she went back to her classroom.
She stood in front of the door, looking at the window, deep in thought. She looked outside and imagined the scene: Dan must have threw ball hard, but the glass was strong. She imagined the day of the incident. She was the last one to leave, wanting to go to the bathroom behind her second-floor classroom. As she was walking toward the door, BANG! The curtain flew, and the glass shattered. Likan covered her ears. The floor was quiet because everyone was at the cafeteria. She only saw the messy curtain but didn't pay attention. She looked out the window and saw no one close by, only many students on the field. The distance was also close enough for a strong kick to reach the window. She assumed the students knew, but she didn't care and walked out.
As she left, another student came out from behind. We only saw his neck down: a short-sleeved white uniform shirt tucked into navy long pants, the correct uniform, and sneakers that were not too old or new. His hand seemed to have a slight, bloody wound. But Likan didn't know he was there; she thought she was the last one out. She regretted leaving without caring, thinking that if she knew someone else left after her, she would have told the teacher to investigate instead of her.
Back to the present. While she was thinking, the teacher arrived. Mutu, the Class President, collected the phones, called attendance, and asked did anyone had seen tan?, who was always absent. Hana looked at tan's desk, just like everyone else, but what caught her attention was Likan's complicated expression. Hana wondered, 'Is she trying to solve something so complex?'
Meanwhile, the students focused on their duties. They had no time to worry about anything else or anyone else's future; they thought about themselves, studying hard to pass the exam and enter university. Likan knew what she wanted to study, but now she had to solve this unnecessary problem. She was determined to solve it quickly.
Likan suddenly remembered Khai calling that morning and hanging up. She went to talk to Yin about it. From the outside, they looked like they were sharing a secret. Hana saw this and smiled. Likan knew Hana was teasing her about Yin. Yin was worried about Khai, whose calls went unanswered, and the restaurant owner said Khai hadn't come to work. Neither the owner, Yin, nor Likan knew Khai's address. Likan suddenly remembered San was Khai's nephew but she didn't tell Yin. She immediately called San, but he didn't pick up either.
Luckily, the Physics teacher was busy and didn't come, leaving them work to do. Likan quietly asked the Class President for permission to leave. Her classmates watched, surprised that Likan was talking to Yin and mutu. Mutu asked the reason, and Likan, struggling to answer, lied that she had a stomachache! Mutu laughed. "That's a terrible excuse. Go back to your seat." Hana stepped in. "I'll make the rules for Likan. Go ahead," she said. "But don't forget our plan this evening." Likan smiled and nodded. Mutu looked at Hana, wanting to ask something. After Likan left, Hana explained that Likan was a terrible actress and was actually having her period but didn't want mutu to know. Mutu put his hands up, indicating he understood, and then said, "Hana, this week, you have to go to Liv's house with me again." Hana thought for a moment and agreed.
Likan went to Lay to ask for San's address. It was then she found out San lived alone; his parents were in the new city! San's friends also wanted to go. Likan looked at Dan, wanting him to stop them. Dan, still confused, was about to let them go, but Likan said, "You guys stay with Dan for a bit; I'll deal with his case later!" (She meant About beating.) Dan didn't realize Likan knew about the ball incident. He thought Likan was going to tell Lay and Phat about him being beaten and, afraid of the secret getting out, he stopped them.
Likan arrived at San's house. The door was unlocked. She knocked, but no answer. The room looked messy. She decided to clean up, thinking if she couldn't find San, she couldn't find Brother Khai either. While cleaning, she found an old photo of her and San when they were kids. Likan was holding a worm, scaring him. Seeing young San's frightened face, she laughed.
After tidying up, she checked the fridge. It was full of groceries, but no cooked food for him to reheat. She decided to cook for him: chicken breast stir-fry with ginger and bell peppers, and scrambled eggs. It smelled delicious. After cooking, she covered the food neatly. She went to the bathroom. As she came out, she saw someone rush in, laughing, his face covered in bloody bruises. He seemed oblivious to everything. Likan quickly ducked, hearing him laugh and mutter to himself, "Idiot! Idiot! Good thing it wasn't locked!"
Likan was terrified and didn't dare make a sound. She saw him pull out something two small white packets and bury them in a flowerpot. He laughed, trembling, and walked toward the fridge. Likan slipped into a utility closet, pulled out her phone, silenced it, and, with shaking hands, filmed him taking the white powder and mixing it into a bottle of drinking water. Likan, though scared, controlled her emotions. His face was bruised all over, his clothes torn; he looked like he had been beaten. He laughed and quickly closed the fridge.
She immediately thought of Hana. She called Hana, saying she probably couldn't make it that evening. Hana heard the fear in her voice and didn't wait for an explanation, asking Likan to send her location. Likan sent the location while still hiding. She crept out when she saw him leave.
On the way, Likan sent a voice message to Hana, asking if it was poison or drugs. She sounded worried that if the police found out, San would be in trouble. Hana arrived shortly and told Likan to stay put and not touch anything!
Hana put on gloves and opened the door. Likan turned. "I didn't touch anything." Hana, speaking like she was reciting a detective script, said, "Based on my experience watching detective shows, that person is the villain who wants to get the main character (San) in trouble. So, as the female lead, we must secretly protect the male lead. We must get rid of it, whether it's poison, sleeping pills, aphrodisiacs, or drugs!" Likan was stunned. "Hana, you're joking! We don't know where San is or when he'll be back! We have to destroy the evidence!" Hana imagined a scene from a movie (she always carried medical gloves with her).
The two began their operation, carefully restoring everything to look normal. Likan put on gloves and, following Hana's instructions, poured the water out, threw the bottle in the trash, and found a similar new bottle in the house. She refilled it with water to look the same. Likan, wearing gloves, took the old bottle to throw it away. Hana assured Likan, "Go ahead, it's okay. I checked, and there are no cameras." Likan was surprised by Hana's seriousness mixed with playfulness, admiring Hana's knowledge "Hana must watch a lot of detective shows; she wants to be a detective!"?
Hana checked the fridge, deciding not to wipe off fingerprints. she dug up the packets from the flowerpot, arranged the soil, and, wearing gloves, took the two small white packets. She asked Likan for a plastic bag and put the two small packets into a large one. They both wore gloves, being extremely careful. Likan cleaned the kitchen floor and every surface as Hana instructed. Hana cleaned the sink and the bathroom toilet. The two left, smiling, high-fiving in satisfaction. They decided to bury the plastic bag on a mountain path.
On the way, Hana stopped at a convenience store to buy snacks, asking Likan to wait on a public bench. Likan realized Hana went to give the snacks to the children collecting garbage nearby. Hana gave the children the snacks and exchanged them for a lighter. The child gave her a lighter from his siblings, asking why she was wearing gloves. Hana smiled, replying she was going to collect garbage soon. She gave them many snacks. Likan saw Hana returning with a lighter and immediately went up the mountain.
Hana said, "We can check whose fingerprints are on those packets." Likan asked where they should bury it. Hana thought, looked around, noting there were no cameras, but they should still be careful. They went up the hill path and buried the bag deep in the forest.
On the way, Hana stopped at a convenience store to buy snacks, asking Likan to wait on a public bench. Likan realized Hana went to give the snacks to the children collecting garbage nearby. Hana gave the children the snacks and exchanged them for a lighter. The child gave her a lighter from his siblings, asking why she was wearing gloves. Hana smiled, replying she was going to collect garbage soon. She gave them many snacks. Likan saw Hana returning with a lighter and immediately went up the mountain.
Hana said, "We can check whose fingerprints are on those packets." Likan asked where they should bury it. Hana thought, looked around, noting there were no cameras, but they should still be careful. They went up the hill path and buried the bag deep in the forest.
On the way back, Likan asked, "Hana, where did you go to get the lighter?" Hana smiled. "Good question." She took the lighter, took off Likan's gloves, took off her own, and put on new cloth gloves. She held the lighter and burned the medical gloves they had just taken off. "If we wear them too long, the sweat inside can leave fingerprints." Likan was stunned. "You must watch a lot of movies to know all that!" Likan asked, "Why do you have medical supplies in your bag?" Hana laughed. "I always keep them to feed stray cats, so I wear gloves."
Likan said, "Watching movies can be useful!" Hana nodded, smiling. Hana asked, "Why do you care so much about him?" Likan replied, "He's my childhood friend like you. I told you about him when we were small!" Hana remembered. We saw a flashback of them at about seven years old. They became friends. Likan, who used to talk a lot, always made Hana happy and protected her from bullies who called Hana an orphan. Likan always told funny stories about San, but San had left when he was six. Likan met Hana afterward.
Back in the present, Likan continued, "If he gets linked to this, his career will be in jeopardy." Hana noticed Likan spoke with concern. Hana said, "You are so kind." Likan said, "I have to go to work now; see you tonight!" Hana left. Likan, afraid someone else might enter, waited there and messaged Yin to say she would be late and to inform the restaurant owner. It was the first time she had ever messaged a classmate.
Anyone who passed by saw her and wondered who she was waiting for. Likan simply replied she was waiting for someone. She called San again. He didn't answer, but a moment later, he did. Likan scolded him, "Where have you been? Why don't you lock the door properly?" San was confused. "Why are you here?"
San came to meet Likan, who had been waiting for a long time. Likan saw his face was badly bruised. She asked, but San claimed he got into a fight while playing ball. Likan used the remaining medicine from Dan to treat his wounds and told him, "Before you go anywhere, please lock your door properly. Today it was me, but what about next time?" She rushed off to work, leaving him with the final words, "I cooked food for you!" San watched her go, deep in thought.
I'm here, sorry I'm late!" Likan saw Khai working as usual. She had many questions. After work, she rushed to ask Khai, who was lifting a table with Yin. "sister Khai, what happened this morning?" Khai replied or! I'm suddenly felt dizzy and hung up without explanation. Yin asked, "sister Khai, you live alone, right? Please give Likan your address so she can help if anything happens." Likan thought to herself, 'Yin, you want to know the address more than me, but you put the responsibility on me!' Khai knew Yin's intentions. He gave Likan the address loudly for Yin to hear. "Here, Likan. Don't worry about me so much next time!"
Likan smiled. "I have a date with my friend tonight. Goodbye, Aunt, Uncle, sister Khai!" Yin commented, "Likan seems to have friends now? Since when?" Khai asked, "Likan doesn't have friends?" Yin said he wasn't sure, but she never talked to anyone in class. Yin walked Khai to the bus stop, watching him from a distance, filled with curiosity.
Likan arrived to meet Hana and Siv Siv. Likan was surprised. Hana told her to sit down and order food. They talked a lot. Hana said she wanted Siv Siv and Likan to get along. Both Likan and Siv Siv exclaimed simultaneously, "When did we ever fight?" Hana laughed. "Well, from now on, we are friends!" That night, they talked about food and teased Siv Siv about her bracelet, suggesting she was hiding something. The secret between Hana and Likan remained unspoken.
On the way home, Likan felt the wind near the bus window. She felt great! It was a sense of relief she hadn't felt for a long time!
Arriving home, even though her dad and aunt weren't there, she had an indescribable feeling: nothing bothered her or stuck in her mind anymore. She hugged a photo: her aunt holding a baby about nine months old, and her father holding Likan's hand a family portrait. The night summer breeze blew in with the scent of the night. Gazing at the moon and clouds, they seemed to change places. Was it the wind, time, or the Earth?