Prologue
1424 Words
St. Bernward Arts High School is the Philippines' most distinguished high school. And one of the most prestigious schools in the world. You must first pass the examination, then paint an original masterpiece in the exam within 4 hours, and finally, your marks must be no lower than 90. Furthermore, because it is a prominent institution, you must be wealthy in order to pay the hefty tuition. This is the day of the entrance exam pass celebration and the day that we found out that one of us is an imposter.
Elegant music was created with a piano, violin, and other instruments. The music of Mozart began to play. The ambiance is dominated by exquisite music. A place where only wealthy, brilliant, and talented people are permitted to go.
They are my friends: Cheon Yoonhee, Yoon Jonghoon, Shim Suryeon, Joo Dantae, Go Sangah, Lee Kyujin, and Kang Mari. We are the most powerful parents, among others, one of the wealthiest individuals, and we are known as - The Hera Club. We arrived at our kids' school, St. Bernward Arts High School. We initially hosted a celebration with our friends to honor our children's accomplishments, which will be held later because they are the only top examination passers in this elite high school.
"Cheers!" we all shouted at the same moment.
Just as our glasses were glued together, the explosion of fireworks colored the dark sky. Beethoven's music started playing so we danced wearing our fancy clothes as if we were in the renaissance era. We started waltzing with a smile on our lips. Every round, we switch matches. As the noises became louder and louder, and the tune Dark Fur Elise went quicker and faster, we couldn't help but grin. On the other hand, I was taken aback. The music was so fast that my world seemed to spin at the same rate as their dancing. I attempted to find someone, but all I saw were their quick dances... WHERE IS SHE?!
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"Sh*t, this is unbelievable!" Mari mumbled, wiping her face, as she was at a loss for what to do.
"Please be honest! Admit it! Who did this ?!" Kyujin shouted, referring to the woman who's lying down here at the bottom of the stairs, unable to recognize the face, and bathing in her own blood.
"What?! Are you saying one of us did this, huh?" Dantae said, grabbing Kyujin by the collar. Others tried to prevent the fight from starting. Kyujin smirked and said, "why not?"
"You're stupid, chicken head!" Dantae was about to attack Kyujin when Suryeon interrupted them.
"That's enough! We don't have time to blame each other," Suryeon is trembling, especially after seeing her closest friend on the floor.
"Maybe it's you?" Yoonchul whispered out of the blue.
"W-what?" Suryeon asked. Yoonchul was gazing at Suryeon, and Suryeon was staring at Yoonchul.
"You're the one who did this, aren't you?" Yoonchul asked without any hesitation.
"What did you say?! Suryeon can't do that!" Mari tried to defend her.
Kyujin sarcastically chuckled and said, "Right..." with his sarcastic tone. Kyujin smiled foolishly. "Don't you like Dantae?" He began to comfort Suryeon. He was getting closer and closer as Suryeon backed away. "And Dantae likes this woman, right? Did you do this to own this freaking Dantae? Are you so insane that you'd kill for him?" Kyujin yelled, and Suryeon covered her ears out of fears.
"That's enough! Don't blame her!" Dantae said and pushed Kyujin away from Suryeon. Mari held Suryeon to ease her heart.
Kyujin and Dantae locked their gazes on one other as if they were about to crush each other. Everyone was stunned so Suryeon dared to speak to defend herself.
"I can't do that. Yes, I love Dantae, but I can't kill someone simply for my own shake! Especially because our friend is the one we're talking about! And of all places? I'll kill someone here at my school that my parents inherited from me?! I can't sully my family's reputation!" Suryeon fired back.
"W-what if Director Cheon did it? To destroy us?" Sangah said, giving her perspective on the problem.
"Don't blame my family for this," Yoonhee responded. The reason Mari laughed so hard.
"Family? How long have you been a family? It's not in your vocabulary, Yoonhee. Maybe you did this?" Mari's confrontation.
"She's my sister, so why would I kill my sister?!" Yoonhee defended herself.
"That's the point! She's your sister, and you're very jealous of her, especially because she'll inherit everything instead of you; perhaps you did it to obtain everything!" Dantae said.
"It's not Yoon Hee's fault!" Jonghoon tries to defend Yoonhee.
"Or maybe it is you?" Suryeon asked gently.
"M-me? Why me?" Yoonchul asked incredulously.
"Isn't she pressuring you to be Yoonchul because you look like him? Are you already so fed up with her that you killed her, or did you do it for your fiancé shake?" Sangah said.
"He didn't do that! Don't blame Jonghoon and me for everything. You... you Sangah! Aren't you resentful because she always beat you in everything? Your kid is only second to her daugther just like back then when my sister was the top student instead of you. Maybe you did this!" Yoonhee exclaimed.
"Yah!!! What are you saying, two-faced lady?! They've been best friends since then. Why would she do that?" Kyujin defends his wife.
"Why not? Your wife is really envious," Dantae said fiercely.
"Don't flip the spotlight, Dantae. We all know you like her. Aren't you the one who envies her? Because she didn't choose you? Would you rather just murder her if she wasn't yours?" Kyujin said emphatically, which made Dantae angry. Dantae grabbed Kyujin's collar, while Kyujin laughed annoyingly.
"I can't do that to the people I love," Dantae said and slowly let go of Kyujin.
"Isn't she always the one you blame for your best friend Jonghoon's death? Is this your vengeance on your friend? You killed her for Jonghoon even though none of us is truly at fault?" Dantae slyly stated.
"I'm a doctor. I cure people, not murder them! Don't characterize my profession the way you describe yours, Detective Joo!" Kyujin shouted angrily right in front of Dantae. Mari pushed Kyujin slightly, forcing him to face her.
"You're insane! Are you saying our job is to kill people?" Mari, who was also a detective, retorted.
"Well, well, of course. Who else had a previous murder case? Ah... you, Kang Mari," Yoonhee sarcastically stated, causing Mari to blink.
"Since then, she's also been my best friend, and I can't do that to her!" Mari stated.
"Why? You also pushed your best friend while we were on a highking vacation in high school, your murder case, don't you remember?" Kyujin remarked sarcastically.
"I'm not the one who pushed him that time... you know that!" Mari tried to defend herself.
"Because you stated... but we didn't witness the actual incident," Sangah remarked, crossing his arms.
"Don't blame me! Yoonhee has the ability to do this, especially because she's the only real enemy, to begin with," Kang Mari said.
"Yoonhee again? How many times do I have to tell you that it's not her?" Jonghoon said.
They started shouting and blaming one other again.
"You're the one who should be blamed for this!"
"You're a murderer!"
"I'm not the one who did this! Maybe it's you!"
"You're jealous of her, so you did it!"
"I said it's not me!"
Many words have been heard, and they are already making exchanging noises. I could only hear repentant words till I was pissed. I sobbed as I held the lady I loved in my lap. I couldn't recognize her face anymore and she was soaking in her own blood.
"It's your fault!" I heard them blame each other again, but this time I couldn't stop myself.
"ALL OF YOU! THAT'S ENOUGH!" I yelled at them, still unable to stop the flow of my tears.
Everyone fell quiet and turned to face me in an instant.
"Please... please just tell the truth," I pleaded as I locked my gaze on the lady I adored the most.
I took a deep glance at them, at the people who had been yelling earlier, and said...
"This is your final chance to tell me the truth. Who...? Who killed Cheon Seojin?!" I screamed in rage.
I, Sangwoo, will seek the truth behind my wife's, Seojin, death.
Who's the imposter among us?
Life is full of mystery, prepare to be betrayed.
- Writer
