Chapter 5 — The Night Reveal
1110 Words
Alicia stared at the message on her phone again.
“Tonight at 9PM. Let’s reveal the truth about the scholarship girl.”
Her fingers felt cold.
“What does that even mean?” she asked quietly.
Min-ji sat down beside her on the bed, reading the post again.
“It means someone is planning something,” she said.
Alicia let out a nervous laugh.
“That doesn’t sound reassuring.”
“It’s not supposed to be.”
Outside the dorm window, the sky over Seoul was turning dark. Lights from the campus buildings flickered on one by one, making the university glow like a city of its own.
Alicia checked the time.
7:42 PM.
Just over an hour left.
Her stomach twisted.
“What if they actually have something?” she asked. “What if someone edited something to make it look real?”
Min-ji shook her head immediately.
“You didn’t cheat.”
“No.”
“Then whatever they show is fake.”
Alicia nodded slowly, but the fear still lingered.
“People believe what they see online,” she said. “Even if it’s not true.”
Min-ji sighed.
“Unfortunately, you’re right.”
For a few minutes the two girls sat in silence.
Then suddenly Min-ji snapped her fingers.
“I have an idea.”
“What?”
“If someone wants to reveal something at nine, they’ll probably do it in a public place.”
“Like where?”
“The student plaza,” Min-ji said. “That’s where most announcements and events happen.”
Alicia’s eyes widened.
“You think they’ll actually do this in front of everyone?”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Min-ji replied. “Public humiliation spreads faster.”
Alicia groaned.
“Why does university feel like a reality show?”
Min-ji laughed.
“Welcome to elite schools.”
Another notification buzzed.
Alicia froze before opening it.
But this time it wasn’t the forum.
It was a message.
From an unknown number.
Her heart started beating faster as she opened it.
Unknown:
If you’re smart, you won’t show up tonight.
Alicia stared at the message.
“What?” Min-ji asked.
Alicia handed her the phone.
Min-ji read the text, then frowned.
“That’s… strange.”
“Strange?” Alicia repeated. “It sounds like a threat.”
“Or a warning.”
Alicia blinked.
“A warning?”
Min-ji nodded slowly.
“Think about it. If someone wanted to destroy you publicly, why warn you not to come?”
Alicia thought about it.
She hadn’t considered that.
“Maybe someone is trying to help me,” she said quietly.
“Maybe,” Min-ji said.
Alicia looked down at the phone again.
The number wasn’t saved.
No name.
No profile picture.
Just a message.
“Do you think it’s Min-ho?” Alicia asked.
Min-ji tilted her head.
“Possible.”
“What about Jae-hyun?”
Min-ji laughed.
“That guy enjoys chaos too much to warn anyone.”
Alicia couldn’t argue with that.
She checked the time again.
8:21 PM.
Less than forty minutes left.
Her heart began racing again.
Min-ji stood up suddenly.
“Well, we should go.”
Alicia blinked.
“Go where?”
“To the plaza.”
Alicia looked at her like she had lost her mind.
“You want me to walk straight into a trap?”
Min-ji shrugged.
“If they’re planning something, hiding won’t stop it.”
Alicia hated how logical that sounded.
“If I don’t show up,” Min-ji continued, “people will assume you’re guilty.”
Alicia sighed.
“You’re not making this easier.”
Min-ji grabbed her jacket.
“Come on.”
Alicia hesitated.
Every instinct in her body told her to stay in the safety of her dorm room.
But another voice inside her whispered something else.
If you run now… they win.
She stood up.
“Okay,” she said quietly. “Let’s go.”
The campus at night felt different.
Cool air brushed against Alicia’s face as she and Min-ji walked across the pathways.
Groups of students stood around talking.
Some glanced at Alicia as she passed.
Some whispered.
The news had clearly spread.
As they approached the student plaza, Alicia noticed something unusual.
A crowd was already forming.
Her stomach dropped.
“They’re really doing this,” she murmured.
Students were gathered around the large digital screen used for campus announcements.
Phones were out.
People were recording.
Waiting.
Alicia suddenly felt very small.
“Too late to turn back now,” Min-ji whispered.
Then a voice spoke behind them.
“I was wondering if you’d actually come.”
Alicia turned around.
Kang Jae-hyun stood there with his usual relaxed smile.
“You seem excited,” Alicia said dryly.
“Oh, I am,” he replied. “Tonight is going to be interesting.”
“Do you know what’s going to happen?” Min-ji asked.
Jae-hyun shrugged.
“Let’s just say… someone wants to make a very dramatic statement.”
Alicia crossed her arms.
“And you’re just here to watch?”
“Of course,” he said. “Front row seats.”
Min-ji rolled her eyes.
Then another voice cut through the crowd.
Calm.
Cold.
“Move.”
Students stepped aside immediately.
Alicia turned.
Park Min-ho was walking toward them.
His expression was serious.
“Min-ho,” Jae-hyun said casually. “You made it.”
Min-ho ignored him and looked straight at Alicia.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Alicia blinked.
“You’re the second person to say that tonight.”
Min-ho frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“Someone texted me earlier,” she said. “Told me not to come.”
For a moment, Min-ho’s expression changed.
“Show me.”
Alicia handed him the phone.
He read the message.
His eyes darkened.
Before he could say anything else—
The giant digital screen in the plaza suddenly turned on.
The crowd gasped.
A microphone crackled to life.
And a familiar voice echoed across the plaza.
“Good evening, everyone.”
Alicia’s heart stopped.
At the top of the stairs stood Han So-yeon.
Elegant.
Confident.
And smiling.
She looked directly at Alicia.
“Thank you all for coming,” So-yeon said sweetly. “Tonight, I think it’s time we uncover the truth about our new scholarship student.”
The screen behind her flickered.
A file began loading.
Alicia felt her pulse pounding in her ears.
Min-ji grabbed her arm.
Jae-hyun leaned forward with interest.
Min-ho’s jaw tightened.
And as the first image appeared on the screen…
Alicia realized something terrifying.
Someone had fabricated evidence.
And the entire campus was about to see it.
- Writer
