Chapter 17: Ryu Taesan

"I see... no one has set foot here since Ryu Jia left this world." Officer Kim Jihoon said, his voice tinged with a sorrowful undertone as if the silence of the place weighed heavily on him.

"Taesan-ssi," Detective Seok Hana's voice was sharp, cutting through the somber air, "did anyone else know the password to this apartment besides you and your family?"

I hesitated, the weight of her question stirring something within me. "I... I don't know. I was never close to Noona. I never even visited her here. I only got the password from my manager, Jongkook-nim."

Her eyes narrowed as she studied me, disbelief etched into her features. "Wasn't she your own sister? How could you not know, even if you weren't close?"

Before I could muster a response, Dohyun interjected, his tone protective, "He already said he wasn't close to her."

"But at least you know who she was close to, don't you?" Detective Hana pressed, her persistence relentless.

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yes. Shin Yejoon."

"Alright," she replied curtly, jotting something down in her notebook.

Officer Jihoon—someone I had called Hyung since childhood, the son of Jongkook-nim—stepped forward without a word. He silently opened the door to Noona's room, his movements deliberate as if he feared disturbing the stillness of the space. He and Dohyun began searching the room meticulously, their expressions grim and focused.

I was paired with Detective Hana to search the other rooms. Her tone was measured but laced with suspicion as she said, "Taesan-ssi, we need to find her boyfriend. I think he's hiding something. It seems clear that because of him, she..."

"No!" I interrupted, my voice firmer than I intended. "It's not true."

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing. "And how do you know that?"

"The note found after Noona's death," I said, struggling to keep my emotions in check, "it wasn't written by her. It was in English, but Noona wasn't fluent in English. And Soobin-hyung wasn't even in contact with her at that time."

Her expression softened slightly, curiosity replacing suspicion. "Do you know who was in contact with her?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Shin Yejoon."

She paused, her pen hovering over her notebook. "And who exactly is he? How close was he to your sister?"

I sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "His father was one of our business partners. That's how he got close to Noona. He was three years older, and she used to call him Oppa. That's it."

She nodded, her mind clearly processing the information. "I'll add him to the list of suspects. But I'm not ruling out Yoon Soobin either."

I simply nodded, the conversation leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Before we could say more, Dohyun's voice rang out from Noona's room. "Taesan! Come here, quick!"

Detective Hana and I rushed to the room to find Dohyun and Jihoon Hyung staring at a hidden door behind the bathroom. My jaw dropped as we stepped inside. The hidden room was massive, its walls painted a serene shade of blue. Bluebirds painting every corner, their delicate forms whispering tales of Noona's love for them. It was as if this room held fragments of her soul, untouched and preserved.

Detective Hana turned to Dohyun, her voice filled with awe. "How did you find this?"

"I accidentally pressed a switch beside her straightener," he admitted, a sheepish grin breaking through the tension. "I did good, right?"

"You did," she acknowledged, her tone more approving than usual.

The four of us began searching the room with renewed vigor. As I combed through a corner, something caught my eye—a diary. My hands trembled as I picked it up, recognizing the familiar handwriting. It was Noona's.

Dohyun noticed my stillness and approached me. "What is it?"

"It's her diary," I said, my voice barely audible. "We need to read it."

Dohyun turned to the others, his voice urgent. "Taesan found her diary."

They joined us, Jihoon Hyung clutching a phone in his hand. "I found this," he said. "It's dead. We'll need to charge it. But for now, we need to keep searching. And Taesan," he added, his tone almost brotherly, "make sure to change the password to this apartment today."

I nodded, my voice catching in my throat. "Alright, Hyung."

As we continued our search, I couldn't shake the feeling that this hidden room was more than just a sanctuary. It was a treasure chest of Noona's secrets, and within it lay the truth we all so desperately sought.

I came back home with the diary clutched tightly in my hands, my heart a mix of dread and hope. Jihoon hyung had taken the phone he'd found, his usual stern expression masking whatever thoughts were churning in his mind. As soon as I stepped inside, my eyes landed on Jihyo, curled up on the sofa, her face softened in sleep. For a fleeting moment, peace seemed to linger in the air.

Dohyun followed closely behind me, his presence steady as always. I turned to him and said, "Stay here tonight. We need to go through this diary together."

He glanced at Jihyo and asked softly, "Is she sleeping?"

"I guess so," I replied, lowering my voice.

"Will she sleep here? It'll be uncomfortable. You should take her to her room."

"You're telling me to carry her?" I raised an eyebrow, unsure if I could bridge the distance between us even with such a simple gesture.

"Yes," he said firmly. "You should treat your sister well now. You're all she has. Don't think of her as your step-sister—it wasn't her fault."

His words hit me like a quiet storm, forcing me to confront the walls I had built around my heart. "Stop lecturing," I muttered. "I already know." Without another word, I moved toward Jihyo.

I scooped her up gently, surprised at how light she felt in my arms. She was delicate, like a porcelain doll, fragile and needing care. As I carried her to her room, her steady breathing reminded me of all the silent battles she had fought alone. Placing her on the bed, I tucked the blanket around her small frame, letting a sliver of guilt wash over me.

When I returned to the dining room, Dohyun was staring at me with those large, imploring eyes of his. "What happened?" I asked, sensing something was amiss.

"Your sister ate all the food I brought," he said, his tone a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"What?" I exclaimed. "How in the world did she manage that?"

"Don't make a fuss," Dohyun chuckled. "Maybe she really liked it. We can just make some ramen now. Do you have any?"

"Yes," I sighed, exasperated but relieved at his ability to lighten the mood.

We prepared the ramen in silence, the weight of the diary hanging between us like a shadow. Once it was ready, we made our way to the rooftop. The cool night air greeted us, carrying the faint hum of the city below. As we began eating, Dohyun suddenly asked, "Taesan, do you like Sera?"

I froze, his question catching me off guard. "Huh?"

"You heard me."

"Why are you asking this?"

Dohyun put down his chopsticks, his gaze serious. "I just want to know because I don't want her to get hurt again. If you don't like her, don't confuse her. I think she likes you."

His words unraveled something inside me, something I had buried under layers of denial. "I just want to protect her," I began, my voice barely a whisper. "Everything has happened so fast—how I met her, how we're connected, how our siblings were a couple. She wanted to take her life, Dohyun. I can't let her make that choice, not like my sister did. All I want is to help her. My life is a mess. I don't want to drag her into it."

Dohyun's expression softened, but his voice remained firm. "Is she not already involved? She's been hurt twice. I don't know what's in your heart, but if you don't have feelings for her, don't confuse her."

I nodded, unable to meet his gaze. Silence settled between us, heavy with unspoken truths. Then Dohyun shifted the conversation, his tone lighter. "Let's start reading the diary, shall we?"

I nodded again, bracing myself for the storm of revelations that lay ahead. Dohyun started to read and I was listening to him.

Date: October 2, 2021 

I only want Soobin Oppa to trust me, to see the truth that burns in my heart. How could he believe that I kissed someone else? It wasn't me—it couldn't be me. His silence is suffocating, his absence a chasm I cannot bridge. I've tried reaching him, begged the wind to carry my voice to him, but he ignores me, like a ghost slipping through my fingers. So, I've stopped. My heart, heavy with grief, whispers a single hope: one day, he will know the truth. One day, he'll realize it wasn't me. Until then, I can only wait, though waiting feels like drowning in sorrow.

Date: October 8, 2021

Today, my tears flowed freely, cascading down like a storm before Yejoon Oppa. I broke in front of him, crumbled under the weight of this heartbreak. I begged him, pleaded for him to reach out to Soobin Oppa, to explain, to mend what feels so irreparably broken. But Yejoon returned with words that shattered me further: "Soobin said he doesn't want to see your face." Why, Oppa? Why won't you believe me? Am I so unworthy of trust? In desperation, I begged Yejoon Oppa to bring him to my apartment, no matter the cost. His refusal, though kind on the surface, cut me deeply: "It'll only make things worse." Worse than this? How can it be worse than losing everything?

Date: October 15, 2021

Hatred surrounds me, seeping into every corner of my life. My mind is blind with despair, unable to see a way forward. I begged Yejoon Oppa once more, begged him to try just one last time. But something snapped in him today, something dark and terrifying. His voice thundered through my apartment as his hand struck my cheek. He screamed at me, his words filled with venom I never thought he possessed:

"How in the world do you think I'd ever help you get back to Soobin? I don't care about him—I care about you! You and Soobin betrayed me! Yes, I lied to him, made him believe the worst of you, because I want you for myself! And if you ever think of going to him, I'll kill you! No one will find your body. If you try to leave, I'll kill Soobin. Do you understand?"

His confession was a dagger to my soul, twisting and tearing. I see it now—his kindness was a mask, hiding something far more sinister.

Date: October 17, 2021

Yejoon Oppa gave me a phone today, but it's a prison in disguise. It has no functions, no balance, and only his number is saved. He took away my phone, my last connection to the world beyond these walls. He locked me in the bathroom, a cage within my own home. He doesn't know about the secret room I've hidden behind the walls, where I clutch this diary and pour out my pain. He visits once a day, bringing food, his presence a storm cloud that darkens my every moment. To my family, he spins lies: "She needs time to heal. She doesn't want anyone to call her." And they believe him. Everyone believes him.

Date: October 21, 2021

The truth has come to light, but it feels like a cruel joke. It wasn't me in the bar that night—it was someone who cosplayed as me, mimicking my every detail. Soobin Oppa knows now, but it changes nothing. Yejoon Oppa twisted the truth, telling Soobin that I don't want to see him, feeding him lies to keep us apart. My heart aches with the weight of this revelation. I thought the truth would set me free, but it has only tightened the chains around me.

Date: October 30, 2021

This morning, I heard his voice—Soobin Oppa's voice—calling my name from outside the apartment. My heart leapt, my screams tore from my throat, desperate to reach him. But the walls are soundproof, my cries swallowed by silence. He left before I could escape. At night, Yejoon Oppa returned. He saw the tears on my face, the hope lingering in my eyes, and he knew. His rage was merciless. He beat me again, his fists the punctuation to his threats.

I know now that my time is running out. Yejoon Oppa's wrath will consume me, and soon. Each day feels like my last. If I don't escape, I will die here, forgotten, my love for Soobin buried with me.

Dohyun sighed heavily, his voice trembling as he spoke,

"So, he poisoned her. He killed her. Then he posted a photo of the note in English from her account… made the whole world believe she took her own life. And the last call from her phone wasn't from her actually. It was from Yejoon just to blame you. He took her phone that time. Lastly, he wrote the note in English by himself since he knew that he couldn't copy her handwriting. So he didn't write it in Korean. What a monster! Fuck off! "

"He wrote it in English because it's line of Noona's part of her group's song. He's intelligence."

"O my God! I didn't think of it. Then how can we prove that it was not written by Noona?"

"Easy. Noona's English handwriting was bad. I have her notebooks, homeworks."

"That's a relief then."

His words echoed in my mind like thunder, shaking every ounce of my being. I clenched my fists, trying to control the storm inside me. But how could I? Every word was a blade, cutting deeper into the anguish that burned in my chest. My own sister. My precious sister. All I wanted at that moment was to find Shin Yejoon and end him with my own hands.

I stood abruptly, my chair screeching against the floor as my legs moved almost on instinct. My heart raced, fueled by a whirlwind of grief and rage. Before I could take another step, I felt Dohyun's hand on my shoulder—a firm yet gentle anchor pulling me back from the edge of recklessness.

"I won't ask if you're okay," he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken sorrow. His grip tightened slightly, grounding me in his presence. "She was your sister. Your own blood. Be strong. If you want… we can go to Officer Jihoon now. He'll help us get justice. We can't let him win."

My lips quivered as I inhaled deeply, my vision blurring with unshed tears. "Then let's go," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, yet resolute.

Dohyun nodded, his eyes meeting mine. There was no hesitation, no doubt—only determination. Together, we stepped forward, bound by the shared weight of loss and the unrelenting desire for justice. The world outside seemed colder, darker, as if mourning her with us.

This wasn't just about justice anymore. It was personal. And I knew, in that moment, that we wouldn't stop until Shin Yejoon paid for what he did—until my sister's stolen voice was finally heard.