Rafi

Twice—Rafi had already landed himself on the blacklist twice, and if it happened one more time, Mr. Ali said he'd face severe punishment. Hearing that, Rafi felt frustrated, but he was also a little puzzled by Arzan, who had been with him at the time. Instead of being angry or upset at Mr. Ali's words, Arzan looked … afraid.

What kind of punishment could a teacher even give besides calling parents or threatening to expel a student? To be honest, Rafi was scared too, but he was one of the school's star students who had won them trophies. There was no way they'd expel him. At least, that's what he told himself.

Then, as if fate had chosen today to test him, Rafi had a feeling his name might soon find its way back onto the blacklist. And for a good reason—he was late. The first lesson had already started ten minutes ago.

The empty hallways of the building proved that most students were already in their classrooms, while Rafi found himself face-to-face with Mr. Ali near the field beside the social studies building.

Karin, who happened to be nearby, accidentally saw them. She silently hid behind the nearest pillar to Rafi and tried to overhear their conversation.

"Sorry, sir. I overslept," Rafi admitted.

"Sorry won't solve anything." Karin couldn't see Mr. Ali's expression, but from his tone, she could tell that the young teacher was annoyed and trying to stay patient. "You know you've already been on my blacklist twice, and now this is your third time."

Hearing Mr. Ali's words, Karin was shocked. She nearly gasped out loud but quickly covered her mouth and returned to hiding. Mr. Ali turned to look behind him, having heard something but saw no one because Karin managed to stay hidden just in time.

Perhaps because he was tired of it all, or maybe because he no longer cared what his parents would do, Rafi appeared more resigned to whatever awaited him. "Yes, sir. I know. What's my punishment?"

The teacher seemed intrigued by one of the school's star students' reaction. "You're not afraid of my punishment?"

"It's my responsibility, sir," Rafi replied. But in truth, he just didn't care anymore. His parents were always disappointed in him anyway, so he might as well ruin everything altogether, he thought.

Ever since his fight with Arzan had been discovered by his parents, Rafi had received more than just a scolding. His father had beaten him mercilessly. According to his father, Arzan had humiliated their family. Even his mother had done nothing to intervene as their only child was beaten.

That was when Rafi realized he was nothing more than a cash cow who could be treated however they pleased. No one truly cared about him.

If they were already disappointed, he might as well keep adding to it.

"Go back to your class." Seeing that empty gaze, Mr. Ali knew that this particular student was truly intriguing. He was pleased but decided it wasn't the right time to act. "Your punishment will follow later. Go back to class."

"Yes, sir. Thank you," Rafi said as he walked away, passing the wall where Karin was hiding. Karin tried her best to stay silent, crouching to stay out of Rafi's line of sight.

But something else caught her attention—Rafi was walking with a slight limp. Occasionally, he winced and held his stomach. A sense of pity began to creep over her. She wondered what had happened to him.

However, there was something more urgent at hand. She had to talk to Arzan about Rafi's name appearing on Mr. Ali's blacklist for the third time.

There couldn't be another Heri. Despite her fear, Karin was determined to save Rafi.

***

Like ninjas stalking their target, Karin and Arzan secretly followed Rafi throughout the day—from school hours until the dismissal bell rang. They didn't feel at ease for even a second after learning that Rafi had been blacklisted for the third time.

If their suspicions about Mr. Ali were true, Rafi would become the next victim, and they couldn't let that happen. It had to stop with Heri—no one else should have to suffer. Even if it meant swallowing their pride and constantly keeping an eye on Rafi, they were willing. Karin, however, already felt like a stalker.

The first day passed without incident. Karin and Arzan made sure Rafi safely entered his house before finally heading to their own homes. The second day was the same, though they had to stay out later since Rafi had a long tutoring session that delayed his return.

On the third day, they resumed their mission: following Rafi and ensuring his safety. Of course, they went in disguise—nothing more than hats and masks. At least they tried to stay undetected.

Now, the two of them stood in front of a three-story building with a banner boasting its success in helping students gain admission to prestigious universities. The place was so exclusive that unauthorized individuals weren't allowed inside. When Rafi entered the building, Karin and Arzan had no choice but to wait at a café across the street.

If the schedule was accurate, Rafi should be out by 8 p.m. How did they know? Arzan had gone as far as pretending to register at the center to inquire about the full class schedule.

By 8:18 p.m., there was still no sign of Rafi. Karin glanced at Arzan, confused. "It's strange he hasn't come out yet. He usually leaves before the hour's even up."

Arzan, equally puzzled, checked the time on his watch again to make sure he wasn't mistaken.

"People have been leaving for a while, and there shouldn't be any classes running past 8 tonight, right?" Karin couldn't take it anymore. She had to act. "Let's just go in."

Arzan gave her a doubtful look. "We can't just barge in. The security's tight."

"But we can't just sit here waiting either. There's no other way," Karin said firmly. Her eyes flicked to a side door that appeared less guarded. "We can go through there."

Without waiting for Arzan's response, Karin started walking briskly toward the side entrance. Arzan sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. He hurried after her.

As they approached the side door, they noticed a security guard sitting in a small booth, engrossed in his phone. The guard looked relaxed, but his position blocked the entrance.

"We need a distraction," Karin whispered, pulling Arzan to stop behind the nearest wall.

"What's the plan?" Arzan asked softly, his eyes darting toward the booth.

Karin rummaged through her bag and pulled out a half-full water bottle. "I'll throw this behind him. When he goes to check it out, we slip in," she whispered.

Arzan frowned. "That's the most cliché plan I've ever heard."

"If you've got a better idea, go ahead. If not, just follow my lead," Karin shot back quickly.

Before Arzan could reply, Karin had already tossed the bottle into the bushes behind the security booth. The sound of the bottle landing was clear, making the guard look up with a furrowed brow. He stood up slowly and walked toward the bushes.

"Now!" Karin hissed, running ahead.

They darted to the side door, pushing it open carefully to avoid making noise. Once the door opened, they slipped inside the building.

Inside, a long, silent hallway greeted them. Fluorescent lights overhead cast a cold white glow. Karin paused briefly, trying to recall the layout Arzan had shown her when he pretended to register.

"His classroom's on the second floor, in the right wing," Arzan whispered.

Karin nodded and walked cautiously, making sure their footsteps didn't echo. Though they had managed to get inside, they knew the risk of being caught was high. Still, there was something more important to do—ensuring Rafi's safety. They had to see this through.