"........,"

Panic surged through me, cold and suffocating.

I hadn't prepared for this.

I had no lawyer, no defense.

A whirlwind of emotions threatened to consume me - fear, anger, and a desperate yearning for Si-Yeon.

Across the aisle, a prosecutor, a woman with a sharp haircut and a steely gaze, began outlining the charges against me.

"........,"

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"

The details were a blur - assault, resisting arrest, property damage.

And so on.

It all seemed so surreal.

The first witness was Kang, one of the guys I'd beaten up.

He limped into the courtroom, sporting nasty bruises and a heavily bandaged arm and leg.

'Oopsie...'

His testimony was filled with exaggerated claims of my brutality, hiding the fact of their own attack on Si-Yeon.

The prosecutor, Ms. Lee, pressed him, painting me as a violent menace.

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling within me.

Detective Kwon, who had been observing the proceedings from the back of the courtroom, leaned forward in his seat.

Throughout the trial, he had remained a silent observer, his face an unreadable mask.

Now, however, a flicker of something akin to anger crossed his features.

"........,"

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"

"Hah... What a bunch of dumb fu*kers,"

"........,"

As Ms. Lee concluded her questioning, Detective Kwon rose to his feet abruptly.

"Objection!"

He boomed, his voice unexpectedly high.

"The witness' testimony seems biased, considering the nature of his injuries."

Then, to utter my astonishment, he addressed the judge.

"Your Honor, I request to represent the defendant."

A murmur swept through the courtroom.

The prosecutor, Ms. Lee, sputtered in outrage, objecting to Detective Kwon's sudden involvement.

The judge, however, after a considering look at Kwon's service record, granted his request.

Relief washed over me, mingled with a flicker of surprise.

Detective Kwon, the man who initially was in charge of arresting me, was now my lawyer?

It seemed like a gamble, but it was the only shot I had.

"Overruled,"

Ms. Lee finally conceded.

"However, the defense may cross-examine."

Kwon strode towards the witness stand, his gaze fixed on Kang.

"Mr. Kang,"

He began, his voice firm,

"You claim the defendant attacked you without provocation. Correct?"

With that being said, the trial continued, with Detective Kwon acting as a surprisingly adept defense attorney.

Kang, clearly uncomfortable under Kwon's scrutiny, shifted in his seat.

"Y-yes,"

He stammered.

"But according to the security footage from the school,"

Kwon countered, pulling out a small tablet,

"You and your friends were the ones who initiated the attack on the defendant's sister."

A collective gasp rippled through the courtroom.

Ms. Lee sputtered, objecting to the introduction of new evidence.

But the judge, after a brief consultation with Kwon, overruled her.

Kwon pressed play on the tablet, and the security footage filled the screen.

It clearly showed the events leading up to my arrival, the abuse of Si-Yeon, and the fear etched on her face.

'Fu*k, my hands are itching...'

The air crackled with tension as the video ended.

"See for yourselves,"

Kwon declared, his voice ringing through the courtroom.

"(Y/N) was simply acting in defense of his sister."

Ms. Lee, flustered by the new evidence, called a few more witnesses, but their testimonies lacked conviction in the face of the video.

With the tide of the trial seemingly turning in my favor, Detective Kwon wasn't ready to rest his case just yet.

He scanned the courtroom, his eyes finally meeting a familiar pair of yellow ones that seemed to hold disdain for the whole situation in the back pew.

"........," 

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╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........," 

The figure wore a hoodie and a hat both pulled low, obscuring most of their face, and a mask further disguised their identity. 

"The defense calls... someone very special to the defendant,"

Kwon declared, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips as he pointed in the direction of the figure.

A collective gasp resonated through the courtroom.

Heads turned in the direction of the back pew, where the mysterious figure remained in shadow.

"D-Do... Do-Hwa?"

A whisper escaped my lips, disbelief lacing my voice.

  'What in the world, is he doing all the way in the back?'

Do-Hwa remained motionless for a moment, then with a flourish, dramatically pulled down the hood. 

"........," 

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"  

A gasp, louder this time, swept through the room. 

It was indeed Do-Hwa, his signature blonde hair a contrast to the dark clothing he wore. 

He winked at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes, before pulling off his mask.

It was a silent message, a playful jab that seemed to say,

"Relax, I've got this."

"Whoa,"

I breathed, a mixture of amusement and confusion washing over me. 

'Is he playing spy or something?'

Do-Hwa straightened in his seat, his playful demeanor replaced by seriousness. 

He strode confidently towards the witness stand, the courtroom falling silent in his wake.

The oath was administered, and Kwon wasted no time.

"Mr. Baek,"

He began, his voice firm,

"Can you tell the court about your relationship with the defendant, (Y/N)?"

Do-Hwa straightened in his seat, his voice clear.

"We've been close friends since childhood. We live in the same neighborhood and attend the same school."

"And were you with (Y/N) on the day of the alleged assault?"

"Yes,"

Do-Hwa replied.

"I had just finished studying at the library when I heard (Y/N) calling for his sister who seemed to be missing."

Ms. Lee, the prosecutor, shot to her feet, her face flushed with anger.

"Objection!"

She booed.

"Hearsay! The witness must has no firsthand knowledge of the events that transpired."

The judge, however, overruled the objection.

"Let the witness continue," She instructed.

"We rushed around searching for her, and that's when we tried our luck with the storage room that was locked from the inside. He was panicking, trying to break in."

He described the scene – my panicked calls for Si-Yeon, the urgency in my voice, and the growing sense of dread that filled the air.

He recounted how I finally managed to break down the door, revealing a horrifying sight – Si-Yeon unconscious on the floor, surrounded by a group of older boys.

"They… they were hurting her,"

Do-Hwa stammered, on purpose, you bet.

"(Y/N) didn't hesitate. He charged in to protect his sister."

Do-Hwa's testimony told my actions perfectly, painting a picture of a desperate brother defending his sibling from harm.

Ms. Lee, clearly flustered, tried to poke holes in his story, suggesting I might have initiated the confrontation.

"But Mr. Baek,"

She pressed,

"You never actually saw the fight, did you?"

"No,"

Do-Hwa admitted, his voice firm.

"But I know (Y/N). He's not a violent person. He would never attack someone without reason, especially not outnumbered."

"........," 

Cough.

His words resonated with the jury.

They saw the sincerity in his eyes, the unwavering support for his friend shining through.

Finally, Detective Kwon addressed the judge.

"Your Honor,"

He began,

"The prosecution has failed to provide a compelling case against the defendant. I ask you to take that seriously,"

Do-Hwa's testimony, coupled with the security footage, presented a compelling case for self-defense.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, both sides rested their cases.

Then, the moment of truth arrived.

The jury filed out to deliberate.

The wait was agonizing.

Every tick of the clock echoed in my ears.

I stole a glance at Do-Hwa, his presence comforting.

Finally, after hours of deliberation, the jury returned.

The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the foreman rose to speak.

"We, the jury…"

he began, his voice echoing in the tense atmosphere.

"…find the defendant…"

The words hung heavy in the air.

My breath hitched in my throat.

".... To be..."

A bead of sweat trickled down my temple.

In front of me, Detective Kwon straightened his posture, his gaze sharp.

He wouldn't miss this for the world.
.
.
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╰┈➤ ❝ [Ɒσи'τ fσяɢєτ τσ vστє αиɒ cσммєиτ!]

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

"........," 

Live reaction of a friend of mine after I told her about my updating schedule:

... Ahem, I love her! (XD)

Happy reading! >ᴗ<

ִֶָ๋𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐