"Is someone you trust?"
Min-jae repeated Ji-ah's words quietly.
His face had gone completely still.
Hana looked at him.
"Ji-ah, please. Who is it?"
There was silence on the phone.
Then Ji-ah spoke again.
"I can't say the name over the phone."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who might be listening."
Joon-ho glanced toward the windows.
"Then tell us where to meet you."
Another pause.
"Tomorrow. Six o'clock."
"Where?" Min-jae asked.
"The old train station."
Hana's eyes widened.
"That place has been closed for years."
"I know."
Ji-ah's voice became softer.
"That's why nobody will think to look for me there."
Min-jae tightened his grip on the phone.
"Ji-ah, wait. I need to ask you something."
"What?"
"Why did you leave?"
The line went silent.
For a moment, Hana thought the call had ended.
Then Ji-ah answered.
"Because I was trying to protect you."
Min-jae's eyes filled with emotion.
"From who?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Ji-ah—"
The call ended.
Min-jae stared at the phone.
Hana gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She'll tell us tomorrow."
He nodded.
But something still bothered him.
"She sounded scared."
Joon-ho looked at him.
"She has every reason to be."
Min-jae turned toward him.
"You knew she was alive."
Joon-ho looked away.
"Not for certain."
"But you suspected."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Joon-ho sighed.
"Because Ji-ah asked me not to."
Min-jae's expression hardened.
"You kept my sister's existence from me for three years."
"I was trying to keep you safe."
"You don't get to decide that for me."
Joon-ho lowered his head.
"I know."
Hana stepped between them.
"Fighting won't help us find the truth."
Both boys became quiet.
She looked at Joon-ho.
"Tomorrow, you're coming with us."
Joon-ho looked surprised.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you were there three years ago. You know things we don't."
He hesitated before nodding.
"Fine."
Min-jae looked at Hana.
"You're coming too?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously."
He smiled slightly.
"You're stubborn."
"And you're secretive."
Joon-ho almost smiled.
For the first time in days, the tension between them eased.
But none of them noticed the figure standing at the end of the hallway.
The person watched them silently before turning away.
---
The following morning, Hana woke up earlier than usual.
She couldn't stop thinking about the meeting.
For three years, Min-jae had believed his sister was gone.
Now he was finally going to see her.
Hana wondered what Ji-ah would be like.
Would she look different?
Would she be angry?
Would she forgive Min-jae for not finding her?
There were too many questions.
At school, Min-jae was unusually quiet.
Hana found him sitting alone beneath the tree behind the library.
"You okay?"
He looked up.
"I'm nervous."
She sat beside him.
"That's normal."
"What if she doesn't want to see me?"
Hana shook her head.
"She called you."
He looked down.
"You're right."
"She wouldn't have called if she didn't want you to know the truth."
Min-jae smiled faintly.
"Thanks."
Hana smiled back.
Then he looked at her.
"You know, when all