Light High | •° RIIZE °•

18. FIRST SUICIDE

Hyeon's pov

Today was the day that would alter our lives forever—the dreaded exam day. As I sat in my usual seat, my heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The risk I was about to take felt monumental.

In front of me was Eunji's empty seat. Behind me, Shotaro sat engrossed in his book, his new glasses perched on his nose. He looked like an adorable nerd, and I couldn't help but comment.

"Oh my god, who told you to wear that?" I teased, surprised by his appearance.

Shotaro looked up, a hint of insecurity in his eyes. "Recently, I noticed my vision was a bit blurry, so the doctor recommended these. Do I look bad?"

"No, you look adorable," I said, giving his cheeks a playful pinch.

"Hyeon!" Eunseok called out, tapping my desk as he took the seat next to me, where Eunji usually sat.

"Yeah?" I turned to face him.

"Mmm... You talk with Jia, right?" His voice was shy, and he avoided my gaze. I nodded.

"Can you give this to her?" He handed me a folded letter. As I took a closer look, I realized with a jolt that it was a confession letter.

"Wait... How did this happen? You didn't even tell me," I said, astonished.

"Well, it's been a while. I didn't tell anyone because I knew they'd tease me nonstop. You're the first to know," he admitted, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Okay, I'll pass this to her—" My words were abruptly cut off by a loud thud. We all turned to the window, our heads turning in unison to see what had happened. Something had fallen.

We rushed to the window, and my heart sank as I saw Minyoung's shocked expression. The figure on the ground, the short hair, the hairband—it could only be Jia.

"Jiaaaa..." I cried out as I dashed toward the scene. The sight of Ms. Oh sobbing uncontrollably and Jia's best friend clinging to her, both of them in utter despair, made my stomach churn. What had happened? Was it a suicide or an accident?

I saw Eunseok running down, still clutching the confession letter. His heartache was palpable—he didn't even get a chance to express his feelings to Jia.

A tear rolled down my cheek before I could stop it. I quickly wiped it away, remembering the pain of losing my own parents. Despite Jia's association with the monsters, she had been one of the first to reach out to me, offering kindness when I needed it most.

Rest in peace, Jia. You didn't deserve this.

"You don't deserve this world, Jia," Eunseok murmured, his voice choked with emotion. We shared the same sentiment. I walked over and side-hugged him, offering what comfort I could. His tears flowed freely as he released his pent-up sorrow.

"There's no point in crying, Eunseok. She's in a better place now. Let's hope her next place is far better than this hell," I said gently.

"You all, what are you doing here? Go back to your exam rooms!" Mrs. Seo's voice cut through the air, harsh and unyielding.

"How can we take an exam when our friend is lying dead here?" Jia's best friend exclaimed, her voice trembling with grief.

"So what's so important about this girl? We'll clear this place up quickly. Go to your classrooms," Mrs. Seo insisted, her tone unfeeling.

I could hardly believe her words. How could she be so indifferent? This was not just a student; she had been part of our lives, and her loss was profound. I had to find out why this had happened. There had to be a reason, and I was determined to uncover the truth.

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Sorry guys for getting late..