Minho's
Everyone was exhausted.
We had taken turns staying up, keeping watch over Dove in case something happened, but at some point, Megan, Hyejin, and even Dae had finally drifted off.
I hadn't.
Sleep wouldn't come. Not when Dove was still lying there, still too pale, still too still. Not when my mind was racing, replaying the moment I saw her in that hospital bed over and over again.
This wasn't random. This wasn't some accident.
I knew it was Stella.
I just knew.
The way she had been acting lately-her passive-aggressive comments, the way she always looked at Dove like she wanted to tear her down, the way she smirked every time Dove succeeded at something-it was her. It had to be.
But knowing and proving were two different things.
I clenched my jaw, my hands curling into fists as I stared at Dove's sleeping face.
Tomorrow, I'd get answers. One way or another, I was going to make Stella talk.
The next morning, I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at all. Judging by the groggy looks on everyone's faces, I wasn't the only one. But sleep didn't matter. What mattered was the plan.
I stretched out my arms, rolling my shoulders before glancing at the others. "Alright. Megan, Hyejin, and I will handle Stella and talk to people at the competition. See if anyone saw anything suspicious."
Megan tied her hair up, adjusting her bag. "Stella's gonna be our first stop. If she's guilty, she'll crack."
Hyejin nodded but looked thoughtful. "Even if she didn't do it, she might know something."
I turned to Dae, still sitting by Dove's bedside. "You're staying here."
He didn't even look up. "I know." His fingers clenched into fists. "If someone tries anything again, they won't get the chance."
For a second, none of us said anything. The weight of everything that had happened sat heavy in the air.
I exhaled. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
As we were talking, the door burst open, and before any of us could react, Dove's parents rushed inside.
Her father reached the bed first, dropping to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as he hovered over hers. "Ma fille... oh, ma fille," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. Her mother was right beside him, brushing Dove's hair away from her face, whispering softly in French.
But their worry wasn't the only thing filling the room-there was anger, too.
Dove's father's expression hardened as he turned to Professor Lee, his voice sharp and demanding. "Who did this?" His French accent was heavier now, his usual composed demeanour cracking under fear and rage.
Professor Lee remained calm, though her face was tense. "We don't know yet, Monsieur Chauvin," she admitted. "But we're doing everything we can to find out."
"Not good enough." His jaw tightened, his grip on Dove's hand firm but careful. "My daughter-she came here to learn, to grow. And now she is in a hospital bed, unconscious." His gaze swept over all of us. "Someone did this. And I want to know who."
"Monsieur, please calm down." Professor Lee said, worried as we watched the scene. Dove's father suddenly silenced Professor Lee with his hand, his face turning red.
"Don't tell me to calm down. I want answers!" He exclaimed.
No one said a word.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Dove's mother's eyes widened the moment she caught my face, and instanty recognized me.
"Minho?" she breathed like she wasn't sure if she was seeing correctly.
Her father turned as well, his sharp gaze landing on me. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then, to my complete shock, relief flooded her mother's face as she rushed toward me.
"You're here," she said, grasping my hands. "Oh, thank goodness."
I stiffened, unsure how to respond. I wasn't expecting this. I wasn't expecting them to be relieved to see me, not after everything that had happened years ago.
Her father approached next, his expression still tight with worry, but there was something else there too-trust. "Minho, tell me," he said firmly. "What happened to Dove? Who did this?"
I forced myself to stay steady. "We don't know for sure yet," I admitted. "But we're investigating. We have a suspect, and we're looking into it."
Dove's mother squeezed my hands. "You'll find out, right? You'll protect her, won't you?"
The words hit me harder than I expected.
I glanced at Dove, still unconscious in that hospital bed, too pale, too still.
I nodded. "Yeah," I said, voice firm. "I will."
Dove's father turned sharply toward Professor Lee, his expression hardening even further.
"I don't care about any event or competition," he said sternly, his voice like steel. "What I want right now is to meet the principal. Now."
Professor Lee stiffened, clearly taken aback by his forceful tone. "Monsieur Chauvin, I understand your concern, but-"
"I don't need an explanation," he cut her off, his voice low and intense. "My daughter is lying here unconscious, and I want to know how this happened. So I'll be meeting with the principal. Now."
His gaze was unwavering as he stood, a clear demand in his eyes.
Professor Lee hesitated for a moment, but then, realizing she wasn't going to convince him otherwise, she nodded. "I'll arrange it," she said quietly.
Dove's mother, who had been standing beside her husband, looked at him with a mix of support and worry. "We'll get answers, right?"
Her father didn't falter. "Yes. We will."
And that was the moment I realized just how far they were willing to go for their daughter. They weren't going to let this slide. Neither would I.
Dove's mother turned to me, her gaze soft but filled with determination.
"Minho," she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes, "are you all coming too?"
I nodded without hesitation. "Yes, we're coming."
Her face relaxed slightly, relieved that someone was standing with them. "Good," she said. "Then let's go together. We'll meet the principal together and get answers."
I turned to Dae, still sitting by Dove's side. He hadn't said anything, but I could see the wheels turning in his head.
"Dae," I said quietly, "take care of Dove while we're gone."
He looked up at me, nodding without a word. I wasn't happy about leaving her, but Dae understood.
"I will." Dae replied, his tone low but firm.
With that, Dove's parents and I left the room, heading toward the principal's office. The weight of everything still hung over us, but I was ready to get answers. And I wasn't going to let anything stop us.
-ËËââââââââââââââââââââ
𥺠the way Dove's mom ran to Minho.
But, like, no worries now cause her parents are here!