🗝️🗝️🍀🍀*THE ARCHITECT OF SILENCE*🍀🍀🗝️🗝️
*CHAPTER 11*
*MONDAY*
Detective Song entered the classroom.
I stood up.
Then walked out.
I heard footsteps behind me.
"Miss Mi Jin, wait!" he called. "Can you tell me what you know about the mur—"
I pushed him away.
"I said I don't want to tell you anything. Get another detective. You're disqualified."
"And who are you to say that?"
I turned.
_Tae Min_
"This has nothing to do with you."
"You think?" he scoffed. "Have you forgotten who I am? I'm Golden 10."
I stayed silent.
"I heard Jae In called you the night she died," he continued. "What did she say?"
I looked at him calmly.
"Are you a detective now?"
He clenched his jaw.
"Jae In died. That was her fate. She was bound to die that night. What we talked about is none of your business. If you want answers, find someone competent."
I turned around.
"You think the school will just let you go like that?"
I stopped.
Looked at him.
"Well for it to reveal the truth about her death, it will have to risk its reputation or continue hiding it. Just like what it did with Kim Ha Na."
I knew it.
Seoul High—
Would never risk its reputation.
Not even for a *Golden 10 member*.
So, I—
Was going to take advantage of that.
I walked back inside.
On the billboard—
*GOLDEN 9.*
Of course.
They wouldn't replace her so easily.
My phone vibrated.
A video was circulating.
*MI JIN AH IS A PSYCHO. SHE LAUGHED WHEN JAE IN DIED.*
I smiled faintly.
This is only—
THE START.
Tae Min won't be difficult.
I'll just use his weakness.
His mother.
I wasn't stopping.
Not until—
It said GOLDEN 0.
***
*BREAKTIME*
I ordered food.
Then walked straight to Table 3.
Jae In's seat.
The cafeteria fell silent.
Tae Min stood.
Then blocked my path.
"Stand up. You have no right to sit there."
"No right?" I tilted my head. "Then who does? Jae In?"
A few gasps echoed.
"She's dead," I continued softly. "Some angel killed her. So who else should sit there?"
He grabbed my collar.
"Don't you dare."
I leaned closer.
"I heard your mother got pregnant before marriage. Gave birth to a little bastard. Was that maybe—"
"Shut up!" he screamed.
He covered his ears.
His breathing became uneven.
Shallow.
Trembling.
Students started whispering.
Tears slid down his cheeks.
I returned to my food.
Watching.
"Why are you all staring?" I said lightly. "Aren't you supposed to take him to the hospital? I heard he has heart problems."
Students rushed him out.
Ambulance sirens followed shortly.
First step.
Two more to go.
***
*AFTER SCHOOL*
My phone beeped.
*MISS MI JIN AH, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO COME FOR INTERROGATION AS A SUSPECT IN THE MURDER OF PARK JAE IN.*
Ridiculous.
They don't summon me like I'm some butcher kid.
I walked home.
That feeling again.
Someone watching me.
I turned.
No one.
Fine.
Instead—
I headed to the hospital.
***
It wasn't hard to find his room.
I opened the door.
He was awake.
"What do you want?" Tae Min muttered. "Leave."
I chuckled.
"I just need your Golden 10 card. I have something to do."
"You think I'd give it to you?"
I smiled faintly.
"Eat well tonight. Tomorrow is another day."
I left.
Calm.
Collected.
*TUESDAY*
He returned to school.
Pale.
But trying to look strong.
I held my coffee while walking upstairs.
Suddenly—
It flew from my hand.
Spilling across the floor.
Hyun Su stood there.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry, Mi Jin Ah!"
"It's fine," I said calmly. "Just mop it."
I walked away.
Back to class.
I walked straight—
Han Tae Min's seat.
"Tae Min. Can we talk?"
The whole class stared.
He hesitated.
Looked around—
Then nodded.
I led the way.
The staircase landing.
The same spot.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Your card."
"Do you hav—"
I stepped closer.
"Who was really at fault? Your mother… or your father?"
His face changed.
His breathing quickened.
He grabbed my arm.
"Let go," I said softly.
"My heart— please—"
I shook his hand off.
I turned.
Took three slow steps.
Then—
A loud bang.
My body froze.
I turned slowly.
Tae Min was on the ground.
Blood pooling beneath his head.
My heart pounded violently.
"I didn't—"
A movement.
Behind the stairwell.
Someone.
Watching.
"Who's there?!" I shouted.
They ran.
I chased.
But when I reached the hallway—
I saw him.
The shadow.
Climb the railing.
And jump.
A scream erupted below.
Students.
Teachers.
Chaos.
I stood frozen.
It was too early—
For him to die.
Things were getting out of control.
I had to lie low.
*END OF CHAPTER 11*
🗝️🗝️🍀🍀*THE ARCHITECT OF SILENCE*🗝️🗝️🍀🍀