“Hurry up, please!” Jaehyun shouted, running around the classroom like a whirlwind of energy.

“Shut up, or I won’t hesitate to test this on you,” Sungho threatened, holding a small paper cutter towards him in mock seriousness.

“Jeez, sorryyyyy! I was just kidding. Please continue,” Jaehyun said, backing off dramatically, before wandering over to the whiteboard where Riwoo was working.

“Oh my god, it’s Yoon Ma-ri, not Moon Ma-ri! Are you serious right now?” Jaehyun exclaimed, loudly correcting Riwoo’s writing.

“Shut up, please. I’m begging you,” Leehan groaned, rushing to clamp his hand over Jaehyun’s mouth.

“But I’m just correcting him!”

“Go decorate the walls or something,” Riwoo sighed without looking up. “I can write on my own. I’m not five years old, I know how to write”

“No one wants me here,” Jaehyun grumbled dramatically. “Fine. I’ll go spend some quality time with Taesan before he gets all lovey-dovey in his new relationship.”

As he headed for the door, Sungho called out, “I swear, Myung Jaehyun, if you ruin even one thing—”

“I won’t! Don’t worry,” Jaehyun cut in, grinning as he disappeared from the room.

ᯓ ᯓ ᯓ

Thirty minutes later, the classroom was ready. Decorations were hung, and the plan was set in motion.

Taesan, their shy and introverted friend, was deeply smitten with Yoon Ma-ri. She was a bright and popular girl in their class, known for her beauty and bubbly personality. Taesan had been crushing on her for months, but no amount of teasing or pep talks could make him confess. So, his friends decided to take matters into their own hands.

At 11 a.m, Ma-ri walked into the room, her presence instantly lighting up the space. She took her seat, seemingly unaware of the anticipation building around her. Suddenly, the lights went out.

Startled, Ma-ri stood up, only to hear a loud chorus of voices shouting, “Happy birthday, Ma-ri!”

Her classmates gathered around her, a beautifully decorated cake on the desk. Smiling brightly, she cut the cake and thanked everyone warmly.

As the laughter and cheers died down, the group of friends exchanged glances.

“Go on and confess, Taesan-ah,” Sungho whispered, nudging him forward.

Taesan froze, panic flashing across his face. He glanced back at his friends, who nodded encouragingly. Leehan stepped closer and whispered, “It’s now or never, Taesan. Don’t waste this chance.”

and with a deep breath, Taesan approached Ma-ri.

“Um, hi,” he began, his voice barely audible.

“Hey, Taesan! How are you? Long time no see,” Ma-ri said warmly, her usual smile brightening her face.

“Y-yeah, I’m good. What about you?”

“I’m good too.”

An awkward silence stretched between them, each second feeling heavier than the last.

“Did you… need something?” Ma-ri asked, her tone gentle yet curious.

Taesan took another deep breath, steeling his nerves. “I-I just wanted to say… from the moment I first saw you, I fell for you. I know I’m not good with words, but… would you go out with me?”

Ma-ri’s smile faltered, and her expression turned unreadable. She stood up abruptly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” she said, before rushing out of the classroom without looking back.

ᯓ ᯓ ᯓ

(End of flashback)

“Yeah, she left that day, and we never saw her again… until we heard the news,” Leehan said, his voice trembling as a tear slipped down his cheek. “She… she took her own life by drowning.”

The room fell into heavy silence.

“Taesan was never the same after that,” Sungho added quietly. “He was crushed when she rejected him, but when we found out about her death… he just shut down. The playful, cheerful Taesan we knew was gone forever.”

“But why?” Woonhak asked, confusion and sadness in his voice. “Why did she do it?”

“We don’t know,” Leehan admitted. “No one really knew much about her life outside of school. But… she left something for Taesan that day.”

“A letter,” Sungho added. “She left him a letter. But we never brought it up with him. We didn’t want him to relive the pain.”

“Where is the letter now?” Woonhak asked urgently.

“We don’t know,” Leehan replied. “It’s been years, and none of us talked about it after that day.”

“Wait- we need to find that letter,” Sungho said, standing abruptly. “It might hold the answers we've been missing..."