𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗘 ⨾ vernon

07 | 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗲

As every moment passes by, I silently wish I don't start blabbering stuff I don't want to. It's like trying to control your mouth even when you know you can't. And that's a horrible feeling. Think about saying stuff like I have a red panda at home when you actually have a cat, but then when you go back to your home, the cat is not even there anymore. That red panda from your mouth sits on your bed and chews on your pillows. Things change and your dementia kicks in. Glad to know that I'm not the only kid.

I exit my front door after convincing Mom I have a project so I have to be early at school. Trust me, tell her anything study-related, and she'll believe. She's too focused on me getting my grades. But I never knew it could help me sneak out, so that's a plus point.

My bike sits right beside the front gate, locked and rusted. It was given to me by Wonwoo after he won his first Math competition and received like 200 dollars. I still have no idea how he turned out to be a genius. Me, on the other hand, am pretty much shit at Math.

It's a second handed bike, so I don't use it all that much. But today, I got a plan. I need to get to school fast.

After last night's conversation with Hansol, I'm pretty sure he's not joking. If this thing is real, I need to get evidence so that I can't tell the police and know what the fuck this school is planning on. If Hansol is right, I think I might pull myself together first before the storm arises and the thrill begins.

Honestly, I can't wait to have some adventure in my life. If Hansol is right, and this whole thing is set up to somehow to brainwash the students, I think by getting through it can make me feel needed. I can get back Yeonhee. I can get back the real Yeonhee and stop all this confusion between us.

I just hope she remembers me one day. Not for being the quiet kid at lunch, but the one who held her while she grieved for her grandmother. I want her to remember, but I just can't seem to walk up to her and spill my truth. That's another thing that I'm not able to do because of this... thing. Wonwoo doesn't remember. He doesn't want to remember, I think.

I quickly get on my bike and set off my speed to hurry up and get that school under my radar as soon as possible.

meet me at the palm tree near the playground at school at 6:45 am, I text Hansol after stopping by at the convenience store to get some bread.

Good morning? He texts back and I suppress a laugh. This guy needs training.

yeah, good morning, hurry up.

At least near this palm tree, the chaos of the school subsides to the ground level, just to rise back again. You are too near to the buzz and yet far.

I park my bike and unzip my bag and take out a camera I had since forever. The model is old and looks unreliable. But at least it's mine. It's my last hope if I fail today. Back-up is good.

I wait for Hansol for a while and chew on some gum when Wonwoo calls me.

"Hey, what's up?" I say as I pick up his call.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't think of anything else. Actually... what is going on? Why isn't Yeonhee picking up my phone calls? Did you tell her about my murder records?"

Wonwoo has dark humour, and his is the best. He's quiet most of the times, but when he speaks, you don't want to hear him anymore. If you want to describe him, just put in EMO. Eternally Mortal Orphan. He named himself that once he learnt English. I tried telling him out of his complex, but he never forgets how he was told he was the reason to his mother's death. If I were in his place, I don't think I'd be any different.

But I explained to him too many times why he isn't responsible for any of it and being a baby and not having a strong enough mother isn't his fault, he wouldn't listen. He's always like You didn't pick up my call because you know I am a killer and I killed my mother.