Detective Han Eul strode through the crime unit, a file clutched in his hand, his eyes scanning the room for his senior, Kim Chul. Spotting Kim Chul walking towards him with a paper cup of coffee, he quickened his pace to catch up.
"Did you hear about the suicide from Pristin High?" Han Eul asked, his voice low and urgent.
Kim Chul nodded, his expression grim. "It's a mess there. A few of the students close to him have dropped their statements, and the two who were there at the scene..." He trailed off, shaking his head.
Han Eul's eyes narrowed. "Don't you think it's a bit suspicious? Students suddenly committing suicide at an erratic pace like that?"
Kim Chul placed a hand on his lips, his eyes darting around the room. "Mind what you say, Han Eul. Those students are still here."
Just as the sentence slipped out, Yuri and Jiwon emerged from the corridor, their eyes fixed on the two detectives.
"Are we interrupting something?" Jiwon asked, her voice hesitant.
Kim Chul gave Yuri a meaningful glance. "No," he replied, his tone neutral. "If you're done with your statement, you can leave."
Kim spoke up again as the both of them turned to leave, his eyes locked on Yuri. "You both attended Woo Jin's funeral, am I right?"
Yuri paused in her steps, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Is that a crime?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kim Chul hesitated, his expression cautious. "No... Just be careful."
Yuri's gaze lingered on Kim Chul's face before she turned, her voice curt. "I will."
With that, she turned and left with Jiwon, leaving the two detectives watching them with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Kim Chul and Han Eul walked back to the office, the tension between them palpable. As they sat down, Kim Chul couldn't help but notice the rookie detective's eagerness. Han Eul was bubbling with vigor, his eyes shining with excitement.
He still has a lot to learn. Kim Chul thought inwardly, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Did you get any intel on what I asked you?" Kim Chul asked, his voice firm but gentle.
Han Eul dropped the file in his hands on the desk, his movements swift and efficient. "Here, sunbae," he said, his eyes locked on Kim Chul's.
Kim Chul's eyes scanned the file, his expression growing increasingly serious. "At first, their cash inflow seemed all too normal until I noticed a pattern," Han Eul explained, his voice filled with excitement. "See here, sunbae, on the 18th of February 2023, Minhwan received 2 million US dollars. May 15th, 2023, he received the same amount. August 20th, 2023, he received the same amount. Up to a few days ago, April 12th, 2024."
Kim Chul's eyes narrowed, "He keeps receiving the same amount at intervals of three months," Han Eul concluded
"The last one is a bit early." Kim chul mused.
Kim Chul looked up at Han Eul, his eyes piercing. "Did you track the sender?" he asked, his voice firm.
Han Eul shook his head. "No, they used different accounts, and they were all anonymous."
Kim Chul's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes clouding over with concern. "You checked the others? Jina and Minjun?" he asked.
Han Eul nodded. "They received different amounts, but on corresponding dates."
Kim Chul's eyes snapped back into focus, his gaze locked on Han Eul. "Whatever is going on, Minhwan appears to be in charge of it," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Han Eul's eyes widened, his expression serious. "But what is it, sunbae?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Kim Chul's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "I'm not sure yet, but I intend to find out."
Just then, Han Eul spoke up, his voice hesitant. "Sunbae, about Yuri, I found something concerning. She is apparently dating Park Minhwan."
Kim Chul's eyes snapped back into focus, his expression incredulous. "What?" he exclaimed, his voice firm.
Han Eul nodded. "Yes, and it gets even more suspicious. Last time, during her statement, she was so adamant that Yonna's death was suicide, and her statement kept pointing back at Minhwan, as if she knew he was the one behind it."
"But now she's dating him? That's definitely suspicious."
He turned to Han Eul, his voice firm. "Keep your eyes peeled for any suspicious actions from Minhwan and his troupe."
Han Eul nodded, his expression serious.
Kim Chul's eyes clouded over with thought. Was she trying to find the actual murderer, and getting close to Minhwan seemed like the fastest way? he wondered.
He turned to Han Eul, his voice firm. "Bring me all the case files of the death and missing students of Pristin High."
****
Yonna's eyes widened in wonder. "Wow, it's beautiful!" The nine-year-old exclaimed, standing beside Yuri by the ocean's edge. They watched, mesmerized, as sunlight danced across the rippling waves.
"I'm going to miss this place," Yuri murmured, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Yonna turned to her, concern etched on her face. "Do we have to move? Can't we just stay here forever?" she asked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Yuri wrapped her arms around Yonna. "There's no option for now. Mum and Dad say it's all for the best, so we have no other choice but to go."
Yonna's head dropped, and she struggled to hold back her tears. This place held all her cherished memories.
Yuri gently lifted Yonna's face. "I promise you this: on the night of our nineteenth birthday, I'll bring you back here. You've always wondered how the ocean looks at night, haven't you? I'll give you an exclusive view."
Yonna's eyes narrowed slightly. "You better keep your promise."
Yuri nodded, smiling softly. "I will. Now, let's go."
**
Yuri's gaze drifted, lost in thought, until Minhwan's concerned voice broke the silence. "Yuri, what are you thinking about?"
She jolted upright, meeting Minhwan's piercing gaze. "I'm fine," she replied, attempting to brush off her emotions.
Minhwan's expression remained skeptical. "No, you're not. You've been staring at the board for minutes. You didn't even hear me calling you. What's wrong?" he pressed.
Yuri's eyes wandered back to the school's information board, her gaze hesitating over the official list of students who had taken their own lives. Her eyes lingered on Yonna's name, then Woo Jin's.
Minhwan's gentle prodding brought her back to reality. "I... I'm worried," she admitted softly.
Minhwan's hand enveloped hers, offering a comforting squeeze. "There's no need for you to worry. I'm right here by your side. Whatever is bothering you... I'll take care of it. Just lean on me and tell me everything."
Yuri's lips curved into a faint smile, reassured by Minhwan's words. He tightened his grip on her hand. "Come, let's go get whatever that's worrying you off your mind."
Without waiting for her response, Minhwan gently pulled her along, Yuri's vibrant red hair fluttering in the gentle breeze.
Minhwan led Yuri to the school's rooftop, a place she surprisingly had never been before. "Have you ever been here?" he asked.
Yuri's gaze swept across the rooftop, her eyes clouding over. Lots of students died from here... Yonna died from here.
Noticing her somber expression, Minhwan drew her close, his voice gentle. "You're not to sulk here. I want you to look around, see any place you want to go? I'll take you there."
Yuri's eyes drifted back to the scenery before her. The rooftop offered a breathtaking view, reminiscent of the ocean. In the distance, she spotted the now-blossoming cherry blossoms, their delicate pink petals unfolding like nature's own work of art. The trees stood tall, their slender branches etched against the sky like a delicate pen and ink drawing.
Yuri turned to Minhwan, her eyes shining with wonder. "Let's have a look at the cherry blossoms?"
Minhwan beamed at her. "Sure, then..." Together, they strolled along the winding path, the cherry blossoms towering above them. The flowers' delicate petals glistened in the sunlight, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Yuri breathed deeply, feeling the fragrance transport her to a different world. The petals danced around her, gently drifting to the ground like confetti, creating a soft, pink carpet underfoot.
As they walked, the petals continued to fall, swirling around them like nature's own snow globe. Yuri laughed, feeling carefree for the first time in months. She held out her hands, watching as the petals floated gently into her palms.
For the first time since Yonna's passing, Yuri felt a sense of peace settle within her. The beauty of the cherry blossoms, the gentle rustle of their petals, and the warmth of the sun on her skin all combined to soothe her grief.
Minhwan's voice broke the silence. "You like it?"
Yuri turned to face him, her eyes shining. "I love it! I don't want to leave."
Minhwan's gaze locked onto hers, his expression tender. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "It's my pleasure. I got to see something even more beautiful than flowers. You."
Yuri's face flushed, and she hastily averted her gaze, focusing on the cherry blossoms. Minhwan's words had caught her off guard, but she couldn't deny the gratitude she felt towards him.
"Thank you," she whispered.
As they stood there, surrounded by the gentle rustle of cherry blossom petals, Yuri realized that Minhwan was growing on her. His company, once a source of discomfort, now felt strangely comforting.