The next morning, Kim woke up with one thought running through his mind.
8 p.m.
He had barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the photograph of himself and Linet sitting under the tree.
Someone had been watching them.
Someone had taken that picture.
Someone had sent him threatening messages.
And now that person wanted him to meet them alone.
Kim stared at the ceiling.
"This is how movies begin," he whispered.
From the other side of the room, Brian opened his eyes.
"Which movie?"
Kim jumped.
"You're awake?"
"I've been awake."
"You sleep with your eyes closed."
Brian sat up.
"That's normally how sleeping works."
Kim laughed.
Brian looked at him carefully.
"You're still thinking about that message?"
Kim nodded.
Brian climbed out of bed.
"Listen, don't go."
"I have to."
"No, you don't."
"I need to know who's behind it."
Brian shook his head.
"You know what happens in movies when someone receives a message saying, 'Come alone'?"
"What?"
"They go alone."
"And?"
"They disappear for ninety minutes until the hero finds them."
Kim laughed.
"This isn't a movie."
"Exactly. That's why I'm telling you not to go."
Kim picked up his phone.
"I'll be careful."
Brian sighed.
"Fine."
Kim looked at him.
"Fine?"
"Yes. But I'm coming with you."
"The message said alone."
"Exactly. You go alone. I'll follow from far."
Kim smiled.
"You've watched too many action movies."
"Somebody has to protect you."
"From what?"
"From your own stupidity."
At breakfast, Kim barely touched his tea.
Linet noticed.
"You're quiet today."
"I'm fine."
"You always say you're fine when you're not."
Kim looked at her.
He wanted to tell her about the meeting.
But he was afraid she would worry.
Finally, he sighed.
"Someone wants me to meet them tonight."
Linet's expression changed.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Where?"
"Near the old basketball court."
"At eight?"
Kim nodded.
"You're not going."
Kim smiled.
"I have to."
"No, you don't."
"I need to know who it is."
Linet shook her head.
"This isn't a joke, Kim."
"I know."
"What if something happens?"
Kim reached for her hand.
"I'll be careful."
She looked at him for a few seconds.
Then she squeezed his hand.
"Promise me you'll come back."
"I promise."
From the next table, Brian suddenly shouted.
"AND IF HE DOESN'T, I'LL FINISH HIS FOOD!"
Everyone in the cafeteria turned.
Kim covered his face.
"Brian!"
Brian shrugged.
"What? I'm emotionally prepared."
Linet laughed.
Even Kim couldn't stop himself.
For a few seconds, the tension disappeared.
Classes seemed to move painfully slowly.
Every time Kim looked at the clock, only five minutes had passed.
At 4 p.m., he had already checked the time twelve times.
Brian noticed.
"You're going to break that phone."
"I'm nervous."
"Good."
"Why good?"
"Because nervous people make fewer stupid decisions."
Kim stared at him.
"That's your advice?"
"Yes."
"Terrible."
"Still advice."
At 6 p.m., Kim received another message.
"Don't bring anyone."
He showed Brian.
Brian looked at it.
"Definitely bringing someone."
Kim laughed.
"That's what I'm saying."
At 7:30 p.m., Kim left the hostel.
He wore a black hoodie and jeans.
Brian followed several meters behind.
"Why are you walking so fast?" Brian whispered.
"You're supposed to be far behind."
"I am."
"You're ten meters away."
Brian moved backward.
"Happy?"
"Very."
They approached the old basketball court.
The place was almost empty.
A few students were walking in the distance.
The lights were weak.
Kim's heart started beating faster.
He checked his phone.
7:58 p.m.
Then—
8:00 p.m.
Nothing.
8:03.
Nothing.
8:05.
Kim looked around.
"Maybe they aren't coming."
Brian was hiding behind a tree.
"Maybe they are already here."
Kim turned.
"Brian!"
"What?"
"You're terrible at hiding."
"I've never done this before."
Suddenly, Kim's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
"Look behind you."
Kim slowly turned.
A person stood near the basketball court.
Hood covering their face.
Kim took a step forward.
"Who are you?"
The person didn't answer.
"Why are you threatening me?"
Still silence.
Kim moved closer.
The person finally spoke.
"You don't know me."
The voice sounded familiar.
Kim stopped.
"Then why are you doing this?"
The person removed the hood.
Kim's eyes widened.
"Kevin?"
Kevin looked nervous.
Brian stepped out from behind the tree.
"I knew it!"
Kevin looked shocked.
"You brought someone?"
Brian folded his arms.
"Obviously. Did you think Kim was going to come alone?"
Kevin sighed.
"I wasn't trying to hurt him."
Kim stared at him.
"Then why threaten me?"
Kevin looked at the ground.
"I wanted you to stay away from Linet."
Kim's anger returned.
"Why?"
Kevin was silent.
"Why, Kevin?"
Finally, he spoke.
"Because I know something about Linet."
Kim frowned.
"What?"
Kevin looked at him.
"She hasn't told you everything."
Kim's heart sank.
"What are you talking about?"
Kevin took a deep breath.
"Before she came here, she was in a relationship."
Kim stared at him.
"So?"
"It didn't end well."
Kim frowned.
"What does that have to do with me?"
Kevin looked uncomfortable.
"The guy she dated is still looking for her."
Silence.
Brian stepped forward.
"Wait. Are you saying some guy is following Linet?"
Kevin nodded.
"He tried contacting her several times. She blocked him."
Kim looked at Kevin.
"Why didn't you tell her?"
"I did."
"And?"
"She doesn't want to talk about it."
Kim's anger slowly disappeared.
"So you threatened me because you were trying to protect her?"
Kevin nodded.
"I thought if you stayed away, she would be safer."
Kim shook his head.
"You handled it badly."
"I know."
Brian laughed.
"Very badly."
Kevin looked at him.
"You don't understand."
Brian folded his arms.
"Bro, you sent threats to the wrong guy. This man is already emotionally unstable because he hasn't eaten properly."
Kim laughed.
"Shut up."
Kevin smiled slightly.
For the first time, the tension broke.
Then Kevin's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression immediately changed.
"What's wrong?" Kim asked.
Kevin didn't answer.
He showed them the screen.
There was a message.
"I know where she is."
Kim's smile disappeared.
Brian stepped closer.
"Who sent that?"
Kevin shook his head.
"I don't know."
Another message arrived.
"And I know you're all together."
They looked around.
The basketball court suddenly felt much darker.
Kim whispered,
"Someone is watching us."
Brian swallowed.
"Okay…"
He looked around.
"I officially hate this chapter."
Kevin put his phone away.
"We need to leave."
They started walking.
Then Kim's phone vibrated.
A picture appeared.
It was a photograph of the three of them standing at the basketball court.
It had been taken only seconds earlier.
Underneath it were four words:
"You should have listened."
Kim looked at Brian.
Brian looked at Kevin.
None of them spoke.
For the first time, the three young men understood that this was no longer a simple college misunderstanding.
Someone was following them.
Someone knew their movements.
And someone wanted Linet.
But Kim had no intention of walking away from her.
Not now.
Not after everything they had started.
He looked at Kevin.
"Tomorrow, we tell Linet everything."
Kevin nodded.
Brian sighed.
"Fine."
Then he looked at Kim.
"But after that, we're going to eat."
Kim laughed.
"Seriously?"
Brian shrugged.
"I refuse to face danger on an empty stomach."
Even Kevin laughed.
For a brief moment, the three of them forgot about the mysterious messages.
But none of them noticed the figure standing far away in the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
And smiling.
To be continued…