He dressed himself again, every motion heavy, as if weighted by guilt. When he finished, he looked at her one last time, regret dimming his eyes. Gently, he pulled the blanket up to cover her, like a criminal tending to the victim he shouldn't have touched.
"Why is my heart racing when I look at her?" he murmured, unsure whether it was longing… or remorse.
He opened the bedroom door and glanced down the dark hallway. Without looking back, Kaivan stepped into the silence and left Isabel behind.
sabel awoke a few minutes later. She opened her eyes slowly, staring at the silent room.
"Kaivan?" she called out, her voice hoarse.
There was no answer, only the monotonous ticking of a clock. With a weary body, she tried to sit up, but a faint discomfort spread through her, making her let out a soft groan.
"Ahh…?" she whispered. Her gaze fell on a piece of clothing at the edge of the bed. Her face paled. Faint memories returned, broken, terrifying fragments.
"So… I really did it," she murmured, hollow, barely breathing. Her hand trembled as she reached for it, and something inside her felt like it shattered. She sank onto the floor, hugging her knees tightly as she leaned against the door. Tears fell without end.
"Why did I do this…? Does Kaivan even see me as a woman…?"
Her sobs broke free, the cry of a girl who had lost herself. And between her trembling breaths, one sentence echoed in her head.
"I will come back to you."
Kaivan's words, which once sounded like a promise… now felt like a curse.
Kaivan walked beneath the dark night sky, not knowing where to go. His steps eventually brought him to his old house, the place where all his wounds began.
He stood before the building, gripping a bottle of gasoline tightly. The house was now nothing but a skeleton of memories, a witness to a past he wanted to erase. Without hesitation, he poured gasoline across every room. Each drop that hit the floor felt like it washed over old wounds that had never healed.
The sharp scent of gasoline filled the air. Kaivan's hands trembled, yet his steps were firm. He pulled a wooden match from his pocket, the small flame flickered brightly in the darkness.
"I don't have a home to return to anymore," he said, his voice cold.
He dropped the match. Flames burst instantly, racing up the walls and ceiling. Kaivan watched the fire with empty eyes, then turned away. The house, his memories, and his past burned with the night.
Ten days had passed since Kaivan vanished without a trace.
In the school garden, Radit and Felicia sat on a bench, worry carved on their faces.
"It's pointless… We've searched everywhere, but there's still no sign of him," Radit said in frustration.
Felicia let out a long breath and looked at him. "What I don't understand is why Isabel disappeared too. Could they have gone somewhere together?" she asked softly.
At the school gate, Raphael, Ethan, Livia, Thivi, Frans, and Zinnia waited for Radit and Felicia to finish their class. Raphael, usually calm, looked unusually tense.
"We've searched for Kaivan everywhere, but no one knows anything. Even his house is burned down," Ethan said, worry in his voice.
Livia held Zinnia's hand tightly. "I can't find Isabel either. Her phone is turned off…" she whispered, her voice shaking.
Suddenly, three figures approached them, Tania, Dandi, and Rina. Their expressions were serious, unlike usual. Frans looked at them in confusion as the evening sky turned orange, framing the tense gathering. The group of friends stood in a small circle, anxiety weighing on every face.
Tania spoke without hesitation. "Where's Kaivan? Why hasn't he come to school at all?" Her tone was anxious, different from her usual self.
Zinnia shot her a sharp glare. "Don't meddle in our business!" Her voice was cold and firm, freezing Tania in place. There was an old wound in her tone, Zinnia remembered well that Tania had once mocked Kaivan.
Dandi, standing beside Tania, scoffed and pulled her back. "Forget it, Tania. Why bother looking for that loser? A weak kid like him isn't worth finding," he said with disdain.
The atmosphere instantly shifted. Raphael took a step forward, tension tightening his face. He leaned toward Radit, whispering under his breath as he struggled to control himself.
"Can I punch this guy?" His eyes burned with anger.
But before Radit could answer, Tania stepped forward in panic, her voice trembling.
"Wait! I really am looking for Kaivan. I even went to his house, with two women I know… but he wasn't there!"
Zinnia's eyes narrowed. "Two women?"
"Yes," Tania replied quickly, almost without breathing. "Their names were Rapi and Vella." She said it without guilt, unaware of the storm she had just stirred.
The air froze. Everyone stared at her.
Zinnia clenched her teeth, her hands tightening until her knuckles turned white. Her eyes burned like embers ready to explode.