Walking down the road under the hot afternoon sun, the heat pressed against my skin, and the sound of distant cars passed by without meaning. Jan walked beside me, smiling as we moved,
she raised her hand and stopped a taxi.
"Let's go," she said.
I didn't ask questions. I entered the taxi with her as we headed out to meet Eunwoo's mother.
The ride was quiet. I stared out of the window, watching buildings pass, my thoughts heavy. Too many things had happened in such a short time. Too many lies, too many secrets. I didn't know what to believe anymore.
When the taxi finally stopped, I looked up.
We were standing in front of a well-furnished building. The structure was tall and elegant, with polished walls and a neatly designed gate. It was clearly a high-class house—nothing like I imagined.
Jan turned to me.
"This is Eunwoo's home," she said.
I swallowed hard.
We stepped inside, and almost immediately, a maid appeared. She welcomed us politely, as if she had been expecting our arrival. Without asking many questions, she led us into the living room.
We sat down on a large sofa. The room was quiet, clean, and expensive-looking. Everything felt too perfect.
Moments later, a woman came down the staircase. She wasn't too young, nor was she old. She carried herself with confidence, holding a glass of red wine in her hand. Her face was calm, but her eyes looked tired—as if she had cried too much before learning how to hide it.
She looked at us, smiled slightly, and sat down.
Jan stood up immediately and greeted her politely. I followed.
"You must be Eunwoo's school friends," the woman said, nodding for us to sit.
As we sat, my eyes wandered around the room. That was when I noticed it—a large portrait hanging on the wall.
The portrait showed the same woman standing beside a young boy. The boy sat close to her, almost clinging to her side. He looked gentle, quiet, and soft.
Jan noticed what I was staring at and leaned closer.
"That's Eunwoo," she whispered.
I studied the portrait carefully. Eunwoo looked taller than I expected, his face calm, his eyes distant. He wasn't smiling, but he didn't look evil either.
I slowly looked away.
"Eunwoo, my son, has been through a lot lately," the woman said, drawing my attention back to her. "We decided to stop his schooling for now."
I looked at her directly.
"So where is he now?" I asked.
"He went on vacation with his father," she replied. "Eunwoo joined a bad gang in school. They taught him many terrible things—things I never taught him."
She paused and sighed deeply.
"That gang led him into stealing and destroying school property. Some of the boys he was involved with even came here last week."
My heart skipped.
"They came here?" Jan asked.
"Yes," the woman continued. "I wondered why the school still allows killers and criminals to walk freely."
I turned to Jan. She looked just as surprised as I felt.
"So, ma'am," Jan asked carefully, "you mean students came here saying they were Eunwoo's friends?"
"Yes," the woman said. "I knew them even before they came because I had seen them with my son. When I asked one of them why they were still free and not arrested, he threatened me. He said something bad would happen if I spoke."
Something didn't feel right.
My chest tightened. I gently touched Jan's hand, signaling that we should leave.
Jan turned to me, confused.
"Jina, didn't you hear what the woman said?"
"Jan," I whispered angrily, "can't you tell she's lying?"
Before we could continue, the woman suddenly broke into tears. She reached for her phone with shaking hands.
"I have proof," she cried.
She showed us pictures—many pictures. Eunwoo running, laughing, playing. Pictures of him as a child. Pictures of him growing older.
Jan looked at me.
"Do you still think she's lying?"
I froze.
Seeing Eunwoo like that shook me deeply. Some part of me started believing her. While she wasn't looking, I secretly snapped a picture of the portrait on the wall and handed her phone back.
"So, ma'am," Jan asked softly, "do you recognize the people who threatened you?"
The woman nodded.
"One of them said his name was… Rav."
"Raven?" I said sharply.
My heart dropped.
I turned to Jan. She stared back at me, shocked.
"Madam," I asked carefully, "you mean Raven came here looking for Eunwoo and threatened you?"
The woman lifted her wrist. It was bandaged.
"He did this to me," she cried. "They scattered my house and warned me not to involve the police."
My mind spun.
Could Raven really do this?
Raven—quiet, calm Raven?
I was lost in thought when Jan touched me.
"What should we do?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," I replied honestly. "But Raven… do you really believe this?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Jan snapped. "He sneaks out of school at night. He's strange. And your dreams too. You still think you can trust him?"
We went close to the woman
The woman held me close and hugged me tight
Please in anyway you can
I know my son turned to a bad boy since he moves with bad gang
That's why he did what he did
But he can't be the only one been punished
Don't know how you all can help me
She said still helding me
Is okay ma'am
We would see what we can do
Since he is okay now we are cool with it
I said releasing my self from the woman as I tapped her shoulder
I signaled on Jan telling her let's go and we bid the woman good bye and left
Outside, Jan grabbed my arm.
"Jina, what can we do? How do we get Raven arrested? I can tell the school mistress. She's already looking for those involved in the robbery."
I looked at Jan carefully.
For some moment I was shocked
Was raven really involved
Oh no
Not again..
Why all this keep happening right now I don't even know what to believe
But seeing that woman with many pictures of she and eunwoo that means she must be the mother
What should I do
Raven?
Jina,we need to get Raven taken away and arrested Jan said looking at me
Jan,but what evidence do you have to involve police
"Do you have any evidence?" I asked. "And how can you believe her so easily? Even if she's Eunwoo's mother, do you think Raven would come and introduce himself by name?"
Jan frowned.
"Raven is closer to Eunwoo than Yen ever was. You can ask Minho or anyone."
I felt dizzy.
Was Raven really involved?
Jan suddenly spoke again.
"We need to trap him."
I stopped walking.
"What?" I asked.
"If we don't have evidence," Jan said coldly, "we'll create one."
My heart pounded.
We need to plot on Raven and once he fall on it
We would snap him and show to the police that he is involved
Jan said looking at me
Jan!! I screamed
What are you trying to do?
You know that part is a big no
Trying to plot him something he didn't do?
Jina is very simple
And you are the person that can do it beacsue for some reason
I think Raven likes you
The only thing you need to do is
Tell him you saw someting in the school camera
I will plot the camera in the security room
And tell him to help you pick it up
And once he enters there…
But before that I will bring people to break some CCTV and keep it in a hidden place where he won't see it
As raven enters there
I will stand by the side and scream and capture him leaving
Then every thing is set
We would now tell them everything and that he has been doing that with eunwoo
Oh my
I stood watching Jan
Jan!!
What are you trying to do
Jina,remember am helping you to make it easier to capture all this bad people"
Jan said looking at me.
Jan this is not help rather you are putting someone who might be innocent life in danger and Raven would never forgive me
Jina see…
Jan,don't worry I would find out my own way if truly is true that he is involved,
I said without waiting for her to respond,I stopped a taxi.
Jan stood as tears roll down her eyes
And you said you are my sister
The other time someone gave me a note warning me to stay off you or they kill me
My life is even in danger with you and now you have never helped me
Jan said crying
Oh no
I hugged her
Jan,you are my sister and best friend
Don't worry I will see what I can do I told her as she smiled and looked at me.
As we rode back to school, my heart felt heavy.
Even if Raven was guilty, I couldn't be the reason he was arrested.
But what if he wasn't?
Who could I trust anymore?
The taxi stopped at the school gate. We stepped out silently and walked inside, fear following me like a shadow.