"........,"

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╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"

Detective Kwon handed me a piece of paper with contact information for a lawyer he recommended.

"Get someone to call him for you tomorrow. He might be able to help you."

"........,"

My mind buzzed with a million questions, none of them about myself or the charges I faced.

How was Si-Yeon?

Was she hurt?

Had they told her about the fight, about me being locked up?

I paced the cell, frustration mounting.

"........,"

The metal door screeched open, momentarily pulling me from my thoughts.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I braced myself for who might walk in.

Disappointment washed over me as I saw not the worried face of Si-Yeon, but the very last people I wanted to see - my father and my two step-brothers.

My father, surrounded by an air of disdain, stood at the forefront, wearing an expensive suit.

He held a briefcase in one hand, his face a mask of irritation.

"This is what you get for running around like a delinquent,"

He spat, his voice laced with disappointment, or perhaps, something closer to inconvenience.

"More trouble than you're worth."

"Father,"

I started, my voice hoarse from disuse.

"Don't 'Father' me,"

He interrupted, his voice cutting through my words like a knife.

"This is a family embarrassment. I have a business meeting to attend. Clean up this mess you've made, and for once, try to be a man about it."

His words stung, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

‟You're no longer a son I recognize."

"........,"

He turned to leave, his dismissal heavy in the air.

My eldest step-brother, Junseo, followed close behind, his usual aloofness amplified by the situation.

A curt nod was his only acknowledgment of my presence.

The second eldest, Minho, however, surprised me.

Unlike his usual attitude and sarcasm, he shuffled his feet awkwardly, his gaze flitting around the room before landing on me.

"Look, fu*ker,"

He mumbled, averting his eyes again,

"She... she doesn't know yet. I told her you're... uh, staying with your boyfriend for a few days."

A scoff escaped my lips.

"Do-Hwa's not my boyfriend, you idiot."

"Whatever,"

He muttered,

"Just... don't make things any worse, okay? And for the love of all things decent, if she finds out you're in jail... Just, get out soon."

"... Thanks, Minho,"

I said, surprised at the sincerity in my own voice.

He flinched at the sound of his name, his cheeks flushing a faint pink.

"Don't get all mushy on me, little brat,"

He muttered, his voice cracking slightly.

He then turned on his heels and bolted out of the cell, slamming the door shut with a resounding clang.

'Dumbass,'

Silence descended upon the small space once more, broken only by the ragged rhythm of my own breathing.

My father, a pillar of indifference as always.

Junseo, as emotionally distant as ever.

And Minho, well, Minho was... A softer Minho?

Their visit, if I could even call it that, did little to ease my worries.

Yet a wave of relief washed over me, tinged with a pang of guilt.

Si-Yeon was alright.

They hadn't told her everything.

Si-Yeon was safe, for now.

Knowing that fueled a fire of determination within me.

I had to get out of here.

Not for myself, but for Si-Yeon.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I'd start fighting my way back to Si-Yeon.

The fight wouldn't be easy, but with the image of Si-Yeon's smiling face in my mind, I knew I had the strength to face anything.

"Sister..."

The last word hung in the air, a whisper lost in the silence of the cell.

A flicker of a mischievous grin played on my lips despite the grim situation.

Minho, that stupid freak, actually lied for me.

"Do-Hwa...My boyfriend...?"

I chuckled, the sound dry and humorless in the confined space.

Si-Yeon, bless her independent spirit, wouldn't fall for that one easily.

But it bought me time.

Suddenly, a new worry gnawed at me.

Did Minho believe his own lie?

Did he see a flicker of something between me and Do-Hwa, my childhood friend?

'Whatever,'

I closed my eyes, the image of Si-Yeon sharpening in my mind.

Yona, hold on.

I'm coming for you.

"........,"

The days bled into one another, each sunrise a reminder of my situation.

The lawyer's information remained a crumpled piece of paper in my pocket, useless without a call I couldn't make.

One afternoon, a commotion broke the usual.

Guards bustled through the cell block, their voices raised in urgency.

They stopped at my cell, the metallic clang of the opening door echoing in the silence.

Detective Kwon stood at the threshold, his expression unreadable.

"........,"

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╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"

"We're moving you,"

He said curtly, his eyes locked on some point behind me.

My heart leaped.

Was this a transfer to a different facility?

A chance to make contact with the outside world?

Before I could ask, two burly guards sided me, propelling me forward down the corridor.

We reached a transport vehicle - a black, unmarked van.

Dread coiled in my stomach as I was shoved inside.

The heavy doors slammed shut, plunging me into darkness.

The engine roared to life, and the van launched forward.

Hours seemed to crawl by.

My mind spun with questions.

Where were they taking me?

Why the sudden move?

Was this part of some legal process, or something else entirely?

Finally, the vehicle shuddered to a stop.

The doors opened, revealing not a prison courtyard, but a bustling courtroom.

Confusion washed over me as I was guided inside, the weight of dozens of curious eyes settling on my shoulders.

A sea of faces blurred as I was guided to a defendant's chair.

My gaze swept the room, searching for a familiar face.

Yet disappointment stabbed at me when I saw none.

At the front of the room, a stern-faced judge boomed,

"The case of the State vs. Cha (Y/N) is now in session."

This wasn't a lovely shiny picnic.

This was my trial.
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╰┈➤ ❝ [Ɒσи'τ fσяɢєτ τσ vστє αиɒ cσммєиτ!]

₊❏❜ ⋮ ⌒(A/N): Thank you so much for reading this chapter! ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )

"........," 

Ah. I don't know what to say, but I do feel the stress.

The stress (Y/N) is feeling.

Want to know what happened?

Happy reading! >ᴗ<

ִֶָ๋𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐