CHAPTER ELEVEN: Interviews One and Two

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- KIM JIWOONG

After the whole few week plan of attempting to make the four students become friends, it was established as a whole fail. Nothing was working and it was now time for Jiwoong and his friends to be serious and investigate properly.

"I think it's time to actually interview them on the case and their whereabouts." Jiwoong turned to the boys who were sat down. "The whole thing on making them friends again and finding out the relationships between them is too difficult and will slow us down from getting the truth."

The boys nodded. "Their friendship isn't going to happen any time soon, let's just start before Gyuvin's dad finds another stupid idea on how to deal with the case." Hao sighed and stretched his arms out.

"We also still need to figure out who this Z person is, however they haven't been mentioned recently. It looks like more needs to be done to have that anonymous person to come back." Matthew crossed his arms.

Jiwoong nodded in agreement. "We definitely need to investigate that too, but that's all on the friendship side. We don't know if Z actually has said anything that had to do with the murder." He turned to Taerae. "Now, what should we do first?"

"I say we talk to your parents first." Taerae suggested as he looked over at Jiwoong. "You haven't spoken to them ever since the case started, have you?"

Jiwoong smiled and shook his head. "I've been so busy with the case.." He then took his phone out and pressed onto his mother's contact. "I'll see if I can get them in for an interview."

"Are we going to interview them at the same time or separately?" Matthew questioned. "Wouldn't it be easier if we asked separately? You know, to remove bias and a fault on recalling events?"

Oddly, Jiwoong shook his head. "I say we interview them at the same time." He cleared his throat and began to walk out of the room. "Trust me, it would be better. And don't count this as a real interrogation."

"What do you mean?" Hao asked with furrowed brows, stopping the eldest from leaving. "We need real interviews to get information. We can't just do practice ones with two people just because they're your parents."

"Just go by my orders. Record it but don't upload it, understand?" He looked at them with no expression before walking off. The boys gave each other questionable looks as Jiwoong's figure became smaller by the seconds he walked away.

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the next day.

The boys were in Jiwoong's house and Taerae and Jiwoong were sat opposite the parents for the interview. Hao pressed record on the phone and Taerae cleared his throat, "Interview One: Ryu Yoonho and Kim Yeoreum." This wasn't even a proper interview, but they needed as much as they needed to get something somehow.

Taerae then sighed before looking at the adults. "Is there anything you have to say about the four suspects first of all?"

The adults looked at each other and nodded. Yejun's mother spoke first. "We do think they killed him. But we're not sure why Yunmi is there, she was the only one who couldn't have done it."

Jiwoong and Taerae looked at each other quizzically and the boys turned to the parents with a hundred questions forming in their minds. "You don't think Yunmi did it?" Taerae asked, which was followed by a shake of the heads from both parents. "Then why did you put her down as a suspect?"

Yejun's mother scoffed. "She's only a decoy. We suggested her as a suspect so we could get the three boys out."

"Decoy? How so?" Jiwoong leaned forward in intrigue. This was the information they actually needed and he was just happy to finally talk to his parents after so long.

"She's the glue of the group." Yejun's father spoke. "The day after Yejun was found dead, we tried to contact the boys but they refused. But once we mentioned Yunmi being there as a suspect they all suddenly agreed to participate."

Hanbin was writing in the notebook and stopped after those words. "So you're saying she's innocent, and is only there to help the case?"

"We're not saying she is the little angel or anything, but she was Yejun's only and closest friend and obviously girlfriend. She was also the last to see him right?" The man looked at the boys in interest. "Or was it somebody else?"

Taerae sighed. "We're not entirely certain, but that's what they said." He ran a hand through his hair and sat up straight. "Anyway, we need to actually ask you about what you remember from that night of his death."

"Well we were both home that night, and Yunmi was at our house to hang out with Yejun." The woman said, looking up as she tried to remember. "But then it was late and we heard yelling and arguing from upstairs."

"She then stormed out of the house after the argument - and I'm pretty sure this was one of their bigger arguments, so Yejun came to us crying and told us she betrayed him."

Jiwong raised a brow. He and Yejun were close but Jiwoong lived with the other boys, so he wasn't aware of any arguments going on. "Did they argue often that you know or heard of?"

"Not necessarily. They were a healthy couple but you know, Yunmi obviously attracts many people, and Yejun gets jealous easily." The woman shrugged. "They only ever argued about that or him finding out about Yunmi's addictions."

Yejun's father nodded "He was very insecure too, we obviously aren't a super wealthy and powerful family so people would often look down on him. You know, rich girl and not so rich guy."

Hao tapped Taerae. "We're going a bit off topic on what we want. Ask them about the murder." He whispered and Taerae nodded before clearing his throat.

"So who do you think is guilty for Yejun's death overall?" He questioned. "This was the main thing we wanted to ask you."

"Gunwook." They both said. "He has many, many things he doesn't tell anyone. His parents are political figures, so he's the most powerful amongst those kids. He could get away with anything."

The boys all looked at each other in surprise besides Jiwoong. "Gunwook? Don't you think Gyuvin is the most suspicious?" Matthew said in confusion.

Yejun's mother scoffed. "He may be the most jealous and was awful to Yejun but he was always like that. I don't think he'd just murder our Yejun a year later after it all happened."

Jiwoong nodded in agreement. "That's what I was thinking. Gunwook is so secretive, and I never liked him as one of Yejun's closest friends. I'm pretty sure he's also scared of me because of that."

"He wouldn't even tell us much, he only mentioned how Yejun wasn't the greatest friend." Matthew sighed. "He really didn't ever tell me anything as much as I would ask."

She nodded. "We could see that. Yejun wasn't a fan of everyone being a big group and wanted Yunmi to himself. He'd get mad at the others often if they would try to tell on him."

"And you knew this?" Jiwoong asked in bewilderment. "Yejun really did that?"

"Everyone knew, but no one said anything because Yejun has a lot against them." The woman sighed.

"Okay, okay." Hanbin sighed. "I can't believe we prioritised watching over them when we could've found all of this out as soon as the case even came out."

Yejun's father snorted. "We weren't allowed to talk yet anyway. Gyuvin's father was so keen on making sure they're close again thinking it would make it easier to get things out of them."

"If you put four arrogant students together as suspects it's obvious the police wouldn't get anything. They would either confess out of fear or refuse to say anything." Yejun's father said, "And it's obvious they would never confess to anything because it would ruin the reputations of their family."

"We possibly could have gained more information than if the police questioned them. We're just undercover detectives who were curious." Hao shrugged.

Hao then stopped the recording and took the phone into his hands. "Thank you for your help, you don't understand how long we've been waiting to actually find things out."

"Of course." Yejun's father nodded.

"Very well then." The woman sighed. "We do believe those three boys are responsible and if you need to investigate our house at any time, you're always welcome." She smiled and patted Jiwoong's shoulder.

The man then nodded. "Now that we can finally speak, we're pretty sure we have a lot of things that could help you. The only thing we don't actually have is his phone."

"Wait you don't? I thought you guys took it?" Jiwoong stood up in confusion. His phone was one of the only ways to get information besides searching his room later that week.

"We did, but it had disappeared the other week when Gyuvin's father didn't let us speak." The woman shrugged and looked around. "I'm pretty sure someone broke into our house."

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- HAN YUNMI

"So you're actually here to interrogate me?" Yunmi crossed her arms in offence. "You know Taerae I enjoyed gossiping with you, I can't believe you're actually a liar."

Taerae laughed and took a sip of the coffee. "Yeah okay I'm sorry but those gossip sessions were actually entertaining and I will need more." He gave her a smile before placing the mug down.

"Okay what exactly are you going to ask me about?" She crossed her arms and tapped her fingers onto the table. "Like where I was?"

He sighed. "That's for tomorrow, today I'm just here to ask you about your relationship with Yejun and how it was until the night of his death."

The group had come to an agreement that since Yunmi was a 'decoy', it would be easiest to interview her first and get information out of her. She was the only person who could give proper answers and since Taerae and her were pretty close now, it would make it easier.

She gulped. "Okay." Taerae nodded before standing up and locking the door. "Are you going to interview me now?" She asked with a raised brow and she didn't even need an answer when he sat down opposite her with a phone that was about to record.

"You ready?" He looked at her and she nodded, and he wasn't slow to notice how she was shifting around in the sit, probably out of nervousness. Taerae then cleared his throat before pressing on record. "Interview Two: Han Yunmi." He said calmly before turning to her.

"Okay, I'm just going to ask how you and Yejun got together in the first place, details about your relationship and how it affected the people around you."

She bit her lip. "Well we started dating during the beginning of college, I asked him out on March twenty..." She fiddled with her hands. "Wait let me go back - we met because my parents and his parents were close. I got told his father, Yoonho was one of my mother's close friends from high school. He ended up joining my high school, and we became close."

Taerae nodded. "Was he close with the others?"

"Him and Gunwook were really close actually, but he started drifting off with Ricky and Gyuvin once we started dating. But uh, Gyuvin and Ricky weren't very friendly with him but they didn't do anything bad to him. It was nice actually - although they obviously didn't like him, they still tried to be respectful and kind." Yunmi smiled a little and Taerae hummed.

"Okay, do you know why they weren't very friendly with him?"

"They don't like the idea of new people coming into the group. Them two are also really focused on their status, so having Yejun, who wasn't on our level of wealth, made them a bit iffy. I'm not sure why else they did, but it always seemed like that."

"Okay." He tapped the pen on the table. "Did you argue often?" He made sure to briefly mention things that Yejun's parents told him.

She chuckled nervously. "Kind of. It was mostly my fault: I don't know my limits sometimes and he didn't support some things I did."

"Like?"

"Well, you know. My addictions, he would get really mad if I would do it around him." She scratched her head and sighed. "He also really hated the idea of me being close with other boys. He was fine with Ricky and Gunwook, but was also understandably iffy when I was with Gyuvin."

"Why Gyuvin? Was this a main argument topic?"

Yunmi looked Taerae dead in the eye and ran her hand through her hair. "Yes this was a main argument topic. Gyuvin and I were really close since we were kids, and there was some romantic elements. But they all disappeared once I started liking Yejun."

"Oh right, when did you actually start liking Yejun?" He emphasised the 'actually' and raised a brow. "It was said from a source you were toying him at first."

Yunmi's eyes widened. "Maybe like, last summer." She put her hands under the table to fiddle with again. "Is that all?"

Taerae shook his head. "One more question, but it needs many details." Yunmi exhaled and nodded slowly, preparing herself to tell the truth.

"What was your relationship like prior to his death and what was the argument about that night?" He looked at her closely now, making sure to follow her body language and eyes.

"Well, that was actually two questions." She sighed. "We were always healthy before his death, we were so happy together. It was just us, and obviously we weren't in the friend group anymore. So it felt more free, and I loved him, and he loved me." Her voice cracked at the edges of her words and she began to look up to avoid tears from falling.

Taerae frowned but had to stay professional, he sat straight and looked at the phone that was still recording. "Okay, and what did you argue about that night?"

She gulped. "Well I... I did something wrong last summer, and he found out. So we argued, and started shouting-" She took a deep breath. "He found out I was toying him and he told me that he wanted to make me a better person..."

Taerae nodded and thought about whether to ask about what she did or not, but noticing her state, he pressed the recording to stop and sighed. "Okay, that's all I need to ask you. Well done." He tried to give her a smile but he felt too guilty.

She nodded. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get emotional. " She laughed in embarrassment. "I promise to be a better help tomorrow, I just really want to find out what happened to him but I just can't stop crying."

Taerae passed her a cold water bottle and pat her shoulder. "No worries, it must be hard. Tomorrow I'll be asking you about the whole timeline of the night of his death." He stood up and took the phone. "Could you try piece up a proper timeline for me? Some photos and receipts could be a help too."

Yunmi nodded and smiled at Taerae before he walked out. She took a deep breath and her head fell into her hands.

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- Z

Z had managed to find the unsaved conversations between the friend group and smiled to themself when they found two - one conversation from the day Yunmi and Yejun started dating and one from the three boy's reactions to the news.

loading deleted messages.....

conversation loaded!

13:04pm

bffs
5 members

yunmi:
guysssssssss
guess whatttt

gyuvin:
whatttt

yunmi:
i have a #boyfriend

gyuvin:
oh fr?

gunwook:
TF WHO
is it who we think it is

ricky:
has my ship sailed!!!!

yejun:
HEHEHE
yunmi and i are dating :)

gunwook:
oh ! that's not who i expected !
congrats

ricky:
omg i cannot put it into Words how happy i am for you Two! For how long have you been dating now??

yejun:
only since yesterday
she asked me out 😇😇

yunmi:
shut up i hate u

yejun:
no
u told me u liked me so much yesterday🌚

gyuvin:
oh

yejun:
:)

yunmi:
HEHEHEHEHEHE

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6 foot above
3 members

gunwook:
ain't no way brother
i thought it was gonna be gyuvin

ricky:
☠️☠️☠️☠️
gyuvin are you okay

gyuvin:
no

ricky:
yunmi stupid asf bruh
i can't take her seriously now

gyuvin:
yh

gunwook:
do you wanna hang out guys

ricky:
i say we get drunk without yunmi😂😂😂
celebration of her betrayal

gyuvin:
yeah i think we should

gunwook:
i cannot be in a trio with them when they're dating do you know how awkward that is

ricky:
just hang out with us instead, he's gonna steal her away anyway

gunwook:
like he always does!!!!!!
but now he gets a better excuse to do it

gyuvin:
ffs
i was planning to take her on a date too

gunwook:
i know i thought that's what she was going to tell us but i wasn't expecting that!

ricky:
gyuvin i hope you'll be alright
let's go to gunwook's house for a drink

gyuvin:
yeah please

ricky:
i can't believe she would fucking decide to do that after how much we WARNED her about him

gyuvin:
those 14 years are down the bloody drain
i hate him

gunwook:
don't get so pessimistic
you might marry her in the future
it's only college, they won't last

gyuvin:
yeah but i just hate him
he knew i liked her

ricky:
you've always hated him

gunwook:
i'm just surprised she lost feelings for gyuvin for THAT..... that guy?????

ricky:
how are her parents even going to react
he's not rich enough to be with her

gyuvin:
ok enough about this i need alcohol
gunwook i'll be there in one hour

gunwook:
cool cool

ricky:
we should also plan what the fuck we're going to do with him now that he's got what he's wanted

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this gets more suspicious every time gang....

lore went crazy here guys