On getting close to the school, the big metal gate was locked tight. The giant "CLOSED FOR INVESTIGATION" sign swayed weakly in the wind. Through the bars, I could see teachers pacing anxiously around the security room. Some students lingered outside with their bags, waiting for late pickups, whispering in confusion and fear.
There was no point standing there. I hugged my bag to my chest and turned to leave.
"Jina!"
It was Jan, giving me her usual small smile.
"Jan, you still here?" I asked.
"Yes, Jina. I left earlier but came back to pick something. And I heard school will recall us in a few days."
"Few days?" My brows furrowed. "Why so soon?"
Jan nodded as if she was repeating a rehearsed line.
"They found a suicide note in Hae's cupboard. He said he was tired. That his parents keep pushing him to continue school. That he wanted to quit… and end everything because exams frustrate him."
My mouth slowly fell open.
"Hae wrote that? Hae?"
Jan nodded again, blank-faced. Too blank.
"Did they check if it's his writing?" I asked, already knowing the lie before she said it.
"Yes… his close friends confirmed it. And it looks like the writing in all his notes."
"No, Jan." I stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "I don't accept this. You've been in this school longer than me—how long will all of you keep covering things?"
Jan flinched. Her eyes darted around as if someone was watching.
"Jina, we need to move. Whatever truth you think you know will never be louder than what the school says."
"Jan… tell me about Yen. Who is she?"
Jan froze. Her breath shook.
She turned again—just the busy road, passing cars, dust, noise.
"Jina… you want answers. But Yen…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Yen was a sweet soul. Until she started investigating her close friend Eunwoo, who suddenly—"
"Jan!"
A voice shouted from afar.
Jan jumped so hard she almost dropped her bag. A tall figure in a cap waved at her, then signaled her with urgency.
She panicked.
Before I could speak, she flagged down a taxi with trembling hands, opened the door and slipped inside like she was running from death itself.
"Jan! Wait!"
The taxi sped off, disappearing into traffic.
I stood there, stunned.
Why did she run like that? Who called her?
My chest tightened.
I walked toward my taxi slowly and gave the driver my address. The whole ride home felt like drowning in questions.
When we reached home, my mom rushed out, grabbed me tight, and pulled me inside like she had been standing at the door for hours.
"Mum, what is it?"
"I've been searching for you! Where did you go?!"
"Mum, it's just—stroll. Nothing serious."
"No, Jina." Her voice shook. "A message came to my phone. A scary one. I thought you were in danger."
A message?
I stopped immediately and grabbed her arm.
"What message?"
She wiped her palms on her skirt. "I don't know the number. But the message said… 'Hold your daughter.'"
My stomach tightened into a hard knot.
"Mom, let me see."
She handed me her phone. The number was unfamiliar. No profile. No name. No clue.
Someone sent my mother a warning.
"Mom… I have to go somewhere."
"Where?" She stepped back, fear rising. "Jina, no."
"It's nothing serious. I just need to know who sent this."
I took my shoes, but before I could leave, she grabbed my hand again—this time with both hands, desperately.
"Jina."
Her voice cracked.
"Don't follow your father's path."
That stopped me cold.
"My father's… path?"
She sank onto the couch, hands trembling.
"Your father was an investigator."
She swallowed hard.
"And whatever he was looking into… it killed him."
I slowly lowered myself beside her, heart pounding, throat tight.
"Mom… what was he investigating before he died?"
She stared at the floor.
"He never said. He always locked himself inside his study. Every night. And after he died… the house burned down."
My breath cut short.
"Mom… the house burned?"
My voice trembled.
"You told me… you told me we relocated to forget memories."
She shut her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I lied because you weren't around and. I didn't want to scare you. I came home from the hospital the day he died… and the entire house was ashes. Everything gone. Nothing left. Not even a pin."
My head spun.
My mother wept quietly. I pulled her into a tight hug. Her body shook with fear I had never witnessed in my entire life.
I stayed with her until she finally calmed a little, then helped her to her room.
She checked on me twice within minutes, before she fell asleep out of exhaustion.
It was around 7pm.
The house was quiet.
I sat on my bed, staring at the unknown number on my mother phone screen.
A part of me knew my mom was right—I should stay put.
But a louder part inside me—the part that refused to let Hae's death be labeled a suicide—was burning.
I lay on my bed, but my eyes didn't blink.
My ears didn't rest.
The silence in the room felt like it had a heartbeat.
Like someone else was breathing with me.
The wall shadows moved slightly from the passing car headlights outside, but each movement made me sit up sharply.
Something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
I clutched the phone tighter.
I need to know who sent that message.
Even if it puts me in danger.
Even if it drags me into the same darkness that swallowed, Eunwoo, and now Hae.
A cold breeze brushed my shoulder.
I don't remember falling asleep,
only the feeling of icy fear curling around my neck like a hand—
And the certainty that…
They know where I live.