THE NIGHT THEY ALL SAW THE TRUTH
SEOUL — JAE RIN APARTMENT — 2:38 AM
The apartment lights were still on.
No one was sleeping.
Jae Rin sat on the couch, blanket around her shoulders, staring at the TV without really watching.
The sleeping pills bottle was on the table.
Open.
Half empty.
Min Jae stood near the kitchen counter, arms crossed.
"You said you wouldn't take another one tonight."
She didn't look at him.
"I didn't."
Yuna sighed.
"You didn't sleep either."
Sora checked the clock.
"It's almost 3."
Jisoo spoke softly,
"You've slept like two hours in two days."
She rubbed her forehead.
"I'm not tired."
Min Jae walked closer.
"You're exhausted."
No answer.
Silence.
He looked at the bottle again.
"You keep doing this every time you start thinking about the past."
Her eyes moved slightly.
That meant he was right.
He lowered his voice.
"Is this about the concert… or about them."
She stood up suddenly.
"I need air."
Yuna frowned.
"At this time?"
"Yes."
Sora stood.
"I'm coming."
"No."
Min Jae spoke calmly.
"You're not going alone."
She grabbed her jacket.
"I just want quiet."
Jisoo looked at her carefully.
"Take security at least."
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Fine."
Min Jae picked up his phone.
"I'll call them."
He looked at her again.
"You sure you're okay?"
She avoided his eyes.
"I just need to walk."
But inside her chest —
the tight feeling had already started.
SEOUL — STREET — NIGHT
The car stopped near the sidewalk.
Two bodyguards stood a few meters away, giving her space.
Cold air hit her face.
She breathed in slowly.
Better than inside.
She walked down the street quietly.
Hands in pockets.
Head down.
Trying not to think.
Trying not to remember Manila.
Trying not to remember school.
Trying not to remember him.
Her chest tightened again.
Suddenly.
Too fast.
She stopped near the wall.
Her breathing uneven.
Not again.
Not now.
Her fingers moved to her pocket.
Small pill strip.
Not sleeping pill.
The other one.
She pushed one tablet out.
Put it in her mouth.
Swallowed.
Leaned on the wall.
And that's when she heard footsteps.
Not one.
Many.
She looked up.
And froze.
Keifer.
Aries.
Angelo.
Ci-n.
Rory.
Edrix.
And behind them —
Section E.
All of them.
Mark Keifer Watson
Yuri Hanamitchi
Ci-n
David
Felix
Eman
Denzel
Kit
Mayo
Rory
Edrix
Eren
Josh
Drew
Blaster
Every single one of them staring at her.
And all of them had seen the pill.
Silence filled the street.
Ci-n spoke first.
"…Did she just take medicine?"
Aries frowned.
"Jay What was that."
Angelo looked worried instantly.
"She looks pale."
Keifer didn't move.
His eyes locked on her hand.
His voice low.
"Jay…Why are you taking pills."
Her heart started beating too fast.
Not from illness.
From them.
From the past.
From memories.
She straightened slowly.
Forced her face cold.
"My name is Jae Rin."
Silence.
Rory whispered,
"She's doing it again…"
Edrix shook his head.
"She knows us."
Keifer stepped closer.
"…Jay."
Her chest tightened harder.
"I don't know you."
His jaw clenched.
"You just took a pill because you couldn't breathe."
"That's none of your business."
"You almost collapsed on stage."
"I said I'm fine."
"You're not fine."
Her breathing got uneven again.
Everyone noticed.
Angelo stepped forward slowly.
"You're sick, aren't you."
Her eyes moved to him.
For one second —
they softened.
Then hardened again.
"I said I don't know you."
Aries spoke quietly.
"…Jay, stop."
That name again.
Her fingers trembled.
Her chest tight.
Air not going in right.
She turned slightly.
"Security."
The bodyguards stepped forward immediately.
One of them spoke firmly.
"Please step back."
Ci-n raised his hands.
"We're not doing anything."
Keifer didn't move.
Not even one step.
His eyes stayed on her face.
"You can hate me."
Silence.
"But don't lie to me."
Her breathing got worse again.
She hated this.
Hated being weak in front of them.
Hated that they could see it.
She looked at the guards.
"Take me home."
They nodded.
One opened the car door.
She walked toward it slowly.
Her legs felt heavy.
Her chest still tight.
Before she got in —
Keifer spoke again.
Soft.
Broken.
"…You never needed pills before."
She stopped for one second.
Just one.
Her eyes closed briefly.
Then she got inside the car.
Door shut.
The car drove away.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Only the sound of the engine fading.
Aries exhaled slowly.
"…She's not okay."
Angelo nodded.
"She looked sick."
Ci-n muttered,
"She was shaking."
Rory frowned.
"That wasn't normal."
Edrix looked at Keifer.
"You were right."
Keifer still staring at the road.
His voice low.
"She couldn't breathe."
Silence.
His hands clenched slowly.
"And she still thinks we won't find out."