Dear "J" | Sim Jake

Chapter 17

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The next morning, Jiwon's room was bathed in the gentle light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She lay in bed, her head nestled against the pillow, when the sound of the doorbell pierced the quiet of her home. Her mother went to answer it, and soon Eugene was standing on the doorstep.

"Hello, Aunty!" Eugene greeted cheerfully. "I'm Eugene, Jiwon's friend. Remember the time she stayed over? That was me."

Jiwon's mom smiled warmly at Eugene. "Oh, yes, I remember you. It's so nice to see you. Please, come in."

Eugene stepped inside, her eyes bright with anticipation. Jiwon's mom led her down the hallway to Jiwon's room. She knocked gently before opening the door.

Jiwon was propped up on her pillows, a look of surprise spreading across her face as she saw Eugene. Her eyes widened, and a smile tugged at her lips. "Eugene? What are you doing here?"

Eugene rushed over to her, a look of genuine delight on her face. "Jiwonnn, I missed you so much!" She enveloped Jiwon in a warm hug, holding her tightly.

Jiwon returned the hug, feeling a surge of happiness at the unexpected visit. "I missed you too, Eugene. It's so good to see you."

As the two friends embraced, Jiwon's mom quietly stepped out of the room, leaving them to catch up in private. The room was filled with the soft hum of their conversation, the atmosphere warm and comforting as they shared their stories and laughter.

Eugene sat on the edge of Jiwon's bed, and Jiwon, smiling, joined her. "I brought you some notes and updates from school," Eugene said, handing over the stack of papers. "And I wanted to catch up on everything that's been happening."They began discussing school, with Eugene filling Jiwon in on the latest news. She talked about the classes, teachers, and friends, making sure Jiwon felt connected despite her absence.As they chatted, Eugene suddenly recalled something. Her eyes widened with realization.

"Oh right, Jiwon! On Monday, there was this big announcement over the PA system."Jiwon looked curious. "Really? What happened?"Eugene's excitement was evident as she continued. "Someone made an announcement saying they had something really precious and that if the owner wanted it back, they should come to the library after school. The announcement started with 'Dear J...'"Jiwon's eyes widened in surprise. "Do you know who made the announcement?"Eugene shook her head. "No, it wasn't clear who it was. The announcement didn't give any names. It was kind of mysterious. Everyone was talking about it."

As Eugene chatted about the school notes and recent events, Jiwon's mind was elsewhere, consumed by the realization that her diary was indeed in someone else's possession. The announcement on Monday-"Dear J"-was clearly referencing her, and someone had made that public declaration to try to return it.

Her heart raced with anxiety. Who could have taken her diary? The thought of someone reading her personal entries made her uneasy. She tried to piece together the details, but the identity of the person remained elusive.

Jiwon's thoughts were interrupted by Eugene's voice. "Are you okay? You seem a bit distracted."

Jiwon forced a smile, shaking off her worries. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking about something."