I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 20

“Déjà vu? That’s just…decoration.”

“Don’t give me that crap.”

I tried to make the same excuse, but it didn’t fly this time. Sophie might have been willing to let it slide, but Hong Yeonhwa was not taking her eyes off the rope.

“Is this… because of someone?” she asked.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Cut the crap and take that down already, or I’ll do it myself.”

This could get messy if she spread rumors.

“Look, just… Please don’t tell anyone. Okay?”

Hong Yeonhwa’s expression soured as she stared at me. Her gaze was practically piercing.

“Does that loser Kim Si woo know about this? No, forget it, no way he’d know.”

Well… actually, he already does.

Hong Yeonhwa’s tone was growing harsher, and I worried she might get physical. Was rehabilitation for her just impossible?

“Fine, I’ll take it down, but geez…” She muttered, reaching up and, with a quick jump, yanked the rope down, her impressive physical strength making it look easy. The rope disappeared, incinerated by her ability.

“Yeonhwa, you shouldn’t just use your ability like that….”

“Why? You gonna tattle on me like Han Si-hyun did?”

“No, I just….”

Hong Yeonhwa took a step toward me, and reflexively, I closed my eyes and braced myself.

“Open your eyes.”

I cracked one eye open, and there she was, giving me a death glare.

Beautiful, but terrifying.

“Is this because of Han Si-hyun?”

“Huh?”

“Why was that rope up there? Who’s it for?”

A complicated question. It wasn’t strictly because of her. If I had to answer, it was… well, for a better future.

What a ridiculous reason. If I said that out loud, she’d think I’d lost it. So, I kept quiet.

“Uh, guys… the kimchi stew is ready.”

Hong Yeonhwa sighed, scratching her head in annoyance before heading to the table.

I followed cautiously. No choice—I was too hungry.

The three of us sat down. The silence was thick and uncomfortable. Eating in this tension felt like a surefire way to get indigestion.

“Hehe, enjoy!” Sophie chirped.

Even in a situation like this, she was sweet.

I took a spoonful of the stew and tasted it.

“Delicious.”

“Really? I’m glad!”

Hong Yeonhwa took a spoonful as well, letting out an approving sound.

“Mmm… feels like I need some soju with this.”

“…”

“I’m joking. Chill. So naive.”

With her, it’s hard to tell when it’s a joke. I could practically see green bottles scattered around the room.

As we continued eating, Hong Yeonhwa spoke up.

“Hey, mutt.”

“…Huh?”

“Tell me if anyone bothers you. Got it?”

“Uh… what?”

Is she serious? Does she not realize she’s the one bothering me?

“Only I get to mess with my mutt.”

…Or maybe she’s just twisted.

Sophie tried to smooth things over with a soft laugh.

“No one would bully someone as cute as Hana.”

“True, mutts are cute, after all.”

Is that a compliment or an insult?

***

After the bizarre dinner, Hong Yeonhwa eventually left, casting one last complicated glance at the ceiling where the rope had been.

Later, as it got closer to bedtime, a problem arose.

“I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“That seems… unnecessary.”

If there were no bed, sure. But there is one—it’s just a single, narrow bed.

I silently cursed the dorm supervisor. She could’ve at least arranged for the bunk bed by now instead of leaving us to manage for the night.

“Let’s just share the bed. It’ll be a bit cramped, but better than you sleeping on the floor.”

“Aren’t we both going to be uncomfortable?”

“It’s more uncomfortable to watch you sleep on the floor.”

“Alright. If you don’t mind.”

I lay against the left side of the bed, and Sophie settled on the right.

It wasn’t too bad.

There was some contact, of course, but with both of us being small, it wasn’t too cramped.

If it were Hong Yeonhwa instead… I’d suffocate just thinking about it.

The room was dark and silent.

It felt strange to hear someone else’s breathing. It had been a long time since I shared a space like this.

“Hana, are you asleep?”

“No.”

“Oh, okay.”

A pause, then Sophie spoke again.

“I’m really glad I met you.”

“…Out of nowhere?”

“Hehe, just saying. I didn’t really have any friends either, you know.”

A fellow loner, huh? Somehow, I could tell.

Sophie was pure and kind.

But this world wasn’t.

In a world where everyone’s shadows blend together, she stands alone, shining white.

“We’re friends, right?”

I hadn’t intended to make friends. I’d planned to cut all ties when I left the academy.

But… maybe, for a few days, it wouldn’t hurt.

“Yeah. Of course.”

It was just an answer.

But that’s all it was. A little white lie.

And that’s all it would ever be.

***

The morning sunlight woke me.

Sophie wasn’t beside me.

Where did she go?

Clink, clank.

I heard movement and turned to see Sophie in the kitchen.

“Oh, you’re awake?”

Still groggy, I blinked, taking in her bright smile. She’d woken up early to make breakfast.

Impressive. I could never manage that.

“Just give me a moment. I’ll be done soon.”

“Mm… okay.”

Yawning, I scratched my back. Clearly, Yoo Hana is not a morning person.

I got up and went to the bathroom. After a quick wash, I returned to find breakfast laid out.

Toast, fried eggs, bacon, and sausage—a classic American breakfast.

“Wow….”

My mouth watered. Sophie is a goddess.

As I picked up my fork, about to take my first bite—

Knock, knock.

A knock echoed through the room.

“Who could it be?”

“Hmm. Not sure.”

Sophie shrugged, equally puzzled. I didn’t expect any visitors this early.

“Just a second!”

I went to the door and opened it to see a familiar face.

“Hey. Good morning.”

“Oh… uh… hi.”

I nearly bit my tongue in surprise.

Han Si-hyun? What is she doing here? And this early in the morning?

“What’s up?”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Uh, sure, I guess….”

Though a delicious breakfast was waiting for me, I had a feeling this conversation wouldn’t be quick.

“Are you free today?”

“Today… after school…?”

What is this? Another café meeting, maybe? If so, why not talk at school?

Han Si-hyun shook her head.

“No, I mean right now.”

“Now? But we’ll be late for school.”

At that moment, Sophie peeked out and asked, “Who is it?”

“Oh, um….”

Han Si-hyun and Sophie’s gazes met.

Han Si-hyun spoke first.

“Oh, so you have a roommate?”

“She moved in yesterday….”

“Hm.”

“Wait, is that Han Si-hyun?” Sophie whispered, but given how close we were standing, I was sure Si-hyun heard her.

“Hello, Sophie, right? The one who moved to Class A in my place.”

“Yeah, that’s me. Hi!”

“Nice to meet you.”

After exchanging polite greetings, Han Si-hyun turned her attention back to me.

She paused, then asked, “So, where were we? Right. Would you come with me somewhere?”

“What about school?”

“It’s fine if we miss the morning classes.”

“…What?”

I couldn’t hide my shock.

Did she just say to skip classes?

Coming from Han Si-hyun, who was obsessed with being “the best,” this was astonishing. Her drive for excellence stemmed from a personal trauma—her younger sibling’s suicide—which had instilled an unwavering pursuit of perfection in everything, including attendance.

And now she wants to skip school?

“Does it have to be right now? Can’t we go after school?”

“This is the time with the lowest chance of getting caught.”

Getting… caught?

The more she spoke, the more uneasy I felt.

“Where exactly are we going…?”

In the end, that was the critical question. What could possibly make Han Si-hyun so insistent?

“I’ve figured out your ability.”

“…What?”

“Well, not exactly, but we’re going to find out.”

Han Si-hyun wants to help me figure out my ability?

How? What would she even do?

Sophie glared at Han Si-hyun and said, “I don’t know what you’re planning, but I won’t allow anything dangerous.”

“I won’t deny there’s some risk. If we’re caught, things could get dicey.”

Something felt off. Very off.

This didn’t feel like the Han Si-hyun I knew. In the original story, she’d always prioritized safety.

“But it’s a risk worth taking.”

“Si-hyun, where exactly are we going?”

This was the only way I’d agree to this.

After a pause, Han Si-hyun finally answered.

“The center of the academy.”

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