Yina's Decision

"I want to wait for my friend."

Hearing Jonathan's calm response, Yina felt even more nervous, not knowing what he would do if she made a mistake with her words.

'He's putting pressure on me...'

"Sure, you are free to stay." Surprisingly, Anderson allowed it.

'Let me see the girl's behavior with and without you.'

'I get it all!' Yina realized what the old man was plotting: 'If I stay quiet while Jonathan is here and then start talking a lot when he's not, that would give the detective some clues that I'm under threat!'

"Now, let's start with the question: Yina Kim, were you a witness to the scene where your classmate, Nick Manawa, was attacked?"

Yina simply lowered her head and said nothing.

"Yina?" Jonathan tilted his head and looked at her intently, really wanting to avoid all this nonsense and seriously considering leaving this place altogether.

There were good towns where the police wouldn't bother him because they would never find him. He could leave all this behind and grow without any problems.

'Don't pressure me! I won't waver! And anyway, it's not like I'm acting.'

Old detective Anderson frowned and continued, "I was informed that you were present at the scene when Nick was attacked. Is that true?"

Anderson waited for her response, but after a while, not a single sound came from her.

Sighing, he then looked at Jonathan and said, "Sorry, Jonathan, can you give her some privacy? She might not feel comfortable with someone else hearing this."

"We're friends, but okay. I suppose you've investigated well and know that she's somewhat introverted, so please keep that in mind during your unofficial interrogation." Jonathan smiled slightly, not opposing anything and planning to make a decision based on Yina's response, who seemed unable to control her emotions.

Yina looked at Jonathan and only saw his back. Even when he closed the door, he didn't look at her.

'He... agrees with this?'

She then looked at the old detective, who was obviously observing her every move.

'The suspect had no problem with this?' Anderson didn't know Jonathan's purpose in letting this pass as if it didn't matter.

Knowing that Jonathan was already gone, the old detective repeated his question: "Yina Kim, were you a witness to what happened to Nick Manawa on Monday?"

However, even though some time had passed, the old detective waited for the response. He got nothing.

'Strange...'

Meanwhile, Yina was frozen.

How should her answers be so they wouldn't suspect her friend? Telling the truth or continuing the lie, if she made a mistake, would put her family in a difficult situation.

While thinking about that, Yina opened her mouth.

The old detective was about to expect something.

However, before giving a response, she remembered the words Jon had told her a few days ago.

[No matter what you say, I will do things differently depending on whether I get caught or not.]

Those words passed through Yina's mind.

'He didn't threaten me or treat me badly. Does that mean Jon trusts me a lot?'

At this moment, Anderson thought about many things: 'I thought she might say something once we were alone, but it seems she certainly is a very introverted girl. Jonathan showed a lot, so we had to resort to a psychologist. However, if this girl can testify...'

"I..."

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about."

"Eh?" Old detective Anderson raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry... I have trouble talking to strangers. I have nothing noteworthy to mention." Yina smiled awkwardly.

"Oh, that's fine..." Anderson then left the room before Yina left.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Next time, if we ever need you again, we will simply call you as we did today."

"Sorry for wasting your time." Yina ran out.

When the old detective left, Yina ran into Jonathan, who had retrieved two items from a vending machine.

"You seemed very worried; you should have told them the truth." Jonathan wasn't afraid that this would leak out; the truth was only here because he hoped to grow a bit more before leaving.

The police couldn't stop him if he really wanted to escape, so it wasn't a bother either.

"I'll give you a piece of advice: the words that come out of your mouth must always bear the burden of consequences. We have to be responsible for the words we say, as they represent our own existence. If you think you can't be responsible, never lie or do it, even if it's for a friend." Jonathan felt sorry for Yina; she was improving but still lacked her own sense of judgment.

"Thank you..."

...

Meanwhile, at the hospital where Nick was admitted, his brother was visiting him.

"Nick, what the hell happened to you?"

"Big brother..." Nick looked at a black boy who had just entered.

"Sorry about yesterday; if I had come sooner, I think you wouldn't be in this situation." Nick's brother, George, observed him and casually apologized.

"So... what happened to you? How can you be in that state when I taught you to box and protect yourself against knives?"

"Sorry, big brother. I guess I was just caught off guard."

"By whom? Let me hear that guy's name. Even if you're not part of the gang, let me take care of him." Nathan smiled threateningly.

"He is... my classmate."

"What? Idiot! Someone your age beat you up!? All my effort in training you was in vain!?"

Nick flinched when his older brother yelled at him.

George laughed at this: "What are you afraid of? I only hit you when I train. I'm not going to hit you in that state. So tell me, what's that guy's name?"

"His name is Jonathan Hansen." Nick was embarrassed about all this.

"Johan?"

"No, Jonathan Hansen..." Nick focused surprise on his brother's face and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"No, that's that guy's nickname, Johan; at least that's how we know him in the gangs. Did you start the fight, or did he?"