the other half

I ran up the stairs and into our room flinging the doors open. My eyes scanning the entire room in seconds. She wasn't there. Where could she have gone? I wondered my chest heaving. We had been in school moments earlier when suddenly Jiwon had come to me saying ' Have you seen Yonna? I've searched everywhere but I can't find her. '

My eyes caught sight of the picture of the ocean hanging beside our mirror. Realizing immediately where she was, I dashed out running.

I saw her crouched down by the shore. I rushed towards her almost tripping over my steps. I knelt beside her holding her shoulders— turning her towards me. The scolding I was about to rain down on her got stuck in my throat as I gaped at her shocked. Her eyes were swollen, her lips bleeding. I could feel the anger coursing through me.

"Who did this to you?" I demanded. I needed just a name. Or names.

She shook her head furiously. "It's nothing..I fell while climbing down the stairs." What did she gain from protecting them? I wondered. " It has gotten worse hasn't it? Those twinks haven't left you alone have they?" The fear in her eyes was all the answer I needed. I stood up. "Come with me let's go."

Her teary eyes met mine. "It isn't serious. These are minor wounds. They'll heal with time. You don't have to go too far Yuri." My chest tightened. I felt so useless. How come I hadn't noticed it? She was being bullied and I was completely clueless about it.

"Let's go." I repeated sternly. She stood up in a fit." This is why I didn't tell you. I knew you would act like this!" She yelled.

" Yonna this isn't the time for you to be petty." I said trying to be as calm as possible. She shoved at my chest.

" What's the use?! It has been like this for months now! You didn't do anything then— when I needed you to." Her shoulders trembled, her hands covering her face.

"I-I have gotten used to it." Her remaining words got drowned in her sobs.

I could feel my nails dig into my palms. "This is why I'm going to put an end to all of it." I turned sprinting towards our school. I ignored her yells for me to come back.

**

"Oh my goodness what do we do? My poor son!" I stared contemptuously at the panicking woman infront of me. She turned to face me. Her eyes filled with hate. "You evil child. You have to be punished! How dare you lay your filthy hands on my son— you uncouth child!!" She yelled her hands reaching for me in an attempt to avenge her son laying in the ICU.

"You can't do that in here ma'am." We both turn our attention to the voice of a man walking approaching us. I noticed the identity card dangling on his neck. A detective. "What's going on?" He asked. The woman was about to give her lengthy sympathetic story when I heard her voice. "It's not Yuri's fault." I turned to look at her. I noticed my parents trailing behind her. My mother looking worried and my father looking torn. He seemed to be deciding whether to scold me or applaud me. I smirked knowing it was neither.

The detective had his attention on her. "What did you say?" He asked. "They started it, I had warned them several times that they had it coming but they refused it listen. They deserved it." She looked at the woman who was about to have an heartattack soon. " Your uncouth son deserved it."

The woman finally went hysterical. My parents decided our presence would only aggrevate the case. They had us leave.

I trailed behind her practicing my apology speech silently. As I opened my mouth to speak, she turned towards me stealing the words from my mouth. "I'm sorry. I overreacted earlier... I was just so..." I helped her finish. " I understand. You needed to get it all out." She nodded.

" You never listen to me. You always act impulsive and it worries me. I'm scared someday you might do something I'm not aware of and get in trouble."

I embraced her. " From now henceforth, I'll listen to you. This is going to be the last you'll suffer. If it can't be helped, I'll suffer in your stead. You don't have to get used to it. If I'm getting in trouble for you then it's worth it."

~~~

"Hey Kim Yuri, snap out of it." Jolted out of my reminision, I stare at Jiwon. " What were you thinking about? I have been talking to you for minutes." She poked at her food. I stared silently at her. " You have doubts don't you?" I asked. I watch as her movements slowed. "W-what do you mean? I don't have doubts about anything."

"You're the second person who knew her like I did. You know she's not one to consider suicide. There's no way she would've had thoughts about it and neither of us wouldn't have noticed." 

"She is the most sane person I've ever known."

I leaned in."My point exactly. She was murdered."

" How do you know for sure? There wasn't any evidence of murder. Even if she was murdered, there's no way we can prove it."

" That's exactly why we're going to find the evidence." I declare.

Her eyes shot up to look at me. " The police weren't able to find anything, how are you going to find something?"

I flashed her a wicked grin." The police weren't digging, we are."

I leaned back in on my chair. " I need your assistance with this Jiwon. I can't pull it off alone. Last night, I had ruminated about it. Jiwon was the only person I knew who would support my cause. The message behind that photograph was clear. If I was going to dig into this, I would be getting myself into deep shit. I had been given a warning. To give up before I even started but I wasn't.

I watched as she swiftly combed her hand through her hair weighing her options. She must've roughly guessed it wasn't going to be easy. None of us were expecting it to be.

She looked back at me. "I'm not going to be doing this for you. It's for Yonna. I'm not certain about all this talk about murder but if there's a possibility that all of this is true, then I want to see whoever that stole my best friend from me pay for their crimes."

I half smiled. Who would've imagined that Jiwon and I would arrive at a point like this? Where we share a common aim?

"So what's the plan?" Jiwon asks her voice laced with anticipation as she raises her tumbler to her lips. "I'm going to date Minhwan." I say.

Jiwon's face contorted into shock, water spraying from her mouth. I was too late to prevent it from splashing on my face. "You can't be serious!!" She bangs her tumbler on the table. I wiped the water on my face trying hard not to let my face reveal how grossed out I was. "I'm serious."

Jiwon was finding it hard to comprehend. "H-how is that the plan?? He's Yonna's boyfriend."

"Was." I corrected. " He was her boyfriend." I continued, " He was the last person who saw her that day, he invited her to join the Sorority club the day she died. He denies attending her funeral even though he was there. Is that enough reason for him to be a prime suspect?"

She shot me a contemptous gaze. "It's not enough reason for you to date him! You think dating him will uncover the truth? That's naive."

I leaned in, voice low. " Sometimes people reveal more than intended. I'll play the part."

Jiwon shook her head. "And what about your feelings? Real or fake?"

I smiled cryptically. "That's for me to know."

Jiwon's eyes scanned the cafeteria. She seemed to have found who she was looking for as her eyes returned back to me. "Speaking of the devil." She muttered. By devil I knew she was referring to Minhwan who had been staring at us the whole time. He must be getting restless already. It was something l learnt from her. Most rich brats tend to go haywire when things doesn't go their way.

I still couldn't figure him out. Why was he going this far just so he could get me? Was he so demented that dating both of us gave him immense pleasure? Jiwon's next sentence brings my straying thoughts to an halt.

"So, I'm going to be thirdwheeling while you're having sex with that scumbag." She says sarcastically.

" No. You're not thirdwheeling and we're not having sex." I reply firmly.

Jiwon's eyes flashed. " What if that's the only way for you to uncover the truth?"

I didn't think twice about it. " I'll do it then. I need to know what happened to Yonna. Minhwan's the key." Jiwon gave me a what's the difference look and I shrugged.

I became serious again. "I need information on all the victims of the suicide cases and disappearance cases. The fact that they all died and went missing after becoming associated with the Sorority club bugs me. Yonna was also asked to join before all this."

Jiwon's brows furrowed. "So you'll be dating Minhwan so you can get close to the Sorority club?" I could see why she was the second best student. Guess all those reading paid off. "Yes."

"You think the Sorority club is connected to the cases?" She inquired further. I grimaced. " It's just a guess. For now. With more information about the victims we'll get a definite answer to that."

"Let's get digging then."

I smiled grimly. " Let's find the truth together."

Jiwon's gaze flickered from mine to Minhwan's then back to me. Her serious expression fading. She revealed a sinister smile. "So, how are you going to seduce that assh*le?"

It was funny how she always had another name for him.

I turn sharply to gaze at the assh*le in question who averted his gaze immediately. I heard Jiwon snicker. I turned to look at her giving her a matching smile. "He has fallen already."

~~~ At Closing

Minhwan burst into Yuri's classroom, his eyes blazing with determination. "Everyone out!" He commanded.

Students scrambled to the exit, whispers and gasps filling the air.

My eyes widened, surprised but calculated.

Seems someone can't wait any longer.

Minhwan slammed the door shut, his chest heaving. "Yuri, don't deny us, we can't remain hurting."

I shook my head. " You were her everything, how can I replace her?"

He strode toward me, his words pouring out in a passionate torrent. "You're not replacing her, you're saving me."

My expression softened, my heart racing beneath my calm facade.

I leaned in towards him my gaze locked onto Minhwan's, my voice barely above a whisper. "Minhwan, I... I'm scared. What will people say?"

Minhwan's eyes burned with intensity. His face inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. "I don't care about the rumors. I care about you Yuri. Only you. Be mine?"

I searched his eyes. There was no going back after this. With phase one successfully in place, I slowly nodded.

A/N

What do y'all think about this chapter?

It's the first lengthy chapter!!

Jiwon and Yuri are finally working together. Yonna must be happy!

Drop your thoughts in the comment section. Leave a vote too if you're enjoying the story.

~~

Yuri: It's funny how you always have another name for him

Jiwon: (scoffs) I have a whole journal with names for him.