Kunal's POV
I walked back into my cabin, closing the door a little harder than necessary. The faint click echoed in the quiet space, but it didn't calm the storm inside my head.
Stupid.
I was stupid to think Jenny and I had become strangers. That whatever we had... was over. That I had moved on.
Then why was my heart beating like this?
It wasn't just fast. It was uneven, restless- like it was trying to catch up with something it had lost years ago. The same feeling. The exact same one I felt the first time I saw her.
Do I still have feelings for her?
I clenched my jaw and unlocked my phone, almost out of instinct. My fingers moved on their own, opening the gallery. I scrolled down... then opened the private album.
Her.
Everywhere.
Pictures. Videos. Memories frozen in time like they refused to let me breathe.
Jenny laughing, her head slightly tilted back. Jenny glaring at me after an argument. Jenny stealing my coffee like it was her legal right. Jenny sitting behind me on my bike, her arms loosely around my waist.
I scrolled slowly, my thumb dragging across the screen as if the past could slip through my fingers if I moved too fast.
We had so many good memories.
Too many.
And yet now... she looked at me like I was nothing.
No recognition. No hesitation.
Just distance.
I let out a dry laugh.
I deserved it.
How could she be with someone who broke her heart five years ago?
Five Years Ago
"Kunal, you better focus on your studies instead of fighting like some street goon, understand?" my mom's voice rang out behind me.
I didn't reply. I just slung my bag over one shoulder and kicked my bike to life.
The engine roared, drowning out everything else.
Five minutes later, traffic hit. Of course. The road slowed to a crawl, horns blaring from every direction. I stopped near a bus stop, tapping my fingers impatiently on the handle.
That's when I saw her.
She stood there among a group of students, but somehow she didn't blend in. She stood out without trying.
Dark brown leather jacket. Fitted brown top. Black wide-leg trousers. Her hair fell loose over her shoulders, catching the sunlight. There was something in her features: sharp, slightly foreign, that made you look twice.
And I did.
For too long.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
I immediately looked away, forcing an annoyed expression, pretending the traffic was my biggest problem in life.
Footsteps approached.
"Hey."
Her voice was soft, calm... and way too confident for someone talking to a stranger.
I glanced at her briefly. "Hmm?"
"So you're from Tech Forensics?" she asked.
I raised an eyebrow. "How did you figure that out?"
"I saw you yesterday at the university gate."
Before I could respond-
She hopped onto the back of my bike.
"Woah...!?"
"Relax!" she said casually. "You're not being kidnapped. I study there too. The bus is late. Help me out?"
I stared ahead for a second, processing what just happened.
Then I sighed. "Fine."
Present
"Sir! Sir!"
The voice snapped me back.
I blinked, locking my phone instantly.
"Yes?" I said, my tone sharper than intended.
Rhea stood at the door, slightly hesitant. "Um... Ms. Fonseca chose your system. She needs the password to log in."
I leaned back in my chair, unimpressed. "She calls herself a hacker, right?"
"Tech genius.." Rhea corrected quickly.
I let out a short laugh. "Tech genius? Then tell her to crack it herself."
I opened the file on my desk, already dismissing the conversation.
"Sir-"
"And next time-" I cut her off without looking up, "don't interrupt me while I'm speaking."
Silence.
I didn't need to look to know her expression had dropped.
"Hmm," she muttered and left.
I exhaled and focused back on the files.
Two victims. No clear connection except one thing-both were on the edge of success.
It didn't make sense.
Was the killer choosing randomly? Or was I missing something obvious?
A knock interrupted again.
"What now, Rhea?" I snapped.
"Rhea?"
That voice.
I froze.
Slowly, I looked up.
Jenny stood at the door, leaning casually against the frame, arms crossed. One eyebrow raised.
"Rhea?" she repeated, then shrugged. "Never mind. I don't care."
Same attitude.
Same presence.
Nothing had changed.
"You challenged me to log into your system, right?" she asked.
Before I could answer...
"I did."
She stepped inside like she owned the room.
"Want to check?" she tilted her head slightly.
I stood up, crossing my arms. "Go ahead."
"I think your password is... phoenix600."
I smirked instantly. "It's not. And I know your tricks. That won't work on me anymore."
"If you want, just admit you can't crack it."
She stared at me.
For a second-nothing.
Then her expression shifted. A small smile. Sharp. Calculated.
"Thanks for the code."
She turned and walked out.
My smirk vanished.
"Wait-what?"
I rushed after her.
The lab was already crowded
Vishal. Shruti. Tanish. Naveen. Rhea.
All of them gathered around my system like vultures waiting for a reveal.
Jenny stepped forward, completely unfazed.
She leaned slightly toward the monitor, her hair falling forward as her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Silence.
Then-
Access Granted.
The sound hit the room like a gunshot.
I froze.
She... actually did it.
I stepped closer. "How did you??? That's not possible."
She didn't even look at me.
Rhea crossed her arms. "Maybe you should've used hacking instead of wasting time on passwords."
Jenny finally turned.
"This system uses hardware-level encryption," she said calmly. "Zero trust architecture. No backdoors. No remote access. If you don't have the credentials, you're locked out. Force entry triggers a wipe protocol."
She paused, looking directly at Rhea.
"So yes. Getting the password from the developer is faster than pretending hacking works like in movies."
Silence.
"How does Mr. Kaykay's system works like that?" shruti asked quietly.
She glanced at me.
"He studied at the same university as me," she said. "I was his junior."
I smirked slightly.
At least she respects me.
"Can we focus on the case?" Vishal cut in, irritation clear in his voice.
Jenny pulled a chair and sat down, spinning it slightly before facing him.
"What?" Vishal snapped.
"You don't get to order me, Mr. Khanna," she said coolly. "I'm not your assistant. I'm SP."
That landed.
Hard.
"Now I get it why she's his ex-" Vishal muttered.
"Ms. Fonseca," Tanish stepped forward, surprisingly serious. "We've spent a week on this case. No leads. Both victims were orphans. No clear suspects. We really need your help."
I blinked.
Okay... that was unexpected.
Jenny pointed at him. "Good. I like you."
Tanish actually smiled.
She turned back to the system, fingers already moving.
And just like that-
The real game began.
But did he said they both were orphans?