You Have Been Defended - Chapter 60
Was it such a sudden question? The homeroom teacher looked a bit flustered and glanced at the principal for a moment.
"Uh... Jincheol's mother, during end-of-day homeroom, I asked the kids about what happened, and they said Jincheol was playing around, his indoor shoes flew off, and he reached for them and fell. So that's what I reported."
[TRUTH]
The word floating above the teacher's head. I watched them silently.
"We can buy new indoor shoes, but do you really think it makes sense that Jincheol ran to the window to grab them and fell?"
His mother, who had been barely holding back her emotions, could no longer contain herself and shouted in agitation.
"Jincheol's mother... please calm down a bit."
"How can I calm down? They're saying our child fell from that height over some ridiculous story! If he'd landed headfirst, Jincheol—our baby would... sob sob."
As his mother broke into tears, they all floundered, not knowing what to do. I handed her my handkerchief.
Jincheol's mother struggled to compose herself for a while, and eventually, I spoke up.
"Teacher, let me ask a few questions on her behalf. It seems too hard for her to speak right now."
The homeroom teacher, still watching Jincheol's tearful mother, nodded.
"We don't believe Jincheol fell because of something like that."
"Is Jincheol saying something different about what happened that day?"
The teacher asked, sounding genuinely shocked. I couldn't tell if she truly didn't know the truth of that day or if she knew but was probing to see how she should respond.
"Teacher, we're shocked that you concluded your investigation just by asking the kids about what happened."
"......"
"Whether he really fell while playing around, or if someone pushed him, or if there was a situation that made him fall... it feels like you ruled out all those possibilities."
The homeroom teacher's expression hardened at my words.
"Are you saying there was bullying in our class...? That Jincheol was bullied and the kids in my class deliberately pushed him out the window?"
"I'm saying we can't rule out that possibility."
"Did Jincheol ever say he was being bullied?"
"Does someone come to mind?"
"No, this is the first I'm hearing of it... I'm quite taken aback."
[FALSE]
The homeroom teacher spoke with firm conviction, but she couldn't escape this ability. She clearly knew about the bullying but had stopped the investigation there, failing in her duty. Even now that I was pointing out the flawed methods, she planned to brazen it out to the end.
"But you don't have any certainty that such possibilities don't exist, do you?"
"......"
"We don't expect much from the school. Principal, what do you think? It could be exactly as the kids said—Jincheol running to grab his shoes and falling. But it might not be. Am I wrong?"
Called out suddenly, the principal coughed awkwardly, looking troubled.
"Why can't you answer! Principal, is Jincheol's uncle wrong? What if we let this slide and it turns out Jincheol really was bullied! What parent would trust a school that doesn't properly investigate an accident or even try to find the perpetrator!"
Jincheol's mother, who had stopped crying to watch the situation, shouted.
Jangmyeong High School had already turned a blind eye once to a student trying to hold a bullying committee to punish the perpetrators. That past incident was probably overlapping in their minds right now. They likely thought they could just cover it up like before if we pushed for a committee.
"Ma'am, we've been shortsighted. Failing to consider that possibility was our mistake. As you said, we'll conduct a more thorough investigation. We'll have the kids write anonymous accounts of what happened that day. If bullying was occurring as you suggest, it will come to light. We'll also check again if any students or staff witnessed the accident."
The principal spoke fidgeting anxiously.
In truth, there wasn't much a school could do for an investigation. And even if Lee Hyeokmin's name appeared on those papers distributed to the students, the school would pretend not to see it. But it wasn't meaningless.
I finished the conversation with Jincheol's mother and we left the school. As soon as she got in the car, she burst into tears again.
"How can teachers be like that...? How can they be so shameless? Sob, Jincheol told the homeroom teacher he was having a hard time fighting with Hyeokmin, how could they... how..."
When the homeroom teacher asked if there was bullying, I countered by asking if anyone came to mind. She should have immediately recalled that Jincheol had mentioned struggling with Hyeokmin. But admitting that would naturally shift focus to Hyeokmin, so she couldn't.
"Jincheol's mother, when the homeroom teacher follows up on the investigation and contacts you, let me know right away."
"Yes, I will."
"They said they'd send study materials to follow the curriculum, so ask them to come to Jincheol's hospital room. Then I'll go there and meet the homeroom teacher naturally."
"Do you have more to ask the homeroom teacher? They're denying it so shamelessly right now..."
"No, that's not it."
What the teacher would say that day was already set in stone. Whether a kid wrote down the truth or not, she'd deny it flat out. But I planned to use my ability there. It would let me check if there was any student who could side with Jincheol.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Ah, fuck, they won't comp us there anymore."
"Someone must've snitched. That old super owner gave 'em to us even in uniforms, it was nice. Where do we get 'em now?"
In a neighborhood alley after school, Hyeokmin and his four cronies were huddled smoking.
Sanggil, assigned an important mission by Taesik, stealthily held the recorder close to the corner to capture their voices clearly.
He'd been loitering near Jangmyeong High School's gate, spotted Hyeokmin's gang coming out, and followed them here. Luckily, they hadn't noticed him yet.
"Wasn't there a kid from Class 6 working at a convenience store? Kids from that class got him to buy smokes for them."
"Oh, him? He was in my class last year with the dog."
"Then ask him."
"But we haven't talked in ages, not sure if he'll do it."
"Offer 3,500 won to buy, he'll profit 1,000, he'll do it."
Hyeokmin, who had been silently smoking, chimed in, and the kids snickered.
"Ooooh~ Hyeokmin~ You're loaded~"
"Ask him, and I'll cover yours too with extra cash. Go tomorrow."
"Ooooh~ Hyeokmin~"
Sanggil clicked his tongue. Fresh-faced punks talking smokes. Sure, he'd smoked since middle school, but the past didn't matter now. At least he never bullied a classmate! He hadn't gone to school, so he couldn't bully anyway!
"Finals are coming up fast. Time flies, for real."
"They said cram class starts today, right?"
"Yeah. Ah, fuck, wanna live in a country without exams."
Smoking hard while worrying about grades—an ironic sight.
"Hey, ask your dad to ditch midterms and finals."
One of the gang joked at Hyeokmin. He stubbed his cigarette on the wall and replied.
"Crazy, how's my dad gonna do that."
"He's the superintendent, right? Should be able to, huh? Heh heh."
Sanggil's Notebook
Lee Hyeokmin punk dad's job: Superintendent of Education.
Sanggil pulled out his notepad at those words—one of the facts his boss wanted confirmed. He scribbled it down crookedly, then tilted his head.
What's a superintendent? Is that a job?
Maybe he misheard. As he pondered, Hyeokmin's voice came from deeper in the alley.
"Let's go."
As they stubbed out their smokes and headed out, Sanggil quickly hid. Once they were a bit ahead, he tailed them slowly.
Hyeokmin's gang hit the main street and grabbed a taxi.
Kids taking taxis. Lucky bastards.
Sanggil flagged the next one, hopped in, and said to follow the one ahead. Soon, it stopped. He paid hastily and got out.
Should've gotten expense money from boss upfront.
His wallet had only 5,000 won—cut it close. Sanggil quickly checked where Hyeokmin's group was headed.
Sangjin Comprehensive Academy. A massive cram school taking up a whole building in this pricey neighborhood.
Through the glass front, he saw them boarding the elevator. Sanggil scanned around and entered.
"Excuse me."
The desk clerk on the phone looked up.
"Yes?"
"Is this where Lee Hyeokmin from Jangmyeong High attends?"
"Ah, yes... but who might you be?"
The clerk looked up at Sanggil warily. Suit, no tie. Shirt button undone. He'd tried to look neat, but the buzzcut and facial scars just scared her.
"Ah, I'm his older brother from Jangmyeong High students. Thinking of sending my kid here."
The clerk's guarded eyes didn't soften. Sanggil paused, then added.
"I may look like this, but I want my little bro to study well... sob, sniff."
"Ah, oh! I see... poor thing."
The clerk, feeling sorry, handed tissues to the face-covering Sanggil.
He blew his nose loudly, sighed deeply, and said.
"Heard there's a Hyeokmin kid at their school who's top student, so they want me to send my bro to his academy. Ha, he's our family's hope..."
"Ah, yes... Lee Hyeokmin, second-year at Jangmyeong High, attends our academy. He's kept top of the school just with us. Your brother will surely do well here too."
The clerk smiled brightly. Sanggil nodded.
"Gimme some info paper or whatever."
"Curious about our curriculum? Here's a pamphlet."
"Thanks. I'm illiterate, so I'll show my bro at home and come back for consultation together."
"Sure, please do."
Pocketing the kindly offered pamphlet, Sanggil exited. He pulled out his notepad again.
Sanggil's Notebook
Academy Lee Hyeokmin bastard attends: Sangjin Comprehensive Academy. (Says he only goes here)
Then he sat at a cafe with a clear view of the entrance and waited stubbornly. He'd confirmed no other exits—they were trapped rats.
The wait was so boring he nearly played his downloaded bungeoppang tycoon game on his phone but held back.
Around 10 PM, students poured out.
"When's that punk coming out."
Maybe from all the vitamins—his eyesight was sharp. Spotting Hyeokmin's gang amid the crowd heading for taxis, Sanggil tailed swiftly.
"Ah fuck, taxis again."
His T-money card had some balance—he'd use that.
Their taxi pulled up to a fancy mansion. Sanggil had his stop at the alley corner, peeked out cautiously.
As they rang the bell, he ducked behind a utility pole.
"Fucking starving. Ask auntie for tteokbokki?"
Hyeokmin joked with the kids as they entered.
Spoiled brat. Nice house. How much is this place?
Once Hyeokmin's gang vanished, Sanggil sneaked to the gate, snapped the address plate, and hid behind the pole again—for an hour.
Huh?
A clean model taxi pulled up smoothly. The man who got out rang the bell naturally.
That guy...
A familiar face. Sanggil squinted, watching until the man entered.
Hm, maybe the eldest son?
Tilting his head in thought, he suddenly remembered the pamphlet from the academy. Flipping it open, the man's face grinned hugely on the inside page.
Sanggil's Notebook
Sangjin Academy instructor: Lee Hyeokmin's bro? Bro-in-law? Uncle? Dad? Oh right, dad was superintendent... got it.