Hana barely slept that night.
The message kept replaying in her mind.
Ask Joon-ho why he stayed silent three years ago.
Whoever had sent it clearly knew about Min-jae's past.
But how?
And why were they telling her now?
The next morning, Hana arrived at school earlier than usual. The hallways were almost empty, and the quiet gave her time to think.
She reached the library and immediately noticed someone sitting at the back table.
Joon-ho.
He was reading a book, completely calm.
As if nothing had happened.
Hana took a deep breath and walked toward him.
"We need to talk."
Joon-ho slowly looked up.
"I was wondering when you'd come."
Hana stopped.
"You knew I'd come?"
He closed his book.
"Someone always comes looking for answers eventually."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Three years ago. What happened?"
For the first time, his expression changed.
"You've been talking to Min-jae."
"Yes."
"Then he told you about his sister."
Hana sat across from him.
"He told me enough."
Joon-ho looked down at his hands.
"Not enough."
"What does that mean?"
He was silent for several seconds.
Then he whispered,
"Min-jae's sister wasn't the only person involved."
Hana's heart skipped.
"What are you talking about?"
Joon-ho looked directly at her.
"There were three people who knew the rumor was false."
"Who?"
"Me. Min-jae. And someone else."
Hana leaned forward.
"Who was the third person?"
Before Joon-ho could answer, footsteps sounded outside the library.
He immediately stood.
"We can't talk here."
"Why?"
"Because we're not alone."
Hana turned toward the door.
Nobody was there.
When she looked back, Joon-ho was already walking away.
"Joon-ho!"
He stopped.
"If you really want the truth," he said without turning around, "look for the old festival photographs."
Then he disappeared through the doorway.
At lunch, Hana found Min-jae near the student council room.
"We need to talk."
He looked at her face and immediately knew something had happened.
"What did Joon-ho say?"
Hana lowered her voice.
"He told me to find the old festival photographs."
Min-jae froze.
"Which festival?"
"Three years ago."
His expression changed.
"Hana, don't."
"Why?"
"Because I already looked."
"And?"
"I couldn't find anything."
She stared at him.
"Then we'll look together."
He hesitated.
Finally, he nodded.
The school archive room was small and dusty.
Old yearbooks filled the shelves, along with boxes of photographs from previous school events.
Hana pulled out a box labeled with the year.
"This one?"
Min-jae nodded.
They sat on the floor and began searching.
Photograph after photograph.
Students laughing.
Teachers standing on stage.
Festival decorations.
Performances.
Nothing.
Then Hana stopped.
"Wait."
She pulled out a photograph.
It showed the festival stage from three years ago.
Min-jae leaned closer.
"That's my sister."
Hana looked at the picture.
A younger girl stood near the side of the stage.
Beside her was Joon-ho.
And behind them—
someone else.
Hana's eyes widened.
"Min-jae…"
He stared at the photograph.
His face went pale.
"That can't be."
"Who is it?"
He didn't answer.
Hana looked at him.
"Who?"
Min-jae slowly pointed toward the person standing in the background.
"It was the last person I expected to see."
Hana looked back at the photograph.
And suddenly, she understood why Joon-ho had been so afraid to speak.
Because the person in the picture wasn't a stranger.
It was someone they both knew.
Someone who was still at their school.
Someone who had been watching them from the beginning.