.

Should I take it out or not? However, my caseshifting to other universeshad proof, but this one didnt have a piece of plausible evidence and seemed like complete nonsense, so I couldnt bring up the topic readily.

What if he tells me this time to stop writing crap? Geez, then I cant sustain myself I thought. Then at the moment, I raised my head as I heard Jooin calling my name.

Mama?

Huh? Oh, I forgot to tell you something very important

As I responded that way, the look on Jooins face slightly changed.

What is it? he asked.

The security camera, I replied with no hesitation.

Jooin frowned for a moment.

I continued, Theres a security camera on each staircase, right? Thats what I heard. Anyway, the cameras are also installed in some places that have dangerous or expensive stuff such as the science lab, computer lab, home economics lab, etc.

Lowering my voice, I held my hands together and pleaded, Would you please check them out for me? I really need to know about that girl.

Jooin, who stood stiffly like a rock, then quickly turned around. He replied, Alright, mama. Lets go ask the securities then.

Right now?

Uh-huh, lets go as we are reminded of it.

I nodded at his suggestion and followed Jooin. On my way out of the classroom, I saw Ban Yeo Ryung and noticed the emotions she was having about mea violated trustthrough her eyes. That was when I realized the mistake I had just made.

Yikes, how could I show her leaving the classroom with Jooin as soon as he stepped inside? Earlier, didnt she feel upset about me searching for Jooin, instead of her?

I tried to make an excuse, but Jooin had already left for the hallway.

Urgh covering my forehead, I grappled with the situation, but in the end, I stepped outside to the hallway and murmured, Forgive me, Ban Yeo Ryung. But according to her facial expression, she didnt seem to let me off the hook.

After the little fuss, I was now in the campus security office where I confronted something more preposterous.

The surveillance footage is gone?

Regular students wouldnt be able to request those videos unless they were involved in crimes or special occasions, but we had a free pass ticketEun Jiho, the chairman of the boards cousin. However, regardless of the free pass thing, they didnt have the surveillance video in the first place, so using Eun Jiho was useless here.

The security pressed a few buttons in bewilderment. He replied, Yeah, I didnt know that until you guys told me about it This seems to have been out of control.

Since when? From lunchtime?

Listening to the guy gradually murmuring to himself, I narrowed my eyes. How could the security camera that had no problem seven days a week become out of control at that very moment? Thats literally too coincidental to be a coincidence!

Rubbing my chin, I asked myself, Is this also something that the girl can do? Or else

What do you mean by something, mama?

I quickly pulled myself together when Jooin flung that question. Lifting my head, I showed a bitter smile, pretending that I said something out of my mind, but of course, Jooin didnt seem to ignore my fake reaction.

Facing the sharp look in his eyes, I felt the corner of my stomach beginning to ache. The continuous strain from stressBan Yeo Ryungs memory loss to the things that happened todaymight have slowly worn down my health, and it seemed to have exploded right now. Even Jooin, who would usually become a buffer against things among us, was now acting too sensitive today.

When I raised my thumb and firmly pressed it near my chest, that was when Jooin loosened up his strained look and apologized to me.

Sorry, I wasnt trying to interrogate you.

Thats okay. I do understand which part you have guessed.

Having an acute sense, Jooin might have definitely noticed how significant the information I had been hiding from him was. And perhaps thats why he was behaving that way.

Besides, Jooins attitude was actually nothing. It was just a feather-like, no, just weighing a bit more than that on me. The rest of the things I had gone through was what mattered the most.

Feeling the presence of the note that I still had in my pocket, I pressed my chest again. Geez, how could she have such ability to write a note that would take effect?

Come on, this isnt a death note or something! I thought, looking down at the floor. Then I lifted my head and asked a question.

Anyway, both of us have something that we cant tell each other, right? And its related to that girl.

Uh-huh, replied Jooin hesitatingly. He nodded heavily.

I responded with a sigh, Then lets just move on until were ready to bring this up again. Cool? After a short pause, I added, I dont want things getting awkward between us just because of a nobody.

Only a few months passed from the struggling times we had back then. Thus, I wanted to keep our friendship alive and last longer.

Jooin seemed to hesitate for a moment, but he soon nodded as in agreement.

Once we finished our conversation and turned our heads, the security was looking back and forth between us absentmindedly.

He carefully asked, What makes you two so serious?

We slightly nodded as an apology for making a fuss then left the office. Before we stepped out, I seemed to have heard something, so I looked back.

Did you say something? I asked.

Huh?

Jooin lifted his head with a refreshing smile. It was so out of the blue that I could hardly imagine us arguing with each other earlier. Staring at him for a second, I soon shook my head and quickened my pace.

Taking a step forward, I wondered, I think Ive heard him say sorry. Did I mishear it?

* * *

During the next break time, I went to see Ban Yeo Ryung, but I couldnt. Instead, Eun Jiho was there greeting me with a perplexed look.

Hey? he said, stepping out of the door.

I asked, Wheres Ban Yeo Ryung?

She went to the cafeteria with other girls.

WHAT? I responded in fright, Is it okay to send her alone?

Ban Yeo Ryungs state of mind wasnt stable right now. She couldnt even distinguish between whos close to her and who wasnt!

Eun Jiho shrugged at my question and replied, They didnt ask her to go with them. It was Yeo Ryung who grabbed the girls and asked to go with her all of a sudden. What could I do? She was looking at us like saying, Dont follow me at all. I cant help that.

Looking dumbfounded, he continued speaking, So, why did you go outside with Woo Jooin at that time? You should have seen how Ban Yeo Ryung looked right after you guys left. Geez, that was awful.

Gosh

Was there something serious going on?

As he asked the question, I briefly explained the situation. Of course, I left the story about the note part unspoken. I just told Eun Jiho that the girl I bumped into in Yoo Chun Youngs hospital might be the same person whom I met today, and the surveillance footage that captured her was also missing.

Listening to that extent, Eun Jiho folded his arms around his body. He replied, It sounds like a horror story. So, that suspicious girl is in our school? She was so small and petit like a middle school student

You know our school is a private, prestigious, and safe institution

But I slurred the end of the sentence when things flashed through my mindRuda having a chase with the men in black or Lucas walking around the school with no hesitation.

Oh, then I couldnt be assured that she was actually attending our school

As I thought that way, feeling despondent, Eun Jiho spoke in front of me.

Well, since theres no one in our grade or the upper-grade who saw that girl, shed probably be in freshmen year. Ill check it out anyway.

Yeah

So, I guess you have to be worried about something else.

Dropping that remark, Eun Jiho pointed at the opposite side of the hallway with his chin.

Just in time, Ban Yeo Ryung, walking along with other girls, found me and hid behind the corner. Watching the sight, I heaved a deep sigh.

Ah, thats hurting my feelings, Yeo Ryung.