The PE Teacher Murder Case
Until we reached the hospital, Jong-hyuk, Kyung-soo, and I exchanged not a single word. We just hoped this agonizing time would pass quickly.
As Kyung-soo pushed open the door to In-ha's room, I turned at the hand gripping my arm. Jong-hyuk shook his head side to side.
"Let's go in a bit later."
I managed only a wry smile. "Yeah..."
Jong-hyuk and I sat on the chairs meant for guardians outside the room.
"What do you think In-ha will decide?"
"Hoo..."
"Kyung-soo never said it out loud, but he was thrilled about co-ed classes in high school."
"The hope of ending up in the same class as In-ha?"
"Yeah. Even with co-ed schools now, they hardly ever cross paths anyway."
"I see..."
How cruel am I, forcing my friend into this? What the hell am I...?
"Should I go in now and tell him not to say anything like that?"
As I started to stand, Jong-hyuk grabbed me. "Can I be honest?"
"What?"
I stared at him in surprise, and Jong-hyuk hesitated, his mouth opening and closing a few times before he spoke.
"When I heard your suggestion, I thought it was a good idea."
"..."
He averted his eyes as our gazes met in shock.
"I didn't know what kind of harm In-ha was suffering or the details. Honestly, it never even crossed my mind. But hearing you talk to Kyung-soo today... I realized you're different from us."
"What do you...?"
"It's hard to put into words, but..."
"..."
"You didn't just say we can't sit idly by because her suffering is so bad. You actually thought about how to fix it. That's impressive."
"What?"
"Everyone says it so easily. 'If it's tough, just transfer.' But in the end, the victim has to figure it all out. Transferring isn't simple—moving, parents' jobs, distance... all those real problems. You considered everything and pondered what was truly best for In-ha. That's why Kyung-soo's mad."
"He'd be, right? This is between him and In-ha..."
"The anger I'm talking about? It's aimed at himself, for not being able to do it."
"But Kyung-soo's still in middle school..."
"So are you?"
"Ah..."
"I think there are all kinds of geniuses in the world, and maybe you're one."
"What?"
"Actually, this isn't my words. I overheard Mom and Dad talking."
"Your parents thought that about me?"
"Yeah."
"No, that's not... I'm still..."
"Yeah... for now. But soon, you'll be even more amazing. And I want to stay by your side as a friend."
"You already are."
"I want to be a friend who sees eye to eye with you."
I looked at Jong-hyuk with wide eyes.
Have I been treating him like a kid, even while calling him my friend?
"Kyung-soo probably feels the same. His young heart wants to keep seeing In-ha, but part of him wants to solve this for her sake, from the same perspective as you. Still, the sadness is unavoidable..."
"I'm not as great as you guys think. I just want the people around me to be a little happier... and this time, it feels like my mistake."
"You really think so?"
"I... don't know."
"Haha!"
Jong-hyuk's sudden laughter puzzled me until he stifled it, probably thinking of the room's mood.
"See? Moments like this make me feel like a regular middle schooler."
"A middle schooler about to become a high schooler."
Though if I factor in my pre-regression life, calling myself a student feels like a scam.
I grumbled half-heartedly, burying my conscience, and Jong-hyuk continued placatingly.
"I meant you're mature."
Mature... Does just getting older and bigger make you an adult?
As Jong-hyuk looked puzzled at my reaction and opened his mouth again, the room door flew open.
We turned in bewilderment. Kyung-soo burst out, face flushed, without a word.
"Huh...?"
"Kyung-soo?"
Stunned by his sprint away, we still figured we should at least say hi to In-ha before following. Inside, we froze at the sight of her—sad yet smiling like a wildflower.
"I told Kyung-soo."
"What?"
Though the same age, she carried an inexplicable weight, as if sharing all our burdens. Jong-hyuk and I couldn't speak easily.
"That I might have killed the PE teacher..."
"That's ridiculous..."
"I... don't remember. But the detective showed me evidence today—my clothes found at the scene."
"Even so, Kyung-soo looked into everything for me because he believes I'm innocent and didn't want me suffering. At first, I couldn't say a word. But... I couldn't lie. So..."
In-ha trailed off, tears falling silently.
"I told him... I did it."
"It really wasn't you. Why?"
Knowing the truth, I blurted out in confusion at her absurd confession.
"I... don't remember that day. But I couldn't ask him to believe me. I know how cruel school can be to someone who thinks differently. I don't want Kyung-soo going through that."
"Do you really want him knowing you're a murderer?"
"Of course not. I just... want this to end quickly."
"Kyung-soo hasn't given up, so if you abandon your life like this, what does that make those helping you?"
"So... don't worry about me. Go back to normal life. I don't want Kyung-soo dragged out of his peace. That'd be... too cruel."
Her words enraged me; I couldn't hide my agitation. Jong-hyuk stepped in front, said one thing, and pulled me out.
"Won't you regret it?"
In-ha's final wildflower smile faded as the door closed. We hurried to find Kyung-soo but saw no sign of him.
"Will Kyung-soo be okay?"
"What the hell is this? I..."
"Totally unexpected... What do you even call this?"
"Layer upon layer of mountains?"
Gazing at the darkening sky, we headed to Heo Soon-kyung's station in desperation. There, we saw a troubled Heo Soon-kyung with Kyung-soo clinging to him, bringing relief and exhaustion.
"Hyung, what does that even mean? Evidence that In-ha's the culprit? Come on!"
"No... it's..."
Heo Soon-kyung kept glancing back at the station, drained from the ongoing tussle.
I clamped Kyung-soo's mouth and dragged him behind the library like a sack. As we approached, his face lit with hope of escape, then paled at my actions. Ignoring it, I pinned his resistance and dumped him in the secluded spot.
He flailed, but couldn't overcome my body strengthening spell. Heo Soon-kyung and Jong-hyuk's expressions were priceless, but I ignored them.
"You... yelling like that in front of the station..."
Before I finished, Kyung-soo exploded.
"You guys think In-ha's the killer too?"
"Haa... no way."
I sighed, hand on my forehead. Worried, Jong-hyuk jumped in.
"If In-ha had killed the PE teacher, he'd be dead long ago."
Heo Soon-kyung looked baffled, flicking our heads.
"Bad teacher or not, that doesn't mean it's okay to kill him. In-ha's still a suspect. Though it's impossible for her build to do that to him."
"That state?"
"The victim had multiple fractures. Fatal wound was a stab, death by blood loss, but forensics says someone his size did it."
"So the detective grilled In-ha today because...?"
"Suspect, so interrogation."
"But badgering her to confess just because of evidence?"
Heo Soon-kyung's face hardened unusually.
"I thought you kids had broader views than most, but no. This is an ongoing investigation. We question everyone, canvass. Demanding evidence in front of police? That's obstructing official duties."
I figured his firmness came from Kyung-soo crossing a line, so I soothed him while subtly defending: "In-ha seemed really bad off today, so Kyung-soo's just excited."
"What? In-ha's in bad shape?"
His concern erased his prior irritation, showing he didn't suspect her.
"Cops have been around a lot lately. Something up?"
"Hm... This is public now, warning residents. You saw the taxi news?"
"Yeah."
"Women vanishing from late-night taxis. Detectives are rushing other cases to focus on this, per orders."
So they're wrapping In-ha's case quick as initial investigation?
We gleaned hints but got no more; Heo Soon-kyung, having seen Kyung-soo's scene, gave no openings. We headed home.