Light High | •° RIIZE °•

21. FIRST HINT

???'s pov

After the disturbing incident, a palpable silence hung in the air. The students, aware of the recent turmoil, avoided making eye contact with her, and she too avoided looking at them. Her actions, though motivated by a sense of justice, left her with a heavy heart. The violence she had resorted to felt abhorrent, and she was repulsed by the very idea of it. Her conscience gnawed at her, questioning whether there might have been another way.

Standing in front of the washroom mirror, she scrutinized her reflection. Every feature of her face seemed to echo the face of her twin, down to the smallest detail. The resemblance was both eerie and comforting. With a sigh, she splashed cold water on her face, hoping to wash away the guilt and frustration that clung to her.

As she dried her face, her gaze wandered outside the window. Students were scattered across the courtyard, their laughter a stark contrast to her inner turmoil. What caught her eye was an unexpected pairing: Nora and Minyoung, seated together in animated conversation. It was an odd combination, though not entirely surprising given their shared traits.

Determined to keep this observation to herself, she knew that drawing attention to herself would only add to the school's already buzzing gossip. As she stepped out of the washroom, she felt the weight of countless eyes upon her. The whispers and stares were unmistakable.

Ignoring the unsettling scrutiny, she made her way to the library, her sanctuary near the back garden. The library's restricted section, accessible via a window, had always intrigued her. It was the perfect escape route, as long as one was mindful of the surveillance cameras.

Upon entering the library, she was greeted by the librarian's warm smile. She returned the gesture and proceeded into the library, relieved to find it relatively empty. This provided her with the perfect opportunity to slip into the restricted section unnoticed.

The sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated the rows of books, casting a golden glow that made the restricted section less foreboding than before. She scanned the shelves, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious volumes. However, she knew better than to attempt to remove any books, given the security alarms. Yeon's warning about the alarm had been invaluable; otherwise, she might have succumbed to her curiosity and made a serious mistake.

Wishing to avoid detection, she climbed out the window and landed gracefully on the ground below. She navigated the familiar path to Yeon's room with practiced ease, her heart heavy with concern. Each visit was a reminder of Yeon's deteriorating condition, and it pained her to see her twin suffer.

Descending the stairs to Yeon's room, she peered around cautiously. The hall was empty, but she knew from experience that unexpected encounters could happen at any moment. She entered the room quietly, settling on the edge of the bed where Yeon lay. Her twin's once vibrant demeanor was now overshadowed by a haunting pallor, and the room seemed to echo with unspoken sorrows.

Yeon stirred at her presence, her eyes opening slowly. Her gaze met Hyeon's with a mixture of surprise and relief. "I didn't expect you today. How did you fare?"

Hyeon hesitated before responding, "The teacher mentioned some errors in the results. We'll get the corrected scores in five days."

Yeon's brow furrowed in concern. "That's unusual. I've never heard of such a delay."

"Neither could I. It's quite perplexing," Hyeon admitted, her voice tinged with frustration.

"I have something important to tell you. Did you manage to get her assistance?" Yeon's voice took on a serious tone, recalling their previous conversation.