One day in Seoul 🇰🇷

🇰🇷: 51

We pulled up to Anna's house, the engine of John's car rumbling softly as it shut off. John glanced at me, obviously confused. "Bakit tayo nandito? Akala ko we were going to Troy's place," he said, his brows furrowing.

I didn't answer right away, just gave him a tight-lipped grin. My thoughts were racing, pieces falling into place in my mind. This was it. The last key to solving this case was inside Anna's house. I could feel it.

As we reached the entrance door, John placed a hand on my arm, stopping me. "Francis, sigurado ka ba rito? Why Anna's place?"

I turned to him, still grinning, my eyes narrowing slightly with the thrill of the chase. "Trust me, John. The last piece to this puzzle is inside. Besides, I don't want you getting an earful from your seniors for locking up the wrong person."

John hesitated for a second, then nodded slowly, letting go of my arm. "Fine. Pero kung mali ka-"

"I won't be," I interrupted, pushing open the door.

The house was quiet. Too quiet. Eerie. There was something unsettling about it. The air felt thick, like the walls were holding their breath. Anna lived alone-her parents were in the province, and she was the breadwinner for her family. The place had a simple layout, just a small studio-type room, but the emptiness made it feel like a ghost was watching us.

John stood behind me, still clueless. "Ano'ng hinahanap natin dito?" he asked, scanning the room.

I didn't answer, instead walking around, searching. Bags, cabinets, under the bed-nothing was off-limits. This was the only way to uncover the truth. I had to find it.

A flash of memory hit me, the earlier conversation with Sean replaying in my head.

Before John had brought Liam back to his cell, something happened.

"Wait," Liam-no, Sean-called out to me just as I turned to leave. His eyes had that same haunted look, but there was something different this time-something clearer.

"May naalala ako," Sean said, his voice low. He was clutching his head, like the memory had just come rushing back. "Anna had a diary. Isang diary na walang nakakaalam tungkol doon, not even Troy. Doon niya sinusulat ang lahat-her daily life, secrets, everything. There's something else too... the title of a land. I gave it to Anna on our anniversary."

I stopped in my tracks, turning slowly to face him. "The land title?"

Sean nodded, his face pale. "Oo. That diary and that title... if you find those, you'll find the truth. You need to find them, Francis."

That was why we were here. I glanced around the room again. The diary. That was what we needed. The title of the land-a gift Sean had given to Anna.

John, still fidgeting and impatient, broke the silence. "Francis, wala naman tayo makikitang ebidensya rito. All we have are the things that point to Liam, so why are we wasting time?"

I finally turned to face him, my expression serious. "Because we're missing something, John. Sean-he's not lying. There's something in here that can clear everything up. Something that nobody else knows about."

I moved towards the small desk in the corner of the room, opening the drawer. Nothing but a few pens and scattered papers. Damn it. I started opening cabinets, tossing aside old receipts and random junk. I was determined. That diary and title had to be here somewhere.

Then something caught my eye-a small box tucked in the back of a closet. I reached for it, my hands steady despite the rush of adrenaline. Slowly, I opened it.

There it was.

A worn-out notebook with frayed edges-Anna's diary. And beneath it, a folder. I opened it carefully, and there it was-the title to the land.