Chapter 9

                                    

                                          

Taesan yawned, stretching his arms as he glanced at the clock on his bedside table. It was well past midnight.
 He had planned to sleep early to be well-rested for his flight back to Korea the next morning. As he was about to slip under the covers, a soft knock sounded on his door. 
"Come in," he called, his voice groggy.
The door creaked open, revealing Myunbi, holding a tablet in his hand. Myunbi was a figure Taesan respected and admired. 
He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, it was always with wisdom and sincerity.
"Taesan," Myunbi began, his voice low. "I apologize for disturbing you so late, but I felt I should inform you of something."
Taesan sat up, his drowsiness fading. "What is it, Myunbi?"
Myunbi hesitated, his gaze fixed on the floor. "It's about Leehan."
Taesan's heart skipped a beat. "What about him?"
"I know you and Leehan are close friends, and I didn't want to meddle in your affairs. But I believe you should know... I saw a post on the school's social media page. It's about the prom. And Leehan is pictured there, very close to a girl and was seen drinking alcohol."
Taesan's blood ran cold. He felt a surge of anger and jealousy. Leehan, his best friend, the one he had always trusted, was seen so close to another girl? It was a betrayal he couldn't comprehend.
"What do you mean, 'close'?" Taesan demanded, his voice rising. 
Myunbi cleared his throat. "They were... Well, they seemed very comfortable with each other. As if they were more than just friends."
Taesan felt a wave of nausea. He had always thought Leehan would never do such a thing and drink alcohol? The idea of him being with another girl was almost unbearable.
Myunbi watched Taesan, his eyes filled with concern. "I know this is a lot to take in. And I know you're protective of Leehan. But I thought you should know. It's up to you what you do with this information."
Taesan nodded, his mind racing. He didn't know what to think or feel. 
Part of him wanted to confront Leehan immediately, to demand an explanation. But another part of him was afraid of what he might find out.
Taesan's mind was racing. He couldn't shake the image of Leehan with that girl. He needed to see the truth for himself.
"Myunbi," he said, his voice firm. "Can we leave now?"
Myunbi was taken aback. "Leave now? For Korea?"
"Yes," Taesan replied. "I need to see Leehan."
Myunbi hesitated. "But your work..."
"I can finish it later," Taesan interrupted. "I need to go now."
Myunbi nodded. He knew Taesan when he was determined. "Alright," he said. "I'll make the arrangements."
Within an hour, Taesan was on a plane, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread. 
"Do you have more information about these pictures, Myunbi?" Taesan asked, tapping his fingers impatiently and his hair was a mess.
"Well... Mr. Kim might've joined a drinking contest. I don't think it's within your campus though, perhaps an acquaintance's house?" Myunbi replied, scrolling through the social media.
"Joined a what?" Taesan's voice went louder. He's now gritting his teeth and fists form in his hand.
"A drinking contest." Myunbi said, looking at him concerned. "Take a rest for now. Save your energy for later when we arrive." 
"I don't think I can contain this anger but I don't think I could also be angry towards him." He murmured.
Taesan stared at him before sighing. Myunbi's right and he doesn't want to create a scene even if it's a private plane.
As he looked out the window at the receding city lights, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He was about to confront his best friend, and he didn't know what to expect.