CHAPTER 2: NEVERTHELESS

Arya glances at the clock, 4:30 AM, but instead of studying, she continues messaging AI. "I removed my blood-stained spectacles and searched for tissue paper to clean. Suddenly, the cute eyes of a young police officer, Sam, appeared. He rubbed my cheeks, signaling to clean my neck. I used the tissue paper he gave, and as my blurry eyes searched for him again,i can't able to find him ,so I used my spectales to see him. I saw him engaged in a serious conversation with his colleagues."

Approaching me,he said, "Hey kid! What's your name? Can you tell me exactly what happened? You need to report it at our station when we call you, okay? Oh, and your nameplate is also stained with blood ,let me clean it. See, ARYA!"

Mesmerized by the officer's presence, I returned to reality and responded, "Yes, sir! I'm Arya, a high school student. The guy who took his life in front of me is Baekhyun, my classmate. As I left my class on the way home, he ran towards me with a knife. I was shocked at first,I thought he was attacking me, but he sliced his own neck in front of my own eyes,splattering his blood on me. That's it."

In a gentle tone, he queried, "Look, kid! I mean, Arya, do you have any insights into his personal life? I'm going to ask you some questions, so please don't understand it as offensive. Did he have feelings for you, and did you reject him?"

"No, sir. It's not as you might think. In Korea, boys often prefer fair-skinned girls, but that wasn't the case here. As far as I know, some boys in my class teased me about my skin tone once, and he came to my defense. He was a good person, and I can't able to understand why he took his own life."

In a manic voice, he asked me again, "Is there anything else you know about him? Do you suspect anyone? Don't panic,I will protect you. So, tell me."

My face blushed as his eyes met mine, and I slowly responded, "I don't think so."

Following the entire case procedure, he gestured for me to enter his car, but I initially declined with a signal. However, he insisted, and I eventually got into his car.

As he drove the car, my eyes were fixed on him, my face started to glowing like a bright . It was a contrasting feeling from the fear before his arrival and now, I felt like I was flying without wings, my heart rate slowly increasing. Suddenly, he turned his face and in response, I turned aside my gaze, pretending not to notice him. He groaned, "Where do you live? Show me your address.I will drop you over there."

"I don't know why, but I can't make eye contact with him. Nevertheless, I responded, "Sir, over that signal, drop me, and I will head home."

He told me, "See, I'm giving you my phone number. If you find out anything regarding Baekhyun's death, inform me, okay?"

"Yes, sir," I said. However, my inner voice urged me to ask him about his relationship status, whether he had a girlfriend or he was married. I avoided,realizing he saw me as a kid. He dropped me off, and I thanked him.

As he drove away, I kept my eyes on his car, wondering when we would meet again. For the first time, my heart asked, "When will you see him again?"I began to laugh, feeling somewhat mentally disturbed.

My mother saw me and rushed towards me, asking about the stain on my uniform. I informed everything that happened at school. She cursed those responsible, expressing frustration with my father's attitude and expressing, "Uff! Another reason to dislike this country.My mother always targets my dad and Korea, no matter what unpleasant events occur."

As I entered my home, I saw my father preparing my favorite Ramyeon. Suddenly, he rushed towards me, asking, "What happened to my cute princess? Why does she look like this? Is there any drawing or painting competition at your school?"

Before I could respond, my mother interrupted and recounted everything that happened at school. She continued, initiating a fight and expressing her hate for Korea.

My father responded with a strict voice, "I am not interested in fighting with you. Arya, go and take a good bath, change your dress. Those uniforms should be placed in the dustbin. Please hurry darling, I am so hungry."

Hearing my father's hunger, I rushed to the bathroom. I removed my clothes, took my phone and the tissue papers he gave me from my pocket, and placed them on the table. Opening the faucet, water poured over my head as I closed my eyes. The image of Police Officer Sam showed in my thoughts.

After my bath,I took my phone and the tissue paper then I placed it on my study table.i threwed out my blood stained uniform on trashcan. I wore Indian pyjamas and joined my family in the dining hall, where we enjoyed my father's special Ramyeon.

Afterward, my father switched on the TV, and it flashed with breaking news about my classmate Baekhyun, showing a clip where he harassed some girls. I was shocked because I had thought of him as a good person, but it turns out he was not.

My father turned to me and asked, "Did he misbehave with you? If anything happened, tell me, princess." I just signaled to my dad, indicating that he did not.

I slowly moved to my study room and received a message from a handsome hunk named Park Seo-Joon, saying, "Where are you? You have to take a class, so quickly come to my mansion."

As soon as I read the message, I became frustrated and started to curse him. After that, I got ready to go to his mansion, wearing a face mask. I used my bicycle to reach his mansion, and I was shocked to see that guy waiting for me at his mansion gate.