Raven was gone before I even woke. I didn't see him leave, but the faint click of the door echoed in my half-sleep — .
Today was music class — the one class I hated with my whole chest. But skipping wasn't an option.
I dragged myself into the shower, letting the warm water hit my shoulders and drive off whatever fear clung there from yesterday. After dressing, tying my hair up, and packing my books, a knock came at my door.
"Jina! She's gone!" Jan's voice called from the hallway.
Probably talking about the teacher or some morning notice. I didn't ask.
"Go on ahead," I said. "I'll meet you."
I locked my door and headed out.
On my way to music class, I ran into Minho.
The hallway felt too narrow when he stepped directly in front of me, blocking my path with his usual too-perfect smile —
"Jina," he said softly, "how was your night?"
"I'm fine." I tried sidestepping him.
He stepped the same direction. "Hold on, Jina."
"Minho, please. I need to get to class—"
"Any troubles again?" he asked, tilting his head. "You've been… quiet. Haven't heard from you."
"I said I'm okay now," I repeated.
I attempted to move around him again.
Again he blocked me.
"Minho," I sighed, "please."
This time his smile deepened. "Why the haste? Are you hiding something from me?" His tone was playful, but his eyes weren't. "Anything you want to tell me? Anything you think I should know?"
He leaned closer.
"You can tell me anything, Jina. I won't judge."
My chest tightened. "Minho, I don't understand. Something like what? I don't have anything to tell you. Please let me go in."
I tried again — and suddenly he grabbed my wrist.
Hard.
"Min— your hand— it hurts!" I gasped.
He smiled wider.
Then let go.
"Don't hide things from me next time, Jina," he whispered.
And he walked off smiling like nothing strange had just happened.
I stood there for a moment, frozen. My wrist tingled painfully where his fingers had pressed into my skin.
What did he mean by that?
I shook the thoughts off and entered the music class. The teacher was already there, arranging sheets. I glanced instinctively at Raven's seat — empty. I figured he'd skip classes today. With wounds like his, who wouldn't?
I slid into my seat and tried to listen, but the teacher's voice blurred into meaningless notes. My mind was drifting — to the notebook, to the voice in the night, to Raven's warnings. Something was unraveling around me and I didn't even know which thread to hold.
By the time the class ended, my headache throbbed. The teacher marched out. Students filed away. The classroom emptied like a draining pool.
Just as I started packing my things, my phone buzzed.
A message.
A voice note.
From an unknown number.
A cold pinprick ran down my back. But I didn't think too much — not at first. I bent down, plugged one earpiece in, and hit play.
A cracked voice whispered:
"Hi… my name is Eunwoo."
My entire body stiffened. My breath caught. Eunwoo.
I paused the recording immediately, heart pounding against my ribs. I looked around — no one seemed to notice. Only five students still in the room, all minding their own business. Some talking. Some packing. No one watching me.
I lowered my head again, put the earpiece back in, and pressed play.
"If you're listening to this… it means you're ready. Ready to help me. Ready to get justice for me."
Oh God.
Yes. This was real.
The voice continued:
"I was blackmailed. And the people who blackmailed me… I'm going to list their names.
I scrambled for my notebook and pen, hands shaking.
But before the voice could continue—
A hand snatched my phone violently from behind.
I gasped — a scream stuck in my throat.
Before I could even stand, the phone slammed onto the floor with a crack so loud it echoed through the empty music room.
Then—
A heavy slap exploded across my cheek.
I saw white.
My head whipped to the side.
Footsteps thundered away — someone running.
By the time I blinked the blur away and looked up…
The room was completely empty.
Everyone was gone.
My cheek burned like fire. Tears stung my eyes from the impact. My phone lay shattered on the floor — screen broken, wires sticking out, completely destroyed.
I crouched slowly, picking up the broken pieces with trembling hands.
Who hit me?
Who was watching me?
Who knew about the voice note?
I lifted my fingers to my cheek — swollen, hot, already turning red.
Someone didn't just want to silence me.
Someone wanted to warn me.
With my heart pounding so hard it hurt, I packed the rest of my things and left the classroom in a rush. I didn't look back. I didn't breathe. I didn't even feel my legs. I just ran.
Through the hallway.
Down the stairs.
Across the courtyard.
Straight to my hostel.
I slammed the door behind me and locked it. My breath shook as I leaned against the door, sliding down until I ended up on the floor. My hands were trembling. My cheek throbbed with every heartbeat.
What just happened?
Who was behind me?
Why send a message… then attack the second I listened?
Did they know what Eunwoo was about to reveal?
The room felt too small. Too quiet. Too dangerous.
I stood and stumbled toward the mirror.
A red, angry handprint flared across my cheek. The slap had been so hard I couldn't even see clearly when it landed — I didn't see the person's face, their clothes, nothing.
What if they weren't even wearing a school uniform?
I pressed my fingers against my cheek and winced.
My phone was gone.
Pieces. All gone.
I backed away from the mirror and sank onto my bed.
Enough.
I needed help.
I needed protection.
I needed answers.
And clearly — the school was hiding something BIG. Because why wasn't anyone investigating ? Why was everything swept under the rug?
Why was anyone asking questions being attacked?
I curled onto my bed and held my pounding cheek.
I needed Jan.
Even if she didn't want to talk.
Even if she was hiding something.
Jan had been close to Yen. She knew something. Anything. And I needed at least one person who was on my side — or pretending to be.
I glanced at the time.
Almost evening.
Good.
Night falls soon.
I would go.
I would sneak out of my hostel room.
I would meet Jan.
And this time…
I wouldn't leave without answers.
Because Eunwoo's whisper was echoing in my mind like a haunting:
"I was blackmailed."
And now someone was trying to silence me the same way.
Night couldn't come fast enough.