Blue Flower (Boys Over Flowers Fanfiction)

Chapter 17

"In just a few days, Lee Chang-Mul will be released after serving his ten-year sentence."

The news anchor's voice was calm, detached—so at odds with the horror those words carried.

"He was convicted for the brutal murder of the Lee family, including his own brother, Lee Jung-Won, the former Minister of Health, and his wife."

A grainy image of the family flashed on the screen before the broadcast cut away.

Ji-Hoo, who had been absentmindedly flipping through a book, suddenly stilled. "Wasn't this the famous murder case from back then?" His voice was laced with familiarity, as if recalling a long-buried memory.

"Yeah," Yi-Jung nodded, his expression darkening. "My parents and I attended their funeral. It was... nerve-wracking."

"A shameful crime," Jun-Pyo muttered from his spot on the couch, his arms crossed.

I flicked my gaze to the TV, the words on the screen burning into my mind before I lowered my head, pretending to be engrossed in a fashion magazine. But I wasn't reading—I wasn't even seeing the pages.

"How could a murderer get out so soon?!" Jan-Di's voice rang with anger as she scowled at the television. "He killed two people!"

The others murmured in agreement, but no one pushed the subject further. Cases like this happened all the time. Some crimes were never truly served justice.

I said nothing.

My hands trembled as I set the magazine down and silently left the room.

The moment I stepped into the bathroom, my knees buckled.

Violent nausea overtook me, and I barely made it to the toilet before my stomach emptied itself. The bile burned, my entire body convulsing as if it were trying to rid itself of something far worse than just the contents of my stomach.

Panting, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. My fingers felt ice-cold against my burning skin.

The water ran as I rubbed my hands together, scrubbing furiously—once, twice, three times—until the skin turned raw.

Lifting my head, I met my own reflection in the mirror. My face was pale, my lips slightly parted as I took shallow breaths. The haunted look in my eyes told me everything I needed to know.

He's coming back.

The man I loathed more than anyone.

My life would be over the moment he was free.

I ran a shaky hand through my hair, trying to steady myself. Just as I turned to leave, I nearly collided with Yi-Jung.

He stood there, blocking my way, his gaze heavy and unreadable.

I didn't acknowledge him. I brushed past him as if he didn't exist.

But before I was fully out of reach, his voice rang behind me, laced with warning.

"I'll find out soon, Park Sora."

My breath caught, but I kept walking, my hands clenching into fists.

I wasn't going to let my guard down.

Not for So Yi-Jung.

"Are you okay? You look pale," Jan-Di's voice pulled me back to reality.

I blinked, finding her watching me with concern. The same girl I had fought with only days ago now looked at me like a worried friend.

"It's probably just the weather," I lied smoothly, lowering myself into my chair.