šššļøšļø*THE ARCHITECT OF SILENCE*šļøšļøšš
*CHAPTER 12*
I turnedā
Slowly.
*Han Tae Min.*
Blood streamed down the side of his head.
Thenā
Movement.
I ran.
Butā
He slipped from my reach.
Thenā
A scream.
Students.
Teachers.
Chaos.
I stood frozen.
At the same spot.
A voice pierced through the noise.
"Mi Jin-ah!"
That was the last thing I heard.
Asā
My world tilted.
Black.
***
My eyes opened slowly.
White ceiling.
Hospital lights.
Andā
Detective Song.
He stood by the window.
Watching me.
Detective Song:
"You're awake."
I didn't answer.
He walked closer.
Detective Song:
"Han Tae Min has fallen into a coma."
Silence.
He studied my face carefully.
Detective Song:
"Did you hear what I said? He might not survive."
I blinked once.
That was all.
Detective Song's jaw tightened.
Detective Song:
"You don't look shakenā¦"
A pause.
"Which makes you the prime suspect."
I almost smiled.
He continued.
Detective Song:
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law."
I chuckled softly.
Was he rehearsing for a drama?
Me:
"As far as I knowā¦ you need evidence. Not instinct."
He stopped walking.
Turned slowly.
Me:
"You can't hold me here without proof. And to request an arrest warrant, you'll need something more than circumstantial connections."
His expression shifted.
Slightly.
Detective Song:
"In Kim Ha Na's death, you were involved. In Park Jae In's case, you were nearby. And now Han Tae Min."
A pause.
"It can't all be coincidence."
I laughed.
Soft.
Controlled.
Me:
"You think so?"
Detective Song:
"You were the last person seen with him."
Me:
"Which makes him the only witness."
Silence.
I tilted my head.
Me:
"I wonder what other witnesses you have."
He stared at me.
Long.
Thenā
Turned.
Detective Song:
"This isn't over."
Me:
"I'll be waiting."
He left.
***
I sat in my room.
Alone.
Cold.
The silence wrapped around me like a blanket.
Me:
"Momā¦ I'm glad I was born your daughter."
I looked at her memorial tablet.
My reflection stared back at me.
Me:
"I hope you're proud of me."
I opened a bottle of soju.
Poured it slowly over the tablet.
Clear liquid.
Like a ritual.
Like an offering.
Thenā
I lay down.
And slept.
*WEDNESDAY*
When I arrived at schoolā
The media was already there.
Cameras.
Reporters.
Microphones.
But I knew.
Seoul High would never risk its reputation.
They would bury it.
They always do.
I walked through the gate.
Heads turned.
Whispers followed.
In classā
No one.
Empty seats.
Dead silence.
As if the room itself was mourning.
Or afraid.
I sat down.
Replaying yesterday.
Again.
And again.
This was good.
In a way.
It was nowā
Golden 8.
My plan was unfolding perfectly.
Just thatā
Tae Min wasn't supposed to fall like that.
The speakers crackled.
A distorted voice echoed through the building.
"Students, please return to your classrooms. Everything is under control."
Under control?
Lies.
In the hallwayā
Students gathered.
Protesting.
Panicking.
Some crying.
Others shouting.
Thenā
Mrs. Gu stepped forward.
The foreign head teacher.
Her hands trembled slightly.
But she forced a smile.
Mrs. Gu:
"Everyoneā¦ please. Return to your homerooms."
Her voice shook.
No one moved.
One student stepped forward.
*SEOK JAE BUM RANK 55.*
Jae Bum:
"Everyone, let's just go baā"
A stone flew.
Then another.
Glass shattered.
Screams erupted.
Chaos exploded.
I laughed softly.
They were animals.
Finallyā
I stepped forward.
Me:
"Everyoneā¦ go back toā"
I didn't finish.
The crowd scattered instantly.
Interesting.
Maybeā
They were afraid of me.
I turned toward the window.
And thenā
I saw them.
Eight black luxury cars rolled through the gate.
Perfectly aligned.
The most expensive models in the country.
Doors opened.
One by one.
*GOLDEN 8*
Not dressed in mourning.
But in silence.
I smiled faintly.
Yes.
Seoul High was about to bury this case.
Again.
*END OF CHAPTER 12*