Chapter: 15

Nari and Min Jae were walking together towards the library. Both were quiet and as they entered the library but then, Nari suddenly looked at him and asked,

"Why do you talk to me?"

Min Jae frowned, "What kind of question is this?"

"Don't you look down on me because I fought with a guy just because of my anger issues? Why do you still smile at me and help me out? Why do you trust me?" She said all these questions aloud.

Min Jae stood quiet. The question came too sudden for him to answer. While, on the other hand, Nari's mind was in chaos after arguing with Ye Jun. Every time she saw him, one thing her mind always asked was, why did he trust her? Why did he firmly believe that Eunji was at fault and not her? Why would he talk to her despite all the hatred she gave to him? Park Ye Jun, being too nice to her, made her feel small inside. But after what she said to him at the staircase and walked away, she felt awful. Ye Jun didn't utter a word in his defence. He didn't argue with her in his defence at all. Why was he so nice to her? All these questions clouded her mind. And in fact, all these questions weren't for Min Jae, and she knew that.

She kept staring at Min Jae and he looked confused.

"Nari-yah, are you alright?" 

She sighed and shook her head.

"No, just forget whatever I asked."

She went inside and sat on one of the chairs. Min Jae followed her.

"Is something bugging you lately?" 

She shook her head lightly and laid her head down on the table.

"I just need some time." She took in a deep breath.

Min Jae frowned and his eyes fell on the door of the library. Ye Jun stood there and motioned Min Jae to come out.

"Uh, Nari-ah. I'll be back, wait for me."

"Yeah!" she said in a muffled voice, and Min Jae slowly stood up.

He went out, and they both glared at each other. Min Jae opened his mouth, but Ye Jun spoke first.

"Help me out a bit." 

And Min Jae frowned in confusion.

"What?!" 

"Shh!" he peeked at Nari. Min Jae followed his gaze too.

"Follow me." he mouthed his words

Min Jae followed him obediently and after a minute, a question struck his head.

"But, why are you talking so friendly with me, I am your senior?" 

Ye Jun stopped on his way and turned around, giving Min Jae bored expressions.

"Done? Now help me get access to the security cameras." 

They both now stood in front of the security guard's room.

"Are you stupid? No one can get access except the staff." 

Ye Jun huffed and pocketed his hand.

"I know you're a discipline captain but I know you want to help Nari too." 

Min Jae frowned again.

"Aish...Tch! I'll give you a summary. That day when she fought with Eunji, there was another girl present there. Now since Nari and Eunji have kept their mouths shut I want to find out who that other girl was. Maybe she can help me to prove that Nari wasn't wrong." 

Min Jae nodded in realisation.

"So, help me out. Since the security guard has a break time right now."

"So what do you want me to do?" He asked, folding his hands above his chest.

"Don't let him in, anyhow." 

And they both nodded with determination.

~~~~~

"Uncle!" Min Jae ran towards the guard who was to enter the room.

The guard looked at Min Jae and smiled. It seemed as if Min Jae was too popular in the school.

"Kim Min Jae." 

"Yes. Oh! You do recognise me." 

Min Jae bowed and smiled.

The guard was delighted to see him.

"This...is for you." he gave him a can of juice.

"Oh, thank you. But, for what?"

"Ah! Uncle, you work so hard all day for our security. And also we won yesterday's match."

"Really? Wah! Our school students are the best." 

Min Jae knew the security guard loved football and so he loved Min Jae too. Inside the room, Ye Jun was rummaging through all the corners of the school campus on the day of the incident that was a week ago. His eyes were glued to the screen. He wanted to find out who this person was. He had a hunch that maybe she could help him with Nari's case. The lights were and the screen lit his face brightly. All the worries could be seen on his face, his eyes going through three footage at the same time. 

Why was he so determined to Nari? He knew Eunji wasn't the reason, but he didn't know the actual reason either. 

"Yes, uncle. And you know what a wonderful match it was. My teammates and I were like aces on the ground." 

Outside, Min Jae was doing his best in keeping the guard busy in his baseless unplanned talks.

"Ah, I know." and they both laughed.

"But uncle, why don't you come to see our match?"

He squinted his eyes and waved his hand.

"How could I've come? I have morning shifts for four days. Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday."

"Ah! But Uncle it would've been nice if you had come too. You know we needed an encouraging man to cheer for us, we could have done better."

Hearing Min Jae from inside Ye Jun scoffed.

"Wah...Kim Min Jae. You're a smooth talker with everyone, even with Nari." 

It was taking more time than expected for Ye Jun to find the footage and the guard seemed to grow restless now and wanted to go inside. But how could he when 'smooth talker' Kim Min Jae was with him?

"I guess I should go inside now."

"After this, I promise. So what happened, after I took the ball to that side of the court, another player started to attack me." he somehow kept him indulged in his talk while Ye Jun banged his head on the keyboards to find the footage

After almost thirty minutes or so, he finally saw footage where Eunji could be seen with Nari. He knew, he found it. Copying it to the pen drive he knocked on the doot lightly. 

"Oh- I heard a sound from inside." The guard said pointing towards the door and Ye Jun clenched his eyes.

"Ah! Uncle, you're getting old, my grandmother also has these issues and she often hears me calling her."

"She lives with you."

"No, she is admitted to hospital for the same." 

"Hospital?"

"Yes, a mental hospital. She keeps hearing me." 

Guard's eyes widened for a second. He patted Min Jae's shoulder and started to leave again.

"I will go now."

Ye Jun inside the room found his heartbeat stopped and he nearly fainted when Min Jae held guard by his shoulder and turned his back to the door.

"But, uncle. My grandma always used to say never look behind, even if someone escapes it might be a good reason for their doings. Uncle, I really miss her. Just if I could meet her once. If she was alive." 

Min Jae dramatically sniffed, going with the flow of his fake emotions. 

Ye Jun got his hint and quickly opened the door slightly and sneaked out.

"Alive? Didn't you say she is in a mental hospital?" The guard asked, totally confused.

"Did I?" Min Jae was stuck, he got himself in trouble. He thought. But then he added another sentence to his speech.

"See you're hearing things too."

"But-" 

"Now I'll leave, my class will start. You really work hard, don't forget to drink the juice I gave." 

He ran away saying this and the guard just smiled awkwardly.

"Do I need to see a doctor too?" The guard murmured, scratching his ears.

Min Jae ran and met Ye Jun on his way, they ran together and sat on the pavement of one of the trees on their campus. Their backs hit the tree trunk and they sat there, covered in sweat. 

Panting heavily Min Jae asked, "Did you get the footage."

"Yeah." Ye Jun held the Pendrive up. 

After catching their breaths Ye Jun asked, "But, was your grandma really like that?" 

"No." Min Jae gulped in, his throat had dried.

"I never met her, she died before I was born."

Ye Jun looked at him and they both laughed out loud.