Hana stared at Min-jae.
"What happened three years ago?"
He didn't answer.
The silence between them felt heavier than anything Yuri had ever said.
"Min-jae," Hana repeated, softer this time. "What was Joon-ho talking about?"
He looked away.
"I wanted to tell you."
"When?"
His eyes returned to hers.
"When I knew how."
Hana folded her arms. "That doesn't answer my question."
"I know."
She waited.
Finally, Min-jae sighed.
"Three years ago, someone close to me left school because of a rumor."
Hana's expression softened.
"What kind of rumor?"
"One that wasn't true."
He looked down at the folder in his hands.
"I tried to prove it was false, but I was too late. By the time everyone realized the truth, the damage had already been done."
Hana was quiet.
"Who was it?"
"My older sister."
Her eyes widened.
"You have a sister?"
"I did."
The way he said it made Hana's heart sink.
"She transferred to another school. After that, I promised myself I'd never let rumors destroy someone's life again."
Hana finally understood.
"So that's why you always protect people."
Min-jae nodded.
"And that's why you were so determined to stop Yuri."
"Yes."
Hana stepped closer.
"You don't have to carry what happened to her forever."
He gave a small, sad smile.
"Maybe I don't know how to stop."
She looked at him for a moment.
"Then you don't have to stop alone."
Min-jae looked up.
Hana smiled gently.
"We'll figure it out together."
For the first time that afternoon, some of the tension left his face.
"Thank you."
She smiled. "You're welcome."
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
The afternoon breeze moved through the trees around them, and the distant sounds of students leaving school slowly faded.
Hana looked at him carefully.
"You really cared about your sister, didn't you?"
Min-jae's smile disappeared.
"She was my best friend."
Hana's heart tightened.
"She used to tell me everything. When she was happy, when she was angry, even when she was scared. Then one day, everyone started believing something about her that wasn't true."
He paused.
"I defended her, but I wasn't loud enough."
"You were just a kid too," Hana said softly.
"I know."
"But you still blame yourself."
Min-jae didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Hana understood.
She reached toward him, stopping just before touching his hand.
"Min-jae."
He looked at her.
"You don't have to prove your worth by saving everyone."
His eyes softened.
"Then what should I do?"
"Just stay."
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
"That's it?"
"For now."
He laughed quietly.
It was the first real laugh Hana had heard from him that day.
She smiled too.
Then Hana noticed something.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Joon-ho knew about your sister."
Min-jae's expression changed.
"Yes."
"Then how?"
He looked toward the path where Joon-ho had disappeared.
"Because he was there."
Hana's smile faded.
"You mean… three years ago?"
Min-jae nodded.
"He knew the truth."
"Then why didn't he help?"
"I don't know."
Hana frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"I've asked myself the same question for three years."
"Have you ever talked to him about it?"
"Once."
"And?"
"He wouldn't answer."
Hana looked toward the empty path.
"So he's been carrying this secret too."
"Maybe."
"Or maybe he knows more than he's telling us."
Min-jae's expression became serious again.
"That is what I'm afraid of."
Hana suddenly felt uneasy.
The pieces weren't fitting together.
Yuri had been trying to separate them.
Joon-ho had been watching them.
And now there was a secret from three years ago connecting everything.
Then Hana noticed something.
A notification had appeared on her phone.
Unknown number.
She opened it.
There was only one sentence.
Ask Joon-ho why he stayed silent three years ago.
Hana slowly raised her eyes.
Min-jae had already read the message.
Neither of them spoke.
The wind suddenly seemed colder.
"Someone knows," Hana whispered.
Min-jae nodded.
"And whoever it is wants us to find out."
Hana looked back at the message.
"But why?"
Min-jae stared at the screen.
"I don't know."
He paused.
"But I think we're getting close."
Hana slipped her phone into her pocket.
"Then let's find the truth."
Min-jae looked at her.
"You're sure?"
She nodded.
"I am."
For a moment, they stood together beneath the fading afternoon light.
Neither of them knew what the truth would reveal.
Neither knew who they could trust.
But one thing was becoming clear.
This time, they weren't going to let someone else decide what their story meant.
Because this time, Hana intended to find the truth for herself.
And somehow, she had a feeling that the truth would change everything she thought she knew about Min-jae.