SILENT SCAPEGOAT || HEESUN

UNVEILING THE TRUTH

As Yeeseo returned home, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and excitement. Everyone gathered to welcome her back, their faces alight with joy at her long-awaited return. But amidst the celebrations, Sunoo remained trapped behind the locked door, his cries for help muffled by the heavy silence that enveloped him.

Desperate and determined, Sunoo strained against the door, his fingers scrabbling at the lock with frantic urgency. And then, miraculously, the door gave way, swinging open to reveal Sunoo standing there, his eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.

"Sunoo?!" Yeeseo's voice rang out in astonishment as she took in the sight before her. Heeseung's parents, too, were stunned by Sunoo's sudden appearance, their faces etched with disbelief.

"Teacher Yeeseo?" Sunoo signed, a tremor of emotion in his hands as he greeted her.

"What are you doing here?" Yeeseo signed back, her eyes filled with confusion.

"How do you guys know that he was the one who saved me?" Yeeseo turned to her family, her expression incredulous.

But before anyone could respond, Yeeseo rushed forward, her eyes bright with excitement as she reached out to pinch Sunoo's cheek and pull him into a tight embrace.

"What took you so long?" Sunoo signed, tears streaming down his cheeks as he clung to Yeeseo.

Confusion clouded Yeeseo's features as she looked at Sunoo, her heart aching at the sight of his tears.

"Save you? When?" Heeseung's father's voice cut through the air, his tone filled with confusion.

"Yes, he saved me," Yeeseo replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "When I was raped and stabbed, Sunoo saved me from the killer. He was the one who stopped the killer from stabbing me. If he wasn't there, I could've been dead now."

A stunned silence fell over the room as Yeeseo's words sank in, the weight of her revelation hanging heavy in the air. Heeseung's parents exchanged a glance, their faces pale with shock as they realized the grave mistake they had made.

Heeseung felt a wave of weakness wash over him as the truth dawned on him. They had hurt the wrong person, inflicted pain upon an innocent soul.

Yeeseo, her eyes filled with tears, turned to Sunoo, her hands trembling as she reached out to pull off his jacket, revealing the bruises that marred his arms.

"What did you guys do to him?!" Yeeseo's voice trembled with rage and disbelief as she took in the extent of Sunoo's injuries.

"We thought he was the one who hurt you, so we took revenge into our own hands," Heeseung's mother confessed, her voice filled with remorse.

"What?!" Yeeseo's gaze flickered between Sunoo and his tormentors, her heart breaking at the realization of the pain they had inflicted upon him.

Sunoo's sobs filled the room as Yeeseo tenderly helped him put his jacket back on, her heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. In that moment, the weight of their actions hung heavy upon them all, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of their misguided beliefs.