Accident Kills 12 – Yoon Corp Subsidiary Blamed for Safety Violations"
My blood turned to ice. There, in the list of victims: Kim Jaehyun. My father's name.
"Your dad was just another disposable worker," Joonho said, almost bored. "Yoon Haewon's father covered it up with hush money. Your mom took the payout and vanished."
Rainwater trickled down my neck as the pieces clicked:
- Why we'd moved constantly
- Mom's refusal to talk about Dad
- The mysterious "insurance money" that paid my tuition
"Bullshit," I growled. "You're trying to mess with my head."
Joonho pocketed his phone. "Check the court records yourself. Case #2005-4782." He turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Dojin? Ask Haewon why her family really took an interest in your scholarship."
---
The Confrontation
I found Haewon in the 24-hour study lounge, her laptop glowing in the dark. She looked up, startled. "Dojin? You're soaked—"
"Did you know?" My voice came out raw.
She froze at my tone. "Know what?"
I slammed the printed court records on the table. "About my father. About your family's cover-up."
Her face drained of color as she scanned the page. "I... this can't be right. My father would never—"
"Save it." I backed away, rain still dripping from my clothes. "Was this all some guilt trip? Am I your fucking redemption project?"
"NO!" She stood so fast her chair clattered to the floor. "I didn't know, I swear—"
But I was already gone.
---
The Aftermath
Three days passed. I ignored:
- 27 calls from Haewon
- 12 texts from Minjae
- 1 campus security summons about the "stolen envelope"
Then, at 3 AM on Thursday, my dorm intercom buzzed.
"Dojin. Open up or I'll use my keycard." Haewon's voice crackled through the speaker.
I yanked the door open. "You have a key—?!"
She shoved past me, dropping a file folder on my bed. "You were right. About everything."
Inside:
- Internal memos about the factory cover-up
- A canceled check to my mother
- And... a photo of 6-year-old Haewon at the funeral home
"I remember you now," she whispered. "You kicked me."
The memory surfaced like a ghost:
A tiny girl in a black dress placing flowers on the casket. Me, furious at the world, shoving her away.
---
The Choice
Haewon gripped my wrist, her nails leaving half-moons in my skin. "I'm making this right. But I need to know—" Her voice broke. "Do you hate me?"
The truth sat heavy in my chest:
I *should* hate her.
But all I saw was the girl who'd fought Joonho for me.
Who'd danced like we were the only people in the world.
I exhaled slowly. "I hate that I don't hate you."
Her breath hitched. "That's... a start."
Outside, dawn painted the sky in bruised purples. We had a company to burn down.
---
Next Chapter Teaser:
- The Plan("We leak everything.")
- Joonho's Endgame(Blackmail meets blackmail)
- Father vs. Daughter(The ultimate showdown)