The rest of the day didn't feel normal.
Not after that encounter.
Not after those words.
Classes resumed,
But Ishaan wasn't listening.
His mind kept replaying it.
"You're like me."
He exhaled slowly.
"…No."
He muttered under his breath.
"No I shouldn't think about it."
"Talking to yourself now?"
Kabir leaned over.
"What happened."
Kabir said.
Ishaan shook his head.
"it's Nothing."
Aisha glanced at him.
"You've been quiet since that guy showed up."
Anaya nodded slightly.
"…He felt strange."
Ishaan looked away.
"…Just ignore him."
But fate didn't agree.
The classroom door opened.
Students turned.
And there he was,
The same boy.
Walking in like he belonged.
Kabir frowned.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The boy's eyes scanned the room.
Then stopped.
On Ishaan.
A faint smirk appeared.
He walked straight toward him.
No hesitation.
No fear.
He stopped beside Ishaan's desk.
"Still pretending?"
Ishaan didn't look up.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The boy chuckled softly.
"You're not very good at lying."
Kabir leaned forward.
"Who even are you?"
Ignored.
The boy leaned slightly closer to Ishaan.
Lowering his voice.
"I saw you."
A pause.
"When you moved."
Ishaan's fingers tightened slightly,
But his expression didn't change.
"You're mistaken."
A brief silence.
Then—
The boy smiled.
Not amused,
Not playful,
Certain.
"No."
He straightened.
"I'm not."
A small pressure filled the air for a second.
Then disappeared.
Aisha's eyes narrowed.
"…Control."
The boy looked back at Ishaan.
"So here's the deal."
"I don't want to fight."
Ishaan cut him off.
Calm.
Direct.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then the boy laughed.
Soft.
Almost disappointed.
"That's boring."
" You should have atleast listen to what i wanna say to you..anyways."
He stepped back.
"Fine."
A pause.
"We'll do it another way."
Ishaan frowned slightly.
But the boy had already turned.
Walking away.
As if nothing mattered.
Kabir clicked his tongue.
"I seriously don't like that guy."
Aisha crossed her arms.
"He's not normal."
Anaya looked uneasy.
"…Something feels off about him."
Ishaan didn't respond.
But something about that last line—
Stayed with him.
"We'll do it another way."
It didn't sound like a bluff.
It sounded like a promise.
The day ended.
Students began leaving.
The sky slowly shifted toward evening.
Ishaan opened his desk to grab his bag.
Then—
He paused.
A folded paper.
Inside.
He frowned.
Pulled it out.
Opened it.
Three words.
Written clearly.
"I have her."
Below it,
An address.
Ishaan's heartbeat stopped for a second.
Then, dropped hard.
"Anaya."
His grip tightened.
The paper crumpled slightly in his hand.
Kabir noticed immediately.
"…What happened?"
Aisha stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Ishaan didn't answer.
He handed them the note.
Kabir's expression changed instantly.
"…That bastard."
Aisha's eyes hardened.
"He planned this."
Anaya wasn't with them.
She had left earlier.
Ishaan's jaw tightened.
A quiet anger began to rise.
Slow.
Controlled.
But heavy.
"I told him I didn't want to fight…"
His voice was low.
Kabir cracked his knuckles.
"Well, now you don't have a choice."
Aisha looked at Ishaan.
"This could be a trap."
Ishaan didn't hesitate.
"I know."
Anaya's face flashed in his mind.
Her voice.
Her smile.
His fist clenched tighter.
"But I'm going."
Kabir smirked slightly.
"Obviously."
Aisha sighed.
"…Then we're going too."
Ishaan looked at them.
"You don't have to—"
"Shut up," Kabir said.
"We're not letting you go alone."
Anaya isn't just your friend.
She is ours too.
Aisha nodded.
"We move together."
A small silence.
Then,
Ishaan turned.
Walking toward the exit.
This time,
His steps weren't uncertain.
They were steady.
Heavy.
Because now,
This wasn't about awakening.
This wasn't about testing.
This was personal.
And somewhere in the city,
A trap was waiting.