"Yeah, I'm in front of the boarding house."
Sanas took off her raincoat. She folded it neatly and placed it in the corner of the porch. The woman then removed her wet footwear so she wouldn't dirty the floor. She casually knocked on Stela's door.
"Stela!"
There was no answer. Sanas figured the girl must be furious with her. The promise she'd made some time ago seemed useless as protection. Sanas tried knocking on the door again, hoping Stela would open both her heart and her door.
"I'm sorry, Stel. Please open the door!"
Sanas knocked harder and harder on Stela's door. She was worried the girl might hurt herself. Sanas began shouting Stela's name.
"Stela! Stel!"
"Keep it down!!"
Sanas immediately apologized when one of Stela's neighbors reprimanded her. She looked embarrassed and quickly lowered her head. Sanas had forgotten that it was already nighttime. Obviously, she shouldn't have been shouting like that.
The woman tried to open the door, but it was no use. She put all her strength into trying to break it down, but it was impossible. Although Sanas had practiced martial arts since high school, doing this alone would only hurt her. She racked her brain, then walked over to the house of the man who had reprimanded her and called out politely.
"What's going on, miss?!"
"I'm with the police. Could you help me break down that girl's door?" Sanas asked as she showed him her identification card.
The man standing in front of Sanas immediately trembled when he learned her identity. Without another word, he nodded and walked ahead of Sanas. The woman smiled in satisfaction and quickly followed the man's steps.
"We'll count to three, okay?"
The man nodded, and together they tried to break down the door. Their first attempt failed, so Sanas asked the man to try again. The second attempt failed too, and Sanas began to feel pain in her arm.
"Again! One, two, three!"
The door opened, and Sanas let out a relieved breath. She immediately thanked him and told the man he could leave. The woman quickly began searching for Stela.
"Stela!"
The girl's bedroom was empty, and Sanas grew even more panicked. She walked toward the bathroom after hearing the sound of a running faucet. Sanas was horrified to see Stela holding herself underwater. She immediately pulled Stela out of the tub.
"You idiot, what were you thinking, Stel?!"
Sanas immediately checked Stela's breathing, bringing her ear close to the girl's mouth and nose. There was no air. Sanas decided to give her rescue breaths. She performed a head tilt by gently pushing Stela's forehead with her palm and a chin tilt by lifting Stela's chin with one finger. She gave her five consecutive rescue breaths.
She grew increasingly frantic when the girl still didn't respond. Sanas moved to Stela's chest, placed both hands directly in the center, and began pressing down quickly and repeatedly. The woman silently prayed that her efforts would succeed soon.
"Cough, cough."
Sanas wiped her face when Stela coughed and vomited up water. She immediately called for medical assistance. Sanas wiped Stela's face and smiled at her.
Minutes passed, and Stela slowly opened her eyes. Her right hand was numb, while her left hand ached. She immediately checked her right side and saw Sanas sleeping with her head resting on her hand. She was slightly startled to see an IV inserted into her left hand. The girl quickly looked around. It seemed she'd been rushed to the hospital.
"Sis," Stela called, and Sanas immediately woke up and straightened her body.
"Hey, beautiful. How are you? Feeling better?"
Stela didn't answer the question right away. Instead, the girl turned her gaze away from Sanas. She tried to hide her glistening eyes.
"Why did you have to come, Sis? I was already at peace, diving into a beautiful, vast blue ocean."
Sanas took Stela's hand and pulled her chair closer. She also turned Stela's face so she could look at her. The girl only stared down, too afraid to meet Sanas's eyes.
"This is all beyond our ability and our predictions. I'm sorry for running my mouth when nobody knows what the future will bring," Sanas said.
"It's not your fault, Sis. If my friend had never reported it to the police, you'd never have had to deal with me, and you wouldn't be so stressed out right now. Bury and forget the information from yesterday, Sis. I'm sure you guys won't find a way out of this, so please, let me punish myself."
Sanas let out a long breath and gripped Stela's hand tightly. She gazed at the girl with deep affection. Sanas understood that Stela was blaming herself for everything that had happened.
"Listen, you're all victims. I know that, and I'm sure of it. You're right, Stel—we can't uncover all of this. There's too little evidence and too few witnesses. That's why we need your help, Stel."
Stela blinked repeatedly, confused by the situation. With some effort, she pulled her hand free of Sanas's grip and tried to sit up. Sanas simply watched without offering to help. Stela stared at Sanas seriously, making Sanas swallow hard.
"What makes you so sure I'm a victim too, Sis?"
Everyone in IIS 4 leaped in shock when R violently opened the door. Every student's eyes turned toward him while R busily examined every corner of the classroom. Mia and Vera, who were standing right beside the door, glared at the boy.
"Where's Stela?" he shouted.
"She didn't come in today," Vera answered casually.
R kicked the classroom door and walked out. Dean and Loen, who were always with him, kicked the door too. When Mia saw that, she immediately stood up and ran after R.
"Stop!"
R and his two friends immediately looked back. They stopped when they realized Mia was the one calling them. Loen let out an annoyed sigh when he saw Vera behind Mia. He was tired of arguing with his own sister.
"Why are you looking for Stela?" Mia asked.
R exhaled and was about to continue walking. Mia's question wasn't what he wanted to hear. Vera grabbed R's arm, stopping him.
"Let go!"
Vera immediately released him. She didn't want to end up thrown aside like Mia had a while ago. When Loen heard R shout, he quickly patted his friend's shoulder. He didn't want R to hurt his twin.
"Don't just walk away. Are you trying to run from your own crime?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You're the mastermind behind all of this, aren't you?" Vera pressed.
"What the hell are you talking about, Ver?" Loen snapped, pulling Vera's arm.
"Who else could get information this private if not you? Big Boss of Immersion!"
R clenched his fists. If the person saying this had been a guy, he definitely would have finished him off. The boy ignored Mia's accusation and urged his friends to leave.
"If you're staying quiet, that means it's true!" Vera shouted.
R stopped and took a deep breath. He walked back and stood directly in front of Vera. The girl bravely returned his stare.
"Listen up. I'm not some cheap-ass guy with nothing better to do than spread news like this. Instead of accusing random people, go find the real culprit. And that person... isn't me!"
After the argument, the three friends moved away. They stopped for a moment when R began acting strangely. Dean and Loen then busily fanned R, who was drenched in sweat. He'd done far too much shouting today. Dizziness and tightness in his chest hit him at the same time. His legs were also weak from standing too long and walking back and forth.
"Just go to the hospital, R. I don't want the hassle of carrying you if you pass out," Dean offered.
"I'm fine."
The words couldn't have been less relevant to the look on his face. R's pale skin grew even paler. When Loen saw that R seemed to be having trouble breathing, he fanned him harder.
"Let's go to the school clinic! You need oxygen, R. At least lie down there for a while," Loen finally said.
R nodded. No matter how badly his pride wanted him to look strong, he wouldn't win once that damn illness stopped cooperating. He struggled to get up from his seat. But after only two steps, R's body staggered from sheer weakness.
"R!"
Dean, who was directly to his left, caught R's body and collapsed along with him. Loen hurried over and crouched down to look at R, who was still half-conscious. His eyes remained open, but his body was completely limp. Dean repeatedly slapped R's cheeks to keep him from slipping away. But damn it, R chose to squeeze his eyes shut.
"Damn it! See? I'm the one who has to carry you after all!"