Delving Into the Buried Chapter

Chapter 9

Everything felt like it's messier than it was before. It's as if all things become dull and fade as time passes. All the missions and plans become blurry. 

And here's Yeonica, standing in front of Zaranaia's lifeless body, which is now inside a coffin. A few days have passed, and since the death of Zaranaia, she has not gone to school as Yumi. 

Yeonica still remembers vividly how the police found Zaranaia's body; she was drowning in her own blood, pale and hopeless. With a suicide letter in her skirt's pocket, which Yeonica knows she never wrote.

Zaranaia was found in front of an abandoned building, just meters away from her favorite convenience store. Police officers from Lakewine Station stated that before they found her, a loud bang was heard, indicating that Zaranaia fell from the rooftop. Until now, police are still investigating her death, and it's yet to be determined if the cause of death is a result of suicide or murder. 

"Yeonica, please, take a fucking rest. Look at yourself," Leana worriedly told her. She offered her foods and drinks, but Yeonica repeatedly refused to at least fill her stomach.

"I'm fine. Just leave me here and go home. I'll be with her for a few more minutes," Yeonica simply answered. She blamed herself.

Yeonica felt merciless guilt for doubting Zaranaia and treating her as cold as ice before she died. It turns out she never did anything and was innocent. The guilt was devouring her, and looking at Zaranaia's crying and mourning family made it worse.

What could've happened if she never left Zaranaia alone that day? What could've happened if she checked and answered her calls a little earlier? What could've happened if she never let her suspicions lead her actions and checked everything first? Those questions have never left her since then. 

"Yeonica. Stop blaming yourself. No one wants this, and you're just doing your job. It was not wrong to have suspicions. Suspecting and investigating is normal for lawyers like us. Other people's evilness is not your fault," Leana told her, trying to lessen the heaviness Yeonica feels. 

Yeonica remained silent, staring at Zaranaia's pale body. She was just a kid. 

Leana held Yeonica's shoulders, pulling and guiding her to sit down. Yeonica didn't fight her. She doesn't have the energy to do so.

"By the way, what's your plan? Are you still continuing your disguise as a student?"

Yeonica unhesitatingly nodded. "Of course, I won't cancel it. Now that I'm sure that the culprit is just around us, inside that hellish school, I won't stop until I find the murderer," Yeonica firmly said. 

Leana looked at her with a lot of worry visible on her face. "Yeonica, what if we stop here? Your life is in danger now. Those monsters have the guts to kill a student. You'll never be an exception, especially now that those killers seem to know your identity already. Zaranaia said they know you got those pictures, right?"

"I know, Leana. But it's too late to stop all of these. My soul is craving to see how all of these will end," Yeonica answered. 

 In the middle of their conversation, visitors to Zaranaia entered the cold, spacious room where the casket is located. It was Zarco and Edem. Yeonica immediately avoided their eyes and looked away.

"Leana, you talk to them," she commanded, and Leana nodded. 

They both stood up. Leana made her way to the two students while Yeonica went to the back of the room, behind the chairs and tables, making a distance from them.

Before Yeonica got away, Zarco took a glance at her, noticing that Leana'd been with her earlier. Leana saw that, and she immediately tried to get his attention.