𝐍𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘, 𝐍𝐎 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄.양중원

don't be suspicious

'Please don't call me for the wrong reasons,

We both know exactly what I'm thinkin,

Weeks pass and I never grow tired.'

JUNGWON sits at the bedside as jihye lies in the infirmary bed, a towel to her head, as she sips on her water. he's a little dumbfounded to say the least, as he waits for the nurse to leave.

"you're bloody insane." he scoffs.

"geez, you're welcome." she scoffs back, glaring at him with new found fervour. she seemlessly got him that role he wanted so badly and kept him out of trouble by literally fainting and this is the thank you she gets?

jungwon pauses as he gets a wave of guilt, suddenly feeling bad. "thanks."

"hmm?"

"thanks!"

"huh?"

"THANK YOU!!!"

jihye merely smiles proudly, crossing her arms. "oh, it was no big deal."

he groans, face palming at her antics, as he clears his throat.

"are you done?"

"done what?"

"faking being sick."

"you can tell I was faking?"

"you're easy to read." he scoffs, which isn't necessarily true. he just spends a lot of time trying to figure her out. "how did you do it so... perfectly, anyways?"

jihye puts her glass of water down, sitting up. "oh, when I was younger, I hated piano, so I used to fake faint to get out of it because my parents wouldn't let me otherwise."

jungwon stares at her incredulously. that is not normal, and he doesn't think it ever will be. nonetheless, he doesn't wish to know any further.

"I saw minjun on the cctv." he says, bringing his phone out. jihye leans forward to see it, and he can smell her perfume. he doesn't like the smell of perfume. it makes him dizzy. he wrinkles his nose, clearing his throat.

"so arin was telling the truth. he walked past the school over an hour after school ended at 4:41pm."

"so.. now what?" he huffs.

"maybe.. make a list on who we should look into next?"

the pair walk out together, on their now established route - into jungwon's neighbourhood and past his house. but as they approach the gate, jihye's younger friend puts an arm around her shoulders, batting her eyelashes with a catty grin. jihye sighs. "yes?" she drawls out, playfully apprehensive.

"why are you with.. it?" jihye hits her as to silently scold her, and jungwon flushes. this younger girl, who's almost his height, is making fun of him. embarrassing. "you brat! don't you have studying to do?" jihye scoffs, pulling her down by the ear. "ow! watch it, man!" jihye widens her eyes at the feeling of metal, looking like she's about to genuinely pass out. "you got the helix piercing?"

"hell yeah."

"and you didn't tell your mom??"

"hell naw."

"oh my god, zuka." jihye face palms, pacing back and forth, the unknown younger girl simply giggling. "anyways, im grounded, so im going home. bye, eonnie~!"

jungwon blinks. "who..?"

"don't ask."

and so the pair are left on their own, walking past 7/11 in contemplative silence. "i was thinking.." jungwon speaks up, tentatively. "maybe, minji..?"

jihye falls silent, offering him a glare, before brusquely replying "no."

he sighs, knowing it would be hard to convince her. but he has a gut feeling about this.

"jihye. look at it pragmatically. she was so nervous and quiet whenever we mentioned him, which, after the arcade, we both know is very unlike her. it doesn't hurt to just.. have a look in her locker. tell her you need to borrow her P.E kit or something."

jihye frowns. "but the sisterhood!"

"..sorry?"

"she's my best friend. it's just not girls girl if I invade her privacy like that, is it?"

he groans, face palming. "just give it a shot!"

"i hate men." she kisses her teeth, as they approach his house. she learnt her lesson from last time, as she stands on guard, behind jungwon. "maeum's probably asleep, jihye."

"is that it's name?"

"hey! my dog is a girl, not an it! respect that!"

"why can't you respect my friendship with minji!?"

he groans. "if you don't do it, I will."

she snickers. that's a big reach for him, but she looks at his face. he's serious. "fine. ill do it. what's the plan, sir?" she huffs reluctantly.

"you go to her locker. find anything that might explain her.. you know, behaviour. if you don't talk to her about it. if you do, hide it in your bag. we'll look at it together tomorrow, after school."

jihye pauses. "i don't think it's safe for us to investigate in school, jungwon."

he raises an eyebrow, beckoning her to continue. "look, hypothetically, if someone in school killed minjun, would they want anyone finding out?"

he pauses.

she's got a point.

"you're right. halmeoni is clueless about things like this-- we can stash it in my room tomorrow, after school, if you find anything. deal?"

"okay." she grumbles. "see you tomorrow."

and so, jihye walks home, with a heavy heart and a conflicted mind.