A student entered the Raehyun dorm while Injae and Raehyun, both in uniform, were heading to the stadium hall for a lecture.
He conveyed, "Chief Kang Min Ho is looking for you."
Injae, puzzled, cast a strange gaze at Raehyun and inquired, "Did you do something wrong?"
"No, go ahead. I'll be back," Raehyun replied and left.
Injae arrived at the stadium where students discussed Raehyun while waiting for the lecturer.
A student remarked, "He reported his own brother to the police. Why do you think he did that?"
Another student replied, "How would I know? There must be something wrong."
The previous student interjected, "But he had an alibi. Don't tell me he hates his own brother."
The other student exclaimed, "Maybe he did something wrong and tried to put it on his brother."
Injae questioned, "What do you mean by that? Do you have evidence? Blaming others without evidence is assault. You are police students; don't you know that?" He retorted and sat down in a row. He grew concerned for Raehyun.
Raehyun knocked on the door, asking, "May I come in?"
"Yes, sure, come in," a man in his mid-fifties, clad in a black suit and white shirt, replied, gesturing for Raehyun to sit on a sofa in front of a mirrored table where he was seated.
Raehyun complied, feeling nervous about the impending conversation.
"Why did you tip off the police about your brother?" Chief Min Ho asked.
Raehyun, fidgeting nervously, responded in a hushed tone, "I just wanted to help the police solve the case."
Chief Min Ho inquired, "That's why I am asking. What made you think you should report your brother?"
Nervously, Raehyun replied, "He can't control his anger when he is upset. Since they didn't get along, I thought he could be—"
Chief Min Ho interrupted, "Your relationship with your brother isn't good, right?"
"Heh," Raehyun was dumbfounded. "Why do you say that?"
"See, your brother had a perfect alibi, and nothing suspicious was found. He was even cooperative and helped the police with the investigation. Reporting your brother must have another reason," Chief Min Ho explained.
Cornered, Raehyun had nothing else to say. Although his motive was to alert the police about In Hyuk, he seemed to have failed in doing so.
Chief Min Ho said, "I was asked to scold you. You know how sensitive this case is. Don't report anyone like that again. You understand what I mean, right?"
"Yes, I understand," Raehyun replied.
Chief Min Ho instructed, "Okay, you can go now and focus on your studies. You shouldn't be doing this as a top student of our institute."
Raehyun stood up, bowed, and exited.
Students began avoiding Raehyun, but it didn't faze him; he was concerned about In Hyuk's reaction.
That night, upon entering the dorm, Injae awaited him, seated at the table, engrossed in reading. Raehyun placed his bag on the table and lay down on his bed.
Injae asked, "Where were you? I searched for you but couldn't find you after classes."
Raehyun replied, "Outside, in the building's backyard, getting some fresh air."
Injae inquired, "Are you okay?"
Raehyun questioned, "Why?"
Injae expressed concern, "About all the students blaming."
Raehyun countered, "Why do you think they are blaming? It might be true."
Injae reassured him, "I am your friend; I know you very well. You must have a reason."
After day of criticism, Injae's words stirred Raehyun emotionally. "Why are you not asking me why I did that?" he queried, sitting up and looking at Injae.
Injae, gazing into Raehyun's eyes, responded, "Because I trust you."
Raehyun stared at him seriously for a while, then chuckled, pretended to vomit, and remarked, "So cheesy."
"That arrogant jerk," Injae muttered in a hushed voice, returning to the book he was reading.
Months passed swiftly. The police exerted their best efforts to uncover the culprit but found no clues. The Dong Hyuk murder case was officially closed as a cold case.
In Hyuk desired to live independently, but to avoid arousing Raehyun's suspicions, he had no option but to stay there, convincing himself that Raehyun only visited during holidays.
One morning, Raehyun's phone rang, and it was his father calling.
"Hello, Dad. How are you doing?" Raehyun inquired.
"Yes, son, I'm doing well. How about you?" replied Kim Jihyun.
"I'm doing well too. Dad, why did you call me?" Raehyun asked.
"It's nothing else; I wanted to ask if you were free this weekend," Kim Jihyun explained.
"Ah, yes, I am free this weekend. Why?" Raehyun inquired.
"There is an orphanage called Blossom Care Centre that our company is funding. There will be a press conference regarding a case involving an adopted orphan. You need to attend and make a statement clarifying that the orphanage has no connection to the case. People are protesting its closure, raising concerns for the kids in the orphanage. How could the orphanage be implicated in a case that occurred outside its premises?" Kim Jihyun explained.
Raehyun questioned, "What case?"
"You can ask your brother for the details. As a police university student, your statement will have a positive impact on the public," Kim Jihyun advised.
"Yes, I understand," Raehyun replied.
Raehyun hurried to his laptop after the call, searching for "Blossom Care Centre case."
Numerous articles about the case appeared, and he selected one to read. The article revealed a heart breaking story of a six-year-old girl who died due to the heartless negligence of her adoptive mother. The police reported that the victim had been starved to death. The mother claimed it was a mistake, thinking her husband was taking care of the child, while the husband insisted he was unaware due to being busy with work.
"Ugh, that's nonsense!" Raehyun exclaimed in anger. Suddenly, realization struck him. "In Hyuk is coming to a press conference for an explanation. That's not good." He banged his head on the table in frustration.
After a moment, he sat up and declared, "I need to stop him. But what can I do?"
With a thud, he closed the laptop, stashed it in his bag, and headed to the lecture hall.
At night, Raehyun paced his dorm, clearly troubled.
Injae, sensing his friend's distress, remarked, "Something is bothering you."
"Yes," Raehyun admitted, pulling a chair to sit in front of Injae, who was already on the bed. "What do you think about the Blossom Care Centre case?"
Injae expressed his anger, saying, "Whenever I think about it, it makes me furious. It must be so painful for a little child to starve to death. Just thinking about it makes me feel horrible."
"Right, it's extremely enraging," Raehyun concurred, lowering his head.
"Why are you asking? Do you have an assignment regarding this case?" Injae inquired.
"No, it's just so unfair," Raehyun replied.
"Right, it is unfair. The most unfair part is that the mother only got two years of probation."
"Huh, what do you mean by that? Why only probation?" Raehyun questioned.
"Because the police couldn't prove that she neglected the victim on purpose. That's why she was just released on probation," Injae explained.
Raehyun sighed, mumbling, "That's why I can't stop him."
"What did you say?" Injae asked.
"Ah, nothing," Raehyun brushed it off, moving the chair to the table and opening his laptop.
He published a post requesting signatures for a petition to properly punish the offender.
Injae's phone rang, and upon checking the notification, he questioned, "Are you going to protest about it?"
"Yes," Raehyun affirmed. "Will you help me?"
"Awe? Yes, why not," Injae replied awkwardly, shocked at the difficult request, because acting against established legal principles is unattainable and detrimental for a law student, as it contradicts the prescribed norms and regulations of the legal system.