Ch 2

01:50 PM Three Days Earlier

After putting a few books into my locker, I immediately pulled my hoodie over my head to cover my face and walked quickly toward the parking lot. I did not even bother looking left or right because all I wanted was to go straight home and avoid every member of the Red Monkeys.

As I walked toward my old truck, I heard faint voices. The sounds grew clearer when I stopped by my truck door, but I still could not see who was talking.

“But my parents aren’t home,” a girl’s spoiled, coaxing voice said again.

“No. Not now. I have something important to do,” the guy replied.
Wait. I knew that voice.

I froze with my hand on my truck door and tried to locate where the sound was coming from.

“Come on, Yohaaaan…”

I rolled my eyes. Seriously? Yohan? Why were there still so many girls willing to go after him?

“I already said no!” Yohan Kang’s voice rose this time.

“Then go by yourself!!!” the girl screamed.

There was a loud thump, a car door opened and slammed shut, and the black Mercedes beside me suddenly reversed out of the parking space. It left Yohan standing there. He immediately noticed me listening.

“Eavesdropping much, Elephant?” He raised an eyebrow, irritation flashing in his eyes.

“So… sorry…” I hurried to pull out my truck keys and tried to unlock the door.

Yohan stepped closer. “Heading home?” he asked.

I startled when I realized how close he was. Without thinking, I backed up until I was pressed against my own truck.

“W-What do you want from me?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Nothing. I just want to make sure there’s nothing wrong with this piece of junk of yours, Elephant.” He pointed at my truck, instantly offending me.

“Hold on. What does my truck have to do with you?” I snapped, opening the door and climbing inside. But when I tried to close it, Yohan stopped it with an arm that looked like it had just come out of the gym.

“I just need to check something inside your truck to make sure you can get home safely, Elephant!”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you think I’m that stupid, Yohan?”

“Just let me in!!” he snapped, clearly frustrated.

“Seriously, no. If you need a ride, at least learn how to ask nicely!”

His eyes turned sharp and cruel. I doubted any girl at this school had ever told him to speak politely.

“Excuse me?!” he growled.

My hands trembled, but I forced myself to glare back. Finally, Yohan relented.

“Can I get a ride?” he asked. “Please.”

I let out a long breath before answering. “Fine.”

Yohan immediately ran to the passenger door and climbed into the truck in seconds. I started the engine and pulled out of the school parking lot.

“So where are you going?” I asked, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.

Yohan rolled the window down and rested his elbow on it without answering.

“Yohan. Where are you going?” I repeated, louder.

“Anywhere as long as it’s not home,” he said without looking at me.

I glanced at his black hair blowing in the Westvale wind. Straight, thick, and soft-looking.
Mia. Snap out of it.

“Stop being dramatic. Where do you actually need to go?” I asked again.

He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. “Anywhere. Just far from here.”

For some reason, that answer irritated me.

“Oh great. That really explains directions. Like reading a map,” I replied sarcastically.

Yohan choked, then laughed. “East, then,” he said, chuckling.

I turned east and played Sweet Home Alabama on my truck’s ancient cassette tape.

“Lynyrd Skynyrd? Very country bumpkin choice, Elephant,” Yohan teased.

“My truck. My song.”

He laughed and stared out the window.

After driving east for a while, the houses grew scarce, replaced by wide stretches of wheat fields.

Yohan stayed silent, but the awkwardness thickened. He reached toward the AC controls on the dashboard.

“The AC’s broken,” I said before he could ask.

“Figures,” he replied.

Silence stretched again. Strangely, I found myself comfortable letting it linger. Why should I care if Yohan felt restless? He was just a bully catching a ride.

“It’s hot,” Yohan complained.

“It’s the end of summer. What did you expect?” I said.

“Aren’t you hot wearing that hoodie all the time?” he asked.

Of course I was. The heat was brutal, and my uniform underneath was soaked with sweat. But after what happened that morning, there was no way I was taking it off in front of him.

“None of your business,” I replied shortly.

“It becomes my business when your sweat starts flooding my seat,” he shot back.

“Dude, this is my truck. I can do whatever I want. Flood it, don’t flood it, make it snow. You’re just along for the ride. Is that so hard?” I snapped, nagging like a mom. I immediately shut my mouth, then added, “Is it still far?”

“Just keep driving until I say stop. And please don’t call me ‘dude.’ You know my name,” Yohan said, pouting.

“I know your name. The problem is you don’t know mine.”

He laughed. Maybe for the first time, he realized he had only ever called me Elephant, Fatty, Pig, and worse.

“So what’s your name?” he asked shamelessly.

I glared at him and replied sarcastically. “Elephant.”

“Not funny. Your real name.”

“Mia Albarn.”

“Hm. Mia. Not a bad name. I think I’ve heard it before,” he said.

What a jerk. I forced myself to focus on the increasingly empty road.

“So where do you want to stop?” I asked again.

“Just keep going.”

“But I’ve been driving nonstop. How far?”

“I don’t know…”

“What?”

“Okay, okay. Drop me off up there,” Yohan said, pointing ahead. There was nothing but wheat-covered hills.

“There’s nothing there!”

“It’s fine. I can get out and walk.”

“In the middle of nowhere?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Just stop!” Yohan snapped.

“Okay. Fine.” I pulled over to the side of the road and looked around. Nothing but endless wheat fields and tall grass hills.

I heard Yohan open his door and step out. Once I was sure he was off the truck, I turned toward him. He leaned into the open window.

Damn it. He still looked good under the blazing sun, while I felt like an ugly, sweaty rat.

“Thank you… for the ride,” he said.

I watched him walk away. Without looking back, Yohan climbed the grassy hill ahead.

Yeah. Whatever.

I started the engine and drove off.

Now that I was alone, I flipped through radio stations until I found my favorite news program. Earlier, I had not dared play it. At least to myself, I admitted I did not want Yohan to think I was a nerd and give him more reasons to bully me.

After the ads, the newsreader’s voice came on.

“Breaking news from Eastvale. A teenager identified as A was found dead on a hill behind his home after previously being given a ride by a friend.”

What? Dead after getting a ride?

My heart slammed violently. I had just done the same thing. I turned the volume up.

“Police initially detained the friend, as he was the last person seen with the teenager. However, early examinations show no signs of violence, and the death is now suspected to be a suicide.”

Suicide?

Yohan Kang’s face flashed in my mind. No. No. I shook my head, trying to reassure myself. Someone as popular as Yohan would never do that.

“This news has shocked Eastvale High School, as the teenager was known as a confident and popular student.”

My chest tightened.

“Teen suicide rates are increasing. The cause is believed to be rising pressure from school and family environments. Ironically, many teenagers who end their lives are known as popular figures at school. They tend to choose quiet yet familiar places.”

I slammed on my brakes.

I was not far from the hill where I had dropped Yohan off.

Quiet. Isolated. Familiar.

Shit.

I spun the steering wheel, made a sharp turn, and floored the gas to find Yohan Kang—

I refused to be the last person who saw him alive.