"It began last autumn," Chae-rin said, her breath misting in the cold night air. "W-Naut wasn't just a band. They were gods. Jun-seo, Myung-dae, Kim brothers... and the center, the guitarist, Park Jin-woo."
She looked down at her hands.
"The Kim brothers?"
"Twins," she explained. "Kim Min-jae, a genius pianist and keyboardist—he had perfect pitch, could play anything by ear after hearing it once. And Kim Min-seok, the drummer. They were the engine of W-Naut."
She said grimly. "The National Tournament was approaching. W-Naut was the obvious winner. But the Kirin Board—specifically Jin-woo's father—couldn't stomach the idea of his son leading Kirin's representative band to victory. Also, father of Jin-hyun wasn't really happy about his brother's son being in a band. So, they were blocked."
"Blocked?"
"They failed the evaluation," Chae-rin scoffed. "W-Naut. Failed. It was rigged. The judges sent a safe, mediocre jazz ensemble instead. The band was furious. They decided to protest."
She pointed toward the distant silhouette of the school campus.
"The plan was a guerilla performance. They were going to break into the old Outdoor Amphitheater and set up a secret stage. Pyrotechnics, lights, sound. They were going to hijack the festival and blow the official acts out of the water. To prove they were the true kings of Kirin."
"That sounds... like something they would do," I said, imagining the adrenaline.
"It was the night before the Spring Festival," Chae-rin whispered. "They snuck in. It was dark, freezing. They were hauling equipment up the old scaffolding towers to rig the lights."
She paused, her voice trembling slightly.
"Jun-seo and Jin-woo went up to the highest platform—about twenty feet up. They were supposed to secure the spotlight. But... they started arguing."
"About what?"
"Betrayal," Chae-rin said. "Jun-seo had just found out a secret Jin-woo was keeping. Jin-woo was planning to transfer back to Hanyeong immediately after the show. His father, Chairman Park, had pressured him, and he had no choice."
I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the wind. Jun-seo, the loyal captain, hearing that his best friend was leaving him for the enemy.
"They were shouting," Chae-rin continued. "The other boys were on the ground setting up the amps. They couldn't hear everything, but they heard the anger. Jun-seo was screaming, asking how he could run away."
She closed her eyes.
"In the heat of the argument, Jin-woo stepped back. He grabbed the safety railing."
She opened her eyes, staring at the streetlamp.
"But the amphitheater hadn't been maintained in years. Negligence. The metal bolt was rusted through. When Jin-woo put his weight on it... it just snapped."
SNAP.
I could almost hear the sound in the silence of the street.
"He fell," Chae-rin said softly. "Twenty feet. Straight onto the concrete stage below."
My stomach dropped.
"He died?" I whispered.
"No," Chae-rin shook her head. "Severe cranial trauma. Spinal damage. He is currently in a VIP room at the Hospital—Mr. Lee's hospital—hooked up to machines that breathe for him."
"Mr. Lee's hospital..." I realized.
"He is in a vegetative state," she said. "To the world, he might as well be dead. But to the boys... he's a ghost that won't leave."
She turned to me, her eyes wet.
"But that's not the worst part, San."
"What could be worse?"
"The witness," she said. "Myung-dae was on the ground, looking up. He was adjusting the spotlight cables. When the argument peaked, he looked up."
She mimicked looking up, shielding her eyes from a glare.
"From his angle... looking directly into the blinding stage lights... he saw silhouettes. He saw Jun-seo reach out. He saw Jin-woo fall."
I realized what she was saying. My blood ran cold.
"Myung-dae didn't see the railing break," Chae-rin whispered. "He saw Jun-seo's arm extend. To Myung-dae... it looked like Jun-seo pushed him."
"Oh my god."
"Jun-seo claims he was reaching out to grab him," Chae-rin said. "To save him. But Myung-dae... Myung-dae believes Jun-seo tried to kill him out of jealousy and rage."
She hugged herself tightly.
"That night, the band broke up."
She looked at me with infinite sadness.
"Jun-seo has been carrying the weight of a guilt, even though he never pushed anyone. Myung-dae has been crazy, no matter how much we tried to... you know get them together. He couldn't stand to look at an instrument without seeing Jin-woo's blood on the concrete. I don't know why he chose to continue with... H-Wnot, but do not expect too much."
She looked up at the moon, shivering slightly.
"The accident broke everything. After Jin-woo fell... the Kim brothers couldn't handle it. They witnessed their band leader destroy himself. They transferred out a week later."
Chae-rin let out a shaky breath.
"That is the 'Collision' you are stepping into. I really hope that you will succeed."