Canta and Jessica walked through the main gates of Gruse National University.
The campus opened up wide in front of them.
It was large—far larger than it had seemed from a distance. Multiple buildings stretched across the landscape, most of them three or four storeys high, arranged along broad internal roads that cut cleanly through the campus. Students moved in small groups, some talking, some walking alone, others sitting under shaded areas.
There was a certain order to the place.
At the center, a massive auditorium stood like a landmark—its structure modern, yet slightly imposing. Flags hung near its entrance, moving gently in the breeze.
Jessica glanced at him.
"It's one of the top universities," she said. "Fifth in the country. A lot of international students come here too."
Canta nodded, taking in the surroundings.
Jessica slowed down slightly.
"So," she said, "which department are you in?"
"Mechanical engineering," Canta replied.
She pointed ahead.
"Third building. Second floor."
Then she paused for a moment.
"Alright… I should go now."
Canta nodded.
"Okay."
And just like that, they parted ways.
Canta walked toward the building.
This city is… refreshing.
The thought came slowly.
But…
He didn't finish it.
He entered the classroom.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet.
Students were scattered—some on their phones, some talking, a few studying.
Then—
"Ooh… late comer."
A boy's voice cut through the room.
"Finally you've arrived."
Everyone looked at him.
Canta smiled awkwardly.
"Yeah."
The attention stayed.
Too long.
Too direct.
He moved to the back and sat down quietly.
Then—
"Hey, what's your name?"
A girl with red-dyed hair leaned forward.
"Canta… Olivera."
She smiled, but before anything more could be said—
Others joined in.
"Which club are you in?"
"You just joined?"
"Why are you late?"
Questions came from different directions.
Too many.
Too quickly.
Canta answered briefly where he could, but the crowd around him only grew.
The space felt tighter.
Then—
"Alright, that's enough."
The same brown-haired boy spoke.
"Give him some space for now."
His tone was calm but firm.
The group paused.
Then, from behind—
One boy laughed.
"He must be an introvert. Having trouble dealing with people."
A few of his friends chuckled lightly.
The tension shifted.
Not gone—
just changed.
Some of them backed off, losing interest.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
Canta sat still.
The teacher entered.
Without greeting, he started the lecture.
The room settled instantly.
A chair moved beside Canta.
"Hey," the same boy said. "I'm Aron."
"If you need anything, you can tell me."
He gestured lightly.
"That girl—she's Erina."
Then he looked at Canta.
"You have trouble socializing, right?"
Canta paused.
Then—
"Yes."
Aron nodded.
He didn't ask anything more.
The lecture continued.
Outside, the campus remained lively.
Inside—
the silence felt different.
---
The final bell didn't ring—it simply ended.
The teacher stopped speaking, closed his book, and walked out without a word. Chairs shifted. Conversations returned instantly, as if they had only been paused.
Canta remained seated for a moment.
Then—
"Hey."
Aron stood beside him, stretching slightly.
"Cafeteria?" he asked casually.
Before Canta could respond, Erina appeared from the side, already slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"I'm coming too," she said.
There wasn't much space to refuse.
Canta stood.
They walked out together.
As they moved down the corridor, Aron casually placed his hand on Canta's shoulder.
"I see you're kind of a hardcore introvert," he said, almost playfully. "You don't like to talk at all, do you? I thought if I approached you, I might get some honorable words out of your mouth… but you're completely silent."
Canta didn't respond immediately.
He simply reached up, took Aron's hand, and lowered it.
"I don't like being touched," he said calmly.
There was no aggression in his tone.
Just clarity.
Aron blinked once, then gave a small, awkward laugh.
"C'mon, man…"
Erina stepped in lightly.
"He didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," she said. "It was just a friendly shoulder pat."
Canta nodded faintly.
Nothing more was said.
They reached the cafeteria.
It was large—far larger than the classroom buildings suggested. Rows of tables filled the space, most of them occupied. Students talked, laughed, moved around with trays in hand.
The noise wasn't overwhelming, but it was constant.
The walls were made of glass.
Outside, trees swayed slightly under a heavy sky. The clouds had gathered, blocking most of the sunlight. Birds moved between branches, their silhouettes faint against the dim gray.
Inside, the white lights took over.
Bright.
Almost too clean.
The place felt… sterile.
They walked to the counter.
Aron ordered a hamburger.
Erina asked for a chicken burger.
Canta paused briefly before speaking.
"Noodles."
They collected their trays and found a table.
For a while, no one spoke.
Just the sound of cutlery, quiet chewing, distant chatter.
Canta stared at his food.
Maybe I'm overdoing it.
The thought came quietly.
I should be more friendly…
His grip on the fork tightened slightly.
If I stay like this… I won't make any friends.
A pause.
Then what was the point of coming here?
He glanced at them.
They were eating normally.
Comfortably.
Like this was routine.
Canta looked down again.
What should I say?
The question repeated.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
"Hey…"
The word slipped out, uneven.
Both Aron and Erina looked up.
Canta hesitated for half a second.
Then—
"In the morning… when I came out of the colony… I saw a lot of missing posters."
A brief pause.
"Are kidnappings common here?"
The question settled between them.
Aron leaned back slightly.
"Not really," he said. "But recently… yeah, a few cases have come up."
He took a bite, then continued.
"Police think it might be connected to a group called Ferk."
"Ferk?" Canta asked.
Erina nodded.
"An illegal group," she said. "They're involved in drug trafficking. And… human trafficking too."
She paused briefly.
"They've caught a few members. But most of them are still out there."
Silence followed.
The noise of the cafeteria filled the gap.
Canta looked down again.
No… I should keep talking.
He forced himself to continue.
"I heard… from a second-year… that elections are coming soon."
That was enough.
Erina immediately leaned forward, her tone shifting.
"Oh yes, they are," she said. "Just a month left. I'm pretty sure Mr. Brown is going to win again. He's been winning for the past ten years."
Aron nodded slightly.
"Not surprising."
Canta paused, then asked—
"What about… that 'truth' guy?"
Aron smirked faintly.
"He's interesting, isn't he?"
Erina let out a small laugh.
"Interesting, yes. Winning? No."
She shook her head.
"Just shouting things like 'show us the truth' isn't going to get him votes."
Then she added, almost thoughtfully—
"But what's actually intriguing… is his secretary."
Canta looked at her.
"Secretary?"
"Yeah," she said. "I heard his name is Rei. Apparently, he's really capable."
Aron raised an eyebrow.
"Hm."
For a moment, the conversation paused again.
Then Aron glanced at Canta.
"Hey… are you regretting pushing my hand away earlier?" he said lightly. "Now you're suddenly starting conversations."
There was no mockery in his tone.
Just observation.
"You don't have to force yourself, you know."
Canta looked at him.
"No… it's not that."
He hesitated.
"Just… I thought… if I'm here…"
A small pause.
"I should try to make some friends."
The words felt unfamiliar as they left his mouth.
Erina blinked once.
Then she smiled.
Aron let out a short laugh.
"Well," he said, leaning back, "that makes things easy."
Erina nodded.
"Yeah. We'll be your friends."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You're really quiet… but I don't know…"
A faint smile.
"It's kind of charming."
Aron chuckled.
"Yeah. It is."
Canta didn't respond.
But for the first time—
his expression stayed just a little longer.
Outside, the clouds shifted slightly.
But the light didn't change much.
Inside—
the noise continued.
But something, quietly—
had.
---
The corridor had begun to fill again.
Students moved between classrooms, their conversations overlapping into a steady, indistinct noise. Canta walked alongside Aron and Erina, keeping a measured pace, his gaze shifting occasionally but never settling for too long.
As they walked, something caught his attention.
A ring.
It rested on Aron's ring finger—simple, metallic, not particularly decorative, but noticeable enough.
Canta looked at it for a moment.
Then looked away.
Should I ask?
The thought lingered briefly.
Then, without much warning—
"Hey… Aron," he said.
Aron glanced at him.
"Yeah?"
"Are you… engaged?"
The question came out more directly than he intended.
Erina turned her head slightly, curious.
Aron blinked once—then let out a short breath.
"No," he said. "I'm not."
He lifted his hand slightly.
"Are you asking because of this?"
Canta nodded.
"Yes."
Aron looked at the ring for a second.
"Oh… this?" he said casually. "I just wear it. No real meaning."
Then, after a small pause, he added—
"Though… I did get it from someone special."
Canta didn't respond.
But the words stayed.
Someone special.
For a brief moment, curiosity surfaced.
Who could it be?
But just as quickly, he pushed the thought aside.
I shouldn't ask.
The conversation moved on.
Erina glanced at him.
"Hey, Canta," she said. "Do you have any siblings?"
Canta nodded.
"Yes. A younger brother. Two years younger than me."
Erina raised her eyebrows slightly.
"That's… kind of unexpected."
Canta looked at her.
"Maybe."
He paused for a second, then shifted the topic.
"I recently started living here," he said. "With my uncle."
Neither of them interrupted.
"I don't want to be a burden to him."
The words came out quietly.
More to himself than to them.
Then he added—
"Do you know any place where I could find a part-time job?"
Aron glanced at Erina.
Erina responded first.
"I might be able to help," she said. "I work part-time somewhere. I can introduce you."
Canta looked at her.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"I'll send you the location," she said. "Come at 8 p.m. I have a night shift today anyway."
A small pause.
"Thanks," Canta said.
His tone remained calm—but it carried something else.
Relief, perhaps.
Erina smiled lightly.
"I just believe in helping people who need it."
The rest of the day passed without anything notable.
Classes continued.
Voices, lectures, movement.
Routine.
By the time the final class ended, the clock had already passed three.
Students began leaving.
Canta stood, picked up his bag, and looked at Aron and Erina.
"I'll go now," he said.
Aron nodded.
"See you."
Erina gave a small wave.
"Don't forget—8 p.m."
Canta nodded once and turned away.
The walk back felt quieter.
Or maybe it just felt that way to him.
By the time he reached the apartment, the sun had already started fading behind the clouds.
He opened the door.
Joseph was inside.
Sitting.
Waiting—or maybe just there.
"Welcome back," Joseph said, glancing at him. "How was your first day?"
"Nice," Canta replied.
Joseph nodded.
He didn't ask anything more.
The silence returned naturally.
After a moment, Canta spoke.
"I'll go out at 7:30," he said. "I found a part-time job."
Joseph looked at him.
"Alright," he said. "But be careful."
A pause.
"There have been a lot of kidnappings lately."
Canta's expression didn't change.
"And don't go into dark areas," Joseph added.
"Okay," Canta replied.
He went into his room.
Closed the door.
The familiar space greeted him—unchanged, quiet, still.
His eyes moved to the wall.
The poster.
You can do this.
He looked at it for a moment.
Then lay down.
Sleep came quickly.
When he woke up, the room was dim.
The clock showed 7:00 p.m.
He sat up slowly.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he stood, got ready, and picked up his phone.
A notification waited.
A location.
Sent by Erina.
He opened it.
The route appeared.
Clear.
Direct.
Canta stepped out.
The evening had settled in.
Streetlights flickered on one by one as he walked.
People moved along the roads—mostly office workers returning home. Their pace was steady, expressions tired, conversations minimal.
No one paid attention to him.
He reached the lift.
Went down.
Stepped outside.
Then followed the map.
At first, the path felt normal.
Familiar.
But gradually—
something shifted.
The buildings thinned.
The lights became fewer.
The road narrowed.
Canta slowed slightly.
He looked at the map again.
It still pointed forward.
Uncle said not to go into dark places…
He looked ahead.
The road led toward an old flyover.
The lights there were dim.
Some didn't work at all.
Only a few flickered weakly.
Canta stopped.
I should go back.
The thought was clear this time.
He turned slightly.
Took a step back.
Then—
he felt it.
A presence.
Not seen.
But felt.
Like someone watching.
Canta's eyes shifted quickly around him.
Nothing.
No one.
The road remained empty.
But the feeling stayed.
Uneasy.
He turned forward again.
It's just 1 kilometer…
His grip tightened slightly.
If move fast i should be able to reach there.
He started walking.
Then—
faster.
Then—
running.
The sound of his footsteps echoed faintly against the empty road.
The darkness felt heavier now.
Closer.
He didn't look back.
Didn't stop.
But the feeling didn't leave.
It stayed.
Following.
Ahead—
a railway crossing.
Closed.
The barrier down.
Red lights blinking.
A train passing.
Canta slowed.
His breath uneven now.
He looked around.
Nowhere to go.
No alternate path.
The train roared past.
Loud.
Heavy.
Blocking everything.
He stood there.
Waiting.
Heart beating faster.
Then—
something moved behind him.
Before he could turn—
a hand pressed firmly against his mouth.
A cloth.
Sharp.
Unfamiliar.
A scent.
Strong.
His body reacted instantly—
but too late.
His vision blurred.
His strength weakened.
The sounds faded.
The train.
The lights.
The road.
Everything dissolved.
His thoughts scattered.
Then—
nothing.
Chapter Summary:
Canta notices Aron's ring and learns it was given by someone "special."
Erina asks about Canta's family, and he briefly mentions his younger brother.
Canta expresses his desire to not be a burden and asks for a part-time job.
Erina offers to help and sends him a location for a night shift.
Canta returns home and informs his uncle about the job.
His uncle warns him about recent kidnappings and avoiding dark places.
Canta follows the map at night but notices the path becoming increasingly isolated.
He senses an unseen presence and becomes uneasy.
While trying to reach the destination, he gets trapped at a railway crossing.
He is suddenly attacked and loses consciousness, marking the beginning of the kidnapping.