𝘗𝘺𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 | 𝘺.𝘫𝘸 𝘹 𝘬.𝘴𝘯

💌 49 - warn

Sunoo didn't step foot into a single class that day.

He wandered the empty hallways instead, steps slow, aimless, heavy with thoughts that refused to quiet. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Jay's face of confusion and panic with his wrists in cuffs.

"Stay here. Don't get involved."
Sunoo scoffs remembering what he said.

Yeah, like that was ever going to happen.

He ended up in the back corner of the library, a place no one ever really went. His fingers clenched around the card he'd kept hidden in the back pocket of his phone case, the one Detective Joon had slipped him a week ago.

"If you're ever in danger, give me a call."

At the time, it felt like an empty offer. Like the kind of thing adults said to make themselves feel better. But now...

Sunoo pulled out his phone, staring at the number on the card for a long moment before finally pressing call.

The line ran.

"Detective Joon speaking."

Sunoo hesitated for a second. "I know I'm only supposed to call if I'm in danger... but I need your help."

"Go on."

"It's about Jay," Sunoo said, voice tight. "He didn't start the fire. He was trying to protect our friend. You have to investigate what really happened at Choi Yeonjun's house."

Joon's tone shifted. "Ah, I've heard about that fire. We're looking into it, but if your friend was seen fighting—"

"Jay was nowhere near Hyunwoo when the fire went off," Sunoo cut in. "The fire started when he was about to charge at Yeonjun. It must be someone else or an accident. The place was filled with decor he probably caught on fire because a candle tipped over."

A pause.

"Please... my friend needs help."

...

Then the detective sighed. "Alright, Sunoo. We're still making investigations at Yeonjun's house. I'll look for any evidence to prove Jay's innocence. In the meantime, be careful... there has been too many deaths occurring lately for this all to be a coincidence... these kills are connected, I just need to figure out why..."

Sunoo nods over the phone. "I will, thank you detective."

He sighs, worried about what might happen next.

Just as he hung up, someone grabbed his arm.

He flinched, his spinning came to an abrupt stop only to see Sunghoon standing there, eyes darting nervously around the library like he was being watched.

"You're in the library... good." Sunghoon sighs in relief knowing that no one can hear or see them.

Sunoo furrows his eyebrows in confusion. "What are you doing?"

"I need to tell you something," Sunghoon says firmly, completely ignoring Sunoo's question. "It's about Jungwon."

Sunoo blinked. "Huh?"

"I-I don't know how I can explain this quickly but..." Sunghoon's voice cracked, and his hands trembled slightly. "Just—stay away from him. Okay? Trust me."

Sunoo stared, confused. "What? What are you saying?—

"I wasn't there, but the day of the showcase, I saw Jungwon entering the theatre after your incident."

"Incident?" Sunoo tilts his head, then realizes what he was referring to.

Sunoo scoffs. "You mean the prank you and Heeseung pulled off to humiliate me?"

Sunghoon shakes his head. "Whatever, what I'm telling you is that Jungwon might be involved with what happened with Heeseung. He was the last person I saw enter through the door when I left."

"Okay, so what is it that you're trying to tell me?" Sunoo asks, crossing his arms.

"I think..." Sunghoon hesitated to say the next part of his sentence.

"What? You think Jungwon might have killed Heeseung?" Sunoo asks jokingly.

But Sunoo quickly dismisses his joke as Sunghoon stares intensely into his eyes.

Sunoo pauses for a moment.

And then, Sunoo began to laugh. "Oh my god you cannot be serious!"

Heeseung clicks his tongue. "I don't know... I've been avoiding him lately and he's been giving me these... stares and signals me these weird gestures I don't even understand. But I know I can prove it was him."

Sunoo rolls his eyes. "So... then why didn't you go to the police about it?"

"You think they'd believe me?! They took me into questioning right after Heeseung's death and the second I mentioned Jungwon they told me I was being 'delirious!'"

"Mhm... sure." Sunoo says, completely unconvinced.

Sunghoon grabs him by the shoulders. "Just do what I'm fucking telling you. You aren't safe around him. Avoid him, don't show up to school. He's—."

Sunoo shoves him off.
"Just stop! Are you seriously pulling this crap again? Even after Heeseung's death, you're still playing games and trying to mess with me?"Sunoo cuts him off.

"I'm not!" Sunghoon said quickly, sounding frustrated as if he is truly trying to prove himself right. "This isn't a game. I swear I wouldn't joke about this—"

But Sunoo had already stepped back, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Unbelievable, why would I believe someone like you anyway? My day has already been stressful enough and I don't need an asshole like you to test my patience even further." he muttered, pushing past him.

"Sunoo!" Sunghoon called after him, panic rising. "I'm telling the truth! Stay away from him!"

But Sunoo didn't turn back.

He didn't see the way Sunghoon's face paled. The way his shoulders collapsed like someone had just signed a death sentence. He didn't hear the whispers that followed behind the rows of bookshelves.

All Sunoo knew was Jay was being framed for something he didn't do... and no matter what anyone said, he was going to prove his best friend's innocence. Even if it meant stepping straight into danger.