____________________________________
"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will."
— J.R.R. Tolkien
____________________________________
A buzzer rang out.
From her team.
Abbas again.
MiMie's heart launched itself into her throat as she turned to him. Please, please, PLEASE know the answer… I am not losing like this.
Abbas took a breath. "Two thousand kilojoules."
The moderator blinked, then nodded. "Correct. +3% to C.A.A."
MiMie lit up—jumping once, quietly celebrating—then instantly composed her face again.
Safeeyah's expression was priceless: pure fury, as if she wanted to break her forehead on her desk.
Afreen leaned toward Safeeyah with a smug little smile.
"Relax. Mathematics is next. No one can beat me at math. I'll get every point we need—and extra points off of these losers."
Safeeyah scowled. "I can't believe Malik failed me again. He had one job—hack all three buzzers—and he still messed it up."
"Or," Afreen murmured, "maybe he refused to do what you told him to do. Maybe he changed his mind halfway."
Safeeyah frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Afreen shrugged. "Malik and MiMie were friends in junior years, remember? Maybe more than friends—who knows? They used to hang out with Tahir too. I always wished they'd invite me, but MiMie told me—openly—to stay away. I was scared of her back then. And when I tried hanging around Tahir, MiMie found out and made him choose between me and her. He picked her. I cried for days."
Safeeyah softened. "Yeah… MiMie told me a bit of that when we were friends. Not the threatening part though."
"Of course she didn't." Afreen's smile sharpened. "Anyway, you were right. I suspected Malik had feelings for MiMie too."
Safeeyah leaned back, scheming already. "Then maybe it's finally time you get your revenge on MiMie and Tahir."
Afreen's voice lowered, colder. "I don't blame Tahir. I understood why he chose her. They grew up together. I was the outsider. But MiMie?" A shadow crossed her features. "I won't stop until she's on her knees begging, both of them."
Safeeyah smirked. "So we're aligned. Just as we agreed few days ago."
"Looks like it."
The moderator tapped the mic. "30 minutes break, then we continue with mathematics."
Safeeyah stood. "I'm going to find Malik. He's going to pay for this."
"I'll help you," Afreen said.
As they slipped out of the hall, MiMie's eyes narrowed. Isham—the eagle-eyed whisper legend—noticed too and signaled her gossip-group to follow.
Outside the hall, Safeeyah, Afreen, and Jamil whispered like they were plotting a coup. Then Safeeyah and Afreen headed toward the café lounge.
MiMie's gut tightened.
Who are they looking for? And what are they planning during this tiny break? Whoever it is… it has to be the hacker. They're planning something for after the break.
Isham suddenly spoke behind her. "Weird, right?"
MiMie jumped slightly. "You scared me."
"I'm guessing they're plotting more than buzzer hacking," Isham said. "Like maybe hacking the moderator's computer to access all the questions."
MiMie blinked. "How do you know they hacked our buzzers?"
"I saw you fighting yours (buzzer), and I saw the way Safeeyah was watching you with grin on her face, as you struggled."
Isham continued
"And my crew overheard Safeeyah talking to Jamil. Want to know what she said?"
"Yes!" MiMie hissed. "Obviously!"
"Well." Isham crossed her arms. "She's looking for Malik. Jamil told her he's at the café. She also told him to be ready for plan B… and to keep Tahir away from Malik. At all cost."
MiMie's blood ran cold.
"Wait. Malik? Malik is the hacker?, so I was right."
She started piecing the possibilities together.
If they hack the buzzers again— it will be too suspicious—so then they'll hack the moderator's computer. Or even make it look like it was us, frame someone. Probably from C.A.A. If they can get C.A.A disqualified, the central Elite committee might ban us for up to 2 years. And when that happens, A.R.C wins for years. We can never catch up.
Malik… how could he? Why help her? Is it because I chose Tahir over him?, 3 years ago, after the Fountain fight. Is that why you are doing this Malik ?
Asking me to choose you over Tahir, the person I have known my whole life..?
As if it was even a choice.
She clenched her jaw.
Damn you Tahir. If only you had told me their game plan earlier, I would've stayed at least two steps ahead of this…
No. I had to stop Safeeyah. Even if I had to let Safeeyah believe she is winning.
She marched toward the café.
Isham called, "You're not going alone!"
Their group followed, fierce and united.
But just as they reached the entrance, Tahir walked out.
His hands in his pockets. Eyes red, like he'd just woken from a coma. Aysha Amad beside him.
MiMie froze.
Why is he here? Wasn't Jamil supposed to keep him AWAY from Malik?
Mimi's eyes locked onto Tahir.
"You," she said sharply. "What are you doing here?"
Tahir exhaled slowly.
"Napping."
"What do you mean napping.? Don't tell me you skipped the elite Quiz just to take a nap" MiMie asked furiously.
Tahir yawned. "Yeah. I've been asleep here for the past hour or so. She"—he jerked a thumb at Aysha—"woke me up while I was in the middle of a sweet mediocre dream."
Aysha huffed. "You asked me to come wake you up during the break, You idiot."
Tahir deadpanned, "But You didn't have to interrupt my dream, you could have waited for 5 more minutes."
Aysha rolled her eyes. "Lazy and obnoxious"
"Is there by chance any A.R.C students inside?" Isham asked.
"Yeah, the A.R.C students are in the 3rd cubicle by the right. Aysha hesitated, then continued. "I think they were yelling at each other. Ehm… I saw Afreen, Safeeyah and some tall handsome guy."
MiMie murmured, "Malik."
She stepped forward. "I'm going in."
Tahir stepped in front of her, eyes uninterested. "MiMie… it's over. Let it go."
"It's only over when I say it's over. And I am saying it is just beginning. Now move aside before I kick you."
Tahir recognized the fury in her eyes, he lazily moved aside.
________________
Few minutes earlier:
Inside the Cafè
Aysha Amad slipped quietly into the cyber café. The room smelled faintly of dust and overheated machines. Rows of cubicles stood like coffins—dark, silent, forgotten.
The Super elite's special wing is at the far end.
"Tahir," she muttered to herself . "Where are you? ."
She took another step—
And stopped.
Voices.
Raised. Sharp. Furious.
From the 3rd cubicle on her right as she passes by to go to the Super Elite's special cyber wing. Voices echoed with anger but not loud enough.
"…You said the buzzers would be enough!" Safeeyah hissed.
"They were supposed to be!" Malik snapped back. "But someone interfered. Someone better."
Aysha's heart stuttered.
Safeeyah lowered her voice, venomous.
"I didn't plan all this just to slow them down. We were supposed to wipe C.A.A out. Sabotage the moderator's system. Plant answers. Make it look like they cheated."
Malik scoffed.
"Shhhh… lower your voice" as he turned around checking if anyone is listening.
Aysha quickly hid inside Tahir's cubicle.
Malik continued
"And then what do you think will happened huh..? get the entire school disqualified? It's insane. You are insane"
"No. I'm thorough," Safeeyah shot back. "If we're going to destroy MiMie and C.A.A, we don't do it halfway."
Aysha's stomach tightened.
They weren't just playing dirty.
They were planning a massacre.
She turned sharply—
And rushed into the elite wing,
She found Tahir who's already awake.
Sitting upright. Calm. Too calm.
His fingers moved across a keyboard with practiced ease, code scrolling too fast for her to follow.
"Tahir," she whispered urgently, "what are you—"
He closed the laptop instantly.
Too fast. Too smooth.
Aysha narrowed her eyes.
"…were you… hacking ?"
As she can see the green codes running and disappearing.
He leaned back, unbothered.
"Relax. I was just shutting down one of the cameras. The one facing the old maintenance buildings."
Her suspicion flared.
"I bet That's not all."
He said nothing.
Aysha stepped closer, lowering her voice but sharpening it.
"You lie badly when you think no one here is smart enough to notice."
Silence.
Then she added, quietly lethal:
"Want me to call the Tech. Teacher's attention over here? I'm sure she'd love to know you're hiding in the Super elite's special cyber wing."
Tahir's jaw tightened.
"Shh," he muttered, reaching out and gripping her wrist—not hard, just enough to stop her.
Then he leaned in. And whispered.
Whatever he said—
Aysha's eyes widened. Her breath caught.
"…You're insane," she murmured.
"Probably," he replied softly. "But right now, I'm necessary."
He shut down the computer system, wiped the logs in seconds, then stood.
"Come on."
They slipped out of the cyber wing like shadows, timing their steps between footsteps and echoes, avoiding the other side that Safeeyah, Afreen and Malik occupied. Arguing without even noticing them. At least that's what Aysha seemed to think.
As they stepped outside, The evening air hit them—
And they almost collided with MiMie.
Isham was beside her. Isham's entourage just behind.
All of them tense. Wired. Ready for war.
MiMie's eyes locked onto Tahir.
"You," she said sharply. "What are you doing here?"
Tahir exhaled slowly.
"Napping."
"What do you mean napping.? Don't tell me you skipped the elite Quiz just to take a nap" MiMie asked furiously.
Tahir yawned. "Yeah. I've been asleep here for the past hour or so. She"—he jerked a thumb at Aysha—"woke me up while I was in the middle of a sweet mediocre dream."
Aysha huffed. "You asked me to come wake you up during the break, You idiot."
Tahir deadpanned, "But You didn't have to interrupt my dream, you could have waited for 5 more minutes."
Aysha rolled her eyes. "Lazy and obnoxious"
"Is there by chance any A.R.C students inside?" Isham asked.
"Yeah. The A.R.C students are in the 3rd cubicle by the right," Aysha replied,
wondering if she should tell Isham what she over heard. But decided not to.
Then she continued.
"I think they were yelling at each other. Ehm… I saw Afreen, Safeeyah and some tall handsome guy."
MiMie murmured, "Malik."
She stepped forward. "I'm going in."
Tahir stepped in front of her, eyes uninterested. "MiMie… it's over. Let it go."
"It's only over when I say it's over. And I am saying it is just beginning. Now move aside before I kick you."
Tahir moved aside lazily.
MiMie clenched her fists.
Aysha swallowed, still shaken.
________________
Hidden Motive
As MiMie, Isham, and Isham's gossip group stepped in to meet Safeeyah, Afreen and Malik.
Tahir started walking away from the cafe like nothing mattered.
Aysha followed him down the corridor, confusion boiling over.
"Why didn't you tell them?" she hissed once they were out of earshot.
"You just saved the entire school from being eliminated and banned from elite competition—and you didn't say a word."
Tahir didn't slow.
"I didn't save them."
Aysha blinked. "What?"
He stopped near the stairwell, the evening sunlight catching in his unnaturally blue eyes.
"I wasn't doing it to help MiMie. Or Isham. Or C.A.A."
"Then why?" she pressed, genuinely unsettled now.
He turned to face her.
"If C.A.A gets eliminated or banned from the Elite Championship," he said evenly, "the entire school calendar shifts."
Aysha frowned. "So?"
"So," he continued, voice flat, surgical,
"the teachers panic. They refocus on academics. Extra lessons. Extra assessments. Mock exams. I am sure the director will focus more on the inter-house competitions, the school point system and the rules."
Her stomach dropped.
"And that means," Tahir finished, "I'll be forced to write the exams, participate in more activities and competitions."
Aysha stared at him.
"That's it?" she whispered. "You sabotaged a sabotage… just to avoid exams, Inter-house events?"
"Yes."
No hesitation. No shame.
Just fact.
She took a step back, heart thudding.
Who is this boy?
Not heroic. Not loyal. Not vengeful.
Cold. Calculating.
Self-interested to the core.
A creature wrapped in human skin, blue eyes empty of attachment, moving the world around him like pieces on a board—only so he could remain untouched.
Aysha swallowed hard.
For the first time since meeting him, she felt afraid.
And Tahir?
He simply walked on.
CURIOSITY HAS A PRICE
Aysha slowed, then stopped completely.
"No," she said suddenly.
Tahir kept walking.
"No?" he echoed without turning.
"I'm not missing this," Aysha insisted. "MiMie and Isham are about to explode. That confrontation is history-in-the-making."
"Not my problem."
She jogged ahead, blocking his path.
"You're coming with me."
He looked at her like she'd suggested something absurd.
"Absolutely not."
She folded her arms. "Then I'm not moving."
Silence stretched between them.
Tahir exhaled, already irritated. "Aysha, unlike you, I value my time."
He moved pass her, walking with his hands in his pocket
"And unlike you," she shot back, "I value information. And right now, that room is full of secrets."
He paused.
That got his attention.
She leaned in, lowering her voice.
"I'll tell you everything."
He raised an eyebrow. "Everything I know about what?"
"The 9 Elite Shadows," she said quietly. "The students they destroyed. The names nobody writes down. The people who vanished. The reputations they ruined."
Tahir stopped walking.
Completely.
Slowly, he turned to face her.
"…Go on."
"Over the years we have witnessed the events and heard some stories," Aysha continued. "Transfers. Expulsions. Attempted Suicides that weren't called that. Students blackmailed into disappearing. For example, one of the recently expelled student from C.A.A, her name was Haleemah. She was just a normal student but extremely brilliant. I have a theory on why she got expelled, I know Which teachers covered it up. And who's still walking around pretending nothing happened. I have been tracking the expulsion since almost 4 years ago. I will share with you, all the information I have gathered."
His eyes sharpened—predatory, focused.
"And you'll tell me all of it?"
"Yes," she said. "Every name. Every year. Every official reason given as to why."
A beat.
Tahir checked his watch.
Then he looked down the corridor toward cyber cafè's doors, where MiMie and Isham had disappeared.
"Fine," he said. "But we move. Fast."
Aysha blinked. "Why?"
He started walking again, this time toward the confrontation.
"Because," he said calmly, "based on Mimi's high emotional intelligence and the vengeful anger, Isham's authority complex, Safeeyah's anger and worse off, Malik's emotional volatility"
He glanced back at her, mouth curving slightly.
"There's a 67% chance this ends with someone getting hit."
Aysha's eyes widened.
"…You calculated that?"
He smirked faintly.
"Let's hurry."
________________
Back to the Café
They slipped back into the café quietly.
The hum of computers.
Empty Cubicles
At the 3rd cubicle—exactly where Aysha remembered leaving them—
Malik and Safeeyah were still there.
Yelling and shouting.
Voices sharp but controlled, the kind meant not to attract teachers. Malik's hands moved when he spoke—frustrated, erratic. Safeeyah stood rigid, eyes blazing, jaw clenched like she was holding back a scream.
And behind them—
Afreen.
Not speaking. Not intervening. Just watching.
Like a shadow that hadn't decided where to fall yet.
But something had changed.
Because now MiMie and Isham stood opposite them.
The air between the two sides felt stretched thin, like a wire pulled too tight—one wrong word away from snapping.
Aysha's breath caught.
This is it.
Then—
Afreen's eyes shifted.
And landed on Tahir.
Her pupils dilated almost imperceptibly.
For half a second, the present vanished.
____________
A Painful memory
The Cafeteria. 3 and 1/2 years ago.
Warm beneath her palms.
Tahir leaning on to the dining table , distant, unreachable.
he said flatly. "I'm afraid this is where we say goodbye to our friendship."
" he'd said calmly. "You are no longer useful to me"
The way he turned away.
The way MiMies name had already lived in his silence.
Afreen blinked.
The memory slammed shut like a door she refused to open.
Not now. Not here.
Her expression smoothed instantly—perfect control, perfect calm.
She straightened.
Then, without a word to Safeeyah or Malik, she stepped forward.
Walked briskly.
Directly toward Tahir.
Aysha felt Tahir tense beside her—not surprise, not fear—just awareness. Like a chess player recognizing a familiar opponent across the board.
Afreen stopped in front of him.
Close. Too close.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
3 and 1/2 years of unfinished sentences hung between them.
Afreen smiled first.
"Tahir A. Salman," she said lightly, as if they were casual acquaintances who'd merely missed a class or two.
"I was wondering when you'd stop hiding."
Aysha glanced between them, heart racing.
Tahir… how did you know her?
And for the first time since entering the café, Tahir didn't smirk.
He simply met Afreen's gaze.
Cold. Measured. Unreadable.
"Afreen Omar," he replied.
Her smile tightened.
Oh yes.
This confrontation had just become far more dangerous.
Afreen even closer to him without hesitation.
"So," she said softly, tilting her head, eyes locking onto his,
"we meet again, Tahir…"
Tahir studied her for a brief second, then hummed thoughtfully.
"Hmm… your looks say you've changed gorgeously," he said evenly.
"But you absolutely sound the same as before… Miss Dimples."
Afreen laughed under her breath, clearly amused.
"Still with the nicknames and teasing, huh?" she said, smiling flirtatiously, stepping just a little closer.
Tahir didn't move.
"Only for the most memorable faces," he replied.
"So—what brings you to this place?" His lips curved slightly.
"Don't tell me you came to buy a horse for a polo club."
Afreen chuckled, catching the sarcasm immediately.
"Actually," she said lightly, "I came to buy a lion for my circus friends, you know…"
An inside joke.
Old. Familiar. Dangerous.
Tahir raised a brow.
"I thought you left the circus to join the Kannywood," he said dryly.
"Didn't you say you wanted to be an actress or something like that?"
Another inside joke.
Afreen laughed, genuine this time.
"Hehehe… seriously, you haven't forgotten any of that?"
She shook her head slowly.
"You're still as funny as ever."
Her voice softened.
"It's really good to see you… again. What have you been up to?"
Tahir let out a quiet laugh.
"You're the funny one," he said.
"And yeah… it's good to see you too."
For a moment, the air between them felt strangely calm—too calm.
Like the eye of a storm pretending it wasn't surrounded by chaos.
Because just a few steps away—
Safeeyah, Malik, and MiMie were locked in their own confrontation.
Voices sharp. Emotions raw.
Years of resentment boiling over.
Compared to that firestorm, Tahir and Afreen's conversation felt deceptively light.
But Aysha, watching closely, felt it in her bones:
This was not peace.
This was two predators circling—
smiling, reminiscing, measuring—
waiting for the right moment to strike.
___________
MiMie Confronts Malik
MiMie stepped forward, shoulders squared, voice steady only by force of will.
"Malik," she said, "whatever she's forcing you to do—don't. She's using you."
Safeeyah snapped instantly, venom sharp in her tone.
"Oh? Like you used him?"
MiMie flinched—but didn't retreat.
"Malik," her voice cracked despite herself, "I'm sorry for hurting you. I really am. But whatever you're about to do… there's no coming back from it."
Malik's eyes burned.
"Leave it to MiMie to make everything about herself."
"I'm trying to help you!" she shot back.
His jaw hardened, every word turning colder.
"Help me how ?, Like when you left me A.R.C without saying goodbye to me" He continued with anger in his voice "Only for me to find out later you transfer to C.A.A to follow Tahir again."
"That's not true, please listen to me, Malik" MiMie pleaded, with pity for Malik in her eyes.
"Hahaha, isn't she a drama queen, Malik" Safeeyah spoke up, "Wow, I almost want to listen to her" she added mockingly
"You know when I would have listened to you MiMie ? Few weeks ago." Malik said with emotions in his voice.
"You don't understand, Malik. They framed me, I was innocent" MiMie said.
"Few weeks ago I would have believed you. But now, I know you are liar and a backstabber"
"Indeed she is much worse than that, she is an evil bitch" Safeeyah mockingly said.
"Malik, I left A.R.C because I lost everyone,everything…" MiMie said, while tears started forming in her eyes. She continued "And I lost everything because of her…" MiMie angry pointing at Safeeyah.
"No… MiMie" Malik said with a defeated and sad face
"You didn't lose everyone, you had me, I was there, I was your friend again. You made me believe we had buried what happened almost 3 years ago. After the fountain fight. I lost my friends, and you were even more than a friend to me." Malik's eyes started forming tears also.
"But last year when you came to A.R.C, we became friends again. As it turns out, it was all a lie"
"No Malik, believe me, it wasn't a lie" MiMie said, "The reason I left is not related to you"
"You are right, it's because of him" Malik said while pointing towards Tahir.
"No. It wasn't, and you know it. Please Malik, just stop aiding and abetting Safeeyah, I don't want to see you hurt"
"Liar" Malik shouted. "Both you and Tahir are Liars and psychopaths" Malik started parking his backpack.
"Besides Even if I want to continue helping Safeeyah… I can't anymore."
Safeeyah spun on him.
"What do you mean you can't?"
Malik swallowed. Hard.
"Someone kicked me out of the server," he said. "Upgraded the firewall into something insane. If I even try to get back in, it hacks me instead."
His voice dropped.
"It pulled video recordings of me tampering with the system. Anonymous message was sent to me telling that if I keep trying… it releases everything and gets A.R.C banned from the competition."
Silence slammed down on them.
"Wait. Wait… is it the teachers… or is it the Central Elite Committee?" Safeeyah whispered.
Malik shook his head.
"If it were them, we'd already be disqualified."
Safeeyah frowned.
"But Aren't supposed to be the best hacker in A.R.C."
"A.R.C?" Malik scoffed bitterly. "Sure. But not in all the 9 Elite schools."
His eyes lifted—straight to MiMie.
"There's one person better than me. The person you love the most."
Every gaze snapped to him.
Malik said it softly. Devastatingly.
"Tahir."
MiMie's breath hitched violently.
"What are you talking about?!"
Safeeyah's eyes widened—then slowly curved with understanding.
"Oh… oh wow."
Malik laughed, hollow and bitter.
"You always chose him over me. Don't deny it. He is the reason why you chose to come to C.A.A after you left A.R.C isn't it."
"That's not true—" MiMie started.
"Then why," Malik snapped, stepping closer, "is he also in this school with you? I mean you guys came together."
Safeeyah tugged at his sleeve impatiently.
"Forget this. We need to get back. Where's Afreen?"
"Obviously flirting with Tahir," Malik said flatly.
He glanced at MiMie.
And saw it.
The flicker.
The jealousy she tried—and failed—to hide.
Isham noticed too.
How did I never see this before?
But time was bleeding away.
Isham stepped forward sharply.
"Enough. I have recorded everything. All this conversations, including Malik admitting that he is the hacker, If I submit this, A.R.C is finished."
Safeeyah smirked.
"You think that scares us?"
Malik shrugged.
"If A.RC goes down… I will make sure to implicate your precious Tahir."
Mimi stiffened instantly.
"We can't risk that. Isham—don't."
Malik sneered.
"Evidently, Still defending him. As always."
MiMie snapped, something broke loose in her.
"Yes. I am. Defending him.
Just like I have always defended You." She exhaled loudly "You want to know why I rejected you 4 years ago?"
Her voice shook with fury now.
"Because everything you do comes from jealousy. Bitter jealousy. You didn't want me—you wanted to beat Tahir at something. Anything. Even winning me."
Malik's face twisted.
"Shut up. That's not true"
Truth hurts, doesn't it?"MiMie said "deep down we all know you are just an insecure little boy who cowers behind Tahir"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
He lunged. Hand raised.
Swinging down to slap MiMie
Everything blurred—
Because another hand—long-fingered, cold, impossibly fast—snatched Malik's wrist mid-air.
The motion was clean. Precise. Final.
Everyone froze.
Tahir stood there.
Like he had stepped out of thin air.
MiMie breath shuddered.
Tahir… you came. Again. Why? After everything? Why do you always keep that pinky promise we made at the secret library?
Is the old you finally back ?
Even Tahir looked faintly startled—as if his body had moved before his mind agreed.
"Malik," he said quietly, "is this how we treat a childhood best friend?"
Malik trembled with rage.
"Let go of me, you cold, self-absorbed, worthless—piece of sh—"
"Woah wow," Tahir murmured. "That's low. Even for you."
"You want a fight?!" Malik furiously asked
"No," Tahir replied, almost bored.
"Because you know the outcome, you will always lose."
"Says the Coward!" Malik snapped back
Tahir tilted his head slightly.
"Do you know why we've never fought one vs one before Malik. ?"
A pause.
"Because I'd beat you so badly you'd regret ever trying."
Isham snapped between them.
"Enough! We need to get back to the hall—now."
Afreen shot MiMie a glare sharp with venom.
It's always you. Always you in the center. Not anymore…
____________
Aysha whispered under her breath, stunned,
"What on earth did I just witness…?"
Her eyes drifted to Tahir.
You pretended not to care. But your emotions—you can't hide them, you made a ghost steps disappearance, just in time to save MiMie. It doesn't make sense
Are you in love with her? Is that why you agreed to come back to the cafè with me?
I think there is so much history between you and it's killing me not knowing.
She couldn't figure him out.
And it drove her crazy.