Yuri's phone buzzed, breaking the spell that seemed to be in work. Minhwan watched as the smile that lingered on her face faded completely, replaced indifference.
"Are you okay?" Minhwan asked, reaching for her, but she momentarily avoided his touch.
"I... I'm fine," she said, her voice detached. "I have to be somewhere." She turned, walking out of the path of cherry blossoms, leaving Minhwan trailing behind her.
Minhwan's eyes darted to her bandaged hand, then back to her, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. He had purposely avoided asking her about it, fearing that she would become more distant. He was aware that she wasn't comfortable around him still, and he desperately wanted to change that.
He wanted to be the only person she confided in whenever she had something disturbing her. He wanted her to trust him, to love him more than she did Yonna. He wanted her to be his and his alone.
With frenzied steps, Minhwan rushed towards her, gently grabbing her hand. Yuri jolted, turning to face him, her eyes flashing with a mixture of surprise and wariness.
"Yuri, I'm aware you don't feel comfortable around me, that you don't feel like telling me what's bothering you," Minhwan began, his voice low. "I... want to change that. I want to be a part of your life so bad that I'm on the verge of going crazy. I'm going to work us out, definitely."
For a brief moment, Minhwan saw hesitation in Yuri's eyes, as if she was having an inner conflict over his words. Then, her expression hardened, and she reached out, pulling his hands away from hers.
"Do as you wish," she said, her voice cold, before turning and leaving Minhwan standing alone.
Minhwan watched as she disappeared from his sight, his mind restless. His phone rang, halting his thoughts, and he took a glance at the caller ID. In a flash, his expression darkened.
He picked up the call, listening to what the caller had to say. His expression darkened further, his eyes narrowing.
"What does he want with it?" Minhwan asked pissed.
The caller's response made Minhwan's eyes unconsciously dart towards where Yuri had passed. His hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening.
"Don't," Minhwan growled.
"I'll make it." He ended the call.
After School*
"Did I interrupt something?" Jiwon asked Yuri as they walked through the alley leading to Woo Jin's house. Yuri had received a message from Jiwon moments earlier, saying Woo Jin's Grandmother had finally agreed to talk to them.
"What do you mean by that?" Yuri asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Jiwon revealed a snicker. "I saw you and Minhwan together, so I thought I had interrupted something." She grinned smugly.
Yuri smacked her head with mild force. "Get your thoughts together. I only gave him something to keep him busy." She retorted, trying to brush off the encounter.
Jiwon's eyes rested on her, observing. "You haven't fallen for him, have you?" Yuri's steps increased, and she tried to appear nonchalant.
"Why should I? I've told you before, romance makes me pathetic. I hate being pathetic." She said, despite the lingering touch of Minhwan's burning hand on her skin.
Jiwon shrugged, and they continued walking. "Did you check if the others bought something?" Yuri asked, changing the subject.
Jiwon nodded. "Except for Woo Jin. That's why we're headed there now." Jiwon's step halted, and she turned to look at Yuri. "And Yonna. Did she buy something expensive?"
Yuri didn't even think twice. "No. She didn't." Jiwon pursed her lips, her eyes clouding over deep in thought.
"Just like Woo Jin," she muttered. "If we can figure out what Woo Jin bought, then we might find out what Yonna bought too."
Yuri only nodded lightly, her expression somber. Jiwon stared at her, concern etched on her face.
"Something's wrong, isn't it? You injured your palm. You've been really distant. What's going on with you?" She asked, her voice laced with worry.
Yuri's gaze remained ahead, her eyes gazing into the distance. "I met him again. That person." She began, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jiwon's eyes brightened. "The one who gave us that golden lead? What more surprises did he leave? Did you see his face?" Jiwon asked, her curiosity piqued.
Yuri shook her head. "He left a direct threat. He sent me pictures of all the students... missing and dead. Just like the picture of Seong Hui he gave me." Jiwon's eyes dimmed, her face pale.
"All of them like that?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yuri nodded, feeling her eyes sting. She exhaled sharply. "Yonna... She was there too. Her picture was there. Beaten till she couldn't even open her eyes." Memories of that day hit both of them, and Yuri's head dropped. Her steps slowly halting.
"I feel so useless, Jiwon. I had no idea. Not till she died. I had no idea of what she was going through. I had no idea of her pain. We... were supposed to have each other's back. Yet she died in such a mortifying way, and I remained clueless till the end." Jiwon hastily wiped the tears that had begun trickling down her face.
She enveloped Yuri in a hug. "It wasn't your fault, Yuri. We are going to catch them. Whoever's responsible for all of their deaths. We're going to make sure they pay for their sins." Jiwon said, her voice firm and resolute.
"That's the problem, Jiwon. I'm worried I won't catch them. I'm worried I... just won't." Yuri muttered, her voice laced with self-doubt.
Jiwon patted her gently. "You will, Yuri. I have that much confidence in you."
The shrill voice of an aged woman cut short their conversation. "You there... Are you Woo Jin's classmates?" Jiwon eased back, giving the woman a warm grin. "Yes, we are. We're the ones who called you."
Woo Jin's grandmother nodded, her eyes squinting slightly. "Then what are you waiting for, standing there? Come on in." She beckoned them inside.
Jiwon nodded and looked at Yuri, who gave her a reassuring smile. Together, they walked into Woo Jin's modest home. The peeled wallpapers hung on the walls, and the light in the doorway flickered as they stepped in.
Woo Jin's grandmother offered them seats on the over-worn-out couch, which they accepted with light smiles. She retreated, reappearing moments later with two glasses of warm milk.
"You must've had a rough day," she said, plopping the drinks into their hands. "Here, take this."
"Thank you, ma'am," they replied in unison.
Woo Jin's grandmother shrugged. "There's no need. I gave this to Woo Jin all the time. He liked milk. Good for the bones and height, he used to say."
"Woo Jin sounds like a good kid," Jiwon said, her eyes resting on the portrait of Woo Jin on the shelf.
Woo Jin's grandmother's eyes shone with wistfulness. "He was. Ever since his parents died three years back, he had been working his ass off to pay back all the debts they owed. At a point, he considered quitting school. But he didn't."
Jiwon spoke up, "Why?"
"I stopped him," Woo Jin's grandmother replied, her voice cracking. "Going to Pristin High was a dream of his... I just couldn't bear taking his dream from him. If only I had listened to him then... maybe, just maybe, my poor boy wouldn't have died."
At this point, Woo Jin's grandmother shook her head, repelling the tears.
"Granny," Yuri began, her voice gentle. "Did Woo Jin do anything out of the ordinary before his death? Did he perhaps buy something expensive?"
Woo Jin's grandmother shook her head. "No, he didn't."
"He didn't buy anything expensive. Not even in the slightest?" Jiwon asked.
Woo Jin's grandmother nodded. "No."
Yuri and Jiwon exchanged glances
"Then, ma'am, is there anything we can help you with?" Jiwon asked switching gears.
Woo Jin's grandmother shook her head. "No... there's no need for you to bother with an old woman like me. I can manage."
But Yuri and Jiwon would not take no for an answer. Soon, they were helping Woo Jin's grandmother make kimchi, easing the dense atmosphere.
After a lot of teaching, Woo Jin's grandmother stared at Yuri for a moment before asking, "Do you have a twin by chance?"
Yuri's movement halted, and she looked up, her voice hesitant. "Yes, I have."
Woo Jin's grandmother slapped her forehead. "I just remembered! Woo Jin used to talk to her a lot."
Jiwon glanced at Yuri her brows rising. "About what?" she asked.
"School stuff," Woo Jin's grandmother replied. "They talked about a club... Sorority? I can't remember. Anyways, she told Woo Jin not to become part of it. I don't know why, though. But Woo Jin was very distressed because of it, and she stopped coming."
"Is she okay?" Woo Jin's grandmother asked concerned.
Jiwon noticed Yuri's hands clench into fists and answered in her stead. "Yonna died. Just like Woo Jin, she committed suicide."
Woo Jin's grandmother looked at Yuri taken aback. "It must've been tough on you... I didn't mean to peel sour wounds."
Yuri smiled, shaking her head. "There's no need for you to be sorry."
"Is there anything else Yonna and Woo Jin talked about? What about the reason why she asked Woo Jin not to join the club... Do you know why?" Jiwon asked her voice urgent.
Woo Jin's grandmother shook her head. "Woo Jin didn't tell you anything?" Jiwon asked.
Woo Jin's grandmother shook her head again. "Can't remember. It must be my age. I tend to forget things now."
She chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "But if I remember, I will definitely let you know."
Yuri's fists slowly unclenched. "Then can we come visit whenever?"
Woo Jin's grandmother smiled, her face creasing. "It's not like you'll stop coming if I say no, would you?"
Jiwon clapped her kimchi-gloved hands. "Then it's settled."
Woo Jin's grandmother chuckled, shaking her head. "You two are something else."
As they finished making kimchi, Yuri and Jiwon helped Woo Jin's grandmother clean up the kitchen.
Before leaving, Yuri and Jiwon promised to visit again soon. Woo Jin's grandmother walked them to the door, her eyes gleaming with gratitude.
"Thank you, girls," she said. "You've given an old woman a sense of purpose again."
Yuri and Jiwon exchanged a warm glance before bidding Woo Jin's grandmother goodbye.
As they walked away from the house, Jiwon turned to Yuri. "You think Woo Jin's grandmother will remember anything else?"
Yuri shrugged. "I hope so. We need any lead we can get."
Jiwon skipped ahead of Yuri. "See you at school tomorrow?" She asked. Her hair bouncing along with her agile movements. Yuri gave a long hmmm in reply.
Jiwon continued as soon as they got to the main road not satisfied with Yuri's indirect answer. "Or... You're going to be exploring with your jackass tourist of a boyfriend."
Yuri's eyes narrowed slightly. "He's not-" she held back the remaining words about to escape her lips. "Don't go spewing nonsense. I'm leaving first." She said instead. Flagging down a taxi almost immediately, frantically scampering away leaving a too stunned to process Jiwon.
In the taxi, Yuri's hands traced her lips. Moments earlier was she about to say Minhwan wasn't a jackass??
What is wrong with me?!