─── chapter twenty-two.
❛ FUNERAL ❜

Ye-Sol was watching a video of her mother bullying a girl, her heart sinking as she read the accompanying article. Her friend Joo-Won sat beside her, a quiet comfort amidst the loneliness she felt after one of her friends distanced herself, afraid Ye-Sol might be just like her mother.

Suddenly, her mother, Yeon-Jin, rushed into the room, seizing Ye-Sol's phone and laptop and handing them to the nanny. "Take these away. Make sure Ye-Sol doesn't go online," she ordered.

The nanny nodded. "Yes, Ma'am," she said softly, carrying the devices out of the room.

Yeon-Jin forced a smile, crouching down to Ye-Sol's level. "Puppy! Listen, mom and dad got into a tiny fight and there are some things Mommy needs to go take care of." she said brightly, as if hoping Ye-Sol hadn't seen anything.

"I saw everything," Ye-Sol said blankly, watching her mother's smile fade. "Did you bully your friend? You really burned her?" Despite everything, she still held onto a small hope that her mother might deny it.

"Seung-A told me she's scared of me," Ye-Sol said quietly. "She asked if I was going to bully her too..."

"The only one I have is Joo-Won, who feels more like a little sister," Ye-Sol said to her mother. Her expression was blank, but a trace of hurt flickered in her eyes.

Yeon-Jin's voice wavered, her eyes glistening as she reached for her daughter's hand. "Ye-Sol, please... that's not... no, please."

"I can talk to Seung-A's mother. We can—"

But Ye-Sol pulled her hand away, her voice cold and final. "Just go away."

"I don't want to be a weathercaster when I grow up," she declared, knowing it would hurt her mother. "Mommy, I'm not proud of you anymore."

Yeon-Jin's eyes filled with tears, her expression crumbling. But Ye-Sol simply took Joo-Won's hand and left, leaving her mother alone in the room.

Later that day, Yeon-Jin appeared outside a police station, addressing a crowd of reporters. "I admit I was a bully when I was young and immature," she confessed, "but I've never murdered anyone. In reality, I'm the real victim here, for the last few years, I suffered at the hands of her and her family."

"I had to endure all this just because their child died."

"I've filed a lawsuit against these unjust accusations from her family and the malicious lies they've spread about me," she said to those listening to her testimony.

"I never wanted to bring attention to any of this because we used to be very good friends," Yeon-Jin's voice trembled, though her eyes showed genuine remorse. "But when she died... Yoon So-Hee was expecting a child."

The reporters gasped, immediately bombarding her with questions, demanding proof.

Yeon-Jin steadied herself, placing a finger on her chin as she replied, "Check the police report. It's all there."

"My friend... instead of having that baby, chose to kill herself." Yeon-Jin's hand shook as she reached for her purse, covering her mouth to suppress a sob. Tears filled her eyes, and her voice choked as she whispered, "I didn't say anything about this earlier because I wanted to keep her... secret."

With a deep, shaky breath, she added, "That's all I have to say. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another friend's funeral to attend. I truly am sorry I have to reveal the truth like this." Bowing briefly to the stunned crowd, she turned and walked off, hand over her mouth as soft whimpers escaped her.

Some reporters watched her with pity; others were still reeling from the bombshell.

Watching the broadcast, Eun-Ji seethed, feeling betrayed that So-Hee's secret had been exposed. With a bitter chuckle, she remembered how So-Hee never mentioned the father's identity or how it had happened, afraid to lose a friend like her. Anger and grief overwhelmed her, and she fell to the floor, fists pounding the wooden boards until her knuckles bled.

Later that night, Eun-Ji arrived at Myeong-O's funeral, her hand wrapped in fresh bandages from her earlier breakdown. Quietly, she walked over to where Sa-Ra, Hye-Jeong, and Jae-Jun were sitting and took the only available seat beside Jae-Jun.

Jae-Jun noticed her bruised knuckles and smirked. "Rough day? Who'd you take down?"

Eun-Ji and Jae-Jun exchanged a glance, sensing the tension thickening between the two women who avoided eye contact and barely acknowledged each other, except to mention their drinks.

"What's with you two?" Jae-Jun asked, a hint of boredom laced with curiosity. "Did you fight or something?"

Hye-Jeong scoffed, casting a sidelong glare at Sa-Ra, who stirred her soup absently. "How could I fight with someone like her? I'm just a cheap plaything, after all."

"Talking again?" Sa-Ra muttered, finally meeting Hye-Jeong's stare, irritation flashing across her face. "I can't understand half the shit you say. So shut the fuck up, you fucking bitch."

Jae-Jun chuckled dryly, amused, while Hye-Jeong huffed, turning her gaze back to her phone, retrieving an iPad from her bag.

Eun-Ji rolled her eyes at their bickering as Hye-Jeong sneered, pulling up a video, her fingers tapping purposefully. "I bet you feel pretty shitty right now, especially after that video of Yeon-Jin."

"Made her look even better."

"But I think you'll miss this, Sa-Ra," Hye-Jeong teased, casting a mischievous glance at Sa-Ra.

Sa-Ra raised an eyebrow, lifting a paper shot glass to her lips. "What the hell are you talking about?" she asked, taking her shot just as a phone chimed.

Jae-Jun and Eun-Ji pulled out their phones, spotting a message from Myeong-O. "Looks like a ghost just texted me," Jae-Jun muttered, staring at his screen.

Eun-Ji clicked the notification. "Same ghost sent me a video."

"It's from Myeong-O."

Sa-Ra's face twisted in confusion. "What the fuck? Why would he—?"

"What's this?" Jae-Jun extended his arm, displaying a video of Sa-Ra. "Putting on a show?"

Eun-Ji, realizing the situation, quickly shut off her phone, disgust twisting her face as she pieced together what was happening. Though no stranger to scandal, she had no desire to watch her "friends" in such a compromising situation.

"Holy shit!" Hye-Jeong feigned shock as she leaned in to watch, while Sa-Ra stared, horrified at how the video had surfaced.

"Sa-Ra, isn't that you?" Hye-Jeong asked, holding the phone out to her. Sa-Ra snatched it, her eyes wide as she scanned the screen.

"It's not me..." Sa-Ra said, her voice wavering as she tried to deflect suspicion. She turned to Hye-Jeong. "Where did this come from? Who sent it?"

Hye-Jeong's laughter was sharp and mocking. "That dead fucker didn't send this, so who did?!"

Sa-Ra's frustration was mounting, her family casting judgmental glances her way as her volume rose. Hye-Jeong pulled the phone back, sneering.

"That's not you?" she taunted. Eun-Ji spoke up, breaking the tension. "Sa-Ra, those are obviously your eyes."

Sa-Ra's gaze flicked between Eun-Ji and Hye-Jeong, desperation in her expression. "Those crazy eyes."

"Sure" Jae-Jun quipped, glancing at Hye-Jeong. "You should be talking about someone else's 'crazy eyes?'"

"What the hell are you so excited about?" Sa-Ra's tone grew sharp. "It's not me!"

"Turn it off, you bitch!" Sa-Ra lunged for Hye-Jeong's phone, but Hye-Jeong held it out of reach, laughing as the video continued.

"This is so funny."

"You laughed while I was being screwed," Hye-Jeong retorted, holding her phone high. "And now that it's about you, it's not so funny?"

A muffled moan from the video caught Sa-Ra off guard. "More..." her recorded voice whispered.

"That's you," Jae-Jun confirmed, unfazed. "But who's the guy?"

Sa-Ra's panic intensified as she fought for Hye-Jeong's phone. Myeong-O's voice echoed from the video: "Look at me."

"It's Myeong-O!" Jae-Jun observed, glancing back at Sa-Ra. "Did you sleep with him?"

"Wow... Myeong-O," Jae-Jun murmured as he continued watching, while Eun-Ji winced at the intimacy on display.

"Guess drugs weren't the only thing you were taking," he remarked, coldly amused.

Hye-Jeong was still laughing as Sa-Ra snatched the phone and hurled it away. "That's not me!"

"Who did this? Who sent that shit?!" she demanded, her voice a mix of anger and panic. She turned to Eun-Ji, her eyes narrowing. "Was it you?"

Eun-Ji's glare was fierce. "Are you serious?" she shot back.

"Why'd you do that?" Hye-Jeong sneered at Sa-Ra. "You're the one who slept with him, you fucking slut!."

Sa-Ra whipped around to face Hye-Jeong, seething. "Fuck you."

Just then, Yeon-Jin appeared, drawn by the commotion. "We need to talk," Yeon-Jin said, Sa-Ra stared suspicion flashing in her eyes. "Did you send it?"

Yeon-Jin frowned, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"Step outside with me."

"I think we should talk about that video you posted," Yeon-Jin replied calmly, watching Sa-Ra approach.

"I knew... I knew it was you," Sa-Ra hissed. "Why? Trying to hide your videos with one of mine?"

Suddenly, Sa-Ra grabbed Yeon-Jin's hair, dragging her forward.

"Hey, are you insane?!" Yeon-Jin shouted, wincing in pain. "Are you on drugs?!"

Hye-Jeong retrieved her phone from the floor, stowing it in her purse with a smirk as Yeon-Jin struggled in Sa-Ra's grip.

"You two act like you're better than everyone," Hye-Jeong said with bitter satisfaction. "But posting a video of your best friend and revealing that girl's pregnancy to hide from your shame..." Her words made Eun-Ji clench her fists.

"Wow, you two really are fucking classy."

Hye-Jeong began to lead the way out of the funeral home.

edit below

"She said what?" Jae-Jun's voice cut through the tension. The realization struck Sa-Ra, and her eyes narrowed as she watched Hye-Jeong's smug expression.

"It was you..." Sa-Ra murmured, shoving Yeon-Jin aside as she stormed up to Hye-Jeong, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her back. "Where are you going, you slut?"

"To your daddy's church, bitch," Hye-Jeong sneered, unfazed. "Come by and see your little film play in the lobby."

"Looks like you're going to be brought down on camera," she added, relishing her taunts. "You should've just let me buy your fucking clothes."

Jae-Jun rose from his seat, the look of disdain unmistakable. While Eun-Ji was still glued to the scene, he moved past her, Sa-Ra, and Hye-Jeong, casting a disgusted glance at Yeon-Jin on the floor.

"Unbelievable..." he muttered as he threw on his coat and walked out of the building.

"Only the devil rejoices in the pain of others," Sa-Ra recited, her voice dark and measured, as she reached up to her hair. "But a bitch like you enjoys others' pain."

"Should face judgment."

With a swift motion, Sa-Ra pulled a sharp art pencil from her hair, her expression unyielding. She thrust it into Hye-Jeong's neck, the sickening squelch echoing as blood began to pour. Reporters screamed and stumbled back in horror, while Yeon-Jin, regaining her footing, staggered back in shock.

Eun-Ji gasped, paralyzed by the unfolding horror, as Hye-Jeong sank to the floor, blood bubbling from her mouth. Sa-Ra, her hair disheveled, stood over her with a hard gaze, while Hye-Jeong, choking and clutching at the pencil embedded in her neck, slid weakly toward the table.

Lost in the shock of it all, Eun-Ji didn't even notice the police rushing in. One officer quickly tackled Sa-Ra to the floor, pinning her down, while another knelt beside Hye-Jeong, trying to control the blood that continued to spill.

© 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗭𝗡  //  𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯