Truth and Accuracy | K.TH

2

I needed to get that wallet before he had a chance to throw away the receipt. Whatever he ripped off was definitely the evidence I needed to prove he did it.

I followed him from a distance back to the guy's locker room. Given that I held him back with the interview, most of the other athletes had left already. I held the door open slightly and listened until one of the showers turned on.

Oh my god, am I really doing this? I thought, fear rising inside me. I pushed it down and mustered up the courage to go inside. The smell of sweat almost made me gag, but I was determined to get that wallet.

I saw his bag open by the locker and fished around inside, but nothing. I glanced towards the showers and saw his clothes on the ground. I swallowed hard and slowly approached the pile.

I felt around the inside of the pocket and finally pulled out the wallet. Suddenly, the water turned off. I sprinted out of the locker room, the wallet still in my hands, and breathed out a sigh of relief.

I speed walked out of the hallway and into my club room, where I pulled out the missing half of the receipt. My eyes widened when I saw what he had bought.

"I knew it!" I exclaimed.

Four bottles of spray paint. In pink, white, black, and blue: the same ones used on the principal's car. I snapped some pictures of it and put it in my bag.

Then realization hit me. What do I do with the wallet? I thought. I have to return it, but how do I do it without meeting him directly?

I decided that I should just leave it in the hallway outside the locker room, and hopefully he would think he just dropped it. Following through with my plan, I left school with a smile on my face.

-

The next day I sat in my empty classroom before classes had started. I was still tired, but I needed to go over my evidence if I wanted to get a story together.

With my eyes half closed, I was making a timeline based on the interviews. I didn't even notice when the door opened and someone came in. I was only aware of their presence when a strong hand landed on my shoulder.

I looked up and fear began to fill my body. "Hi Taehyun, what's up?"

He held open his wallet, showing me the contents of it. "Where is it?"

"Where is what?" I played dumb.

"You know what I'm talking about! Nobody cared about that stupid receipt except you. I don't know how you got my wallet, but I know you have it."

I stared quietly at him, thinking of some kind of excuse, but none came to mind. "I'll give it back if you tell me why you did it."

"I didn't do it!" He defended himself. I looked at him with a knowing look and he rolled his eyes. "You want a story? I'll give you a real story if you give it back."

"What do you mean?" I eyed him suspiciously.

"I mean," he started, leaning down to reach my eye level. "We did it because the principal is stealing from the school."

"What?" I exclaimed. He shrugged and held out his hand. I sighed and pulled out both halves of the receipt and gave it to him. I watched as he crumpled them and threw them away, pulling a chair next to my desk.

"He's stealing money from the school. He's the reason why the music program is getting shut down; he stole all the funds for it." He explained.

"How do you know?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does! Do you have proof? How am I supposed to write a story with just your word?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes. "I'll get you your proof, whatever. We tried to get him fired but the school board has yet to do anything, so we've resorted to trying to make him quit."

"And why is this music program so important to you?" I questioned.

"It's not. We're doing it for Huening Kai. He loves playing instruments." He answered, smiling slightly. I smiled at how much he cared. "So, will you write it? If we spread the word, maybe the school board will take notice."

"I'm sorry, but I can't report a story like this. He's still the principal, and I could get expelled." I shook my head. He sighed, but I guess he understood. 

"I have an idea." He looked up at me. His big shining eyes flustered me. "What if you write it anonymously and me and my friends will pass it out to people?"

I thought over his plan. "Maybe. But on one condition."

"What?" He asked, leaning closer.

"I still have to have a story submitted by next week. Get me a story and I'll do your thing." I told him. He sighed and nodded.

"Okay, I'll get a story." He agreed.

"If you don't," I started. "I'll write about you guys being the ones who graffitied the car."

He rolled his eyes. "Okay, deal." 

He held out his hand. I shook it while smiling at him. "Pleasure doing business with you, Taehyun."

"And you, Jia." He smiled back. I took notice of how cute he looked when he was happy; it made me feel warm.

He left the room and I fist pumped the air, glad that I had reached the truth.